What is Asheville’s greenway plan?

The City of Asheville’s greenway planning process, called the “Close the GAP” project, combines 3 plans: the City’s Greenway Plan (G), its ADA Transition Plan (A), and its Pedestrian Plan (P). The main goal of Close the GAP is to better understand who uses our community’s greenways & sidewalks and why in order to update & expand our pedestrian network. 

Why do we need your help?

Greenways and sidewalks are integral to a community’s connectivity, health, equity, and overall livability. In order to help City officials enhance Asheville’s pedestrian network, it’s important that residents are given the opportunity to provide their input. To do this, we need your help surveying Asheville’s greenway users. 

What does this volunteer position entail?

As a volunteer, you will help conduct greenway user interviews at the Wilma Dykeman Greenway in Asheville’s River Arts District and at the Reed Creek Greenway near UNC Asheville’s Botanical Gardens on August 10 and 14. In the event of bad weather, our makeup dates are August 17 and 21. You can help out by volunteering for a 2-hour shift on one or both of these days at either location. 

As a volunteer, you agree to:

• Encourage greenway users to complete the survey.
• Dress in comfortable clothes and bring the water & snacks you may need.
• Wear a mask if asked to do so. We will provide disposable masks.

How do I sign up to volunteer?

To learn more and sign up for a volunteer slot, visit https://bit.ly/GreenwayInterview or contact Linda Giltz at lindagiltz@gmail.com.

Please share this volunteer opportunity and information about Close the GAP with your friends, organizations, and others. Thank you for being a valued community member and greenway supporter!

The post Call for Volunteers—Help Update Asheville’s Greenway Plan! appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

On Saturday, March 18th the 11th annual Bike of the Irish rolls through Asheville and you’re invited to participate.  The year the ride begins at Wedge at Foundation, Wedge Brewing Co’s new space located at 5 Foundry Rd, rolls through the River Arts District, into the downtown, and explores the Beaucatcher greenway  (in the rough) before returning to the Wedge for an after ride celebration around 3pm.

Bike of the Irish is Asheville on Bikes annual spring ride. Participants are encouraged to  decorate themselves and their bikes in green as they ride the city in celebration of spring and the expansion of Asheville’s greenway system.

The event is free and open to the public. Families are welcome to participate as well. Everyone is encouraged to review and / or pre-ride the route to make sure it’s appropriate for their skill level. The ride rolls through active city streets and an unimproved greenway so riders can expect a  stretch of natural rough service along the Beaucatcher greenway. Participants are welcome to walk their bikes along this portion of the ride. Beaucatcher is a greenway in the rough but it’s truly a delightful place to visit and well worth the effort.

Please consider volunteering for Bike of the Irish as several volunteers are needed to make the ride a success. Review the Bike of Irish volunteer opportunities and select the one that works best for you.   

Join AoB on Saturday, March 18th for the 11th annual Bike of the Irish.

Bike of the Irish Details:

1:30pm  – Gather at Wedge at Foundation

2:00pm – The ride begins

3:00pm – Culminate at Wedge at Foundation.  

Things to Consider:

Review the route before the ride.  

Know the weather before you ride.

Pack an extra layer, a warm afternoon cools quickly.

Spending money is a good idea.

A variety of beverages will be available, not just beer.

The post Bike of the Irish 2017 appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

It is beloved, green, and has great legs, but it isn’t Kermit the Frog.

Bike of the Irish, the iconic springtime community ride organized by Asheville on Bikes, returns Sunday, March 22nd, 2015. Create your costume and meet up outside Asheville City Hall.

1 pm – Gather

1:30 pm – Roll

3:00 pm – Culminate (for frolicking and fun) at The Wedge Brewery.

Volunteers? Why yes, we do need you. Choose from Pedal Patrol, Water Station, Wedge Crew or Wild Card! Sign up here.

Facebook event here.

The post Bike of the Irish 2015 Details are Here! appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

This year, Asheville on Bikes encourages businesses, nonprofits, and religious and community organizations to supply the volunteers required for successful counts.

There is overwhelming public support in our community to advance safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle transportation within our community. The recent results of the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Walk Survey, The Mountain Xpress’s Best of Survey, and a variety of recent studies highlight the public’s enthusiasm for active transportation.

Asheville has made strides in expanding pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, but significant deficits remain. A recent article in the Asheville Citizen Times lists Asheville as the most dangerous city for walking in the entire state.  We need to do better, we can do better, and we will do better.

This September, volunteer for the 2014 National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project  to advance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

Join Asheville on Bikes, The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club,  the AVL Bicycle & Pedestrian Task Force, Healthy Buncombe,  and the NC Center for Health and Wellness in this year’s bicycle pedestrian counts. These counts are essential in advancing active transportation because they inform planning and engineering professionals on the diversity of our transportation habits. There are plenty of methods used to count  motorized vehicles, but  there is a  dangerous dearth of methods for counting  pedestrians and bicycles. This year, you can change that. When you volunteer for the  Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts, you play critical role in:

• Building a robust and public database of pedestrian and bicycle use
• Identifying trends in biking and walking
• Establishing a national model for predicting pedestrian and bicycle travel.

Transforming our transportation network is no small task. It takes many people working together to advance  active transportation. This year, I encourage businesses, nonprofits, and religious and community organizations to supply the volunteers required for successful counts. In return of your volunteerism, Asheville on Bikes will feature your organization on our website and social media.

Pedestrian / Bicycle Counts will be twice a day and are scheduled for Sept. 16th – 20th. If you’re ready to count, please complete the Ped / Bike Volunteer Form. Contact me at (mike@ashevilleonbikes.com) if you have any specific questions or requests.

Respectfully,

Mike Sule

Director of Asheville on Bikes

The post Count Bikes Because Bikes Count appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Asheville on Bikes depends on volunteers. Ride your City w/ the Pedal Patrol at Bike of the Irish. Support keeping the ride rolling and safe. Contact Pedal Patrol Coordinator Dion Dixon, for details and scheduling here.

The post Bike of the Irish almost Here! appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.