The History of Bike Advocacy in Asheville, North Carolina

1974 -

1. Large community meeting held at the YWCA on bicycle facilities. 
2. Asheville Bikeways formed (the for runner of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club)
3. First Bike to Work Day held.

1976 -

First large organized bike ride held in Asheville from the Health Center to Beaver Lake & another to Reems Creek Rd. (75 participants) organized by YWCA, Girl Scouts & Asheville Bikeways.

1989 -

1. The Bikeways Task Force was formed out of the Urban Area Transportation Advisory Council. (First meeting Nov. 8, 1989)
2. Developed Goals and Objectives that included encouraging residents to ride, hiring or designating staff to coordinate bicycle & pedestrian needs. 
3. Encourage placement of parking facilities on public property.
4. Encourage local government to identify using bicycles for Short governmental trips.
5. Encourage the city to offer bicycles to tourist.
6. Encourage greenway & bikeway planning & development.
7. Encourage zoning & land controls that would enable bicycle use through connections.
8. Encourage enforcement of traffic laws related to bicycle & automobile travel.

1991  -

1. Successfully got Leicester Hwy & Hendersonville Hwy re-striped with wide outside lanes. 
2. Successfully got bicycle projects on the TIP planning tool.

1992 -

1. Got the Bicycle Suitability Map added to the local project list.
2.   Got the RR crossing improvement funded at $75,000.00

1995 - Funding of $35,000.00 for purchase and installation of Share the Road Signs.

1996 - Amboy Road connector entered onto the TIP project list.

1998 -

1. Held the Walkability Summit with Dan Burden of Florida.
2. The first Pedestrian & Bicycle Thoroughfare Plan developed.
3. Bike racks were installed on the local buses.
4. The bicycle suitability maps rolled off the presses.
5. Development of the Parks & Greenway Master Plan.
6. W.T. Weaver Greenway was being put on the ground.
7. Began Strive Not to Drive Day.
8. County granted RTPGrant for landfill mtn. bike trails.

1999 -

1. Oliver Gajda was hired to be our first Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner for the City of Asheville. 
2.  Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan adopted by Asheville City Council.

2000 -

1. The bike lane was installed on Riverside Drive & Lyman St.
2. First Walk to School day was held in Asheville.
3. Pedestrian improvements Were made in Biltmore Village.
4. Fletcher Greenway Plan was approved by NC DOT.
5. The Amboy Park project on Amboy Road was approved by NC DOT.
6. Six streets were chosen to receive traffic calming projects.
7. Development of Carrier Park and trails along Amboy Road.

2003 - Bicycle Advocate, Brownie Newman, wins seat on City Council

2004 -

1. While on the Transit Commission Bryan Freeborn was told at a NCDOT forum about the SPDA Funds (NCDOT fund that local MPO’s can determine spending allocation).  At the time SPDA funds were being programed by NCDOT, not the local MPO.
2. BioWheels creates & begin’s circulation of the Asheville Bike Petition with support of Canary Coalition, Appallachian Voices & Western North Carolina Alliance.

2005 -

1. Bicycle Advocate Bryan Freeborn wins seat on City Council
2. Bryan Freeborn and Brownie Newman Appointed by City Council to the French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organizaton (MPO).
3. Bryan Freeborn and Brownie Newman spearheaded a resolution passed by the MPO to allow SPDA funds in the amount of almost 3 million starting in 2009, to be programed by the local MPO.
4. City received RTP Grant for Weaver Park.  County received RTP Grant for second mtn. bike trails around landfill.

2006 -

1. Asheville on Bikes  (AoB) is established
2. UNC Asheville strips second bike lane in town.
3. Phase I of the Reed Creek Greenway completed.

2007 -

1. Drain grates improved on Merrimon Ave. in relation will repaving project.
2. City received DOT grant for developing a Comprehensive Bicycle Plan.  Local Steering Committee works with Toole Associates to devise current version of the Master Plan.
3. The Bike Ballot Initiative galvanizes Cyclists into action! (Crying- “Give us a bike-friendly city!”)
4. Asheville Bike Petition closed & becomes effective tool for incoming City Council to overcome skepticism of demand for bike-friendly infrastructure.

2008 - Cars become passe’ and fall out of favor.