City Council: Looking for citizens to make a difference

City Council can’t do everything alone.  They need your help to influence the recommendation that they hear.  Please consider serving one of the City Boards and Commission.
Below are some of the boards that currently have vacancies. February 14, 2008 is the application deadline. Please call 232-4579 to request an application.*

For a full list of opening and details on each, go to : http://www.ashevillenc.gov/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=10344

Specifically bike related:

GREENWAY COMMISSION - The Commission’s responsibilities include: recommend steps for implementation and periodically updates of the Greenway Master Plan; foster the communication and coordination among the citizens of the City that would provide the needed support for acquisition and development of greenways within the City; identify potential sites or land parcels which should be acquired or reserved for open space or greenway purposes and recommend methods of acquisition for such parcels; and conduct continuing research, planning and feasibility assessments required to support the Commission.

Specifically transportation related:

TRANSIT COMMISSION
SUSTAINABLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Other openings:

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CIVIC CENTER COMMISSION
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION
FILM COMMISSION
FIREMEN’S RELIEF FUND
METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE DISTRICT BOARD
PUBLIC ART BOARD
TREE COMMISSION

Please do apply, if you don’t someone else will and we know you have better ideas!

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.

The Bike Ballot with Asheville City Council Candidates

Meet & Discuss Bicycle Advocacy with Asheville City Council members, Bryan Freeborn and Brownie Newman. These Council members are up for re-election and are your representatives for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). They have worked to improve bicycle access for the City Of Asheville by doubling the annual investment in greenways. Now they are seeking support for the city’s new Draft Comprehensive Bicycle Plan.

Saturday November 3 from 4:00-6:00
Asheville Pizza & Brewing
77 Coxe Avenue
(next to BioWheels)

You can view the plan in person and give your input to the incumbent council members as well as other community bicycle advocates. A petition created by BioWheels to show community support for bicycle infrastructure will be on hand to review & sign. This petition already has thousands of signatures, and BioWheels is prepared to present it in support of this plan!

Even if you just show up for the pizza & beer or you can’t make it at all, we feel it important to mention to PLEASE VOTE on Tuesday November 6. Local politics is the stuff that really matters - show your support for Bicycle Transportation in Asheville!

P.S. You can also vote early. Monday-Friday, October 22^nd–November 2^nd, 8am-6pm, and Saturday November 3^rd, 8am-1pm at the Buncombe County Board of Elections, 189 College Street in downtown Asheville. For information call (828) 250-4200. One-stop early voting means you register to vote and vote on the same day at the Board of Elections. If you need to register, bring one of the following: NC driver’s license, a utility bill, bank statement, payroll check or document from a government agency.

-organized by:

Yuri Koslen - UNCA Transportation Planner
Michael Sule, founder - Asheville On Bikes
Your Friends at BioWheels

Alexander Park, NC Workday Information

Alexander promises to be great set of trails just 15 minutes north of Asheville, NC. Here are the SORBA days for Trail Days out at Alexander. 

1. Sunday, August 5th  10:30am
2. Wednesday, August 15th 8:30am
3. Sunday, August 19th 10:30am

We will work for about 4 hours.  If it’s actively raining we will not work, but if just wet we will.
Remember to dress appropriately, bring water and good gloves.  Dressing appropriately means long pants and sleeves if senistive to the poison ivy.

 Give it a shot.
-Mike Brown