Update from the Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force

Barb Mee, Asheville transportation planner, sent out the following message to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force email list:

To: Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force Mailing List:

This is a reminder that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force’s next meeting is on Thursday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. Because of early voting, we will be in the City of Asheville Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St. The task force meets the fourth Thursday of the month except in November and December, when it meets the first Thursday in December instead. Our remaining meeting dates this year are:

Thursday, April 26
Thursday, May 24
Thursday, June 28
Thursday, July 26
Thursday, August 23
Thursday, September 27
Thursday, October 25
Thursday, December 6

Our agenda will include a presentation on transit system changes (the ART is coming!), and I will be asking you to endorse a Complete Streets policy to be considered by City Council on May 22 (see attachment)

I’ve cut and pasted information below that I think you might find interesting about energy saving opportunities, Asheville Transit transformation, a Ride of Silence, getting ready for the September pedestrian and bicycle counts, and more. Information is in order of the beginning date of the event or opportunity.

Let me know if you would like to be removed from this mailing list – just reply with a note to unsubscribe.

Barb Mee, AICP
Transportation Planner
City of Asheville
PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802
(828) 232-4540
www.ashevillenc.gov
I work a compressed scheudule, so I am normally here until at least 6 pm Monday through Thursday, but I am not always in the office on Fridays. If you need someone when I am out of the office, please call (828) 259-5943.

Questions or comments about walking or bicycling in Asheville? Email iwalk@ashevillenc.gov or ibike@ashevillenc.gov, or call (828) 232-4540.
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Comment on Draft NCDOT Long Range Plan, now through May 25. The draft of NCDOT’s 2040 Plan – a blueprint for North Carolina’s transportation future – is complete and they would like your feedback on the 2040 Plan and its supporting documents. The draft 2040 Plan, the fact sheet summary and an online version of the survey are available at http://www.ncdot.gov/performance/reform/2040Plan/. Information about where to view a copy of the draft plan, or obtain a survey also may be requested by calling 1-877-DOT-4YOU (368-4968). The survey will close on May 25, 2012 at midnight. If you have questions or would like more information, contact Tyler Bray, Statewide Plan Engineer at (919) 707-0963, or via email to tbray@ncdot.gov.

Focus group participants sought. The City of Asheville Sustainability Office is developing a community program to find effective ways to help residents lower their utility bills and is looking for North Asheville Residents for a 90 minute focus group session on April 24 or 25 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at the Montford Community Center. Residents within any North Asheville neighborhood who operate their own washer and dryer within their own residence, are responsible for paying their own utility bills, wash in a variety of temperatures, and who are responsible for doing their laundry. You may be a homeowner or a renter, as long as you meet the criteria. Please respond with a telephone number so that you can be reached to find out if you qualify for the focus group. Contact Laura Piraino at 828-259-5590 or lpiraino@ashevillenc.gov to participate. Sorry, No walks-ins.

City to Hold Public Hearing on Water System Ownership at Apr 24 Meeting. Asheville City Council will hold a public hearing at its regularly scheduled meeting on April 24 on the subject of water system ownership. “This is an opportunity for the public to have their voices heard on this extremely important issue, not just by Asheville’s elected officials, but also by the state legislators who are considering the future of Asheville’s water resources,” stated Mayor Terry Bellamy. “I sincerely hope our residents will take this chance to share their thoughts and opinions.” City Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall; meetings begin at 5:00 pm. For more information, see the city’s homepage, www.ashevillenc.gov.

Home Energy Efficiency Class in Asheville, April 24. The WNC Green building Council is offering a two hour class that will explore affordable energy upgrades that you can make to your home that will both save you money and help save the planet. The class is Tuesday, April 24 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, at the OnTrack WNC offices at 50 S. French Broad Ave. The cost is $10 per household. Pre-registration is required. Contact OnTrack WNC at (828) 255-5166, ext. 3. If possible, please bring 12 months of utility bills to the class for review.

ART (Asheville Redefines Transit) Open Houses begin April 30. On Monday, May 21, the city’s bus system, currently operating as Asheville Transit, will begin operating as ART. ART will introduce a new look, new routes and new rides, and the new transit network will demonstrate the City of Asheville’s commitment to multi-modal transportation, affordability and sustainability. There will be six drop-in informational sessions from 4-7 pm to share information about the upcoming changes. New schedules and maps will be available to take home and you will have an opportunity try planning your bus trip on GoogleTransit, an online tool to plan bus trips. Staff and transit commission members will be available to answer questions. The April 30 session at the U.S. Cellular Center will have a new hybrid bus on display for family friendly activities and a “load your bicycle on the bus” competition. The open houses will be:
Monday, April 30, U.S. Cellular Center Banquet Hall, 87 Haywood St.
Tuesday, May 1, West Asheville Community Center, 970 Haywood Rd.
Thursday, May 3, Reid Memorial Recreation Center, 133 Livingston St.
Monday, May 7, Linwood Crump – Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd.
Monday, May 14, East Asheville Community Center, 906 Tunnel Rd.
Tuesday, May 15, Grace Episcopal Church – Parish Hall, 871 Merrimon Ave.
For more information about Asheville Transit, contact 253-5691, e-mail iride@ashevillenc.gov or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/transit

Senior Games Cycling Workshops, May 1 and 8. Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host two cycling workshops in preparation for the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games cycling event, which will be held on Thursday, May 17. Trevor Wallis, national level time-trialist and a regular Senior Games participant, will lead the workshops. The first session will be held at the Carrier Park track in Asheville on May 1 at 6 pm (rain day May 3). It will cover all competition rules and give participants a chance to practice start/turn techniques. The second session will be held May 8 at 6 pm at the event start/finish line, located on Riverside Drive near Marshall (rain day TBD). This session will primarily be for course familiarization. Both sessions are free and last about one and a half hours.
For more information or to register for the workshops, contact Dee Black at dblack@ashevillenc.gov or call 828-259-5809. For application or more information on Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games, visit ashevillenc.gov/parks and search for Senior Games.

The City of Asheville Boards and Commissions Openings. The deadline for receiving applications for these openings is Wednesday, May 2 at 5 p.m.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT – These vacancies are for Alternates. The Board (1) hears and decides applications for approval of variances from the terms of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), except where the UDO places responsibility for hearing or considering such a variance with another body; (2) hears and decides appeals from any order, requirement, permit, decision, or determination issued or made by an administrative officer of the City in enforcing any provisions of the UDO; (3) services as the City’s Housing Code Appeals Board; and (4) performs such additional powers and duties as may be set forth elsewhere in the UDO and in other laws and regulations.

HOMELESS INITIATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE – The purpose of the Committee is to implement the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, and its duties and responsibilities shall include (1) conduct research and investigation into issues about homelessness, including causes and effects within Asheville and the surrounding area; (2) formulate and make recommendations to local governmental entities and social service agencies to reduce the incidence of homelessness; (3) act as a clearinghouse for information on local homelessness issues; and (4) other duties as requested by the City Council, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, or as the Committee deems appropriate.

SUSTAINABLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT – This vacancy is for a person who has expertise in the field of energy management. This Committee will undertake initiatives, at a City level and participate in the larger community and regional discussions, to improve the environment, encourage green development, and support the development of a healthy community.

Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 259-5601 or by e-mail at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov for an application form.

Sunday, May 6, is Tiny Tykes Day. Pack up the little ones, and join Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department for Tiny Tykes Day, a free festival just for children under the age of 5. This year’s festival includes children’s music songwriter, Roger Day, performing live. The day will be full of fun with giant inflatables, Fire Engine #1, miniature train rides, crafts, face painting, balloon twists and more on Sunday, May 6, from 2-5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Park, located at 50 Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Don’t miss this event – it only comes once a year! For more information, contact Candy H. Shaw or Jessica Johnston at 828-350-2058 or email stephenslee@ashevillenc.gov.

REI Cyclefest, May 12. REI Asheville is holding its first annual cyclefest on Saturday, May 12, from 11 am – 3 pm. They will be celebrating all things cycling with the Asheville community. While Cycle Fest will be geared towards new cyclists and families, there will be activities for riders of all levels and styles. Whether you want to attend or volunteer, it sounds like fun. Email me (bmee@ashevillenc.gov) for more information or if you want to volunteer at an information table.

2012 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games May 15-22. The registration deadline for the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games is approaching quickly. The 2012 Games are scheduled for May 15-22. Senior Games is an exciting health promotion program for adults 55 years of age and better. There are a wide range of activities designed for individuals at various fitness levels. Some of these activities are golf, bowling, tennis, cycling, track and field, swimming as well as the Silver Arts showcase.
Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games is sponsored by Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department. For more information on how you can be involved with Senior Games, please call Dee Black at (828) 259-5809 or dblack@ashevillenc.gov. You can also download an application at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks

Ride of Silence, May 16. There will be a ride of silence in Asheville on Wednesday, May 16. If you want to participate in this silent procession that honors cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, meet at the Buncombe County Health Department on Woodfin Street at 6:30 pm, and the ride will begin at 7 pm. For more information on the Asheville event, contact Claudia Nix (claudianix@libertybikes.com), and for information on the worldwide effort, go to http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php.

Strive Not to Drive is coming! It will be May 21 – 25 in the Asheville area this year, and on April 20 in Hendersonville. More info on the Asheville events are at http://strivenottodrive.com/. Something you can do today is encourage your employer to sign up for the workplace challenge. See other information at the website: http://strivenottodrive.com (note that there is no www in the address).

Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Volunteer Leadership Needed. I am looking for a volunteer or team of volunteers to head up this year’s bicycle and pedestrian count effort in September. Call or email me if you are interested (bmee@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 232-4540). It can’t happen without you.