“Initially, we had a lot of community support for that project,” Sule says about plans for an unpaved trail near Asheville Middle School. “I think as it started to get nearer toward actually getting funded and approved in an easement, some [people] came up and opposed that project.”
“It’s unbelievable to me that an elected official would complain about a not-for-profit grassroots advocacy group working with the local community by doing things that benefit the community!”
Asheville on Bikes has recently drawn attention for its successful advocacy at City Hall, but it’s just one of many community organizations that seek to pull the levers of political power in Asheville. Xpress spoke to several of these groups to learn more about how they pursue their agendas.
The lanes are slated to be installed along sections of College Street and Patton Avenue, with both routes terminating at Pritchard Park. The city is prepared to accept bids for the project, which should be ready for installation later in the month.
In total, Dogwood approved 287 funding requests of the 354 grant applications in 2021. The nonprofit also reports that it added 21 new staff members to the organization.
Interest in cycling has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but funding for bike-friendly roads faces an uphill battle, both in Asheville and across the state.
Want to add an extra layer of intrigue to your recreation? Try a costumes community bike ride, an LGBTQ+ walking tour, an escape adventure or a figure drawing salon.
“The way Asheville on Bikes and Blue Ridge Bicycle Club see it, the more people on the road, the more people need safety education.”
If City Council votes to approve the proposed Charlotte Street Improvement Project, the road would be cut from four car lanes to three, making room for dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. Should Council approve the plan, bidding for construction is projected to begin this winter, with construction to start next spring or summer and finish by fall.
Asheville as we know it today was built upon the back of its electric streetcar system, one of the largest networks of its time. As the city finds itself in a growth spurt once again, could its defunct trolley system provide some clues to Asheville’s transit future?
Asheville on Bikes’ annual fundraiser takes place Feb. 24 at Salvage Station.
Asheville City Council passed a resolution condemning the actions of white supremacists and racial violence in Charlottesville earlier this month. Council members also resolved to support the designation of Big Ivy as a wilderness area, and voted to move forward with a phased approach to a greenway along Lyman Street to Amboy Road. A proposal to reduce the minimum width of residential lots by 20 percent citywide was sent back to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission for further study.
For its first year in Asheville, Tour de Fat will bring Third Eye Blind to the stage plus additional zany entertainment and a party atmosphere. The event takes place at New Belgium Brewing’s outside grouds on Saturday, May 20.
In addition to offering a chance to party among bike enthusiasts, Bike Love highlights the 2016 accomplishments of local nonprofit Asheville on Bikes and enumerates goals for 2017. Salvage Station hosts the gathering on Saturday, Feb. 18.
National Bike to Work Week kicks off Monday, May 16, and the initiative is getting a boost from a slew of local breweries. Each night, from May 16-20, a different brewery will host a bike-centric bash, culminating with proceeds from all events being presented to local nonprofits Asheville on Bikes and Friends of Connect Buncombe.
From Asheville on Bikes annual Bike of the Irish to a DJ dance party at Lexington Avenue Brewery, Mountain Xpress has a roadmap so you can snake across the long St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Who knew that heartbreak could be so good for the local cycling scene? Back in 2005, bike advocacy helped Mike Sule distract himself from the heartache of a tough breakup. Since then, however, Asheville on Bikes, the organization he subsequently founded, has become a well-known advocate on both local and state-level transportation issues. In support […]
Government agencies and departments from Buncombe County and the City of Asheville are pursuing a slew of initiatives that will reduce the barriers to active modes of transportation like walking, biking and using public transit. In addition to their environmental benefits, these coordinated efforts also promote mobility, health and well-being.
“Asheville on Bikes has always been about people,” says director Mike Sule, calling the organization’s events friendly and festive. Upcoming fundraiser Beers for Gears will fund more advocacy efforts at city and state levels.
As we celebrate Earth Day 2015, we take a look at the status of the sustainability movement in WNC. How far have we come, and how far do we have to go? We asked local nonprofits and regulatory agencies to take us to school by examining our environmental efforts — from our air to our water, from our successes to our failures — and giving us an honest assessment of how we’re doing.
From the Get It! Guide: Asheville is faced with a rising interest in transportation alternatives, but the path to greater advances seems to be lined with historic neglect and budgetary hurdles. The city still has a long walk ahead to fulfill its 2004 goal of building 108 miles of sidewalks. In the last decade, Asheville has constructed only about 18 miles worth.
