BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

BikeWalkNC

Friendly Driver Program Continues Expanding Across North Carolina

BikeWalk NC’s Friendly Driver Program continues to grow statewide, bringing practical safety education to schools, transit agencies, community organizations, and professional drivers across North Carolina.

Since 2022, the program has expanded significantly, increasing both the number of presentations delivered and the number of participants reached each year. In just the first half of 2026, the program has already engaged nearly 1,000 participants through partnerships focused on improving safety for people walking, biking, and driving.

A major focus of this year’s outreach has been high school driver education programs, which currently account for approximately 80% of all participants reached in 2026. The program has also continued its work with transit operators and community members statewide, helping encourage safer interactions on North Carolina roads.

This year, BikeWalk NC is also preparing to launch a newer Friendly Driver Program module designed specifically for law enforcement professionals: From Handbook to Highway: Applying NC Driving Laws to Protect Vulnerable Road Users

This training focuses on how North Carolina traffic laws apply to real-world interactions involving people biking and walking, while supporting safer roadway environments for all users. The module is designed to help officers strengthen their understanding of vulnerable road user protections, common roadway conflicts, and the role education and enforcement can play in reducing crashes.

The Friendly Driver Program is supported through funding from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program and continues to expand through partnerships that advance safer, more connected communities across North Carolina. Let your local law enforcement know about this free training and have them reach out to programs@bikewalknc.org if interested in bringing the training to their staff.

Tour de Island Ride at the NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit

Kick off Saturday morning at the 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit by riding the Tour de Island Bike Route—a ride through the scenic Carolina Beach area led by Summit speakers and active transportation advocates—before breakfast and the Saturday Summit programming begin.

Saturday, September 19
7:00–8:15 AM
Starting at the Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront

The Tour de Island ride gives attendees an opportunity to experience the island by bike before the day’s Summit programming begins. Riders will explore local streets and coastal scenery while connecting with transportation professionals, advocates, planners, and fellow attendees.

Summit speakers and guests are invited to join the ride, creating a unique opportunity for attendees to continue conversations outside the conference setting while experiencing Carolina Beach firsthand.

The ride is designed to be approachable and community-oriented, welcoming participants interested in experiencing the local bicycle environment at a comfortable pace. The route is available here for riders who would like to preview.

This year, BikeWalk NC is also collaborating with Three Wheel Therapy to help make the ride more accessible for participants who may need an adaptive or accessible tricycle option. Participants interested should reach out to Nicole Kohler at 3wheeltherapy@gmail.com for additional information and coordination.

Need a bike during your stay? Rental options are available through:

Whether you are looking to start the morning with movement, network with fellow attendees, or experience Carolina Beach from a different perspective, the Tour de Island ride is a great way to begin the day.

register for the Summit today!

NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit Featured Session: Life After Cars

On Friday, Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, cohosts of The War on Cars podcast and co-authors of Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile will lead a featured session titled “Life After Cars.” Through journalism, storytelling, and advocacy, Goodyear and Gordon have become nationally recognized voices in the conversation around transportation, urban design, and the effects of car dependency on communities. Their session will examine how cities and towns can create safer, healthier, and more connected places by rethinking transportation systems and prioritizing people over automobiles.

Sarah Goodyear is a journalist and author who has covered cities and transportation for publications including Grist, CityLab, and Streetsblog. Doug Gordon is a TV producer, writer, and neighborhood safe streets advocate known online as Brooklyn Spoke. Together, they created The War on Cars podcast in 2018 to explore the impact of cars on culture, society, and the planet, and to highlight the growing movement for safer, more people-focused transportation systems.

Registration is now open! Space is limited to 200 attendees. Join transportation leaders and advocates from across the region for three days of education, networking, and conversations focused on building safer and more connected communities.

Register today

BikeWalk NC Presents the Friendly Driver Program to Transit Operators

Recently, BikeWalk NC staff had the opportunity to present the NC Friendly Driver Program to professional drivers at GoRaleigh and GoDurham. In total, the program has reached over 160 transit operators this year.

These conversations are an important part of building safer streets for everyone. By connecting with transit operators who are on our roads every day, the Friendly Driver Program creates space for operators to share the conflict points they are witnessing on local roadways and discuss real-world transportation challenges.

The program also helps foster a sense that we are all working toward the same goal of safer streets. During the sessions, staff highlighted how bus operators and cyclists often experience many of the same roadway challenges, including right-hook conflicts and vehicles blocking bike lanes and bus stops. Creating opportunities for these conversations helps build understanding between different roadway users and encourages safer interactions for everyone traveling throughout the community.

BikeWalk NC Board Member and former Charlotte Transit Operator Debra Franklin also assisted with the presentations, helping provide the perspective of professional drivers throughout the discussions and contributing valuable insight from her experience in the field.

One transit operator who attended the training shared:
“Now after that meeting I’m looking out for cyclists even more. Bikes and buses make an excellent combination to get around and should be working together to get us around safer. My patience and awareness for cyclists has improved thanks to the information that was shared.”

The Friendly Driver Program is designed to help communities encourage safer, more mindful roadway interactions through education and discussion. Thanks to continued support from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP), BikeWalk NC has been able to expand the program’s reach and provide these important conversations to transit operators, schools, workplaces, and community groups across the state.

Interested in bringing the Friendly Driver Program to your community or organization? Contact Programs@BikeWalkNC.org to learn more.

NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit Featured Session: State and Local E-Bike / E-Moto Policy

On Friday morning, attendees will hear from Noah Miterko of PeopleForBikes during the session “State and Local E-Bike / E-Moto Policy.” As communities across the country grapple with the rapid rise of high-speed electric motorcycles and other fast, bike-shaped devices, policymakers and advocates are working to determine how these vehicles fit into existing transportation systems. Low-speed electric bicycles are often caught in the middle of these conversations. This session will explore how states and local governments can address safety concerns surrounding e-motos while protecting access to low-speed e-bikes and supporting safer streets for all users.

Noah Miterko is PeopleForBikes Senior Manager of State and Local Policy. After completing his Master of Public Administration, he has dedicated his career to improving communities and enhancing the lives of the people within them. With experience in sustainability and public health, he now works with the Government Affairs team at PeopleForBikes to help the U.S. become the best place in the world to ride a bike. When he’s not championing better bike policies, you can find Noah riding his trusty single-speed townie around New York or getting schooled in the deserts and mountains of Utah on his mountain bike.

Registration is now open! Space is limited to 200 attendees. Join transportation leaders and advocates from across the region for three days of education, networking, and conversations focused on building safer and more connected communities.

Register Today
Skip to content