BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

BikeWalkNC

Bike Buses Are Rolling Into the Summit

What started as a simple idea of kids biking to school together has become a nationwide movement.

Across North Carolina and throughout the country, bike buses are helping children get to school in a way that is safe, healthy, active, and fun. They are also bringing families, schools, and neighborhoods together while showing what is possible when communities create space for people to move safely outside of a car.

At the 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit, a panel of bike bus organizers from Wilmington, Charlotte, Carolina Beach, and the Triangle will share how they got started, what they’ve learned along the way, and why bike buses have resonated with so many families. From organizing volunteers and planning routes to building school support and maintaining momentum, panelists will offer practical insights for anyone interested in bringing a bike bus to their own community.

You’ll hear from Kevina Casaletto, organizer of Wilmington’s first bike bus; Bethanie Johnson, co-founder of Charlotte’s long-running Bicycle Friday bike bus; Nicole Kohler, Executive Director of 3Wheel Therapy and founder of the Carolina Beach Elementary School Bike Bus; and Erik Landfried, who helped organize a bike bus at his son’s middle school in Durham.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, planner, advocate, or Safe Routes to School champion, this session will provide inspiration, lessons learned, and real-world strategies from the people helping lead North Carolina’s growing bike bus movement. Register today and join us in Carolina Beach.

Welcome our summer intern, Jazmine Cordon!

Hello everyone,

My name is Jazmine and I’m an Environmental Studies major on the natural science track at Davidson College. I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona and came to Davidson after being awarded the Posse Foundation Leadership Scholarship. As a rising Junior I am part of the Sustainability Scholars program through the Sustainability Office. I am part of a cohort of nine other scholars working within non-profit, private, and public organizations to better understand what different careers in sustainability look like.

I am very passionate about education, especially working with children and encouraging them to express their creativity. I got to experience this in my previous non-profit internship with Restore Arts in Arizona, where we used donated materials and instruments to create engaging after-school programs for middle schoolers. As I’m moving along in my journey in becoming a better communicator, I am very excited to work with BikeWalk NC on social media materials to share the wealth of knowledge that exists within the board with the broader community.

The last time I consistently used a bike was when I was around 16 years old and I would ride around the school near my house. I fell out of biking because the lack of infrastructure in my neighborhood made it feel unsafe for me to continue. After coming to Davidson, I’ve found myself walking everywhere and it’s a big contrast to the car dependence that I have back home in Phoenix. After taking BikeWalk NC’s bicycle safety quiz and getting quite a few questions wrong, I realize that there is so much more for me to learn about street safety and how infrastructure allows for safer communities.

Since starting my internship with BikeWalk NC, I’ve learned more about e-bikes and just how confusing the classifications can be. My main project for this internship will be collecting municipalities’ ordinances across North Carolina related to e-bike safety and getting a deeper understanding of how policy spreads across local governments.

Summit Session Spotlight: Safe Streets Start with Local Action

When residents raise concerns about speeding, dangerous crossings, poor visibility, or recurring crashes, the solution does not always begin with a major transportation project. In many communities, law enforcement officers are among the first to identify safety issues and work with local partners to address them.

At the 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit, Sergeant Derrick McNeil of the Carolina Beach Police Department will share how law enforcement can play a critical role in improving roadway safety through targeted enforcement, roadway observations, and collaboration with transportation agencies and community stakeholders. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in traffic safety and community policing, Sergeant McNeil will discuss practical, cost-effective strategies that can improve visibility, encourage safer driving behavior, and reduce risk for all road users.

As Carolina Beach’s Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) Coordinator, Sergeant McNeil brings a unique perspective on how communities can leverage traffic safety resources, data, and partnerships to make meaningful improvements. Attendees will gain insight into how high-risk locations can be identified, how local data and officer observations can inform safety improvements, and how partnerships between police departments, transportation professionals, and community advocates can lead to meaningful results.

BikeWalk NC is proud to partner with GHSP in advancing traffic safety across North Carolina, and we’re grateful for the work of local leaders like Sergeant McNeil who are helping make our communities safer every day.

Whether you work in transportation, planning, public safety, or advocacy, this session offers a valuable look at how communities can take action to make streets safer today.

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!

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