BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

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Board Member Spotlight, Bruce Tretter

Hickory, NC

Bruce is a Naval Intelligence Officer veteran, lifelong avid cyclist, scrappy runner and owner of Breitz! “be bright, be seen!” cycling and run performance wear.  He currently represents the BikeWalkNC Western North Carolina Hickory area, serves on the Western Piedmont Council on Government Movability Advisory Committee, and is president of the Hickory Velo Club.

Bruce came to North Carolina from Westborough, MA, where he served as a school board member, selectman, bike and pedestrian advisory committee (BPAC) chair, and Earth Day coordinator.

World Day of Remembrance: November 19th

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a global event held every third Sunday of November to honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by roadway crashes. This year, on November 19, communities across the globe, including several dozen in the United States, gathered together to demand actions towards improving roadway safety and to uplift proven strategies, including redesigning dangerous roads, reducing speed limits, and improving vehicle design.

This day also serves as a crucial opportunity for governments and those working in road safety to demonstrate the scale and impact of road-related deaths and injuries and advocate for immediate and concerted action to end this public health crisis.

2023 Safe Streets for All Awards Announced

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced $82 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants awarded to more than 200 local, regional and tribal communities.

The USDOT states: “These funds will help communities develop safety action plans, inform improvements along corridors with safety issues, use “quick-build” strategies to test out safety features such as separated bicycle lanes or curb extensions at intersections, and more.” 

In the State of North Carolina, in excess of $1.5 million in Planning and Development Grants were awarded to the following communities:

  • City of Hickory
  • City of Gastonia
  • City of Greensboro
  • City of Monroe
  • Burlington – Graham MPO
  • Greenville Urban Area MPO

Watch for another round of FY23 SS4A awards to be announced in December. In total, the SS4A grants are expected to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding investments in roadway safety, provided directly to local communities. Applications for the next round of SS4A are anticipated to open in February 2024, information and applications for which can be found here.

NC Friendly Driver Program Presented to UNC Greensboro Students

On Monday, October 30th, BikeWalk NC staff presented the NC Friendly Driver Program to 25 students in the “Communication and Community” classes at UNC Greensboro.  Taught by Dr. Katie Lind, this particular course covers ethical and social responsibilities of civic action in the context of community problem solving.

The idea for this presentation stemmed from a conversation between Dr. Lind and BikeWalk NC staff at the Wheels on the Greenway event in Greensboro in May.  Recognizing the community problem solving connection to the curriculum, and that many of her students commute by car, Dr. Lind saw that these young drivers could benefit from better understanding the laws and best practices of sharing the road with bicycles and pedestrians on and around a college campus.

The NC Friendly Driver Program is supported by a grant from the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program and provides important information to help motorists safely co-exist with bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.

Content includes:

  •  Motorist driving habits that impact people who bike and pedestrians
  • Explanation of common bicyclist practices
  • How to avoid common crashes between motorists and vulnerable road users   
  • Active transportation infrastructure and Complete Streets concepts

You can find more information on the NC Friendly Driver Program here. If you are interested hosting an in-person or online presentation of the program in your area please contact BikeWalk NC Program Manager Laila Horton.

BikeWalk NC Participates in GHSP Safety City

On Saturday, October 21st, BikeWalk NC joined with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program and other partners in presenting the Safety City exhibit at the North Carolina State Fair.  

Safety City is an exhibit that educates fairgoers about safe driving behaviors, and is a joint effort between state agencies, law enforcement and nonprofit organizations. BikeWalk NC staff and board members spent the day engaging with fair attendees from around the state on the importance of safely sharing the road with vulnerable users, and highlighting the partnership between BikeWalk NC and GHSP for the NC Friendly Driver Program.

Individuals of all ages that stopped by the exhibit also had the opportunity to test their knowledge of roadway safety by taking the online Bicycle Safety Quiz, an educational tool provided by BIkeWalk NC to teach adults, children, motorists, and truck drivers how to share the road safely.

A special thanks goes to Executive Director Terry Lansdell, Program Manager Laila Horton, and Board Members Kenneth Withrow, Bruce Tretter, and Deana Acklin for their work staffing the booth and engaging with fairgoers throughout the day.