BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

Advocacy

Tell your legislator to advance HB 511

NC transportation funding structure’s failure to meet the moment as walking and cycling grow during COVID has been a constant theme over the past year.  But, since 2013, our NC General Assembly has prevented stand alone pedestrian and bicycle projects from accessing state transprotation dollars. 

This has to end. 

BikeWalkNC successfully advanced similar language in the last NC General Assembly Session but failed to make change.  This year, right now, we have been successful in creating a bill that will restore access to state transportation dollars without disrupting the prioritization process for state, regional and local projects.  

It is time to act: contact the bill sponsors and thank them for their support, contact all members of the General Assembly to advance this bill out of committee and to restore funding for pedestrian and bicycle projects!

find your nc state legislator

Summit Highlight, Vol 3: Equitable Public Input

All of the BikeWalk NC Summit sessions were amazing this year, but this is one that we deem to be a must-watch for any elected official, planner or participant in the public input process.

In this session, panelists discuss why, in order to realize equitable outcomes from our transportation system, we must start by building equitable engagement into our practices for developing transportation plans and projects. Watch this rousing panel discussion to gain insight into how communities can be intentional about centering equity in their engagement practices.

Moderator: Kim Roney
Panelists: Laura Biediger, Hana Creger, Aidil Ortiz, Olatunji Oboi Reed

Let’s Build Some Trails!

Durham’s Trail Implementation Program

Increased use of trails during the pandemic has amplified the call for trails to be considered “essential infrastructure.” See the steps the City of Durham is taking to move projects from its master trails plan toward design and development. The focus on implementation makes this Plan a unique product in North Carolina, one that other communities can replicate.

Presenters: Matt Hayes and Lindsay Smart

How inclusive is Public Transit for those with disabilities?

How much support is given to non-car forms of transportation in our state?

Before NCDOT’s current financial woes, in 2018-2019, North Carolina’s Department of Transportation had a budget of $5 billion dollars. 

From NCDOT’s $5 billion budget, public transit’s share was only $124.5 million for the entire state, which has 90 transit systems. (Note: many of the budget decisions for how NCDOT can spend money come not from NCDOT but from the General Assembly.) This lack of serious financial support makes it impossible to have the type of transit systems that communities ask for.

People often say they don’t take the bus because of the amount of time it takes over driving. Would it be different if buses had more funding, dedicated lanes, and more input from those who depend on them most? And what does the amount of money given to transit say about how our state values those who cannot drive or don’t have access to a car?

The Summit will have a panel discussion that will address several issues related to mobility as it impacts people who are blind or visually impaired or otherwise disabled. With advances in technology, changes in the ways people get around and aging Baby Boomers, increasing numbers of people with disabilities are out and about and engaging in society on all levels. The need for transit and transportation services and infrastructure which will allow for safe and effective travel for school, work, healthcare, social and cultural interactions and engagement has never been more important to the growing community of people with disabilities.

This session will spotlight the needs of those for whom transit is not just an alternative to driving, but a main part of their independence and mobility.

UPDATE: You can watch the discussion below:

2019 BikeWalkNC Lobby Day

JOIN BikeWalkNC IN RALEIGH FOR YOUR LOBBY DAY TO SUPPORT BICYCLING AND WALKING APRIL 30,2019

We are BikeWalkNC, your statewide advocacy organization for people who bike and walk. Join us and fellow cycling, walking and active transportation advocates in Raleigh to meet with our state legislators, show them who you are and how important it is to support safe infrastructure for people biking and walking.

Our goals for the 2019 BikeWalkNC Lobby Day are to focus our messaging to positively impact safety for cycling and walking and to ensure that our representatives understand the existing health, environmental, economic and placemaking benefits of investments in active transportation infrastructure.  

This year’s General Assembly has been dynamic and has shown an interest for active transportation funding, policy and defining new modes of transportation within existing and future bicycle, pedestrian and multi use facilities.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO:

  1. Educate our legislators about the rights of people who ride and walk.
  2. As their constituents, build relationships with them to bring all available federal, state and local resources to their districts for active transportation infrastructure, education, encouragement and enforcement.
  3. Inform legislators on the issues confronting bicycling and walking in North Carolina.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE APRIL 30 LOBBY DAY AND REGISTER HERE: https://bikewalknc.wildapricot.org/event-3340138 

TRAINING: APRIL 22,  AT 3PM, BikeWalkNC will hold a 45 minute ADVOCACY 101 TRAINING webinar to  review protocols and logistics for the 2019 NC BikeWalk Lobby Day. WHETHER YOU ATTEND LOBBY DAY OR NOT, ALL ARE WELCOME.

LOBBY DAY DATE AND TIME:  April 30 from 10am to 4pm on the third floor of the NC General Assembly Legislative Office Building, 16 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601. We will meet for a pre-lobby breakfast at 9:00 at the Daily Planet Cafe 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601.