BikeWalkNC

North Carolina’s advocate for safe cycling and walking

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In the Spotlight: Evan Brigham



Evan Brigham joined the BikeWalk NC team two years ago as a replacement for his roommate Dylan Horne, a former BWNC member who left for a cross-country bicycle trip. Evan’s passion for bicycling originally came from an environmental standpoint, but it grew as he became involved with more bicycling organizations.

Outside of BWNC, Evan served as president of Oaks and Spokes, a Raleigh-based nonprofit, and was commissioner for Raleigh’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC). His interests in transportation extended into his day job as a traffic engineer, but he also enjoys hobbies like gardening in his spare time.

Originally hailing from Denver, Colorado, Evan realized that as long as he was close to his destination, he didn’t need a car. “By the time I was 16 or 17, I realized that I had a bike this whole time, and I could get around just fine with a bike.” Evan hopes to never need an automobile.

Earlier this year, Evan left Raleigh to travel for three months in Central America, after which he plans on returning to Denver to be close to his family. “Evan provided a youthful perspective as the millennial member on the BWNC board, and it was a pleasure working with him the last few years,” said Lisa Riegel, BWNC executive director. “We hope he returns to North Carolina in the future.”

During his time with BWNC, Evan became most passionate about the organization’s legislative work. “I didn’t know there was so much going on at the state level,” said Evan. “All of these attacks on bike laws have amazed me. To find out that, with the right push or with the right pressure from a group of people, you can make a change, is really cool.”

Pre-Summit Social and Q&A on E-bikes and Cargo bikes with Arleigh Greenwald

Arleigh Greenwald is the owner of Bike Shop Girl Bikes in Aurora, CO.  A mom and life long bike industry employee with over 18+ years as a professional mechanic, she has guided many in their purchase of a cargo bike and inspired countless others to “bike more and worry less,”  (a philosophy we can all relate to these days).  She has a deep desire to make our communities healthier, happier, and less congested as she watches her own children grow up.  You can see several of her reviews of cargo bikes at the website bikeshopgirl.com.  Arleigh is passionate in believing that ADHD, obesity, transportation gases, and much more can all be helped with a simple bike ride and choosing to #LeaveTheCarAtHome. Grab a beverage, come say hello to everyone, and bring your questions for Arleigh on Weds., November 4. We’ll start gathering at 5:30 pm  ET, and Arleigh will join us at 6 pm.

2019 NC BikeWalk Summit November 8-9 in Winston-Salem

We wanted to let you all know that we are so very excited to announce our 8th Annual North Carolina BikeWalk Summit!

BikeWalkNC and its partners would like to invite you to be a part of the 2019 NC BikeWalk Summit which will take place November 8-9, 2019 in Winston-Salem North Carolina. We are currently accepting proposals from people, organizations or partnerships who would like to talk about how they are making how we can make “Healthy, Active Communities with a carbon free transportation future!”
The 2019 NC BikeWalk Summit is the proud to be in Winston-Salem for the first time!. We want you to help us tell the story of our present state of active transportation, all that has changed and lay out a  vision for North Carolina. Please submit a proposal for a panel, workshop, mobile workshop or poster. You can propose your own panel, or a single presentation and BikeWalkNC will select the best.

To help get you started, we are looking for proposals that address the following themes:

• Advocacy
• Environmental and Social Justice
• Infrastructure Design/Safety
• Transportation Demand Management
• Health and Wellness
• Education (adult, school age)
• Funding mechanisms
• Policy and Planning (e.g., Complete Streets)
• Laws
• Economic impacts
• Success stories
• Climate Change Impacts
• Anything you would like!
Sponsorships are also available and needed to make our event a success.  Please review our sponsorship proposal here.

Bicycle Registration and Plate Proposal Draws Ridicule

A bill sponsored by NC House Representative Jeffrey Elmore (representing Alexander and Wilkes Counties) would require all bicycles operated by persons age 16 and over to be registered with the state DMV and equipped with a bicycle-specific license plate for an annual fee of ten dollars per bicycle.

https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H157v0.pdf

Although the suggested purpose of the bill is to raise money for bicycle projects, bicyclist advocates around the state were immediately critical of the proposal. Terry Lansdell, executive director of BikeWalk NC, pointed out that such programs usually lose money and create administrative headaches. “The bike registration fees don’t cover the costs of the registration process. It would overtax and overburden the DMV at this point,” Lansdell explained.

Enforcement of mandatory bicycle registration laws in other parts of the country has drawn criticism for targeting racial minorities and low-income communities, often as a pretext for searches and interrogations, and for impounding hundreds of bicycles often belonging to people with no alternative means of transportation.

The lack of positive revenue and problems with enforcement have resulted in abandonment of mandatory registration programs in most places they have been tried. [See “Why Bicycle Licensing (Almost) Never Works.”]

BikeWalk NC members are initiating dialog with members of the NC legislature to discuss this bill and alternative ways to increase revenue and promote public safety.  BikeWalk NC will track this bill and provide updates as things evolve.

For more historical information about bicycle registration and licensing, and preferred alternatives, see

Bicycling: Privilege or Right?

Bicyclist Licensing

Why Don’t You Need a Bicycle License? 

Why Bicycle Licensing (Almost) Never Works

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