The 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit will take place September 17 to 19, 2026 in Carolina Beach and will bring together transportation professionals, advocates, public officials and community leaders working to advance safety, health and equity on North Carolina roads. Sponsoring the Summit offers a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate your organization’s commitment to people-centered transportation while connecting with an engaged audience influencing policy planning and practice across the state. Sponsors receive valuable visibility throughout the event and help support hands-on learning, meaningful networking, and the exchange of ideas that attendees carry back to their communities. Sponsorship opportunities are limited and we invite you to review the Sponsorship Package and register through the Summit webpage to support this important gathering.
News
Friendly Driver Program: 2025 Statewide Growth
BikeWalk NC’s Friendly Driver Program has experienced significant growth over the past four years. From 2022 to 2025, total participation increased by 655 percent, reflecting expanded partnerships, stronger outreach, and increased demand for road safety education across North Carolina.
Designed to help motorists safely share the road with people walking and biking, BikeWalk NC’s Friendly Driver Program continues to build safer, more welcoming streets across North Carolina. In 2025 alone, we delivered 53 presentations and reached 2,242 participants statewide. Each session represents another step toward a culture of awareness, accountability, and mutual respect on our roads.
The Friendly Driver Program is a one-hour, interactive course that covers essential road-sharing topics, including:
- Common crash scenarios and how to prevent them
- The legal rights and responsibilities of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians
- Practical strategies to reduce conflicts and improve safety
Throughout 2025, the program continued to grow and connect with a wide range of audiences. We worked with schools and driver’s education programs, municipalities, engineering firms and transportation professionals, YMCA partners, Wake County Safe Routes to School, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Durham Public Schools, partners in Chapel Hill, and students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2025, we also launched a new design suite for all Friendly Driver materials. The updated visuals improved clarity, accessibility, and consistency across presentations and outreach efforts.
In 2025 our presentations were nearly even split between in-person and virtual participation. In-person sessions allow for direct engagement and interactive discussion, particularly in classrooms and municipal settings. Virtual sessions increase accessibility and allow us to reach professionals, organizations, and partners across the state without geographic or transportation barriers. Maintaining both formats ensures the program remains adaptable and responsive to each community’s needs.
As we look ahead in 2026, we are focused on continuing this growth and bringing the Friendly Driver Program to even more communities across North Carolina.
Interested in hosting or attending a Friendly Driver Program session?
Contact programs@bikewalknc.org
Save the Date for the 15th Annual BikeWalk NC Transportation Summit
We will be releasing more details in the coming weeks and months, but here are some key details.
Save the date for the 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit taking place September 17 to 19, 2026 in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. This multi day conference focuses on the safety, health, community design and equity dimensions of active mobility and brings together nationally recognized and regional presenters along with hands-on tools and experiences attendees can apply in their own communities. The Summit is designed for transportation planners, engineers, elected officials, students consultants, nonprofit advocates, health professionals, bike and pedestrian practitioners and others working toward safer and more equitable transportation systems. Registration for the 2026 Summit will be limited to 200 participants for the main sessions, so space will be limited. Plan to register early.
What is the NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit?
The Summit is a multi-day conference that focuses exclusively on the safety, health, community design, and equity dimensions of active mobility. The event features both nationally recognized and regional presenters. It also offers interactive, “hands on” tools and experiences that attendees can bring back to their own communities. The BikeWalk Transportation Summit is a valuable educational and networking resource for anyone who cares about creating safer streets and healthier, more equitable communities for all road users.
Who Should Attend the Summit?
The summit offers valuable information for transportation planners, elected officials, students of City Planning and Public Health programs, road engineers, planning consultants, nonprofit advocates, health promotion personnel, bike/ped professionals, nonprofit trail groups, and others who are interested in safer roads and transportation options.
Where Will the Summit Be Held?
The 2026 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit will take place in Carolina Beach, NC, with sessions hosted at the Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront, along with additional offsite educational and social opportunities.
A room block has been secured for Summit attendees:
Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront
$254/night + tax
Start Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
End Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
The special group rate is available until Tuesday, August 18, 2026. If you have questions or need assistance with your reservation, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Curious about past NC BikeWalk Transportation Summits?
Explore our archive of Summit Programs to see the range of sessions, speakers, and topics covered in previous years. These programs highlight the practical tools, innovative ideas, and conversations that shape each Summit.
Inspiring Spaces: Public Private Partnerships
Session 2A: Inspiring Spaces: Public-Private Partnerships is now available on our YouTube channel.
Panelists Yaidee Fox, Lindsay Keisler, and Meg Nealon share how collaborative visioning and investment are transforming public spaces in Hickory and beyond. This session highlights how partnerships between government, business, and planners are shaping walkable, connected, and economically vibrant communities. Recorded live at the 2025 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit in Hickory, NC.
More Summit sessions will be released soon. Subscribe to our channel to be notified when new content is available.
Meeting the Moment: How We Can Make North Carolina the Great Trails (& Biking and Walking) State
We’re excited to share that Session 1: Meeting the Moment: How We Can Make North Carolina the Great Trails (& Biking and Walking) State is now available on our YouTube channel. This was recorded live at the 2025 NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit in Hickory, NC.
In this featured session, Dennis Markatos-Soriano, Executive Director of the East Coast Greenway, shares how North Carolina can rise to the moment and become the nation’s leading trails, biking, and walking state. The session explores opportunities for bold leadership, collaboration, and investment in active transportation.
More Summit sessions will be released soon. Subscribe to our channel to be notified when new content is available.
