Asheville Area Bicycle & Pedestrian Task Force

About Us

We're a organization of volunteers, loosely associated with the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and the French Broad River MPO (right? Any other associations we should mention?). The group first took shape around 1988.

Our Mission

To Educate the public about bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

To Advocate for the development and maintenance of safe, convenient and inter-connected facilities.

And to promote the benefits of walking and bicycling for individual and community health.

Committees

(Committee goals taken from December 2003 minutes.)

Planning & Implementation: (Members: J. Latimore, P. Entry, T. Redinger, E. Teague - Chair, D. Baechtold - resource, T. Hauser, C. Nix)

Update the Pedestrian plan
Do the pedestrian assessment
Finalize the RR track improvements on Riverside Drive
Review the standards & specifications manual for the city
Expand project descriptions to be more specific i.e. TIP plan descriptions
Try to work w/ other groups to get easement and funding before going to DOT in an effort to speed the projectss
Review the Bicycle Plan to see if it needs updating

Communication & Public Relations: (Members: K. Hinz - Chair, E. Teague - resource, B. Esselstyn, M. Koerschner)

Hold public forums to learn desired needs of the public
Develop communication strategies to promote more people walking and biking on present facilities
Create a web site which can be used to communicate to each other (those on the committee) as well as the general public so they will know what we are doing and want we need from them, and to educate the general public and new members of the committee
Develop a process to orientate future members of our committee
Inspire the public to walk and bike
Coordinate with Strive Not to Drive events
Training for committee members, i.e. Active Community Involvement program or similiar training

Safety & Education (Members: C. Nix, T. Hauser, T. March, V. Rowe-Currence)

Develop safety education for motorist, cyclists, and pedestrians dealing with the laws and courtesy
Tie in with Strive not to Drive in an effort to raise funds for education projects (perhaps sponsor an event)
Do pedestrian assessment
Work on improving relationships between motorists and pedestrians, cyclists and runners