Transportation
Bicycle & Pedestrian Services
Bicycling and walking are rapidly becoming realistic modes of transportation as traffic congestion and environmental concern become more evident. Sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths play an important role in providing transportation choices for people across Asheville. The city can be a great place for bicycling and walking. In addition to a mild climate, it has the ingredients that make walking and bicycling attractive to people for trips like commuting, shopping, and recreation.
The purpose of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Services is to increase bicycle and walking opportunities to all residents - young, old and individuals with special needs. By improving bicycling and walking conditions, it helps everyone lead safe, active and healthy lives. Our vision is to inspire people to get out of their cars and onto the street.
Location of Bicycle Lockers in Downtown Asheville: 29 Haywood Street, 45 Wall Street, 12 Rankin Avenue and
29 Rankin Avenue.
Comprehensive Bicycle Plan
The City of Asheville and the North Carolina Department of Transportation have jointly funded a bicycle transportation plan. The Toole Design Group assisted by Livable Streets, Inc., was contracted to create the plan with guidance from a steering committee and the public. First, there was a public open house in March 2007 that was attended by over 100 people. That was followed by an online survey, which more than 800 people completed. Armed with that information, research of area conditions, steering committee member insight and their considerable professional expertise, the consultants proposed draft recommendations. The recommendations were presented to the steering committee and then to about 75 members of the public at a meeting on July 26, 2007, where they shared their thoughts and insights. From that meeting, Toole Design Group personnel improved and refined the plan. A draft of that plan was posted on the the City's website for additional public comments. After taking those comments under consideration, the following plan was adopted on Feb. 26, 2008:
Comprehensive Bicycle Plan
This Plan builds on existing assets in the City, including a vibrant and engaged bicycle community, diverse range of bicyclists, existing bicycle facilities and an emerging greenway network. It attempts to address challenges that bicyclists face, such as access, connectivity, and safety. It strives to improve bicycle conditions on all roads, including large commercial arterial roads, while also addressing issues such education and awareness, driver behavior, and maintenance of bicycle facilities.
If you would like additional information about Bicycle Planning in the City of Asheville please contact Barbara Mee, Transportation Planner, by email or at 232-4540
2005 Pedestrian Plan
On May 25, 1999, the Asheville City Council adopted the City of Asheville Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan. The Plan was designed to prioritize capital improvement and maintenance projects for the city with special consideration for addressing Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues and for addressing critical pedestrian transportation and safety.
Five years later, city staff developed this revision to keep the City Pedestrian Plan current and useful to the city and the public and to expand funding approaches. This version of the Pedestrian Plan is designed to provide city staff and elected officials with good, technical information to make decisions on where to invest limited resources and how to improve policies and procedures that improve pedestrian safety and infrastructure.
With this version of the Pedestrian Plan, the city continues its ongoing commitment to improve the quality of life for all its citizens through improved access, inter-modal transportation and effective stewardship of our city’s pedestrian infrastructure and financial resources.
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Cover Page
Table of Contents and Acknowledgements
Executive Summary
Chapters 1-2, Plan Purpose and Planning Context
Chapter 3, Environmental and Social Context
Chapter 4, Local Management Context
Chapter 5, State and Metropolitan Planning Organization Context
Chapter 6, Identified Needs
Chapter 7, Vision, Goals and Objectives
Chapter 8, Recommendations
Chapter 9, Maps
From the PCR:
1. PCR Sidewalk Inventory North
2. PCR Sidewalk Inventory East
3. PCR Sidewalk Inventory West
4. PCR Sidewalk Inventory South
5. PCR Sidewalk Inventory Central
6. PCR ADA Compliance
Priority Criteria:
1. Priority Criteria Summary Areas
2. Priority Criteria: Zoning
3. Priority Criteria: Pedestrian Access to Community Destinations
4. Priority Criteria: Transit
Greenway Master Plan:
1. Greenways Master Plan with Needed Linkages
Needed Linkages:
1. Sidewalk Needed Linkages*
2. Needed Linkage Priority Consideration:
* Hendersonville Road Part 1
* Hendersonville Road Part 2
* Hendersonville Road Part 3
3. Needed Linkage Priority Consideration: Hilliard
4. Needed Linkage Priority Consideration: Livingston
Appendices
* Appendix 1 Sidewalk Ordinance
* Appendix 2 Pedestrian Accident Report
* Appendix 3 NCDOT Policy
* Priority Cost Estimates
*Needed Linkages indicate key sidewalk segments or strategic corridors where sidewalks do not exist, exist but are in poor condition or are non-compliant, or along roads which have sidewalk on only one side of the road where it is important to have it on both. The Needed Linkage shapefile was developed from the PCR data, comments from the Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force, Walkability Assessments conducted by volunteers for Healthy Buncombe, and information included in the 1999 Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan. This map has both planning and regulatory implications. It targets major thoroughfares and gaps in the pedestrian network which should be built out to provide a minimum of citywide connectivity. It also updates the “Needed Linkages” data cited in the UDO Sidewalk Regulations that dictate where fee-in-lieu of sidewalks may not be paid. In other words, new development along designated Needed Linkage segments must include sidewalk construction. In these designated areas, the sidewalk regulations will not be met by a payment or fee-in-lieu of construction.