2024 BikeWalkNC Transportation Summit Summary, Part 2

Here's a bulleted summary, part 2, of our outstanding 2024 BikeWalk North Carolina Transportation Summit, Monday, Sep. 23, at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.

John Bauters (Emeryville, CA Councilman) – America’s Bike Mayor”: Advancing Bike/Ped Goals Through Effective Communication (click this link to view the full video of John's talk)

  • “Story” is most important
    • Story = more than just data, story impacts how people feel
  • How you communicate impacts how people will feel & remember significance of your message/purpose
  • Consult with interested parties & involve them in problem identification & planning before you take action
    • Culture change, mindset change
  • Safety is the winning narrative
    • Facts vs. Feelings
      • Understand your audience and interact where they are at either a factual or emotional level
    • Turn your vision into action

15-70-15% - left/right extremes (15%) vs. mainstream moderates (70%)

Anna Zivarts – Vision impaired non-driver, author of When Driving Is Not An Option, limited driving advocate (click this link to see the full video of Anna's talk)

  • Reasons for non-driving (30% US population doesn’t drive)
    • Disability
    • Economics/affordability
    • Age/seniors
    • Younger people, age 16-24+, choosing not to drive
  • how to get around without driving
    • asking for rides
      • stigma/burden/shame
    • paying for rides – not economically sustainable
  • Transit is freedom
    • need to create infrastructure for non-drivers –> building vibrant communities that are not car-dependent
      • need well-maintained sidewalks & crossings to connect to public transportation
      • land use & zoning to reduce car-dependency
      • “more affordability means moving further out. Moving further out means more limited transportation”
      • E-mobility designed for us (e-bikes, scooters...)
    • weekwithoutdriving.org

Panel Discussion – Transportation Challenges & Solutions in Rural Communities (click this link to view the full video of the panel discussion):

Megan Kimball, Southern Environmental Law Center
Omega Wilson, co-founded the West End Revitalization Association; Ayo Wilson, Director of Clean Energy & Climate Justice at WERA); Dawna Ledbetter, Director of Equity West Marion Community Forum Inc.; Karyl Fuller, Principal Planner & Director Central Pines Regional Council 

  • Infrastructure is key to population health & security (water, power, sewer...)
  • Racial bias regarding infrastructure funding priorities
  • Limited multiracial presence at this summit
    • Will that change next year (in Hickory)?
  • How do we keep younger people in rural communities?
    • People want small town feel with larger city/community connection
  • How to improve rural access & safety?
    • Public participation/community outreach: Get involved in city council & zoning meetings
    • Sometimes emphasis on bike/ped paths don’t make sense to a community that doesn’t have basic infrastructure already in place: paved roads, water, sewer, power

Next: Why Hickory to host BikeWalkNC Transportation Summit 2025 


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published