Dan Baechtold
City of Asheville
P.O. Box 7148
Asheville, NC 28802
Dear Mr. Baechtold:
I have read the Asheville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Draft Priority Needs List. It seems to consist primarily of road "improvements" and other new asphalt and concrete structures for vehicle traffic. A few token bicycle projects are included, at apparently minimal cost. As a cyclist, this greatly concerns me. Many of the targeted roads are ones I cycle on frequently.
My preference would be to see a vastly expanded network of bike trails and bike lanes on roads. Ideally, it would be possible to get from any point in Asheville to any other along a dedicated bike route.
The world in general, and Asheville in particular, has quite enough traffic and noise for my taste already. Adding more roads will just encourage more of the same (this has been proven in numerous studies; see the book "Better Not Bigger" by Eben Fodor).
When I was a child, my father used to take me to the local hardware store. I remember the Sherwin-Williams sign in front with the slogan saying "We cover the Earth". DOT appears to favor a similar strategy: it wants to "cover the Earth" in asphalt. Enough!
Thank you for considering my comments.
Gregory Wilcox
gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
31 Overlook Drive
Candler, NC 28715-9260
(828) 665-7531
Subject: RE: comments on Priority Needs List
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 15:13:55 -0500
From: Dan Baechtold <DanB@mail.ci.asheville.nc.us>
To: 'Gregory Wilcox'
<gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us>
Dear Mr. Wilcox:
Thank you for your comments concerning the Priority Needs List. I certainly agree that we have a long way to go in providing balanced transportation options in this community. The way transportation dollars have traditionally been allocated favors the automobile over transit, bicycle and pedestrian needs. The state of North Carolina is making some strides in providing more transportation choices, but there is still much work to be done. The percentage of state transportation funds spent on pedestrian and bicycle projects is still very small.
The local MPO is also making some policy improvements. The MPO is beginning to insist that improvements to roadways include wide outside lanes for bicyclists, and that new projects include sidewalks. In addition, the MPO and the NCDOT are supporting greater access management by including raised medians instead of continuous center turn lanes. You may also notice that some of the "roadway" projects included in the Priority Needs List are actually requests to improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians by adding wider travel lanes and sidewalks.
Due to the persistence of a dedicated few, the Asheville area now has two roadways with striped bike lanes. The Asheville Greenway Plan is finally starting to see some funding and some construction. As you point out, we've barely started in creating a truly connected network for bicyclists. We've done a lot of planning in this area. Now, our biggest challenges are funding and public support.
Thank you for taking the time to provide comments. I will pass your comments along to the Technical Coordinating Committee for the MPO.
__________________________________________________
Dan Baechtold
MPO Coordinator, Asheville Urban Area
City of Asheville Engineering Department
P.O. Box 7148
Asheville, NC 28802
828.259.5842
danb@mail.ci.asheville.nc.us
Mr. L.L. Hendricks
NC DOT Public Involvement Unit
1583 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1583
Mr. Hendricks,
I would like to comment on the planned design of Brevard Road in Asheville from I-40 to I-26. I understand that you plan to widen the road to a four-lane facility with a grassy medium and wide outside lanes.
My personal preference is that you leave the road as is, and not widen it at all. Roads destroy wilderness, and fragment the habitat of native species. The cumulative impact of development -- including and especially due to roads -- is the direct cause of our current rate of species loss, currently several species PER HOUR.
I urge you to stop this madness immediately. Do not build any more roads. Instead, the highest priority of the DOT should be to facilitate human powered transportation: walking, bicycling, skating, and the like. After all, these are legitimate forms of transportation too -- ones to which the DOT has historically given extremely short shrift. Such a focus would do much toward rebuilding the sense of community and neighborliness that has been all but lost in modern America. It would also greatly lessen our dependence on foreign oil -- an increasingly important consideration after September 11. Lastly, it would minimize the environmental damage done continuously by emissions of vehicular traffic, which contribute about half of the toxins polluting the air of this nation.
Secondary priority should be given to maintaining existing roads, which are sadly in need of it. If any new roads are built, they absolutely must include bike lanes.
I respectfully request that you consider the above to be my public comments on the subject. Please let me know how you intend to address this issue.
Gregory Wilcox
gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
31 Overlook Drive
Candler, NC 28715-9260
(828) 665-7531
Subject: Brevard
Road Public Comment
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 08:25:16 -0500
From: Len Hendricks <lhendricks@dot.state.nc.us>
Organization: North Carolina Department of Transportation
To: gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
A post-hearing meeting will be conducted in Raleigh within the next six weeks to discuss the concerns, questions, comments, etc. received from the informal public hearing. Your comments - along with all others received - will be considered at this meeting.
The proposed widening of Brevard Road is planned to improve traffic flow, congestion, and safety from I-26 to I-40. Traffic is projected to increase from 14,000 vehicles per day to 27,000 vehicles per day within the next 20 years. The widening will be primarily to the Biltmore side of the road. The Department is working very closely with the Biltmore representatives to minimize impacts to this historic site. A sidewalk is planned for the west side of the project. In addition, the outside lanes will be 14 feet wide to accommodate "share the road" bicycle traffic.
Thank you for your interest and concerns regarding this project. I will forward your email to our planning staff and design engineers for further consideration.
Len Hendricks, Public Hearing Officer
Mr. Jeff Burns
Transit Planner
City of Asheville
Mr. Burns,
I would like to request a "Share The Road" sign on Enka Lake Road at the start of its winding climb up to Enka High School. I live near the school, and use this road quite often.
Ideally the sign would be placed about a quarter mile from the corner of Sandhill Road and Enka Lake Road, just before the road curves to the left. At that point, the road goes up steeply in a tight S curve. The speed limit there is 45 mph (which I believe is too high for this section of the road), and vehicles often exceed that limit. It is difficult for them to see pedestrians or bicyclists around the two sharp curves. Pedestrians and bicyclists tend to move very slowly up steep hills, and vehicles overtake them very quickly.
This combination of circumstances -- a steep hill, tight turns, a high speed limit, and no shoulders -- makes such roads very dangerous to traverse on foot or by bicycle. Hence the reason for my request.
I have requested such a sign before, from the resident engineer at the North Carolina division of transportation. Their sign shop has posted many other "Share The Road" signs for me, and I am quite grateful. However, my multiple requests for a sign at this location have been unsuccessful.
I hope my explanation is clear. Please call me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your help in resolving this matter. I look forward to your reply.
Gregory Wilcox
gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
31 Overlook Drive
Candler, NC 28715-9260
(828) 665-7531
Subject: RE: "Share The Road" signs
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 10:17:34 -0400
From: Jeff Burns <JeffBurns@mail.ci.asheville.nc.us>
To: 'Gregory Wilcox' <gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us>
Gregory,
Thank you for the feedback. We encourage input and requests because you are "eyes on the street" and familiar with individual situations, such as this one. This looks to be a NC DOT street and therefore, outside of our jurisdiction. However, I will attempt to draw upon the good relationship between our organizations to effectuate the installation of the sign. Possibly, we could install the sign with NC DOT's permission.
Thank you for making us aware of bicycle/pedestrian hazards.
Have a good weekend,
Jeff
August 25, 2002
Mr. William Damon, Supervisor
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
5162 Valleypointe Parkway
Roanoke, VA 24019
Dear William Damon,
We need more wilderness in the Southern Appalachians. What is now protected in the region as Wilderness -- only 1% of National Forest land -- is too little.
That is why the forest plan revision for National Forests throughout the Southern Appalachians is critical. The plan revision offers an excellent opportunity to protect the last remaining roadless areas on federal public lands, lands that belong to the American people.
At a minimum, all the remaining roadless areas in the Southern Appalachians should be protected. But by far the best way to stave off looming environmental catastrophe is to designate all National Forest land as Wilderness Study Areas in the plan revisions.
I live in the Southern Appalachians, and I frequently ride a bicycle in this area. The air is often unhealthy, evincing the need for more trees to purify the air, not less.
Sincerely,
Gregory Wilcox
gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
31 Overlook Drive
Candler, NC 28715-9260
(828) 665-7531
Subject: Re: Protect All National Forests!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 12:08:17 -0400
From: "Nancy J Ross/R8/USDAFS" <njross@fs.fed.us>
To: "Gregory Wilcox"
<gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us>
Nancy J Ross/R8/USDAFS wrote:
Thank you for your comments. I will add them to my record. Are you aware that bicycles are not permitted inside designated wilderness areas? Our current version of the Jefferson revised plan has 3 new recommendations to Congress for wilderness study areas. The remainder of the roadless areas are protected through a backcountry recreation designation which would still allow mountain biking trails, but not timber harvest or road building. Since you mentioned that you road a bicycle in the Forest, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of this distinction.
Nancy J. Ross
Planning Team Leader
George Washington & Jefferson NFs
540-265-5172
njross@fs.fed.us
Check out the Southern Forest Resource Assessment at http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/sustain
Subject: Re: Protect All National Forests!!!!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002
13:45:55 -0400
From: Gregory Wilcox <gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us>
To: Nancy J Ross/R8/USDAFS
<njross@fs.fed.us>
CC: juliewnc@earthlink.net,
Woody and JoJo Keen <ascentdesc@citcom.net>
Ms. Ross,
Thank you for your timely reply. I send out dozens of letters every week, protesting government and industry policy on various environmental issues. It is rare that I receive a personal reply, much less so quickly.
For the record, I am a road bicyclist. I have never even owned a true mountain bike, and I almost never ride off-road. I am what they call a "die-hard old-school roadie". My two main bicycles are a Univega Modo Volare and a Giant Kronos. Both of these have 700 x 23 mm ("skinny") tires, and are designed purely for riding on pavement. For example, I just returned from a ride up to Mount Pisgah via Route 151, and back on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
However, I do belong to the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club (link below), which has many members who ride mountain bikes. They are quite interested in trail access issues, and lobby extensively to maintain access in permitted areas. You may wish to contact Julie White, the Club's Trail Advocacy officer, or Woody Keen, the Trails Resource Director of Friends of Dupont Forest.
Gregory Wilcox
gwilcox@buncombe.main.nc.us
31 Overlook Drive
Candler, NC 28715-9260
(828) 665-7531
© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Inc. 2004