Road Riders: Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Join The BRBC

The ability to ride on the road as an avid cyclist is a little different than having trails open for mountain biking. However, in many areas of the country, road cyclists are dealing with road closures. Having a strong voice of cyclists in a community can keep this from happening. The club's existence depends on active members and the dues of its members. I have developed this list of ten reasons why road cyclists should join the BRBC, in hopes that after reading it you will understand the value of the club and will want to be a member.

1. The BRBC was formed in 1974 during a community meeting on bicycle facilities. For the past 29 years, scheduled club rides and events have been offered to cyclists in the Asheville area and neighboring communities.
2. The Hilly Hellacious Hundred rides have been put on and expanded from one event of 100 miles to three events of 25 miles, 62 miles and 100 miles. At its inauguration twenty years ago, there were 17 riders; last year there were 550.
3. Conditions for cyclists have improved because there is a city Bike/Pedestrian Task Force. The task force exists because club members were vocal enough that it was developed by the mayor. Club members sit on the task force and vocalize cyclists' needs at city planning meetings. Some of the improvements include but are not limited to: wide outside lanes for new constructed roads, (i.e. South Charlotte Street, Hendersonville Highway, Leicester Highway, Charlotte Highway, Highway 280). Other improvements are: share the road signs, changed drain grates (these used to run parallel with the roadway), and the McDowell Street viaduct was given a sidewalk on both sides of the bridge. Many bridges have been improved to accommodate cyclists.
4. The Asheville and Buncombe County Bicycle Transportation Map was a project of the Bike/Pedestrian Task Force. Club members helped rate the suitability of the roads included on the map. Making the map a reality has developed a usable tool for cyclist to find the best routes through town.
5. The club helped to fund the erection of the neighborhood bike loop signs. There are ten of these loops around the city of Asheville. If it weren't for club members, these route signs would not have been erected as the city did not have enough money budgeted for them.
6. Club members with ABRC members attended city Parks & Recreation meetings to determine the use of the Speedway Park and vocalized a request that the track stay intact and improved for cycling activities.
7. Your advocacy chair was a member of the Board of RiverLink and attended meetings for the French Broad River improvement starting in the early 1980s. The riverfront is an ideal route for cyclists of all abilities. Most planning officials in Asheville in the early 1980s were unaware of cycling needs or that cyclists existed in this community.
8. The city has received approval for funds to continue the bike path along Amboy Road and connect it to the park at Hominy Creek. This is not yet started, but is in the North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program list.
9. A book and numerous maps with cue sheets are available of club rides in Asheville, Buncombe County and the neighboring counties because club officers saw a need for cyclists to have these rides available to the masses. The club developed a volunteer position of ride development which is presently staffed by Ralph Draves.
10. The city of Asheville has developed a bike/pedestrian plan for the city which includes a variety of improvements for cyclists of all abilities for the future. This plan exists because the BRBC has been an active part of community planning, and cyclists' needs are regularly being vocalized.

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© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Inc. 2004