Building Partnerships to Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning in Asheville and Buncombe County Better Together

Active Transportation Progress Doubled on-road bicycle facilities in last three years First sharrows in state? First green lane in state? Increased focus and funding for sidewalks All transportation-related recovery projects included walking or biking Active transportation was a focus of local elections Transit master plan implementation eagerly awaited

Partners and Supporters Are Vital Advocacy Community Area Bicycle & Pedestrian Task Force Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Asheville on Bikes Health Community County Health Department Healthy Living Advocates (Y’s, Hospitals, etc.)

Advocates Can Offer expertise Provide energy and passion Provide labor! Quarterly bike lane clean up Annual pedestrian & bicycle counts BFC Application Be many places at once – or be many in one place Lead programs and events Share the vision Say things you can’t

Public Health Professionals Can Offer expertise Provide energy and passion Provide another voice and point of view Encourage behavior change Understand social marketing Lead programs and events Provide data and know what to do with it Find money Provide and guide intern labor Say things you can’t

Advocates have passion Asheville On Bikes Asheville Bicycle Racing Club WNC Bicycle Dealers Association Blue Ridge Bike Club Buncombe Bicycle Education Network Pedal Link Pisgah Area Southern Off-road Bicycle Association (SORBA) Strive Not to Drive Coalition

How do we harness the passion? Keep people engaged & not loose them. Keep them realistic and keep egos in check.

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive

Our Collective Goals Primary An awareness campaign Educate policy makers & community leaders about the benefits of active transportation Secondary Behavior change in contemplators/action oriented individuals Develop & expand partnership and advocacy base

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Middle School Bike Education Program

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking Owen Middle PE Bicycle Education National Bike Ped Count Participation

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking Owen Middle PE Bicycle Education National Bike Ped Count Participation Other Organizations Commit to Action First Bike Lane Opening

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking Owen Middle PE Bicycle Education National Bike Ped Count Participation Other Organizations Commit to Action First Bike Lane Opening Erwin Middle PE Bicycle Education 8 League Certified Bicycle Instructors

Timeline Strive Not to Drive Downtown Walking Routes Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking Middle School PE Bicycle Education National Bike Ped Count Participation First Bike Lane Opening 8 League Certified Bicycle Instructors Complete Streets & Bicycle Friendly Status supported by City Council

Timeline Bike to Work Day Healthy Air Body Community Day Strive Not to Drive Downtown on the Move Asheville adopts Bicycle Plan Safe Routes to School National Course & Workshops Erwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo Program Commuter Education Launch of Mayor’s Leadership Ride Free Bike Parking Owen Middle PE Bicycle Education National Bike Ped Count Participation Other Organizations Commit to Action First Bike Lane Opening Erwin Middle PE Bicycle Education 8 League Certified Bicycle Instructors Complete Streets & Bicycle Friendly Status supported by City Council Safe Routes to Schools in County Greenway Plan with Support from Superintendent

Changing Community Norms

Behavior Change Environmental Change Policy Change A Systems Approach to Public Health

Public Health Concerns Safety Obesity & Chronic Disease Physical Inactivity Air Quality Equity  Traffic injuries and fatalities ~$200 billion  Obesity/overweight societal cost ~$117 billion  Cost of physical inactivity ~ $76 billion  Healthy costs of transportation- related poor air quality ~$ billion  Exacerbating poverty and health inequities

Challenges Key drivers of transportation policy: cars and money Public Health agenda viewed as unrealistic and extraneous Perception (and sometimes reality) that we don’t speak the same language

Public Health Contribution Data New ways to evaluate impact Funding Compelling new ways to frame infrastructure needs Community building and advocacy skills

Public Health Contribution - Data NC has 84 local public health agencies (79 counties & 6 multi county districts) Community Health Assessments Public Health required every 4 years (with State of the County reports every year) Non-profit hospitals required to do every 3 years Move in some communities to consolidate efforts Broad topics covered w/ potential to add YOUR questions Beginning to link data with/GIS capabilities Health/Health_Reports.aspx Health/Health_Reports.aspx

Public Health Contribution - Funding Health Funding Sources State Public Health Funding Eat Smart Move More NC Private State Funding Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Kate B. Reynolds Duke Endowment Federal Health Funding: Putting Communities to Work / ARRA Community Transformation Grant (CDC) National Foundation Funding Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Active Living By Design Health funding is typically More flexible More immediate Typically follows a “5 E’s” format Collaboration and Evaluation generally required

Public Health Contribution Advocacy….with an “a” While Public Health is typically government... Clear distinction between the 3 elements of advocacy Education Advocacy Lobbying

Public Health Contribution Community Building Skills Partnership/coalition development Community engagement Facilitation Project Management Skills Grant writing Action Planning Research & evaluation skills Promotion Communication Media skills Social marketing

Designing Healthy Communities

Lessons to Take Home We are stronger together No one person or group has it all We don’t always share a common language It takes patience some days – from everyone We sometimes have to agree to disagree Celebrate wins together Don’t forget merging and yielding!

Terri March Buncombe County Health Department Better Together Barb Mee City of Asheville Transportation Department Claudia Nix Liberty Bicycles