This week, our Founder and Executive Director Shannon Binns, joined the CharlotteFive Podcast to discuss how Charlotte can become a more sustainable city!
"When Shannon Binns moved to Charlotte in 2007 he didn’t have a car. He hadn’t had one in 10 years. He thought his car-owning days were behind him. He quickly realized that it was really hard — and sometimes nearly impossible — to get around the city without a car."
Click here to listen to the discussion where Binns talks (starting at 21minutes) about transportation choices in Charlotte, how we got to this point, what Charlotte needs to do to become a more sustainable city, and what obstacles stand in the way of that happening.
What would make Parkwood Ave & The Plaza safer? Here's what residents told CDOT:
The idea of adding bike lanes to Parkwood Ave was a clear favorite (see chart above)!
The verdict is in: residents who attended a series of walking tours told the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) that they don't feel entirely comfortable walking or riding a bicycle along much of Parkwood Avenue.
Instead of functioning as a neighborhood street for all users, the avenue is plagued by heavy traffic and unsafe driving behavior.
Click here to read what survey participants had to say about bikes and safety!
What are the best Mecklenburg County Parks to ride?
We believe bikes are a sustainable, accessible, easy-to-use means of healthy transportation and connectivity. But sometimes you just want to ride for the fun of it! With so many great places to take a spin, how do you know where to start?
Well, how about right here with our list of some of the best Mecklenburg County Park and Rec places to ride!
Want to explore more of uptown Charlotte and historic South End? You’re not alone!
Get in on Biketoberfest October 15th, for a day full of two-wheeled fun, discovery, prizes, and community! Tickets are available online right now for just $10!
Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come! Click below to be the change and become a sustaining member today!
*Membership at the $5/month level includes a free Sustain Charlotte T-shirt (made of 100% recycled material by our Gold Partner Recover)!*
Pedal Pushers: Biking as a Transportation Option [The Charlotte Post]
"Charlotte needs to broaden its transportation horizons...As a corporate city, biking to work sounds sweaty, messy and less than professional for someone who has to spend his or her day in a suit or heels. [According to our Bicycle Program Director Jordan Moore,] 'you need businesses to put in facilities to make it possible for people to ride in wearing one thing, and then change into another. You need businesses to relax their dress codes and standards, which is something that Charlotte doesn’t like to talk about'". Click here to read our Bicycle Program Directors assessment of bicycle culture in Charlotte and what our city can do to enhance the use of bicycles as a safe and viable form of transportation!
Integrated Housing and Transit Policies Are Key [San Francisco Examiner]
"Our cities aren’t building enough affordable and middle-income housing...in order for our cities to become more affordable, we need to integrate our housing and transportation policies based on the principle that our cities must work for everyone — from the tech entrepreneur to the barista, from the small business owner to our blue-collar workers." Charlotte is now the 21st most expensive apartment rental market in the nation. Very little affordable housing is being built and the demand for it is growing, especially near transit lines! It's important that our city integrates affordable housing policies into the update of our zoning ordinance!
Focus: San Diego's Unprecedented Transportation Goal [The San Diego Union - Tribune]
"Transportation experts nationwide said that to realize small but consistent gains over many years, cities need to significantly expand mass-transit infrastructure, get businesses to subsidize employees who take the bus or train to work, create protected bike paths and make it painful for people to commute by minimizing parking lots and street parking." We'd like to see Charlotte take such a visionary and bold approach to solving our sustainable transportation challenges!
* OCTOBER 12: Sustain Charlotte + Green Drinks Charlotte Monthly Mixer *
6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Free Range Brewing, 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205. Join us for an informal and fun evening of conversation and networking! Our Monthly Mixers provide an opportunity to learn more about us, our partners, and meet others interested in local sustainability issues. At 6:30, you'll hear from Sustain Charlotte special guest Jon Orcutt with TransitCenter. There are no membership requirements and everyone is warmly welcomed. 
* TICKETS NOW ON SALE! - October 15: Sustain Charlotte's Second Annual Biketoberfest *
12:00pm - 5:00pm with after party to follow. Sustain Charlotte will host this highly anticipated event in Center City and South End Charlotte. This unique event shows hundreds of people how easy it is to get around without driving! Participants will bike, walk, or ride transit to sponsoring businesses while collecting stamps in their official Biketoberfest passport. Stamps will be redeemed for raffle tickets and a chance to win many valuable prizes! This family-friendly event will end with an after party celebration with live music and an exciting raffle! All proceeds will benefit Sustain Charlotte, your community advocate for biking in Charlotte! Tickets are only $10 with an awesome event t-shirt included (or $25 with a t-shirt). Kids under 18 are free. Check-in at Triple C Brewing opens at 11am.
September 20: The Uptown Urban Trail Connections Study Public Input Session
4:00 - 7:00pm @ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28202. The City is working with a consultant to evaluate options to connect the Little Sugar, Irwin and Stewart Creek greenways and at this workshop, YOU will have the chance to provide input for this study! Please attend this workshop and let the city know that you want to see a safe, protected bike lane connecting our greenways and ultimately a network of protected lanes throughout Charlotte. We are encouraging people from all over Charlotte to ride their bikes to this event. Make it a group ride, make it a race, make it a slow cruise, just make it out on Sept 20th and let your voice be heard in support of safe, connected, world-class bicycle infrastructure! Click here to learn more.
September 20: Livable Communities Solutions Forum
9:00am - 11:00am @ Mecklenburg County Government Center, 600 East 4th Street, room 267. Discuss local efforts to make Mecklenburg more age-friendly and learn about a new tool -- the AARP Livability Index: Great Neighborhoods for All Ages -- and how it can support this work! Registration is free. Click here to register.
September 24: 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer's
9:00am - 12:00pm @ Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions! We are a proud sponsor of this important community event that supports walking for personal and community health! Click here to register as an individual or team!
September 30: Community Karma / Friends and Family Event
5:00pm-8:00pm @ Okra / Gumbo The Store, 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205. All yoga classes all day are just $7 and net proceeds benefit Sustain Charlotte! Join in from 5-8pm for this special and more from local vendors who will be offering great values. We sincerely thank our partners Okra Charlotte / Gumbo the Store for their support of our work and your community through this event!
September 30 - Oct 1: Carolina Jubilee
@ VanHoy Farms in Harmony, NC. A two-day rock and bluegrass festival highlighting Carolina Farm Trust’s mission; protecting farm land and fostering an ecosystem of sustainable farming. Enjoy live music, a beer garden, farm-to-table food, local vendors, and camping optional on-site. The proceeds from the festival are going to support a local farm, Mary L, in purchasing a pasteurization system so that they can sell their local, organic, free range milk directly to the community! Click here to purchase tickets and learn more.
We're proud to announce that Stantec has renewed their membership in the Sustain Charlotte Partner Network at the Silver level and WeeklyRides.com has renewed their membership at the Bronze level! 
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Is your company interested in joining the Sustain Charlotte Partner Network? Our generous partners play a critical role in supporting our work. Through our corporate membership program, we provide year-round brand exposure, positive publicity, and business development opportunities to those businesses and nonprofits that are helping make our community more sustainable through their products, services, or commitment to move their organization towards greater sustainability. Become a partner today!
Wooden Robot Brewery - TreeCycle America
GOLD
#thesavageway - Alfred Williams & Company - Alta Planning + Design - Belk - Boingo Graphics - The Center for Intentional Leadership - Charlotte Magazine - DPS Construction - Environmental Window Solutions - Epic Capital Wealth Management - National Gypsum - New Belgium Brewing - Optima Engineering - Packard Place - Pinckney Marketing - Recover - S&D Coffee & Tea - Triple C Brewing
SILVER
Choices Do Matter - The Home Collection - Logan Community Music School - NC Sustainable Energy Association - Pasta & Provisions - Radiator Specialty Company - RED Group - Stantec - UNC Charlotte IDEAS Center
BRONZE
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