(By Corey Inscoe, CharlotteFive) Jordan Moore has a theory about Charlotte commuters: There are 5 percent of people who are never going to bike to work and 5 percent already bike to work. The other 90 percent? They could easily be swayed to ditch the car if given the opportunity, he thinks. “A lot of those people are sitting in their cars, holding those steering wheels, looking at us (cyclists) going, ‘How do I do that?'” Moore said recently. “People look at Charlotte as this inaccessible thing and it’s like, well no, if you’re adventurous and you get out there and you’re curious, there’s already a lot here. “The other side of that is, let’s make it even better.” Making Charlotte a better bike city is a big part of Moore’s new role as Bicycle Program Director with Sustain Charlotte. The position was created earlier this year using a $204,000 grant from the Knight Foundation Cycling Fund, part of a two-year initiative to develop and promote biking in Charlotte. Click here to read the full article. 

(By Ryan Pitkin, Creative Loafing Charlotte) "The mood was a somber one at Progress Park on September 15 as approximately 75 people gathered to mourn Al Gorman, who was struck and killed by a car involved in an auto accident while riding his bike down Parkwood Avenue at the intersection of Hawthorne Lane just days before... Numerous advocacy groups in Charlotte are in constant talks with city staff about ways to improve safety issues for pedestrians and cyclists in problem areas, and many feel the city is open to helping fix those issues. But with so much growth in Charlotte over the last decade, it's hard to keep up with infrastructure needs. There's also some disagreement in the community about what improvements should be made. While some welcome more bike lanes, others say they don't feel safe in the ones that already line some streets, like Elizabeth Avenue... One long-time member of Charlotte's cycling community who will now be on the front lines of advocating for friendlier bike infrastructure in Charlotte is Jordan Moore, recently named as bike program director at Sustain Charlotte, where he will work for the next two years to help communicate the cycling community's needs to city staff. He said the Charlotte Department of Transportation has plenty of bike-friendly people on board, and he's hopeful they will help take Charlotte to the next level. Moore said he wants to see an increase in the amount of people commuting to work on bikes as opposed to just riding on the weekends...'Most of the people in Charlotte's cycling community are still behind the wheel of a car,' Moore said. 'The Charlotte cycling culture is exactly like Charlotte; we're waiting to identify ourselves as more, as better. There are believers, there are people who are great riders, but overall, can we look at somebody and say, 'Get out of your car and ride with us?' That's a tough sell. This is why I'm here.' He said he'd like to see Charlotte model itself after towns like Sevilla, Spain that have implemented bicycle infrastructure and seen their cycling population grow exponentially as a result. He says his vision is for Charlotte to become "the Copenhagen of the South." 'In the last 10 years, CDOT's really changed,' Moore said. 'They've put their focus on bicycling and pedestrian activity, but now would be the time for Charlotte to emerge as the complete leader in bicycle infrastructure. More people are not wanting to drive. It's a terrible experience. A lot of people say driving in Charlotte is one of the worst experiences they've had. In light of correcting that problem, let's throw in this huge model of connectivity that gets people out into the neighborhoods and where they want to go without having to burn gasoline.' Moore said he will push for road diets, in which the numbers of lanes designed for cars on thoroughfares is reduced to make way for separated bike paths that run parallel. He said the work should begin on Parkwood Avenue, where it's connection to the next installment of LYNX Blue Line track can make it a hub of connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians. He said the car vs. bike argument 'doesn't exist,' because cars will always win, and that's why it's important to create separate infrastructure." Click here to read the full article. 

(By Mark Price, The Charlotte Observer) The chain-reaction accident occurred Sunday morning at Parkwood Avenue and Hawthorne Lane, when a Ford Ranger pickup crashed into a Lexus, then lost control and crashed into Gorman’s bike. Nathaniel Manson Lancaster, 38, the driver of a 1994 Ford Ranger, was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Gorman’s death touched a nerve in Charlotte’s biking community, which held a memorial and vigil in his honor this week. It’s estimated 100 people attended the event and a white “ghost bike” has been placed at the wreck site to remind motorists of his death. Charlotte averages one to four bike-related fatalities each year, though the 140 bike crashes reported last year was the highest since 2002... Gorman’s death is an example of how dangerous the city’s streets are for people who depend on bikes for transportation, said Jordan Moore, Bicycle Program Director for Sustain Charlotte. Moore was involved in the memorial and vigil for Gorman on Tuesday. “Losing Al was heartbreaking because it seemed so senseless, in a pinball machine of an accident,” Moore said. Click here to read more. 

(by Xavier Walton, NBC Charlotte. Days after a bicyclist was hit and killed in Plaza Midwood, family and friends joined hands at a vigil remembering the cyclist who was killed. The community is also asking for "change" to an infamous intersection. After the latest accident, many living in the Plaza Midwoood community say Parkwood Avenue is dangerous. That's why local groups want wider sidewalks and are going to ask the City of Charlotte for bike lanes along this road. "It's time we made this safe for everyone, especially those who don't have a car," said [Sustain Charlotte Bicycle Program Director Jordan] Moore. Click here to view the news segment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15 2015   CONTACT: Jordan Moore, Bicycle Program Director Sustain Charlotte phone: 704-910-7558 email: [email protected]   Memorial and Vigil to be Held for Cyclist Killed in East Charlotte Neighborhood residents, members of Charlotte’s cycling community, and friends and family of the deceased will gather this evening for a vigil and memorial for an East Charlotte man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Parkwood Avenue late Sunday morning. Several community leaders will speak briefly. The organizers of the memorial and vigil intend to not only honor the life of Alfred Peaslee Gorman, 73, but also to ask the City of Charlotte to make changes to Parkwood Avenue that will improve safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists. The section of Parkwood where this tragedy occurred is widely known to be dangerous for pedestrians and people on bikes, due to its narrow sidewalks, lack of bike lanes, and speeding motorists. A “ghost bike” has been placed near the accident site at the intersection of Parkwood Ave and Hawthorne Ln. Ghost bikes are bikes that have been painted white to memorialize bicyclists who have been killed or hit while riding. This ghost bike is intended to memorialize Mr. Gorman and remind drivers that a cyclist was killed at this location. WHEN:Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Progress Park at theIntersection of Umstead and Parkwood, Charlotte NC ###

(Report by Fox46) A car crash that happened at the intersection of Parkwood Avenue and Hawthorne Lane on September 13th caused the death of bicyclist, Alfred Gorman. "The whole community is asking for change", according to this report.  Our Bicycle Program Director, Jordan Moore is interviewed and gives comments on why and intersection is dangerous and how the intersection can be made more safe for cyclists. Click here to watch the video and hear his comments.

CONTACT: Meg Fencil, Education and Outreach Director Sustain Charlotte phone: 704-968-2187 email: [email protected]   Sustain Charlotte Hosts Sustainable Transportation Fair for Youth Sustain Charlotte, in cooperation with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, hosted a Sustainable Transportation Fair on Friday, July 31 for approximately 100 youth ages 7 to 14 enrolled in summer day camp at the Arbor Glen Outreach Center in west Charlotte. The fair was part of Sustain Charlotte’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Program, which is funded by Wells Fargo, UTC Aerospace Systems, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Park Foundation, and New Belgium Brewing. Earlier this year, Sustain Charlotte worked with youth at Arbor Glen to create neighborhood visions and traffic calming signs. Fair activities were hosted by Mecklenburg County Air Quality, Charlotte Area Air Awareness, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Clean Air Carolina, Trips for Kids, Mecklenburg County Health Department, Charlotte Department of Transportation, and Alta Planning + Design. Volunteers from the Wells Fargo Green Team and Sustain Charlotte helped to plan and run the fair. Charlotte Department of Transportation's pedestrian planner Scott Curry introduced the youth to Charlotte's newpedestrian plancalled Charlotte WALKS. He gave each child green and blue dots to place on large boards to indicate the amenities they most value when they walk. The input collected from this activity will be tallied and incorporated into final development of the pedestrian plan. Katie Lloyd fromAlta Planning + Design led an activity called Unraveling Neighborhood Routes in which youth measured distances from homes to schools and other locations using a very large floor map and string. They learned how land use and street design affects travel time and accessibility. Transit Trivia was in full swing as Ashley Elliott fromCharlotte Area Transit System (CATS) quizzed the youth on safety around buses, light rail, and streetcar. They also learned how to read printed transit timetables and how to seek more information about routes. At theCharlotte Area Air Awareness andMecklenburg County Air Quality station, Tara Onufrak gave each kid a cup of clean water. They added drops of dye to the water to simulate pollution from different types of transportation to and from school: no drops for walking or biking, one drop for riding the bus, two drops for carpooling, and three drops for riding alone with a parent. The youth then poured their cups together into a fish bowl to simulate how the actions of each person combine to make air quality either better or worse. Clean Air Carolina’s Terry Lansdell led an activity calledSmog City 2, a computer simulation that allowed the youth to experiment with weather, vehicle activity level, and population size to learn how these factors collectively affect air quality. In the lobby, Harry Johnson fromTrips for Kids Charlotte and Dick Winters fromMecklenburg County Health Department set up a simulated intersection complete with child-sized cars and bikes. They created several safety scenarios and asked the youth how to stay safe in each situation. They then worked with groups of two or three youth to identify potential safety hazards on a worksheet Each participant earned stickers by completing activities and put these onto a "Transportation Passport" to be eligible for a grand prize drawing featuring t-shirts (donated by Clean Air Carolina), bike helmets (donated by Active Routes to School and Trips for Kids), and a reusable lunch bag (donated by NC Air Awareness). More information and photos are available through the blog post about the event: www.movecharlottesmarter.org/transportation_fair ### Sustain Charlotte is a nonprofit organization working to advance a region-wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for change. Our mission is to inspire choices that lead to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come.  For more information visit www.sustaincharlotte.org.  

(By Robert Lahser, The Charlotte Observer) A new study on the evolution of transportation systems in more than two dozen U.S. cities tells us several things we already knew about Charlotte, and one that many of us perhaps overlook. TransitCenter, a New York City-based think tank focused on transportation, set out to study forward-thinking transportation planning in American cities. TransitCenter, a New York City-based think tank focused on transportation, set out to study forward-thinking transportation planning in American cities. Given all the squabbles over the new Gold Line streetcar uptown and planned toll lanes for Interstate 77 near Lake Norman, Charlotteans might be surprised to find their city on the group’s “most-innovative” list, along with Chicago, New York City, Denver, Pittsburgh and Portland. What did the study, unveiled this week, tell us that we already knew? That the Blue Line light rail system was a shrewd investment, given how it has reshaped the way we think about the interplay between transportation choices and residential growth patterns. Also, that the big banks and other corporations drive major public transportation investments around here... Shannon Binns, head of the nonprofit Sustain Charlotte, told the board that during debates about the Gold Line, and more recent planning meetings for stations along the Blue Line Extension, government and business leaders did most of the talking. It’s time for more grassroots activists and citizens to join this critical discussion. Click here to read more.

CONTACT: Meg Fencil, Education and Outreach Director Sustain Charlotte phone: 704-968-2187 email: [email protected]   Sustain Charlotte Hosts Sustainable Transportation Fair for Youth Sustain Charlotte, in cooperation with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, will facilitate a Sustainable Transportation Fair for youth ages 9 to 14 enrolled in summer day camp at the Arbor Glen Outreach Center. The fair is part of Sustain Charlotte’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Program, which is funded by Wells Fargo, UTC Aerospace Systems, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Park Foundation, and New Belgium Brewing. Earlier this year, Sustain Charlotte worked with youth at Arbor Glen to create neighborhood visions and traffic calming signs. Activity stations at the fair will be hosted by Mecklenburg County Air Quality, Charlotte Area Air Awareness, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Clean Air Carolina, Trips for Kids, Charlotte Department of Transportation, and Alta Planning + Design, Media and elected officials are invited to visit the fair as the youth rotate through hands-on activity stations to: Practice how to add air to a bike tire and spot hazards while riding a bike. Experience the economic impact of transportation choices through a simulation game. Discover how transportation choices cumulatively affect air quality. Contribute their ideas to development of the City’s new Charlotte WALKS pedestrian plan. Learn how a transportation network works. Develop safety skills for walking, bicycling, and riding transit. WHEN: Friday, July 31, 2:00 - 5:00 pm (3 age groups rotating each hour) WHERE: Arbor Glen Outreach Center, 1520 Clanton Road, Charlotte 28208 ### Sustain Charlotte is a nonprofit organization working to advance a region-wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for change. Our mission is to inspire choices that lead to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come. For more information visit http://www.sustaincharlotte.org.  

(By Corey Inscoe, CharlotteFive) According to Jeff Viscount, of WeeklyRides.com, there are the four things the city needs to improve on to become a better bike city and Sustain Charlotte is playing a key role! (1) Better bike traffic counts. This sounds simple, but getting an accurate count of how many people ride bikes is important for the city... (2) Better advocacy. In this area the city seems to be making progress. In May, the Knight Foundation Cycling Fund awarded Sustain Charlotte a $204,000 grant to “develop and promote bicycling events and programs in the Charlotte area,” according to an Observer article. According to Viscount, Sustain Charlotte and the Transportation Choices Alliance will use the grant to employ a full-time bicycle program manager. What could an advocate like that do? Organize a bike count, for one. But he/she could also be involved with bike education programs and be a voice for the cycling community about any local and state laws that affect the community. “A full-time staff person to focus on cycling specific issues and to help connect people and ideas within the cycling community is long overdue for a city our size,” Viscount said. Click here to read the full article.