Over the past 15 years the New Partners for Smart Growth has become the largest and most comprehensive sustainable communities conference in the nation. Two of our staff, Meg Fencil (Program Director) and Branyn Calegar (Community Outreach Coordinator) traveled to St. Louis for the 3-day conference and learned a lot about sustainable growth!

Here are some key principles that we think Charlotte would benefit from:

Demonstration projects are powerful!

We arrived just in time to visit the final hour of a demonstration protected bike lane hosted by St. Louis' local sustainable transportation advocacy organization Trailnet. Charlotte should continue to invest in demo events like Open Streets 704 and protected bike lane demos because these are powerful tools that allow the public to really experience how our streets could be used differently to benefit all people. Of course, it's important to not let the demonstration become and end in and of itself. A good demo project is a step towards building public support for a more permanent solution.

You've spoken up for safer bicycle facilities in Charlotte, and your voice is making a difference! More than 4,000 area residents have signed either our paper or online #iBikeCLT petition that we presented to City Council in July.

At the November 14 City Council Transportation and Planning Committee meeting, we heard an update from CDOT on the Uptown Urban Trails Connection Study. 

The Uptown Connects Study is analyzing options for protected bike lane locations.

Guest blog post by Marcela Falquez, Executive Director of ID Social, Bogota, Colombia.

Last Wednesday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed the 1811 Act. This law aims to encourage the use of bicycles as the main means of transportation in the country, increase the mode share of bicycle trips, and mitigate the environmental impact of motor vehicle use.

It's a law that comes with powerful incentives for residents to switch to a two-wheeled commute: Public workers who use bikes for transportation will earn free paid days off work at the rate of a half-day per 30 days of bicycle commuting.

The law states that all users of Integrated Mass Transit Systems who use the bicycle to get to the transit system and that have validated more than 30 uses of bike-parking, will receive financial credit on their transit payment card.

Bogota, a sprawling auto-dominated city of 8 million people, needs more sustainable transportation choices! 

(photo: ibtimes.com)

Perfect weather, hospitable neighbors, and generous sponsors willing to swing open their doors for the afternoon; put them all together, and that’s a pretty good recipe for any event. Put ‘em on bikes, and we’ve got a second successful Biketoberfest! 

Photo by Emily Eckert (click here to view the full Biketoberfest album)

There are lots of great, and not-so-great quotes about shortcuts. And most of them don’t give too much praise or promise to the idea that there’s any better way to get where you’re going other than the road long and laborious. Clearly, the authors of these quote have never needed to get anywhere by bike!

Riding your bike for fun and fitness is great, but your bike can be so much more than that. Yes, it’s true; you can get there by bike!

You’ve read this far, which means you're at least thinking about the possibility of spending more time on two wheels. And commuting by bike is a great way to get more saddle time - and front row parking just about everywhere.

Believe it or not, there’s quite a culture of bike commuters here in Charlotte. Most are nothing like the risk-taking, traffic-dodgers you see on YouTube, but it’s safe to say the ones we know are quick to share their tips to what makes bike commuting work for them! 

Let’s Go Park-ing!

Mecklenburg County’s Best Places to Ride are Right Here! 

Yes, your bike can take you to many practical places like work, school, the store, or the gym. But sometimes, you just want to ride for the fun of it! If your regular routes just feel too routine, check out this list of great Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation locations you can roll into - and all around - on two wheels!

Simple Stuff to Make a Road-Worthy Commuter

Did you know? You’re sitting on a practically perfect commuter bike! Well, metaphorically speaking. But, the truth is, ANY bike can be a great commuter bike. Whether it’s an old mountain bike, road bike, or beach cruiser, it’s practically perfect! We asked our friends over at Bicycle Sport about some simple tricks to get that old bike a new job! 

You love that bike of yours. Since you were little, you recognized its potential to take you far away. You discovered new neighborhoods, met new friends, maybe even rode to school or your first job. Now you’re wondering whether your kids and family will feel the same way. Here’s how to get their attention - and get them on the bike! 

“It's tough for the outdoors to compete in the age of Minecraft, iPad, XBOX, and the like,” says Jon Harding, a routine bike commuter, bike-packer, and general man-about-town on two wheels. “Getting started can be a little intimidating, especially if your kids outnumber you.”

But don’t be discouraged! Jon says getting the kids and family out there on the bike can be easy with a little planning ahead. Answering the “how” and the “where” are two of the biggest hurdles.

Thanks to tremendous community support, our city took a major step this week towards making our streets safer for all!

At Monday’s City Council meeting, over 50 local residents – many of them with bike helmets and signs in hand – stood with us as we asked City Council to support our #ibikeCLT campaign for a protected bike lane through Uptown, connecting the Little Sugar Creek and Irwin Creek greenways.

Sustain Charlotte Bike Program Director Jordan Moore presenting #ibikeCLT petition to City Council.