Strive Not to Drive

Building Partnerships to Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Planningin Asheville and Buncombe CountyBetter TogetherActive Transportation ProgressDoubled on-road bicycle facilities in last three years First sharrows in state?First green lane in state?Increased focus and funding for sidewalksAll transportation-related recovery projects included walking or bikingActive transportation was a focus of local electionsTransit master plan implementation eagerly awaited

Partners and Supporters Are VitalAdvocacy CommunityArea Bicycle & Pedestrian Task ForceBlue Ridge Bicycle ClubAsheville on Bikes

Health CommunityCounty Health DepartmentHealthy Living Advocates (Ys, Hospitals, etc.)

Advocates CanOffer expertiseProvide energy and passionProvide labor!Quarterly bike lane clean up Annual pedestrian & bicycle countsBFC ApplicationBe many places at once or be many in one placeLead programs and eventsShare the visionSay things you cant

Public Health Professionals CanOffer expertiseProvide energy and passionProvide another voice and point of viewEncourage behavior changeUnderstand social marketingLead programs and eventsProvide data and know what to do with itFind moneyProvide and guide intern laborSay things you cant

Advocates have passionAsheville On BikesAsheville Bicycle Racing ClubWNC Bicycle Dealers AssociationBlue Ridge Bike ClubBuncombe Bicycle Education NetworkPedal 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.

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to Drive

Our Collective GoalsPrimaryAn awareness campaignEducate policy makers & community leaders about the benefits of active transportationSecondaryBehavior change in contemplators/action oriented individualsDevelop & expand partnership and advocacy base

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the Move

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveAsheville adopts Bicycle Plan

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & Workshops

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Middle School Bike Education Program

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter Education

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership Ride

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike Parking

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike ParkingOwen Middle PE Bicycle EducationNational Bike Ped Count ParticipationTimeline

Bike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike ParkingOwen Middle PE Bicycle EducationNational Bike Ped Count ParticipationOther Organizations Commit to ActionFirst Bike Lane Opening

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike ParkingOwen Middle PE Bicycle EducationNational Bike Ped Count ParticipationOther Organizations Commit to ActionFirst Bike Lane OpeningErwin Middle PE Bicycle Education8 League Certified Bicycle Instructors

TimelineStrive Not to DriveDowntown Walking RoutesAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike ParkingMiddle School PE Bicycle EducationNational Bike Ped Count ParticipationFirst Bike Lane Opening8 League Certified Bicycle InstructorsComplete Streets & Bicycle Friendly Status supported by City Council

TimelineBike to Work DayHealthy Air Body Community DayStrive Not to DriveDowntown on the MoveAsheville adopts Bicycle PlanSafe Routes to School National Course & WorkshopsErwin Bicycle Club & Rodeo ProgramCommuter EducationLaunch of Mayors Leadership RideFree Bike ParkingOwen Middle PE Bicycle EducationNational Bike Ped Count ParticipationOther Organizations Commit to ActionFirst Bike Lane OpeningErwin Middle PE Bicycle Education8 League Certified Bicycle InstructorsComplete Streets & Bicycle Friendly Status supported by City CouncilSafe Routes to Schools in County Greenway Plan with Support from Superintendent

Changing Community Norms

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Behavior ChangeEnvironmental ChangePolicy Change A Systems Approach to Public HealthPublic Health ConcernsSafety Obesity & Chronic DiseasePhysical Inactivity Air QualityEquityTraffic injuries and fatalities ~$200 billionObesity/overweight societal cost ~$117 billion Cost of physical inactivity ~ $76 billionHealthy costs of transportation-related poor air quality ~$40 - 64 billionExacerbating poverty and health inequities

ChallengesKey drivers of transportation policy: cars and moneyPublic Health agenda viewed as unrealistic and extraneousPerception (and sometimes reality) that we dont speak the same language

Public Health ContributionDataNew ways to evaluate impactFundingCompelling new ways to frame infrastructure needsCommunity building and advocacy skills

Public Health Contribution - DataNC has 84 local public health agencies (79 counties & 6 multi county districts)Community Health AssessmentsPublic 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 effortsBroad topics covered w/ potential to add YOUR questionsBeginning to link data with/GIS capabilitieshttp://www.buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/Health/Health_Reports.aspx

Public Health Contribution - FundingHealth Funding SourcesState Public Health FundingEat Smart Move More NCPrivate State FundingBlue Cross and Blue Shield of NCKate B. ReynoldsDuke EndowmentFederal Health Funding:Putting Communities to Work / ARRACommunity Transformation Grant (CDC)National Foundation FundingRobert Wood Johnson Foundation - Active Living By DesignHealth funding is typicallyMore flexibleMore immediateTypically follows a 5 Es formatCollaboration and Evaluation generally requiredPublic Health ContributionAdvocacy.with an aWhile Public Health is typically government. . .Clear distinction between the 3 elements of advocacyEducationAdvocacyLobbying

Public Health ContributionCommunity Building SkillsPartnership/coalition developmentCommunity engagementFacilitation

Project Management SkillsGrant writingAction PlanningResearch & evaluation skillsPromotionCommunicationMedia skillsSocial marketing

Designing Healthy Communitieshttp://designinghealthycommunities.org/

Lessons to Take HomeWe are stronger togetherNo one person or group has it allWe dont always share a common languageIt takes patience some days from everyoneWe sometimes have to agree to disagreeCelebrate wins togetherDont forget merging and yielding!

Terri MarchBuncombe County Health DepartmentTerri.march@buncombecounty.org

Better TogetherBarb MeeCity of Asheville Transportation Department bmee@ashevillenc.gov

Claudia NixLiberty Bicyclesclaudianix@libertybikes.com