Transportation plans no longer focus solely on roadway solutions. In the quest for an improved quality of life, we now strive for livable communities. Citizens in the BCD Region want to be able to walk safely within their community to run errands, shop, visit friends and neighbors, and get to work. One common theme of any livable community is how well it accommodates bicyclists.

Bicycling has numerous benefits, including:

• Personal Benefits — Cardiovascular fitness, health, and transportation cost savings

• Societal Benefits — Reduced vehicle miles of travel, improved public health through a cleaner environment and healthier citizens, and improved mobility for those that are disabled or without access to private automobiles

• Environmental Benefits — Reduced air and noise pollution and improved water quality from fewer parking lots/spaces/structures

Public agency staff and local officials recognize the need to improve safety and opportunities for bicycling throughout the region.  In addition, bicycle and pedestrian facilities can benefit other roadway users. If you have a question or want to book a speaker about Bike Planning in the BCD Region, please call Mobility Manager Vonie Gilreath at 529-0400 or email her at vonieg@bcdcog.com

Speaker Topics:

Trident Rideshare Demonstration
This training will demonstrate the ease of using the software for individuals, companies or event planners.                                                                                        

Target Audience: Human service providers, small and large employers, conference/event planners, and conferences/workshops/festivals.

How to Establish a Green Commuting Plan for your Business               
The Mobility Manager will conduct a Workplace Commuter Survey of employees identifying needs, available services and provide a plan to get employees involved in green commuting. 

Target Audience: Small and large employers.

Walk/Bike Audits
The BCDCOG Mobility Manager will conduct work place, neighborhood or school audits to identify barriers around site and recommend solutions to walking, biking or transit issues.  

Target Audience: Employers, human service providers, senior centers, neighborhood leaders, and school officials. 

Safe Routes to School Presentation/Training
This topic will detail how your school can develop a Safe Routes to School plan or implement a few changes that will lead to more students walking and biking to school- including information on how to form a walking school bus and work with public transportation officials (presentation can be 20 minutes or two hours).

Target Audience: School officials, planners, parents, and neighborhood leaders.

Complete Streets Presentation/Training
Streets should be for everyone, but in too many communities streets are the domain of speeding cars or traffic jams. In this presentation/training, participants will learn how to complete the streets to make them safe and inviting for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, transit riders, and drivers.

Target Audience:  Advocacy groups, planners, and elected officials.

How to Become a Bike Friendly Community
The Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign is an awards program that recognizes municipalities that actively support bicycling. A Bicycle-Friendly Community provides safe accommodation for cycling and encourages its residents to bike for transportation and recreation.

Target Audience: Advocacy groups and planners.

Bike Safety and Education
Basic bicycling safety information, including tips about riding in the rain and the dark; information about education and safety programs.

Target Audience: School officials, planners and parents

Services to write or review the following ordnances are available:

• Complete Streets Ordinance

• Bike Parking Ordinance

• Transit Oriented Development (TOD)