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Advocacy

Cycling Asheville Roads
Author Last Post
8/7/2025 7:52 AM
Eric - This is a great response. As you noted, advocacy can also occur when we are behind the wheel of our car. We have the opportunity to exhibit the behavior we want to see in other drivers. 
8/7/2025 7:37 AM

Hi all. New to BRBC as well as the area. Grew up in Atlanta and cycled and raced for much of my 30s and 40s. Needless to say, riding there was much different. Group rides were prolific in terms of numbers and as a participant I seldom ever experienced the attitudes of motorists that would end up being caught behind the peloton.


Having moved up to Brevard last fall, I've started riding the area mostly alone. Being exposed to traffic on the shoulder-less roads in the area has certainly increased my anxiety compared to what it was like biking in a much denser urban environment - as strange as that may sound.


Generally speaking, I've found that drivers in this area are courteous and pass me by crossing the middle lane when there's no oncoming traffic. However, on almost every ride since the seasonal increase in tourists and part-time residents there's always that one person who passes aggressively and/or yells for me to get off the road. There is one particular driver behavior that I find the most disturbing. And that is when a cyclist, at wheel of their bike-laden automobile, is seen driving in an irresponsible manner.


Just yesterday I was on Old Hendersonville doing about 40MPH when I noticed a Volkswagen appear behind me in the distance. The driver was going much faster as they were on my bumper in just a few moments. Loaded with bikes, probably going to Dupont and annoyed as heck that I was impeding his progress. Maybe its that this individual only rides gravel or MTB and simply doesn't consider that that their driving behavior might be hazardous to a roadie.


Whatever his reason, the incident made me think of these posts and I thought I'd make a friendly reminder that we should all drive on these roads as though someone we care about is just up ahead on their bike.
8/6/2025 10:43 AM

John is very correct. After hitting a dog in buncombe county last fall, I've been riding with the GoPro ever since, upon the advice of Deputy Richards. The GoPro also sends a message that any actions by others is documented. It is undisputable evidence. Never leave home without it. 😀
8/5/2025 8:59 PM
Doug M Brock wrote
I urge road riders to ride with companions. It is my belief the irate driver will hesitate if he thinks there will be witnesses. I began road  riding Buncombe roads in 1984. Traffic loads have increased along dramatically with screen distracted drivers. My helmet is lit and I use a mirror. I have changed routes over the years and now do most of my riding in West McDowell and Rutherford county and I head to the woods on a gravel bike. We still have some great riding here and I am grateful for all the options. 

But I suggest that the best witness is a camera as it works whether or not you have others with you. An automobile with a front dashboard camera and a rear additional connecting one where both front and back record simultaneously can be had on sale for $50 or so at Amazon. Add to that a 10K mah battery pack for about $20 and you have a great witness looking both ways for less than $100. I have one on my bike.

John Pezzano
8/5/2025 1:20 PM
I urge road riders to ride with companions. It is my belief the irate driver will hesitate if he thinks there will be witnesses. I began road  riding Buncombe roads in 1984. Traffic loads have increased along dramatically with screen distracted drivers. My helmet is lit and I use a mirror. I have changed routes over the years and now do most of my riding in West McDowell and Rutherford county and I head to the woods on a gravel bike. We still have some great riding here and I am grateful for all the options. 
8/5/2025 12:28 PM
If you don’t earn a living racing it’s common sense to safely pull over sometimes to let cars pass. 

I have a hard time believing “almost every cyclist” in Asheville has had 5-10 bad experiences.  I know very few who have had 5-10.

 I’ve been riding 5-10+ hrs a week for years and fortunately only a couple of drivers have hassled me.

As mentioned cyclists being courtesy can go a long way.  It will take all of us though.
8/5/2025 9:43 AM

I've been following various social media concerning cycling in WNC and I'm distraught at the anger directed towards us. One common theme is drivers frustration with cyclists not following traffic laws. I'm not talking about the mistaken belief cyclists must ride single file on the right but rather blowing though stop signs, red lights, squeezing past stopped cars to get the front and failing to signal. As BRBC riders we should be ambassadors for our passion by following the same rules of the road we expect of drivers.


We do have a culture of ignoring some traffic laws, I'm as guilty as the next. But as an organization I do think we need to be more attuned to this and would encourage all of us on group rides to adhere to traffic laws. Hopefully it will improve the community opinion of cyclists (and keep us safer).


John Dennis, BRBC VP

8/4/2025 3:42 PM
I think you have the right to make that decision for yourself as an individual. I don’t think it’s appropriate to request the whole organization make this change, however.

8/4/2025 3:32 PM
Entitlement is a big issue on our roads, whether it’s cyclists or motorist. Given the current and certainly ongoing environment in WNC, BRCC should consider keeping groups broken up to no larger than six to allow for motorists to pass. Large groups undoubtedly irritate motorists and add to the already touchy landscape. Yes, we have the legal right to be on the road, but courtesy can go a long way. I know I’m not training for a national competition and often pull over and stop occasionally to let a line of cars pass. This small act often yields a friendly wave from the motorist. Hopefully the next time they see me, or any of us on the road they will remember we all don’t feel entitled cause I’m not stopping road biking anytime soon.   
8/4/2025 9:19 AM
Hi! Just moved to Saluda from Louisville, KY. When I was involved in the Louisville Bike Club as VP of Racing (fancy title, huh), our advocacy took many forms - education, lobbying and yes, sometimes things like boycotting businesses that were anti-cycling. We preferred the carrot and used the stick as the last resort. 

One thing that we did find effective was marketing the economic stats of cyclists. For example, cyclists tend to be in upper income brackets. Money talks!
8/4/2025 8:43 AM

Hi BRBC.


I read the piece here: https://avlwatchdog.org/opinion-it-just-feels-like-theres-a-lot-of-hate-cyclists-endure-rage-along-asheville-area-roads/


I then posted it to Facebook, both on my own feed and in the Candler Community. I simply asked for people to be considerate (and also pointed out that I pay all kinds of taxes and registration for two vehicles).


One of my friends had a thought: would a cyclist boycott of business that are apparently anti-cyclist be something of value? I can see it both ways - we should be advocating and helping those businesses to understand a share-the-road perspective, especially as adding bike lines could help. I can also see it as cyclists can be a strong group when we band together but would a boycott perpetuate the disdain for cyclists.


Any thoughts amongst the collective?
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