Education

In the lead up to this year’s Summit, BikeWalk NC will be offering a virtual presentation of the NC Friendly Driver Program on Tuesday, September 12th, at 6:30pm.  This virtual format of the program will offer those in areas of the state not yet reached through in person presentations an opportunity to experience the program and learn how to safely co-exist on the road with vulnerable road users.

This interactive and entertaining workshop, made possible with grant funding from the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program, discusses:

• Motorist driving habits that impact people who bike and walk along our roadways;
• Explanation of common bicyclist practices;
• How to avoid common crashes between motorists and vulnerable road users;
• Active transportation infrastructure (like bike lanes);
• Complete Streets concepts.

Through dialogue and a multimedia presentation, this workshop provides an accessible, engaging opportunity for motorists to learn together and become stronger allies of active transportation users on the roadways. It is especially appropriate for those who drive professionally (taxi or car-hailing drivers, bus drivers, delivery services, etc.).

Advance registration is required for participation in the virtual program. A link to which will be provided to you a week before the program.

During the Saturday Active Sessions at this year’s Summit, The North Carolina Transportation Museum has graciously offered to once again display its “History on Two Wheels” exhibit. 

History on Two Wheels tells the story of the bicycle, from its beginnings as an assisted running device, to the safety bicycle, and its current form we are all familiar with today. The exhibit explores the different roles bicycles have played in society, from exercise machines to recreational devices, and how the development of new technologies changed the way bicycles look, while also improving their safety. The exhibit features bicycles from the N.C. Transportation Museum’s collection to help illustrate how the bicycle got to where it is today, and includes some oddities of the bicycling world to show where it could have gone.

The NC Transportation Museum is a state historic site once home to Southern Railway’s major steam locomotive repair facility located halfway between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA.  The museum features all types of transportation history – railroading, automotive, trucking, aviation, and more.

Attendees of the Summit will have access to all of the other exhibits on display at the museum, and, for an additional fee of $5, can experience a train ride pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive. The ride takes place entirely on the property of the 60-acre N.C. Transportation Museum and offers a tour of the historic site by train. Enjoy riding in a vintage passenger rail car and see the structures that used to service Southern Railway’s steam locomotives when the Spencer Shops were in operation. Train rides last approximately 25 minutes and are fun for all ages.

For more information about the NC Transportation Museum please visit their website.

Recently, BikeWalk NC staff presented the Friendly Driver Program to over 60 people with presentations in both Durham and Apex!

On June 26th, staff attended a community meeting hosted by Bike Durham, a local advocacy and educational organization promoting access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation. During the meeting, Program Manager Laila Horton and Community Outreach Coordinator Oliver Sendall presented the NC Friendly Driver program, and fielded questions about the rights of bicyclists and the responsibilities of motorists to safely share the road. Speaking to an active mobility advocacy group allowed for an in-depth discussion on topics such as bicyclist behavior at intersections, lane positioning, and motorist behaviors when passing bicyclists.

CBS 17 News covered the event, and interviewed both Bike Durham and BikeWalk NC staff to provide comment on the vision of the Friendly Driver Program as a way to reduce pedestrian fatalities and empower active mobility users across the state of NC. 

The following day, June 27th, staff traveled to Apex to present the program at Eva Perry Regional Library. This presentation, open to the general public,  focused on safe driving practices for motorists wanting to learn more about about bicyclist and pedestrian rights and behaviors, and how to safely share the road with vulnerable road users.

You can find more information on the NC Friendly Driver Program here. To host a presentation in your area please contact Program Manager Laila Horton.