ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Want to help the city collect information about pedestrians and bicyclists on local roads?

The Asheville Transportation Department is gearing up for its annual bike and pedestrian data collection. Each year, the bike and pedestrian data collection is held the week after Labor Day. The data helps staff identify bike/ped trends and also helps in the implementation of the recently adopted GAP Plan.

In 2022, Asheville City Council adopted the Close the GAP plans. Those three plans — Greenway (G), ADA Transition (A) and Pedestrian (P) — are an effort to strengthen the pedestrian network.

This year there are two ways people may volunteer for the bike and pedestrian count and the greenway user survey collection.

Bike and pedestrian count volunteers

Bike and pedestrian volunteers will count non-motorized users at several specific street locations on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 10
  • Wednesday, Sept. 11
  • Thursday, Sept. 12
  • Saturday, Sept. 14 (*a.m. only)

Weekday counts will occur from 5-7 p.m. There will also be a few sites available from 7-9 a.m. on the above weekdays. Saturday counts will occur from 9-11 a.m. No special skills or previous experience is required for this volunteer opportunity.

Greenway user survey collection volunteers

During the same week of the bicycle and pedestrian counts, the city is also seeking volunteers to help conduct greenway user surveys on the Wilma Dykeman Greenway and Reed Creek Greenway. These surveys will capture information about user behavior and the economic impact of greenways.

Volunteers will stop greenway users to ask them survey questions on the following dates and times:

  • 8-10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10
  • 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10*
  • 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
  • 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14

*In the case of rain, surveys will happen Thursday, Sept. 12, instead of Tuesday.

How to sign up

Those interested in volunteering may sign up in a couple ways:

Staff will try to assign volunteers based on their location preferences but ask for some flexibility. There is no deadline to sign up, though staff hope to have all sites assigned by early September. After signing up, city staff will reach out within several days with a confirmation email and next steps.

Anyone with questions may email Anna Sexton at asexton@ashevillenc.gov.