ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville city officials say 2025 brought record numbers of cyclists and pedestrians to the city’s greenways, according to the newly released Bicycle and Pedestrian Count and Greenway User Survey reports.
The annual counts and surveys, collected with help from volunteers, highlight trends in how residents and visitors use Asheville’s bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Peak use and e-bike growth
Volunteers counted cyclists and pedestrians across 24 sites. Seven bike-count shifts and nine pedestrian-count shifts recorded peak numbers for the year. Officials noted that at least 20 percent of all bikes counted were electric, signaling a growing presence of e-bikes in the city.
Greenway spending and travel patterns
The surveys, conducted on the Wilma Dykeman and Reed Creek greenways, included 331 responses covering 518 users. Walking was the primary mode of transportation for most users. On the Reed Creek Greenway, 63 percent of users walked, ran or biked to reach the trail, while 30 percent used the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.
Greenway users also reported spending more money on-site than in previous years, with an average purchase of $60 on the Reed Creek Greenway.
Safety and amenities
The reports suggest women feel safer riding on separated facilities, such as greenways, compared with riding in mixed traffic. The most requested improvements across both greenways were additional restrooms and water stations.
Volunteer efforts
City officials thanked the 36 volunteers who assisted with the counts and surveys, which track year-to-year trends, helmet use, and the gender breakdown of cyclists and pedestrians.
The 2025 Bicycle and Pedestrian Count and Greenway User Survey reports are available here.