Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A local organization working to make Asheville safer and more accessible for cyclists is celebrating 20 years of advocacy while pushing for more improvements, including supporting two Buncombe County bond proposals that could fund affordable housing, greenways and trails.
"Alright, little bump kids," Asheville resident Sophie Mullinax said, riding her e-bike with her kids in the back. "Our speed is 14."
Her e-bike is how she and her family get around.
"When I had kids, I really wanted to continue biking, because it brings me a lot of joy, it saves me a gym membership, it's faster than driving sometimes and I just really get a lot of enjoyment out of it," Mullinax said.
She says one of her biggest concerns is distracted drivers on the road.
She would like to see protected and connected bicycle infrastructure that gets people from where they live to where they work, play and shop.
Mullinax serves on the board of directors for Asheville on Bikes, a local nonprofit focusing on expanding safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure, providing youth education and hosting community rides and events like the annual Summer Cycle.
There were three routes that cyclists could take through Asheville as they celebrated 20 years of Asheville on Bikes at the Summer Cycle event.
The executive director of Asheville on Bikes says they've seen many improvements on Asheville's roads over the last 20 years, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
"When a person can ride five miles through their community to the places they need to go safely on the right kinds of facilities. We have not yet achieved that in Asheville," Asheville on Bikes executive director Mike Sule said.
Right now, the organization is supporting two bond proposals that would allow Buncombe County to borrow up to $70 million for affordable housing and open space projects. The $30 million open space bond would fund land conservation, parks, greenways and trails.
Sule says the more housing we have connected to safe transportation facilities; the more opportunities people have to get where they need to go using different modes of transportation.
He says the open spaces bond is an opportunity to expand our greenway system.
While proud of the progress already made, Mullinax says she looks forward to more improvements that make the Asheville area more bicycle-friendly.
#cycling #bicyclesafety #communitysafety
MORE: wlos.com/news/local/asheville-bikes-marks-20-years-summer-cycle-calls-safer-connected-routes-cycling-bicycle-infrastructure-safety-e-bikes-bond-proposals-greenways-nonprofit
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
A local organization working to make Asheville safer and more accessible for cyclists is celebrating 20 years of advocacy while pushing for more improvements, including supporting two Buncombe County bond proposals that could fund affordable housing, greenways and trails.
"Alright, little bump kids," Asheville resident Sophie Mullinax said, riding her e-bike with her kids in the back. "Our speed is 14."
Her e-bike is how she and her family get around.
"When I had kids, I really wanted to continue biking, because it brings me a lot of joy, it saves me a gym membership, it's faster than driving sometimes and I just really get a lot of enjoyment out of it," Mullinax said.
She says one of her biggest concerns is distracted drivers on the road.
She would like to see protected and connected bicycle infrastructure that gets people from where they live to where they work, play and shop.
Mullinax serves on the board of directors for Asheville on Bikes, a local nonprofit focusing on expanding safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure, providing youth education and hosting community rides and events like the annual Summer Cycle.
There were three routes that cyclists could take through Asheville as they celebrated 20 years of Asheville on Bikes at the Summer Cycle event.
The executive director of Asheville on Bikes says they've seen many improvements on Asheville's roads over the last 20 years, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
"When a person can ride five miles through their community to the places they need to go safely on the right kinds of facilities. We have not yet achieved that in Asheville," Asheville on Bikes executive director Mike Sule said.
Right now, the organization is supporting two bond proposals that would allow Buncombe County to borrow up to $70 million for affordable housing and open space projects. The $30 million open space bond would fund land conservation, parks, greenways and trails.
Sule says the more housing we have connected to safe transportation facilities; the more opportunities people have to get where they need to go using different modes of transportation.
He says the open spaces bond is an opportunity to expand our greenway system.
While proud of the progress already made, Mullinax says she looks forward to more improvements that make the Asheville area more bicycle-friendly.
#cycling #bicyclesafety #communitysafety
MORE: wlos.com/news/local/asheville-bikes-marks-20-years-summer-cycle-calls-safer-connected-routes-cycling-bicycle-infrastructure-safety-e-bikes-bond-proposals-greenways-nonprofit
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
