Community Bike Projects
Biking has become immensely popular, not just as a commuting choice, but as a better way to enjoy everyday activities. The City of Huntsville is working to become a more bicycle-friendly city to offer residents and visitors a fun and friendly way to experience all the community has to offer.
This initiative kicked off in 2006, when the Huntsville Planning Commission approved a five-year plan to develop a network of approximately 160 miles of bikeway facilities throughout the city. Currently, Huntsville offers approximately 40 miles of combined bicycle routes and shared use pathways for local bicyclists. Funding for the five-year project is provided by the City of Huntsville and through state and federal grants.
The City of Huntsville Bikeway Plan (PDF) identifies 39 different bike routes to be constructed, including bike paths, bike routes, bike transit routes, and greenways. The proposed bike routes will significantly expand the bicycle transport options heading north, south, east, and west, and all new bikeways will be marked with appropriate signage.
BASC
The Huntsville Bicycle Advisory and Safety Committee (BASC) is an organization that provides knowledge about cycling to advance education, enable planning, encourage cycling, and develop safe transportation facilities in the Huntsville area. It is made up of members of Huntsville’s cyclist community that have come together to offer counsel to the City and to generate public awareness and support for this initiative.
Co-Chairs: James Moore and Marjorie Holderer.
The BASC meets regularly at city hall, 308 Fountain Circle. For dates and directions contact James Moore.
The following City Departments have representatives involved:
Mayor’s office: John Hamilton
City Council: Bill Kling
Planning: James Moore
Police: Officer Kim Roach
Traffic Engineering: Jo Somers
Other Committee members are:
Marjorie Holderer
James Reynolds
John Scott
Chris Leven
Ken Rex
Jamie Miernik
Contact committee members
Benefits of Promoting Bicycling in Huntsville
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Biking is a great way of connecting with the local community, because you can easily stop to chat with neighbors and enjoy neighborhoods, since you are out in the open and moving at a slower pace.
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Biking encourages an active lifestyle, which brings health benefits to citizens in the community.
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Biking also reduces car traffic, which generates noise, air, and water pollution, as well as parking problems that plague many urban and suburban neighborhoods.