Sharing the road

Biking in the Triangle

Part of Raleigh’s recent renaissance has been the birth of a thriving bike culture, which, as Andrew Harrell—president of NC State’s Student Sustainability Resource Council (SSRC)—notes, can “reduce your environmental footprint, improve your physical health, and develop a deeper sense of your community.”

But this is not without its growing pains, as bikers get used to different routes and terrain and motorists get used to sharing the road. “Increasing cycling awareness benefits safety for all commuters, educates people about the benefits of alternative transportation, and informs people of current problems surrounding bike infrastructure and policy,” Harrell adds.

To that end, the NCSU Libraries and the SSRC have teamed up to present “Biking in the City,” a panel made up of a cross-section of this budding cycling community on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the James B. Hunt Jr. Library Auditorium. The panelists include:

  • Mike Kennon, Assistant Director of Planning and Operations for NC State Transportation;
  • Brian Iezzi, NC State Student & Co-founder of NC State Bike Share;
  • Carter Pettibone, Urban Designer + Planner for the City of Raleigh;
  • Kathy Molin, Transportation Demand Manager Coordinator for City of Raleigh Transportation; and
  • Evan Brigham, President, Oaks and Spokes.

Moderated by Raleigh’s favorite air horn duo, Grayson and Tina Haver Currin, the panel will be discussing these and other biking-related issues. Grayson, an NC State alumnus and co-founder of the Hopscotch Music Festival, is now Editor-in-Chief of the Raleigh Agenda. Most recently, Grayson was INDY Week’s Managing and Music Editor and advocated for Triangle cycling through RIDE: The Indy Bike Guide. Tina is Myriad Media’s Creative Strategist whose work has been covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Forbes, NPR, Pitchfork, Huffington Post and Rolling Stone. She is also one of the organizers for Raleigh’s annual Hepcat Race that benefits the SAFE Haven Cat Shelter & Clinic, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping cats and kittens all across the Triangle.

And please join us for a leisurely pre-panel bike ride around Lake Raleigh, beginning at 5:30 at doors of the Hunt Library! Bring your own bike and helmet.