A kick-off meeting for developing a regional bicycle plan for Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Haywood Community College High Tech Center in Waynesville.

The goal of this two-year long project is to coordinate existing bicycle plans while developing this regional plan.

“Bicycling is important to the economic development goals of Western North Carolina—each year thousands of people visit the region and take part in bicycling activities such as the Blue Ridge Breakaway, or otherwise ride for recreation,” according to organizers. “While bicycling currently accounts for a small share of commuter trips, it is a critical component of a multi-modal transportation system and can help provide more affordable transportation alternatives.”

The study is funded by a grant from the Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation of North Carolina Department of Transportation. Land-of-Sky Regional Council, in cooperation with the Southwestern Rural Planning Organization, is coordinating the effort.