Bicycles are Welcome on Blue Ridge Parkway, says Superintendent

This past Saturday I posted a blog about some concern within the cycling community regarding the possibility of the Blue Ridge Parkway applying for National Historic Landmark status as a way of managing the parkway, and how it will impact cyclists. In particular, both the Adventure Cycling Association and the Virginia Bicycling Federation have recently expressed deep concern about the future of cycling on the Parkway.

Yesterday, Bicycle Retailer published an interview they conducted with Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent Phil Francis. The superintendent told Steve Frothingham of Bicycle Retailer that "we�ve never had a discussion about limiting bicycle use as part of the GMP (draft management plan) process, not since I�ve been here." Francis also went on to say that "Our plan is to continue to welcome bicyclists; we are not planning to change our policy at all."

To read or listen to the full interview, including comments on a multi-use path parallel to the Parkway, and mountain biking in the Park, please click here.

Public comments on the draft management plan will be accepted through December 16th. You can submit written comments by mail to:

Superintendent Philip A. Francis, Jr.
Blue Ridge Parkway
199 Hemphill Knob Road
Asheville, NC 28803


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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