News

Bike club commits $10,000 to Ecusta Trail

By Bill Moss, Published: December 17, 2015

The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club has set aside $10,000 for the proposed Ecusta Trail, with $5,000 representing Transylvania County and $5,000 representing Henderson County.“These funds come from a combination of sources — the Fletcher Flyer, our annual fund-raising ride, donations, and member dues and contributions,” Joe Sanders, president of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, said in a news release. “Data shows that most people want to ride a bike, and that they did ride bicycles when they were young. Unfortunately, people do not feel safe biking on the narrow roads in Henderson and Transylvania counties. The Ecusta Trail will offer the perfect opportunity for people to become more active and in a safe environment.”

The bicycle club's donation is the second commitment of funding for the greenway. Last April the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority agreed to commit a quarter cent of the authority’s 5-cent accommodations tax to the trail, a pledge that would mean $70,000 to $80,000 a year.

The Ecusta Trail is the proposed 19-mile rail trail that will connect Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Horse Shoe, Etowah, Pisgah Forest and Brevard. Representatives of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club will work with the Friends of the Ecusta Trail, whose mission is to promote the trail and a local network of multi-use trails, to ensure the funds are used appropriately. The funds will remain in the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club treasury until planning and construction on the Ecusta Trail commences.