Who is developing the Plan?
Centralina Council of Governments (COG), located in Charlotte, has been contracted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation to develop a regional bicycle plan for the Lake Norman area.  The COG is working with a wide range of stakeholders to collect information and preferences to help develop this Plan.  The participating jurisdictions include Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba counties, and the communities of Troutman, Mooresville, Davidson, Huntersville, and Cornelius.

When will the Plan be completed?
The Plan development process began in early December 2008.  It is expected to be completed and approved by NCDOT in early 2010.  However, the Plan will only recommend locations for bicycle routes/paths.  Actual construction of the facilities and improvements will depend upon funding as it becomes available.

How can I provide input?
Several open house input and review sessions will be held to ensure that the public has opportunity to review and comment on the Plan.  You can also contact Steering Committee members, who are involved throughout the planning process.

The Steering Committee will initially include representatives of the counties and municipalities directly affected by the bike route.  In addition, members of three transportation planning organizations that operate in the study area (Unifour Rural Planning Organization, Lake Norman Rural Planning Organization, and Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization) will be part of the committee, as well as both NCDOT Divisions (Division 10 - Mecklenburg and Division 12 - Catawba, Iredell, and Lincoln).

The Steering Committee will also eventually include representatives of the bicycle, environmental, landowner, and economic development communities.  These persons will each be appointed by the local governments participating in the Study.

Where will the bike route be located? 
The Plan will feature an identified route for bicyclists to travel completely around Lake Norman, and to get to attractions in the vicinity.  This will likely be accomplished by a combination of on and off-road facilities, including multi-purpose paths, striped bicycle lanes, and wide outside lanes.  Developing routes that venture “off-road” -- away from existing streets and highways -- is a high priority for the Plan.

Not all portions of the route will be appropriate for all bicyclists.  Some areas will require travelling alongside vehicular traffic.  In high-risk areas, especially bridges, the Plan may recommend separate bicycle/pedestrian bridges.

Where possible, the route will identify parallel off-road facilities for mountain biking enthusiasts.  These facilities may be traditional “single-track” routes that are appropriate only for experienced riders. Designation of such routes will depend on geography and land availability.

How Can I find out more?
If you have further questions or would like to receive email notices of all events related to the Plan, send your name and contact information to Bjorn Hansen of the COG staff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (704) 688-6501.  You can also visit www.centralina.org to download documents and read about the plan process.