Despite Funding Challenges, Chapel Hill Offers Extensive Free Transportation Network

The North Carolina college town boasts free transit and dozens of miles of bike lanes and greenways.

1 minute read

February 21, 2024, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of crowded bike rack on university campus with students walking in background.

Bikes on the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill campus. | Sharkshock / Adobe Stock

Writing in Yahoo News, Mike Taylor highlights the city of Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s success at building a comprehensive multimodal transportation network. The city and its neighbor Carrboro are home to “one of the largest free transportation systems in the world,” as well as 25 miles of greenways and 15 miles of bike lanes. “Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation, and Chapel Hill Transit in 2022 gave 3.4 million rides despite the cities’ combined population of just 83,396.”

Chapel Hill’s success is particularly impressive in light of the fact that  90 percent or more of North Carolina’s transportation budget is directed to highway projects. “The legislature also prohibits the use of state funds for standalone bicycle and pedestrian projects and limits public transportation expenditures.”

Monday, February 19, 2024 in Yahoo News

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