Transportation Organizations

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
The Charlotte Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, is the public transit system in Charlotte. It operates bus and rail service around the Charlotte metropolitan area. This includes a bus rapid transit line called the Sprinter, a light rail line called the LYNX Blue Line, and a streetcar line called CityLYNX Gold Line. Davidson is serviced by the 77x Express Bus, 290 Shuttle, and the Village Rider 97 & 99. 

Charlotte Regional Transportation Organization (CRTPO)
The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Charlotte Urbanized Area.  Federal legislation requires urbanized areas with populations larger than 50,000 to have an MPO, whose primary function is to carry out the transportation planning process among the member jurisdictions within its established planning area boundary.  Due to the growth of the Charlotte Urbanized Area, and the subsequent expansion of the MPO planning area boundary, the CRTPO was established in place of the former Mecklenburg-Union MPO.

Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC)
The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) is the policy board for the Charlotte Area Transit System and is responsible for reviewing and recommending all long-range public transportation plans.  The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners reviews the transit system’s operating and capital programs, and makes recommendations to the affected governments for their approval and funding of those programs. The MTC is a public body, and in addition to holding monthly public meetings, it conducts public involvement programs designed to gain community input on transit planning. 

NC73 Council on Planning
The Council of Planning is a multi-jurisdictional body tasked with monitoring and managing the NC 73 corridor, a 35-mile section of rapidly developing communities in the northern parts of the Charlotte, North Carolina region. 

NCDOT
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries, in the state of North Carolina. As one of state’s largest government agencies, the N.C. Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining approximately 80,000 miles of roadways and 18,000 bridges and culverts across North Carolina. NCDOT also regulates and implements programs to support rail, aviation, ferry, public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation.

The department also includes the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, and N.C. Turnpike Authority, as well as N.C. State Ports Authority and N.C. Global TransPark – both of which help expand economic opportunities in the state.

Bicycle Nonprofits and Organizations

There are a variety of organizations and non profits in our area that promote and educate about bicycle safety. These organizations can be a resource to better understand bicycling in our area. This list is intended to be a resource and is not intended to be an endorsement of any one particular organization.

CRTPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Work Group

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Work Group was officially formed in August of 2014. The establishment of this TCC advisory committee grew from a need to ensure consistency and continuity in on-going bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts. The Work Group also works to ensure that bicycle and pedestrian users, planners, and advocates throughout the MPO region have a voice in the planning process.

Safe bicyclist and pedestrian travel is a priority throughout the Charlotte Metropolitan and surrounding areas, and is one component of an effective multi-modal transportation network. CRTPO’s 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan clearly identifies existing and planned resources and planning efforts aimed at expanding opportunities for safe bicycle and pedestrian travel throughout the MPO area.

Trips for Kids

Trips for Kids Charlotte (TFKC) provides transformative cycling experiences for underserved youth. We do this through our mountain biking Ride Program, our after-school Earn-A-Bike Program and the Charlotte Re-Cyclery (used bike shop whose income helps us continue to grow and serve more kids).  We strive to prepare children for success by teaching respect, honesty, teamwork, overcoming challenges, healthy and safe lifestyles and service.

Cycling Savvy

CyclingSavvy is a program of American Bicycling Education Association, Inc. (ABEA). It was developed by former League Cycling Instructors Keri Caffrey and Mighk Wilson.

The founders recognized that because fear of cycling in traffic is the greatest hindrance to cycling and bicycle transportation, the greatest need was a thorough adult traffic cycling course. We reasoned other cycling topics, such as bike fit and mechanical skills can be learned via the web or through books or local bike shops, but traffic cycling absolutely requires the social and experiential aspects only found through face-to-face and real-world instruction.

People for Bikes

Uniting millions to make riding better for everyone.

PeopleForBikes aims to make riding better for everyone. By collaborating with millions of individual riders, businesses, community leaders, and elected officials, we’re uniting people to create a powerful, united voice for bicycling and its benefits.

Our work focuses on making every kind of bike ride better—whether that ride takes you on trails, down to the grocery store, or all the way across town. Why? Because when people ride bikes, great things happen for our bodies and our minds, and our local and global communities.­­

So who are we?

We are casual riders, weekend warriors, and commuters. We are parents and grandparents, neighbors and friends. We are business owners and industry leaders.

We are people who enjoy riding bikes, just like you.

League of American Bicyclists

For generations past and to come, THE LEAGUE represents bicyclists in the movement to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a bicycle-friendly America. Through information, advocacy and promotion, we work to celebrate and preserve the freedom cycling brings to our members everywhere.