On Friday, November 14, the CSPDC, Shenandoah Valley Bike Coalition, and Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley hosted the 2025 Central Shenandoah Bike Walk Summit at The Liberty St. Loft in Harrisonburg. For the first time, this event brought together stakeholders from the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro and Harrisonburg-Rockingham regions to discuss the potential of non-motorized transportation improvements to boost the Valley’s quality of life and how to unify active transportation efforts regionwide.
The day kicked off with a keynote address by Melicent R. Miller, DrPH, MSPH, a Chronic Disease and Obesity Prevention Consultant with the Virginia Department of Health and President of Health Forward LLC. Dr. Miller drew on her fifteen years of experience at the intersection between public health and the built environment to make the case that investing in safe places to walk, roll, and bike is an effective public health strategy, particularly when local governments, health systems, and community partners work together. Subsequently, JMU’s Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue facilitated breakout sessions exploring experiences and opportunities for building trust and momentum for safer biking, walking, and moving in communities.
Following the keynote and facilitated breakouts, the afternoon focused on local progress and on-the-ground implementation. The Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership shared updates on the trail’s progress from Front Royal to Broadway while the City of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation staff discussed the Rockfish Gap Gateway Trail and other local greenway developments. To conclude the formal session, the City of Harrisonburg and the Harrisonburg Community Connectors Team gave attendees an overview of the recent demonstration project to reimagine North Mason Street as a complete two-lane street with shorter pedestrian crossings, temporary roundabouts, and activated public space. Afterwards, Harrisonburg Councilmember Monica Robinson gave a walking tour of the historic Northeast Neighborhood and North Mason Street Corridor, sharing history on the corridor’s pre-urban renewal character and results from the demonstration project.
For additional details on the Summit, please visit the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition website.