The City of Raleigh has a remarkable network of over 100 miles of interconnected greenways, some of which are right next to the NC State campus. The greenway system was conceived in the 1970s based on the plans of an NC State graduate student, Bill Flournoy. Do students know about the Greenway system? Is the Raleigh greenway a viable or attractive means for NC State students to get to destinations, such as Whole Foods, the North Carolina Museum of Art or Umstead Park? Or even to experience downtown Raleigh? Are there things that would make it more attractive for students? Is the City of Raleigh Greenway system a viable means of transportation or is it just something for recreation?

I would like this group to do at least two detailed audits. Possibilities include:
1. Using the Greenway to get to the Art Museum or Whole Foods
Students can use Greenways to get to either the North Carolina Museum of Art or to Whole Foods without every going on roads. What are these routes like? Are there elements of these routes that are unattractive to student bikers?
2. Using the Greenway to get to the downtown Raleigh. Boulted Bread
Students can use the Rocky Branch Greenway as a way of accessing downtown Raleigh without going on Hillsborough St. What is this route like? Are there elements of this route that make it unattractive to student bikers?
3. Using the Greenway to get “out into nature”–going to Umstead or the Neuse River
NCSU is an urban campus, but there are green spaces accessible to bike by students. Students without a car can bike to Umstead State Park and enjoy a peaceful natural environment or bike to the Neuse River. (These are longer trips, so I don’t expect a detailed “audit.”

Here is the City of Raleigh’s Greenway page.
Here is a historical map project on the Raleigh Greenway.

What I would like to see this group do is make a video that would advertise the greenways to NC State students. And with perhaps a section (or a separate video) indicating issues that inhibit NCSU students from taking full access of the greenways.