By Ruggie Ridgeway

Newswriting Student

(Asheville, NC) Get on the bus and experience Asheville’s history while taking a glimpse into the future along the largest river in Western North Carolina.

“When you go on The RiverFront Bus Tour you get excited to see all that’s going on along and on the river,” said Hartwell Carson, RiverLink’s River Keeper. 

The RiverFront Bus Tour is put on by RiverLink, a regional non-profit organization leading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live and play, according to RiverLink.

“RiverLink is a wonderful organization, providing a healthier environment for generations to come,” said Kelsey Lenhardt, 20, a passionate outdoorsman and biker.

For nearly 20 years, RiverLink officials endeavored to improve water quality, expand public opportunities for access and recreation, and revitalize the urban river district along the French Broad River basin, according to RiverLink.

“It’s comforting to know that there are organizations like RiverLink preserving the Asheville area,” Lenhardt said.

The tour, offered every third Thursday from noon to 2 p.m., takes place between Sept. 21 and Dec. 21, according to RiverLink.

“The tour is free to members and is $15 for all non-members,” Carson said. “Registration is now open for the Nov. 16 tour.”

The tour begins downtown at Asheville City Hall and continues on eventually reaching the French Broad Riverfront before dropping riders back off at its starting point, according to RiverLink’s RiverFront Bus Tour script.

“The riverfront tour begins in the middle of downtown because we really like to remind people that our project is very much an extension of what is happening in the downtown area,” Carson said.

While on the tour riders learn the history and facts of the surrounding areas. 

“It’s an area of town that a lot of people forget about,” he said.  “People often forget that the river is down here and what an asset and vital resource it is.”

Along the tour, riders are able to see what used to be there, what is there now and what is coming, according to Carson.

“It’s a past, present and future look at Asheville’s urban riverfront,” he said.  “Riders become aware of some of the parks that have been there, how they got to be there, what the next step is and what new parks are coming.”

One project underway is the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, a greenway linking the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers into a 17 mile continuous greenway, according to RiverLink. The plan provides separate walking and biking trails.

“I’m very excited to see what new bike trails are being made,” Lenhardt said.

According to Carson, the RiverFront Bus Tours have been very successful.

“There are a lot of people looking to learn about the river and its conditions,” Carson said.  “Volunteers have also really helped keep the tour going.”