Plus, a new Africa to Carolina exhibit
 
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Today’s Forecast

51º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:25 a.m. | Sunset 5:17 p.m.
 

Take two (wheels, that is)

How much of your day can you spend on a bike in Raleigh?
Bike outside of a store with groceries and flowers
The distance from Village District to downtown is 2 miles. | Photo by Erin McPherson
Did you know? Raleigh scored a 39 out of 100 on Walk Score’s bikeability meter, deeming it a “somewhat bikeable” city. Our score is determined by four components: bike lanes, hills, destinations and connectivity, and bicycle mode share. Wondering what all that means? Keep reading.

Bike lanes

Walk Score rates this category on the total length of bike paths and lanes. Since 2009, the City of Raleigh has grown from 4 miles of bike lanes to more than 80 miles of bike lanes, as of last year. Learn more about bike lanes or plan a bike commute.

Hill score

Hilliness is based on the steepest grade within our area, calculated using the National Elevation Data set from the United States Geological Survey (USGC).

At ~430 ft above sea level, Raleigh sits on the boundary of the more elevated Piedmont and flatter Coastal Plains — meaning the city gets hillier the further west you travel. Play with the USGS’ interactive map to learn more about nearby topography.

Downtown Raleigh bike mural that says "thank you for riding your bike."

The Oaks and Spokes mural downtown — check out the biking club’s calendar of events.

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Photo by Erin McPherson

Destinations and connectivity

This measure uses our city’s Walk Score — which calculates whether or not you need a car to run daily errands — and can vary greatly depending on which area or neighborhood you live in.

Bicycle mode share

This category takes into account the social nature of bicycling. There’s safety in numbers. Even if a city doesn’t have tons of infrastructure for cyclists, more cyclists mean more drivers are aware of bicycles — which makes roadways safer.

How can we boost our score?

Raleigh has plans in place to continue improving connectivity across our city — originally approved in 2016, the 10-year Bike Plan was recently reprioritized and includes measures to install, construct, and rehabilitate bike paths. In 2020, the City also installed flexible delineators to help slow vehicular traffic around bike lanes and improve safety for riders.

But the top way to increase the bikeability of our city? You guessed it — by biking more. If you don’t have a bike yet and are interested in getting started, you can support one of these local bike shops:
Asked

How do you get around town, most of the time?
A. I drive, of course
B. I like to bike around
C. I use my own two feet
D. I take public transit
Make your move
Air Experts
 
Events
Monday, June 12
  • Bender Street w/ Acisse Jay | Monday, Jun. 12 | 7 p.m. | The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh | $13-$16 | Listen to these edgy bands perform live.
  • Juneteen Jubilee | Monday, Jun. 12, Friday, Jun. 16 | John Chavis Memorial Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr., Raleigh | Free | Throughout the week, there will be historical events, fun fitness classes, a palooza with games and entertainment, and a lunch and jam session.
Tuesday, June 13
  • The Office Trivia | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 4-6 p.m. | Leesville Tap Room, 13200 Strickland Rd., Raleigh | Free | Prove that you’re a top fan of “The Office” at this trivia night.
  • Beer & Banjos: The Beer & Banjos Allstars | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | The Raleigh Times Bar, 14 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | Free | Listen to The Lobiollies play tunes in the upstairs bar.
Wednesday, June 14
  • Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand | Wednesday, June 14-Wednesday, July 5 | 4-7 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm, 800 N. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Purchase produce like basil, cabbage, collards, okra, peppers, and tomatoes from this neighborhood farm.
  • The Significance of Juneteenth | Wednesday, Jun. 14 | 7 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St, Raleigh | Free | Learn the history and importance of Juneteenth from speaker Dr. Spencer R. Crew.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Biz
  • Apple is moving forward on plans to open a new office space in RTP. The campus is expected to bring 3,000 jobs to the Triangle and some in interim offices before the campus opens. (Triangle Business Journal)
Try This
Drink
  • Raleigh-based Crank Arm Brewery is opening a Durham location near the Carolina Theater at 311 Liggett St. by the end of the year. The new space will have 24 beers on tap. (Raleigh Magazine)
History
  • North Carolina hot sauce brand Texas Pete celebrated its 70th birthday on June 9. The brand has been manufactured in Winston Salem — not Texas — since 1953. (The News & Observer)
Outdoors
  • As a B Corp, Murphy Naturals is committed to the triple bottom line — comprised of people, planet + profit — aka, not just profit. Learn more about the local Certified B Corp that is on a mission to get you outdoors (and the mosquitos out of your way).*
Finance
  • Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*
Trending
  • How to make skincare more fun: the Marshmallow Whip Maker, which turns any cleanser into a fluffy, marshmallow-like foam that’s rich and creamy on the skin.*
Featured Deal
 
Outdoors

Breathe some fresh air

5 hikes with water views near Raleigh, NC
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Hike the East Loop at sunset to try and catch these cotton candy skies. | Photo by Danny Clarke
If you, like us, spent a little more time indoors last week due to the air quality alerts — it might be time to touch some grass.

Lace up your walking shoes + get outside for these five hikes with beautiful water views. Bonus: they’re all less than an hour’s drive from Raleigh.

Lake Johnson East Loop, 1320 Lake Dam Rd.

  • 10 minutes from downtown
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Length: 2.8 miles
  • Amenities: 🐶🧺🏊🚣🎣
  • Pro tip: Walk around the east side of Lake Johnson on paved greenway loops. After your hike, take a dip in the park’s outdoor public pool, open Friday-Sunday.

Vista Point Red Trail, Jordan Lake Recreation Area

  • 40 minutes from downtown
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Length: 2.5 miles
  • Amenities: 🐶🧺🏊🚣🎣🏕️
  • Pro tip: Begin your hike at the end of the road across from the group campsites to catch views of Jordan Lake.
 
The Wrap
 
Erin McPherson in a white shirt

Today’s edition by:
Erin
From the editor
Did you know you can reserve the outdoor lounge space at The Longleaf Hotel for larger groups? I worked with Rebecca — who was an amazing support — to host a Barbie-themed birthday party on Saturday and had an amazing time with about twelve of my friends.
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