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Palmetto Cycling Coalition E-newsletter July 2010
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Visit our Facebook cause. Please join and donate today!
SC bicycling photos uploaded to our flickr photo sharing account weekly. Check it out!
To stay 'in-the-know' about the latest in bike gear, advocacy news, events and much more, subscribe to the PCC RSS feed.
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The
South Carolina Share the Road license plate is a great way to
contribute to the Coalition AND show your support of bicycling in South
Carolina. Don't worry if you just renewed your plates, the cost of a
new Share the Road plate will be pro-rated. Click here to download the appropriate form, fill out the necessary personal information, and then head down to your local DMV office to purchase your plate today!
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The Hawley Company
is a nationwide bicycle parts distributor, based in our very own
Lexington, SC. The Hawley Company believes in success through
people. They strive to empower Independent
Bicycle Dealers with the tools and services that they need to
survive and thrive. Not only is Hawley a longtime supporter of the
Coalition, but they are devoted to the cause of bicycle advocacy by
supporting other great organizations and taking on their own initiatives
in the community.
On a quarterly basis, Sponsor Spotlight
will feature a different supporter of the PCC that has donated an
exceptional amount in terms of time, money or in other meaningful ways.
To find out how to support the Coalition, visit our Sponsorship page.
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Greetings,
Its not news to anyone that its been really hot these days. 100 degree days came all too soon for many of us. If you have no plans to retire your bicycle over these summer months, then be sure to take precautions to avoid overheating--drink lots of the right fluids, take breaks in the shade, apply sunscreen, and if possible avoid riding in the early-mid afternoon.
Safe cycling!
Your friends at the Palmetto Cycling Coalition
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| National Bicycling and Walking Study
| Just a few weeks ago, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), which is funded by USDOT and FHWA, released their 15-year status report on bicycling and walking in the US. The study does a fantastic job at assessing trends over the last 15 years as they relate to walking and bicycling (funding, safety, walking & biking levels), as well as analyzing current trends in this area. It ends on a high note by suggesting that the USDOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations will do great things to advance bicycling and walking in the US.
For a great summary and more background about the report, check out what Andy Clarke has to say at the Bike League's blog.
We're big fans of the media work of GOOD, especially of their weekly "Transparency," which they describe as graphical explorations of the data that surrounds us. It seems that GOOD digested some of the data in the recent PBIC study, and displayed it in a beautiful graphical form. Enjoy!
The Rise of Walking and Biking, from GOOD  |
And just in case you interested in following the status of the US transportation bill, here's a brief update. Our state DOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations are still operating under extensions of the 2005 bill (SAFETEA-LU). Because of everything else happening on Capitol Hill these days, it is unlikely that new legislation will come up anytime this year.
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| SC Bicycle Law Video
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As you are aware, the PCC was the driving force behind passage of the bicycle traffic
safety legislation (H3006) that was signed into law in 2008. Since that time, the PCC has produced and
distributed thousands of copies of the bicycle safety laws to bicyclists and
law enforcement, and we have partnered with local organizations to host nearly a
dozen safety workshops statewide.
Over the last several months, it has become apparent to us that a uniform, statewide initiative
is required to educate a broader audience of law enforcement, public officials,
motorists and bicyclists to effectively reduce the number of automobile-bicycle
crashes and losses of human life on South Carolina roads. To this end, the PCC has developed a budget
to produce a bicycle safety video to be used in settings including but not
limited to: South Carolina Criminal
Justice Academy law enforcement training program Civic organizations and
public schools Driver education training
programs In-service programs at law
enforcement agencies Bicycle clubs and bicycle
shops Bicycle
commuter & traffic safety classes led by League Certified Instructors
 Law
enforcement officials have endorsed the project and Peter Wilborn of mybikelaw.com has graciously made a $10,000 commitment to fund 50% of the project, to be
matched by $10,000 from PCC sponsors throughout the state. Thus far, we have received pledges and/or donations of support from 14 bicycle shops, businesses and other entities throughout the state, including: Abacus Planning Group, Cycle Center, Garrett Wonders Memorial Fund, Share the Road for Rachel, Greenville Spinners Safety Foundation, Harrell's Bicycle World, The Hawley Company, Kickin' Asphalt Bicycle Club, Nix Construction, Mr. Ray Oleson, Outspokin' Bicycles, Partners for Active Living, Summit Cycles, Sun City Cyclers, and the Town of Hilton Head Fire and Rescue.
All organizations donating $500 or more will be listed
as sponsors in the video and training materials. If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Rachael today.
We are meeting with several producers over the next few weeks, and will begin the planning and creative process soon. We look forward to getting this very exciting project off the ground!
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| Charleston Civic Design Center Survey
| Charleston wants to hear from bike users and non-users alike in their new survey. If you do ride, the city wants to know where you go and what problems you encounter along the way. If you don't ride, the city wants to know what's preventing you from doing so, and if there are any improvements that might get you in the saddle. They want to hear from as many people as possible to allow Charleston to find the best way to advance cycling in the city. More information about the survey can be found here, and for more about Charleston cycling in general, visit Charleston Moves.
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| GSATS Transportation Plan
| GSATS, Grand Strand Area Transportation Study, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the
Grand Strand area, is required to update its 25-year Long Range
Transportation Plan (LRTP) every five years (this requirement applies to all MPOs in SC). This study updates the
2030 LRTP prepared in 2005. Federal regulations require that projects
be included in an approved LRTP in order to be eligible for Federal
funding programs.
The Plan is multi-modal covering
transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, as well as roadways. It
will draw upon previous studies, input from local citizens and traffic
projections to 2035 to identify needed transportation improvements.
An additional role of MPO's is to develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP),
which is the list of specific projects for which federal funds are
anticipated. The 2010-2015 TIP for the GSATS area is a
six-year program of transportation capital projects together with a
three-year estimate of transit capital and maintenance requirements. GSATS has produced a document to list specific Transportation Enhancement projects (which includes bicycle projects, among others) for which federal
funds are expected.
The second round of public meetings for the Plan are anticipated to be held in late
August or September. Remember that it is crucial to be involved in this process in any way feasible--attend meetings, submit comments, take surveys. To stay abreast of this process in the Grand Strand area, join their email list on their webpage.
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| Ten at the Top
| Ten at the Top (TATT) is an effort to foster a spirit of cooperation and collaboration
among public, private and nonprofit leaders from across the ten-county
Upstate South Carolina Region.
Currently, Ten at the Top is leading an effort to develop a Shared
Upstate Growth Vision as the region looks toward the future.
In May and June of 2010, more than 6,000 residents (including many members of the Spinners, Freewheelers, and other important bicycle groups) of the Upstate
provided feedback on "What Matters Most" to them in the
areas of growth, economic vitality, natural and cultural resources,
education and quality of life by taking the Shared Upstate Growth Vision Survey. The results will be used along with other regional information
by the TATT Vision and Values Committee to help develop a draft vision
statement and regional principles. Upstate residents will then have
another chance to provide input into the final vision through
participation in a Regional Summit and Community Forums in September,
October and November 2010.
Shared Upstate Growth Vision  |
Stay tuned for additional ways you can be involved in helping to shape the future
vision for the Upstate, or visit the TATT website. This is a fantastic opportunity to let decision-makers know the importance of bicycle infrastructure to the growing upstate economy.
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| Casual Riding in Greenville
| In addition to their monthly lunchtime Greenway rides, the City of Greenville's Bicycle Friendly Community initiative, Bikeville, is now hosting a monthly Critical Cruise ride. The ride, occurring on t he last Friday of every month, is very casual, respectful, and lawful. The ride is open to all riders, bikes, and skill levels. Come have fun and learn about
Greenville's expanding bicycle infrastructure and culture.
The ride is typically 1-hour long and features
several of Greenville's
bicycle friendly streets. Ride departs from
in-front of the West Washington St. Parking Deck next to Barley's at
5:30 pm.
If raining, the ride is cancelled. For more information, contact our friends at Bikeville.
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| Columbia, SC considering Complete Streets
| The City of Columbia's Bicycle Friendly Community organization, known as BikeColumbia, is proud to announce that City Council is considering a Complete Streets resolution for adoption at their July 21 meeting. Complete Streets are designed and
operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians,
bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must
be able to safely move along and across a Complete Street.
Creating Complete Streets means
transportation agencies must change their orientation toward building
primarily for cars. Instituting a complete streets policy (in Columbia's case, they are considering a resolution) ensures
that transportation agencies routinely design and operate the entire
right of way to enable safe access for all users.
You can view a draft version of the resolution here: page one or page two.
We encourage you to contact your council member to express your support in Complete Streets. If you're not sure what district you reside in, take a look at this map of the City. Then view the city council profiles to determine who represents your district (there is currently a vacancy in district 2). Don't forget to also contact the at-large members of council, Tameika Issac Devine and Daniel Rickenmann.
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| Good Summer Reads
| There's nothing better than after a ride on a lazy summer afternoon, finishing the day off with a good book. The PCC would like to recommend these recent releases for your reading pleasure:
The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance by David V. Herlihy
400 years after
Columbus set sail, 24-year-old Frank Lenz left New York to begin his own
global trek on the modern road bike's ancestor, the safety-bicycle. On
this solo trip, Lenz worked as a report for The Outing Magazine until he
went missing in Turkey during the Armenian genocide. In his carefully
researched account of Lenz's voyage and the efforts to find him, David
Herlihy is honest about the attitudes of the time, and doesn't shy away
from anyone's true motivations. This book contains a view of the world
as seen from the bike in a time before helmets, before reliable roads,
and amid unspeakable atrocities.
The King's Best Highway: The Lost History of the Boston Post Road, the Route That Made America by Eric Jaffe
 It may be hard to
believe that a book about a road can contain a compelling story, but The
King's Best Highway does just that. Eric Jaffe follows the evolution of
the Post Road (later known as US Routes 1 and 20), stretching from
Boston to New York City, from trails no wider than 18 inches to a paved
asphalt road, similar to the ones we know today. He recounts its talent
for community-building and its promise to improve America, before it was
placed above the people it had been designed to help, and began
swallowing up homes and neighborhoods. Albert Pope, the "Father of the
American Bicycle" makes an appearance and fights for cyclists on the
road and with his League of American Wheelmen (which later transformed into what we know today as the League of American Bicyclists). Jaffe gives a
metaphor for our history through the factual past of a road and shows
the importance of carefully planned infrastructure improvements.
Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling by BikeSnobNYC
Photo courtsey of blog 'My Love for You'  |
In a world where we tend to take ourselves too seriously, it's nice to be reminded to laugh at ourselves sometimes. BikeSnobNYC has been keeping bike culture in its place since 2007, and now offers his message off-line. Forget carbon fiber forks, fancy "colorways," and elaborate theme rides. The BikeSnob wants us to remember what a bike is: a beautiful, simple machine that is just fun to use. This book, brilliantly illustrated, conveys his utter joy with the bicycle in a way that promises to renew that feeling for those who read it. And if he sees something ridiculous to mock (which he will), that's icing on the cake.
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| July Gear Review | Since the
summer has rendered the black, heat-reflecting/ intensifying road surfaces
unridable for all but the most diehard of masochists, it's time for mountain
bike riding, even if it takes place in the most humid and tropical of settings
(Harbison State Forest). Eschewing the low-profile XC race tires usually run on
the hardpack trails of Harbison, we decided to mount up some of the brand new
WTB Mutano Race tires on our 26 inch full-suspension test ride.
The Mutano Race
has few if any differences with the standard Mutano. 10 grams is the primary
difference between the two. A folding aramid bead and DNA compound rubber made
for a supple feel. We ran this with tubes and upon inflation, its stated
"2.2" looked a little larger when  fully aired up. This was going to
be a cushioned ride! Upon hitting the trails, the Mutano Race showed excellent
acceleration, both on flats and climbs with zero loss of traction on the
rootiest climbs. Once we got to some of the technical trail sections, the
aggressive outside knobs did an excellent job digging into the loose dirt and
occasional sand spots. We wouldn't describe it as "one hundred percent
stability" but the few unstable handling moments were few and far between.
Hardpack sections and the few hundred yards of dirt road went by quickly as the
lower profile center tread came to the forefront allowing for a faster roll.
The only weakness with the Mutano Race was mud. In the few sections we
encountered, handling became loose as the center knobs were quicky packed in.
Cornering in the wetter "stuff" was also tricky as stability became an issue.
WTB does not advertise its Mutano line of tires as a "mud" or
"wet conditions" tire so its performance in the slop was to be
expected. However, if you are looking for a solid performer in loose dirt to
dry hardpack while shedding a few grams of rotational mass, you cant go wrong
with these tires!
Thanks to Ken Klatte, Production
Artist with the Hawley Company, for this sneak-preview and words of
wisdom. Be on the lookout for these WTB tires at your local bike shop.
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| PCC Jersey/Shorts Kit
| Thank you to all those who submitted an order for the new PCC jersey or shorts. The order should take 8-10 weeks to turn around from Hincapie. Once we receive the shipment, we'll work day and night to get them shipped to you! Expect to hear something from us in mid-late August.
If you missed your chance to get a jersey/short of your own, check back with us at the end of the year--we may be placing another order with Hincapie at that time.
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Closing Thoughts...
"Making walking and biking safer and
more accessible is relatively
inexpensive. For example, we could upgrade the entire 2,250 mile East
Coast Greenway, a network of bike routes stretching all the way from Key
West to Maine, for only one-fifth the cost of a single recent I-95
bridge over the Potomac..."
-Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of
Transportation
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The
Coalition needs the support of cyclists like yourself to continue our
efforts of making SC more bicycle friendly. We are THE voice for
cyclists across South Carolina. If your membership has lapsed, please renew today! If you are not currently a member, please consider becoming one.
| | Your donations ensure our success. Thank you for your support!
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