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Palmetto Cycling Coalition E-newsletter December 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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Get your South Carolina Share the Road license plate today. Click here to download the appropriate form, fill out the necessary personal information, and then head down to your local DMV office!
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| Thank you Congressman Oberstar
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On November 2, 2010, the voters in Minnesota's Eighth District, in the northeastern corner of that state, decided to end the distinguished political career of Congressman James Oberstar. With the departure of Mr. Oberstar, the cycling community has lost its north star.
It is not hyperbole to say that millions of Americans today and for generations to come, will reap the benefits of the Congressman's legacy. Consider his contributions: Safe Routes to School, Recreational Trails, the Non Motorized Transportation Pilot Program, state bicycle/pedestrian coordinators, Transportation Enhancements, the creation of AASHTO guidance on design and operation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and the creation of a bicycle/pedestrian clearinghouse for technical assistance and research. The Congressman's stewardship of bicycling and walking always set a high bar for those of us on the advocacy side; he wasn't afraid to challenge us to do better in championing our cause.
 | | Oberstar (white helmet) riding with industry/advocacy leaders |
Consider his remarks made two years after the passage of TEA-21, as he weighed its potential impact on bicycling: "Results: To be determined by the bicycle community in the coming years. TEA-21 opens the door to a potential $3 billion for bicycling initiatives. Their potential will be fulfilled only if pro-bike groups develop plans, advocate specific projects, see that they are included in state DOT plans, and monitor projects through to construction."
Another Oberstar legacy we hope endures is his belief that transportation is not a partisan issue. Whether a person travels by air, rail, bus, car, horse, bike, or foot should be irrelevant; we all have an interest in a transportation system that costs households less; kills and injures fewer people; preserves community, health, and the environment; and allows the United States to maintain its economic competitiveness. Chairman Oberstar understood that everyone shared these goals, and as such, when it came to transportation he honed his expertise, not his partisan arrows.
This fantastic tribute was featured in the National Center for Biking & Walking newsletter CenterLines, issue #266.
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As bicycle advocates, we owe tremendous thanks to Congressman Oberstar. Send him a note of appreciation directly to jim.oberstar@mail.house.gov, and for talking points/sample letter visit the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership.
If you're interested in following DC politics relating to Oberstar's departure and what it means the House Transportation/ Infrastructure Committee, the transportation bill re-authorization, and much more, check out DC StreetsBlog. Or listen to his interview on NPR's All Things Considered last night.
Finally, check out the various tributes from our national partners:
League of American Bicyclists ; Adventure Cycling Association ;
Rails to Trails Conservancy
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| National Bike Summit |  Every year in March, hundreds of bicycle advocacy and industry friends converge on Washington, DC for the annual National Bike Summit. At the eleventh annual Bike Summit (March 8-10, 2011) you will have the opportunity to network with bicyclists from other states, find out first-hand what is happening on the Federal level relating to bicycling, and have the opportunity to meet with your Senators and Representative in Congress.
Take advantage of the cheaper rates and register early here! We're aiming to have a strong delegation representing every SC Congressional district this year. Please join us.
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| Bicycle Law Education Video Update
| The video psa project is going strong. Our production partners are finalizing the timeline and will begin filming in the next few weeks. We anticipate the psa's to be complete in the spring of 2011!
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| PCC 2011 Priorities
| Every year in November, the Palmetto Cycling Coalition Board and staff meets for a weekend of business to evaluate progress in accomplishing our mission and to strategize programs and initiatives for the year to come. For 2011, we are striving to achieve several goals and objectives, which are loosely categorized within the following three areas:- Formation of SCDOT Bike/Ped Advisory Committee. Many of our neighboring states have such committees already in place, and we anticipate the formation of such a committee in South Carolina to be a significant asset for improved communication and prioritization of goals and strategies. We look forward to this being a forum for us to better express advocate for issues ranging from rumble strips to ongoing road maintenance. This Committee will include representatives from statewide public/private partners that oversee issues relating to bicycle and pedestrian access, education and safety.
- Bicycle Safety Campaign. In just a few months, we will be debuting our bicycle ed psa's, which will also be the kick-off for a two year campaign about safe and lawful bicycling in South Carolina. In partnership with the Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation, we will strive to reduce the number of automobile-bicycle crashes and losses of human life on SC roadways.
- Carolinas Bicycle Summit. In partnership with our sister state to the north, we will begin in 2011 to lay the groundwork for the 1st annual Carolina Bicycle Summit, to take place in 2012.
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| Data Roundup
| The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has released 2009 data on bicycle fatalities, and the PCC has been investigating where South Carolina ranks  in terms of these numbers. In 2009, a total of 11 fatalities involved a bicycle rider, whereas in in 2008 a total of 16 bicycle fatalities occurred. This is good news, as it means a decrease in bicycle fatalities and it nears SC standing relative to the national average. Since 2000, the per capita bicycle fatality rate in SC has more than doubled the national average six years total; the chart to the right (clickable image) illustrates the significant discrepancy between US and SC bicycle fatalities per capita. However, in 2008 and 2009 bicycle fatalities have been on the decline in our state.
Analyzing this data a little closer, we investigated the fatalities that have occurred in the last five years in terms of age of the bicyclist and time of day that the crash occurred. Click the charts below to view as larger files.
 
Approximately half of those bicyclists who were killed on SC roadways between 2005 and 2009 were between the age of 35 and 54. And just over half of bicyclists killed on roadways between 2005-2009 were riding just after sundown--specifically between 6pm and midnight. These facts come as no surprise to many bicycle advocates and are fairly consistent to national averages of fatalities by age and time of day. The PCC's Vital Visibility program, in which we partner with DHEC to distribute blinkie lights and reflective apparel annually, is an effort to address the prevalence of bicycle fatalities occurring at dark.
Finally, according to the American Community Survey, bicycle commuting in South Carolina is on the rise from 2008. In 2009, %0.30 individuals commuted to work, whereas in 2009 only %0.23 commuted by bicycle. Bike commuting topped out in 2007 in South Carolina, at %0.71 mode share, which was likely a result of the significant rise in gas prices. Although bike commuting has not returned to the pre-2007/pre-high gas price level, commuting is generally on the rise in SC and is holding steady at the national level. Check out what our friends at the League have to say about these numbers and the American Community Survey in general.
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| Our Region, Our Plan
| Our Region, Our Plan is the regional planning initiative of the Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Council of Governments. The plan is a is a tri-county effort working to produce a shared regional vision for quality of life and long range  growth scenario. To accomplish this, while remaining respectful of our local community and county plans, collaboration and input from the general public and community leaders is needed. Your input and involvement is so valuable to this process!
On October 25-28, four sub-regional workshops were hosted to gather insights on goals and strategies for the plan. According to participant feedback detailed in the workshop summary, the three most important issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve the Vision and Goals of Our Region Our Plan are (1) Transit/Transportation, (2) Intergovernmental Cooperation, and (3) Job Creation.
Stay tuned for an opportunity to be involved in round two of these community workshops, expected to take place in spring of 2011. These workshops offer a valuable opportunity to convey the importance of safe and convenient bicycle accommodations to improve quality of life and livability throughout the tri-county area. An opportunity that shouldn't be missed!
Excerpts of this article are from this message from Chairman Larry Hargett.
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| Conway Awarded Bikes Belong Grant
| The City of Conway was awarded a $2,250 grant from Bikes Belong to continue their network of bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure throughout the community. The funds will be used along Grainger Road to install bicycle-safe drainage grates, as well as redesign the trail crossing at U.S. Highway 378 to improve the connection between an existing recreation center, a new recreation complex, neighboring subdivisions, and a low-income neighborhood.
Conway sees this project as an important part of its goal to create a bike route around the city and ultimately connect to the East Coast Greenway. These efforts were overseen by the city's Bike, Hike and Paddle Committee, which is led by Conway's Planning Department.
Conway is a South Carolina community that has been working for several years to embrace bicycle and pedestrian options in their transportation network. In 2005, the City adopted a Greenway Master Plan. In late 2008, they adopted a ten-year master plan that incorporated priorities and strategies to improve bike/ped infrastructure and embrace Complete Streets concepts. In early 2009, Conway was the site for a Complete Streets community workshop, led by the PCC, Eat Smart Move More, and DHEC. This recent grant from Bikes Belong is yet another step in a positive direction for this burgeoning bicycle friendly community!
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| Bike to Bicycle City
| A project over a decade in the making, Gaston, SC's future Bicycle City is set to celebrate its ground breaking on Saturday, Dec. 11. "Bike to Bicycle City/ Ground Breaking Events Day" will feature hiking, biking, kayaking, tours, live music, an evening bonfire and a screening of "Breaking Away." Models, plans and community designs will be on display, and volunteers can have a first-hand impact on the future community through trail building, tree planting and organic gardening.
Bicycle City will be a car-free community located in Lexington County, south of Columbia. Residents and visitors will leave their cars on the outskirts of the property in favor of walking or biking. Bicycle City SC, the first of several planned communities, will be built with sustainability and healthy living as priorities. For more information, visit the website or check out this video.
Anyone who would like to attend the Ground Breaking Events Day festivities is asked to RSVP to Joe Mellet at joe@bicyclecity.com or (513) 505-6200. We hope to see you there!
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| Richland County Complete Streets Advisory Committees
| If you are a resident of Richland County and are interested in promoting Complete Streets values within the community, consider serving on one of two separate Richland County Complete Streets Advisory Committees: the Citizens (CAC) or Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). These Committees are being formed from recommendations of Complete Streets Goals & Objectives that were adopted earlier this year by Richland County Council. The County adopted a Complete Streets resolution in September of 2009.
The function of the CAC is to represent citizens/consumer interests in the prioritization, planning, funding and implementation of transportation projects. Such individuals include neighborhood groups, AARP representatives, accessibility advocates, public health advocates, etc.
The function of the TAC is to represent private development interests and governmental interests in the priorization, planning, funding and implementation of transportation. Such individuals include staff of state/local governments, homebuilders associations, etc.
There will be regular meetings of both Advisory Committees, at a time and location convenient to its members. If you are interested in serving in this important role, or want to learn more information, contact Carl Gosline, Transportation Planner with the County (803-576-2177), and provide your name, email address and phone number with him.
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| Greenville Swamp Rabbit nearing $250,000 Win
| The Swamp Rabbit has made the cut and they're on to the next round to winning $250,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Project. There are two easy ways to vote:
- http://pep.si/9mxLhq (you must sign up for a user name/password and log in first)
- Text the message "104074" to Pepsi (73774)
Help the Swamp Rabbit trail gain this funding to improve safety and efficiency along the trail. Vote everyday until December 31!
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| December Gear Review: Cane Creek Brake Levers
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The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are starting to fall. The leaves are off the trees and the cockney chimney sweeps have awoken from a long summer's slumber to don their feculent top hats and scrub our soon-to-be-used chimneys free of excess soot and grime. The change in season also means it's time to put the carbon fiber road bike away and break out the winter commuter/training bike.
This year, the trusty steel single speed got an upgrade in the form of a pair of Cane Creek SCR-5  brake levers. In a word, these levers "rock." First, the set-up is extremely easy. We used a Jagwire Ripcord brake cable and it installed with absolutely no problem. After securing the front and rear caliper brakes, a couple squeezes and the levers were deemed a success, installation-wise!
Ride-wise, the levers have performed admirably. While you're not going to get a lot of modulation or braking finesse, the levers engage the brakes with a minimum of "death vice" hand pressure. The best part we've found are the hoods. The extra-wide surface area gives your hand plenty of space while the tiny little geckos provide extra grip. Who knew decorative lizards could be so useful? After approximately 3 weeks of use, which has included 3 rainy rides into work, the levers are functioning beautifully. Cold forged steel and a beefy 267 grams a pair means they are sturdy enough for the rigors of winter riding and beyond.
Thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with the Hawley Company, for this sneak-preview and words of wisdom. Be on the lookout for these brake levers at your local bike shop!
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| Prepare for the Chilly Temps Ahead | |
 We're beginning to experience low temps in the 20s around the state, and we hate to think that your toes are icy as you ride around on your bicycle. Consider purchasing a pair of custom PCC DeFeet Wooleators--which are less bulky in fit, but provide the warmth that you need on those chilly AM rides. At $12 a pop, this is a deal that can't be beat.
We also have various colors of PCC DeFeet Aireators ($10/pair) in stock; to order any socks, contact Rachael with your shoe size and quantity/style you'd like. These make great stocking stuffers for the Holiday season!
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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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