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October 2011
We are a member supported non-profit working to improve bicycling access, safety and education in South Carolina. |
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Wondering what is going on this weekend in the SC bike community? Check out our calendar for events and more.
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September's Call to Action
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Thank you to all that responded to the National call to action in mid-September over the threat to Transportation Enhancements. As we expressed in our email alert and blog, this is the largest source of Federal funding for bike/ped projects, and if eliminated, would devastate bicycle advancements in South Carolina.
Fortunately, Congress passed a clean extension of the transportation funding, thus preserving funding projects like Transportation Enhancements.
Why did this threat occur? Every six years, Congress re-visits the country's transportation and infrastructure priorities, and funds projects that shape our communities. However, on September 30, 2009, this six year legislation expired and has since been renewed with short-term extensions. With the most recent extension, several members of Congress proposed eliminating Transportation Enhancements. Fortunately, we thwarted these efforts with a large margin Senate vote of 92-6 in favor of a clean extension.
So, are we in the clear? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The current extension will last until March 31, 2012, and between now and then we have much work to do to ensure that bicycling is included in either a long term transportation bill or another extension.
Thank you for your help and stay tuned for the next opportunity to voice your support of these programs to Congress.
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Win Your Next Bike/Ped Campaign!
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PCC will play host to the last of six Winning Campaigns Trainings this year, led by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Occurring on November 4 to 6, this dynamic and sought-after training focuses on the seven key skills of an effective campaign, in the context of biking and walking organizational building. The proven curriculum will help you choose, direct, and win campaigns to promote better biking and walking.
After three days of fun and inspiring work with the country's leading experts in advocacy, you'll come away with the tools and confidence to be a better leader in your community -- one who knows not just how to advocate for improvements, but win them.
Early registration for this training ends Oct. 7, and there are scholarships available, so sign up now and don't miss your chance to have a real impact on cycling in our state! For more information, visit our blog. |
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Upcoming Complete Streets Workshops
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 We are excited to announce a partnership with AARP of South Carolina and Eat Smart Move More SC to develop a statewide Complete Streets Campaign in South Carolina. As a part of this campaign, we are offering two exciting workshops this fall. On November 16, we will host two Complete Streets workshops at the South Carolina Farmer's Market in West Columbia, SC. The workshops will be led by a Complete Street expert from North Carolina. The workshops are an invaluable tool for any community or individual interested in learning more about Complete Streets or perhaps implementing Complete Streets within their community. Please join us and learn more about how we can all work together to improve the health and safety of our communities. These events are free and open to the public; to register or find out more information, visit the event site. Contact Phoebe if you have any questions. |
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SC Safe Routes to School Program
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The South Carolina Safe Routes to School Program, a project of SCDOT, has just launched a new website and has some very exciting new projects and events to announce.
The program offers Safe Routes to School Travel Plan assistance to eligible schools, and they have selected the following three schools statewide to receive assistance for the upcoming year: Lewis Greenview Elementary (Columbia), Mellichamp Elementary (Orangeburg), Manning Primary School (Manning ). The Travel Plan serves as a complete Safe Routes to School guide for the school. It includes a 12-month activity/event calendar for Education, Encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation activities; and also includes recommendations for physical changes to sidewalks, roadway crossings and trails leading to their campus. The process is broken down between 3 meetings throughout the year. For those interested in learning more about the Safe Routes program, they are offering four condensed workshops statewide. These workshops will occur between October 25 and November 2 in Greenville, Rock Hill, Columbia, and Charleston. For more details about these events, visit our blog. If you are interested in becoming involved or want to learn about the next meetings, please call the SC Safe Routes to School Hotline at 866.4SC.SRTS or email info@SCsaferoutes.org. |
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Next steps with Safe Streets
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 As a part of the next phase of our Safe Streets campaign, we will soon unveil a thorough strategy that we will continue to raise awareness about bicycling and South Carolina law. Please stay tuned as we finalize these plans, and we will let you know how you can play a more active role in the campaign and in promoting bicycle safety in South Carolina. Thanks for your support and interest!
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With Palmetto Joyride, we hosted over a dozen events in three cities in three days, all in honor of Mia Birk and her Joyride visit to South Carolina. The only way that an effort like this would even be possible is through strong leadership, willing sponsors, and dedicated partners. The leadership came from Palmetto Conservation Foundation, and the many diverse sponsors and partners graciously contributed to make the event possible.
Read our entire re-cap of the events here.
Finally, there's no one better to share a summary of the events than Mia herself:
In my experience, there are three critical human elements needed in order for a community to be able to become truly bicycle/pedestrian friendly. They need political leaders, training/motivated/supported staff within the bureaucracy, and reasonably organized community advocates. With these three, great progress can be made. Without any one, good things can still happen (especially if one is particularly strong), but it's less likely.
What I saw in North and South Carolina this past week filled me with joy and hope. All of communities I visited have these elements in place, largely thanks to the advocates and staff. I have great hope for all. Tons of momentum, enthusiasm, positive media, and energetic leaders and residents.
We thank Mia for her dedication, leadership, and inspiration! It was, and will continue to be, a joyride.
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Partnership for Prosperity
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 Exciting news for City of Charleston and North Charleston residents! The Berkeley-Dorchester-Charleston Council of Government (BDC COG) is in the middle of a regional plan and cooperative effort to shape the future of the tri-county region's core area-- Charleston's Neck region. This area spans from well above Park Circle in North Charleston to below the crosstown in downtown Charleston.
Today, September 30, marks the last day of a community design charrette in which residents, employees, property owners, business owners, and neighborhood friends are invited to participate in the planning and visioning process. From here, the stakeholders will incorporate public input as they develop this incredible plan, spanning 18-months of work.
For more information, visit the Partnership for Prosperity site, or check out what Phoebe has to say about the meetings on our blog.
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Old Buncombe Rd and Greenville BMP
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According to the Federal Aid Improvement Program and SCDOT, Old Buncombe Road (a great candidate for bike lanes) is due for resurfacing next year. If you are in favor of these enhancements, submit a comment before next Wednesday to SCDOT. Read more about the issue on our blog.
Also! Following over a year of planning, public workshops, and stakeholder meetings, the Greenville Bicycle Master Plan is scheduled to be voted on for adoption by City Council on Monday October 10. Anyone wishing to address City Council in person on the 10th regarding the Plan must sign-up to speak prior to 5:30pm the day of the meeting at the City Clerk's desk on the 10th floor of City Hall.
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Take a Kid Mtb Day: Regional events tomorrow!
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 As the weather grows marginally cooler here in South Carolina, it's once again time to hit the trails- and what better way to do that than by introducing a new generation to the joys of mountain biking? This Saturday, Oct. 1 is the International Association of Mountain Biking's eighth annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day, and this year's edition has some very ambitious goals that require your help.
In support of the Let's Move intitiative, IMBA wants to have 30,000 kids participating in 300 events this year, and all participants are encouraged to sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, pledging to be active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. And what better way is there than riding a bike?
Whether it's your son or daughter; little brother or sister; or niece or nephew, take time this Saturday to bond, enjoy the natural beauty of our state, and take part in some exercise. While you can certainly ride on your own, various groups around the state have organized events to make the day a bit more special and memorable.
In the Upstate, riders ages 4 to 16 are encouraged to join rides at Furman University and on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but Upstate SORBA invites all rides who want to have a fun day on their bikes to come out and enjoy the event. Two rides will be offered, one for beginners and one for intermediate riders, and helmets and bikes are required.
Friends of Harbison State Forest and Midlands SORBA have teamed up to celebrate Saturday in Columbia with a fun outing for kids of all ages and skill levels. Guided rides, skill courses, bike check-ups and lunch will be provided; bikes and proper safety gear required are required to participate at this event in the state forest.
A dual event held by the Waccamaw Trail Blazers and Department of Natural Resources will feature free food, music, kayaking and of course, biking. This event will be held near Coastal Carolina University in the Grand Strand.
Additionally, Trips for Kids Charlotte, REI and Tarheel Trailblazers will be celebrating in Matthews, and CRSA-SORBA is taking families out on local beginner trails near Augusta.
Remember, the only thing better than Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is making it a regular habit. Enjoy your rides this weekend, and we hope to see you and your kids there!
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October Gear Review: Evo handlebar basket
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Each month, our friends at Hawley share a review on the latest gear that is passing through their hands and on its way to your local bike shop. Below you will find a portion of the gear review for October; to find out the rest, visit our blog. As always, thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with Hawley, for this sneak-preview.
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The cycling world is full of people with addictions. For me, my  addiction is candy. Whether in a gel-coated fruit form or something from the nougat family, slathered in a milk chocolate, I do not discriminate. But my favorite candy of all time is without question, the Reese's peanut butter cup as it combines chocolate and peanut butter into the perfect amalgam for my confection-centric tastes.
With this in mind, it only seemed natural that I would be drawn to the Evo handlebar basket. Much like Reese's peanut butter cup, the Evo combines the critical function of steering with the secondary function of storage into a glorious cycling synthesis. Retail cost: $65.99.
Finish reading the review about the handlebar basket at our blog!
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Coalition membership updates
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If you are reading this newsletter, you are likely one of the following: a current member of the Coalition; you were at one time a member but you keep forgetting to renew; or you are interested in learning more about the Coalition and signed up to receive our newsletter. Whatever your reason, we're glad to have you!
This October, we are putting forth an extra effort to encourage our former members to renew their support in the PCC. If you are one of the few hundred individuals that was once a member of the PCC, then you'll soon be receiving a phone call or letter describing our recent successes and ongoing projects, and we'll be asking that you renew your support.
We're also delighted to offer our members a 25% off discount to the League of American Bicyclists. Those PCC members who wish to join the League can enter the code TOGETHER11 on the payment page and get a 25% discount on League membership at any level. Benefits of being a League member include Bicycling magazine and American Bicyclist, as well as discounts from retailers, tour operators, hotels, and others.
Finally, in keeping with our partners like the League, and in light of the economic climate, we've decided to update our giving levels and membership opportunities. Given our recent growth in staff and the challenging but worthwhile campaigns that we are embarking upon, we are asking that you renew your membership at the increased level. We need to ensure that we have the resources to continue to serve you, our bicyclists in SC.
Visit our donation form to see these changes. And thank you for your continued support!
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We need the support of cyclists like you to continue our efforts of making SC more bicycle friendly. The PCC is the voice for cyclists across South Carolina. Please support us with your donation today.
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