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April 2012
We are a member supported non-profit working to improve bicycling access, safety and education in South Carolina. |
Wondering what is going on this weekend in the SC bike community? Check out our calendar for events and more.
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At this year's visit to Washington DC during the National Bike Summit, we were joined by eight other advocates, and collectively we represented communities in the lowcounty, upstate, and everywhere in between. Our message was simple--biking and walking programs are valuable to South Carolina, and the federal funds that support these projects need to be maintained.
To capture our message, we worked with Palmetto Conservation Foundation to develop a lovely handout, which we left with each Congressional office. This handout is a snapshot of the last year in biking/walking in each district. A big thanks to all of the communities that furnished the details for this resource, and to our volunteers who helped us compile the information.
With each Congressional visit during Bike Summit, we made the case of why bicycling in important to South Carolina. And no message is delivered better than in-person, face-to-face visits. Although we did not have the opportunity to meet with any members themselves (the House was in session most of the day), each meeting with staff was productive and positive.
Very important work lay ahead as we follow-up with each office and remain on their radar throughout the year. We will need your support in the months to come, so please stay tuned on ways that you can be involved and strengthen our voice in DC.
Read more about the other activities that happened during this year's Bike Summit on our blog. 
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Safe Streets Campaign Update
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 This year has already been a tragic one for bicycle safety. The state has seen six fatalities; last year at this time there were only two. This is continued reminder of the challenges that we face to make our state a better place to ride.
The glimmer of hope in all of this is that next month, as a part of bike month, we will be unveiling the second phase of our Safe Streets Save Lives campaign. With this phase, we are striving to reach a broader audience with our bicycle safety message. Our ultimate goal is to make more in SC familiar with bicycling and the law.
This campaign, a partnership with Bike law, began in May of last year; we have since grown our partnership and tripled our funding. Stay tuned to our website and facebook page for more on this exciting development to be revealed very soon!
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Spring charity bicycle rides
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Each spring and fall, Cait, our Membership & Communications Director, pulls together all of the wonderful charity bike rides that occur in SC. You can find the entire round-up on our blog, and below are a handful of rides happening in the next few weeks.
Taylor Feda Memorial Ride. April 14. Beginning at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, this ride seeks to celebrate the life of Taylor Feda while also raising money to fund a nursing and literary scholarship in Taylor's name. The ride features a metric century around Lake Monticello, a 40 mile ride to Little Mountain, a 25 mile ride through the country, or a 5 mile family fun ride. Try Charleston. April 21. For those athletes for whom bicycling just isn't enough, there is Try Charleston, featuring half and sprint routes to tailor the event to your skill level. Beyond promoting a healthier and more active community, the triathlon also raises funds for wellness programs in Charleston County Elementary Schools, swimming programs in at-risk communities, Meeting Street Academy, the Disabilities Foundation, and the Care Camps Program. Wheels for Meals. April 28. Enjoy scenic, low traffic Upstate foothill roads over either a 25, 40, 62 or a new 100 mile route through Tryon and Saluda as you support Meals on Wheels in Greenville. Beginning and ending at Furman University, the ride will feature a recovery feast provided by the chefs of Soby's.
Issaqueena's Last Ride. April 28. Benefiting Safe Harbor and one part of the Blue Ridge Double, this challenging ride offers 32, 61 or century routes. The longer two rides tour through the foothills of the Blue Ridge, but all the routes are hilly with grades reaching up to 14%. For those who brave this difficult ride, SAG support and a post-ride meal will be offered.
Tour de Cure. May 5. Fight diabetes with this year's Tour de Cure in Little Mountain. Designed for both avid and novice cyclists, this ride offers a choice between routes of 100, 65, 30, or 15 miles, or a 10 mile family fun ride. Join the Palmetto Cycling Coalition team and join with your fellow PCC members riding towards a cure!
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Ride for SC in the National Bike Challenge
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Bike month is just weeks away! We look forward to celebrating biking in South Carolina at the many events planned throughout May. As you get out on your bike this bike month, we encourage you to join an exciting challenge and support bicycling in SC.
The national bike commuter challenge aims to inspire and empower thousands of South Carolinians to ride their bikes for transportation, recreation and better health. We are representing South Carolina in the challenge, which is hosted by the League, Kimberly-Clark and Bikes Belong.
The Challenge is simple: Sign up as an individual or as a team, log your miles, share your stories and encourage others to join you. When you sign up, you will automatically be joining the Palmetto Cycling Coalition statewide challenge. The platform for the National Bike Challenge is a social fitness network called Endomondo. Through this easy-to-use platform, you can log your miles from your smart phone or computer.
Riders will compete for prizes and awards on the local and national level, including a Grand Prize trip through California wine country from Trek Travel. The Challenge runs from May 1 to August 31, 2012, but the public is invited to sign up now and get warmed up. For more information, visit www.nationalbikechallenge.org.
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USC: Our First Bicycle Friendly University!
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 This week, the League of American Bicyclists announced nine new Bicycle Friendly Universities, and USC was among them with a bronze-level designation!
With this award, the Gamecocks are the first BFU in both South Carolina and the SEC. In its two years, the BFU program has welcomed 35 schools in 21 states into its ranks. New honorees are announced twice a year, and interested universities can learn more about the application process here. Read more about this exciting news our blog.
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Through this Friday, the City of Clemson is soliciting community input regarding the condition of current bicycling facilities, existing demand for bicycling, and to prioritize the development of future bicycling facilities. Please take part in this important effort by following this link. Thanks!
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Upcoming Traffic Skills Class
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The City of Greenville Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a Traffic Skills 101 course on April 29 in Greenville. This is a class designed to teach adult cyclists how to use a bicycle with confidence and
competence for pleasure, utility and sport under various road, climate, terrain and traffic conditions. The class is covered in two sections: a 4-hour online course will be completed at your convenience and a 5-hour in-person session on the 29th. For more information, check out the flyer and register online here.
The South Carolina League Cycling Instructor community will be offering one more Traffic Skills 101 course in the lowcountry, tentatively scheduled for June, in preparation for a League Cycling Instructor Seminar to occur in August. Contact Rachael if you are interested in the Seminar to become an LCI.
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April Gear Review: Cytomax Energy Drops
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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 April; 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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 | | Cytomax Energy Drops |
With all the new products on the market, it can be overwhelming for the discerning cyclist to find a product that gives the desired results but still maintains some semblance of normal "taste" that is palpable and if one is lucky, pleasant and desirable.
For long rides, I find myself craving taste over performance. Suffering is often leavened by the surprisingly tasty flavor of a gel or bar that you assumed would be the equivalent to a cardboard and liquid mercury sandwich. Therefore it is without hyperbole or exaggeration that I can proclaim the new Cytomax Energy Drops the best solid energy food product around.
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Read the rest on our blog! |
We have completed a new publication that we are proud to share! The PCC Community Report is a review of all of our events and programs of the last year. If you are on our mailing list, then you should have received (or should be receiving as we are working to mail the rest out this week) a copy. Not sure if you're on our list or want to get on there? Email Cait.
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Your share the road license plate supports our bicycle programs and initiatives. If you don't already own one, and are looking for an easy way to support our work and bicycling in South Carolina, then please purchase a plate at your local DMV office today!
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Thank you for your support!
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