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September 2012
We are a member supported non-profit working to improve bicycling access, safety and education in South Carolina. |
 Wondering what rides, races and rodeos are happening this weekend? Check out our calendar.
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We are only as strong as the members that support us, so please donate and be a part of our efforts today! |
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In true Palmetto Cycling tradition, Amy jumped right into the thick of things at the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) conference. The Coalition was invited to present on bicycling issues in the Southeast, so Board member Frank Babel and Amy spoke to engineers and planners from 12 southeastern states as well as Puerto Rico.
Planners and engineers rarely have the time to focus on bicycling-specific issues and practices, so we were happy for the chance to inform the attendees about the recently standardized engineering practices found in the new AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bike Facilities. As the bike planning and design bible, this guide helps answer questions about unusual design problems and how to accommodate bicyclists on all types of roads. Standard designs and practices make creating bicycle facilities much easier for the planners and engineers, and we were definitely due for an update- the last guide was published in 1999! Bike lanes, parking, paths as well as how we move around our communities have changed a lot in the past 13 years.
Flooding is hardly a blip in the radar of seasoned Charlestonians, but the deluge that swept the city the day of the conference was a convenient reminder for the planners and engineers in attendance of the importance of biking and walking as city residents took to alternative transportation (including less conventional methods such as kayaks and airmattresses) to navigate the waterlogged streets. Amy successfully pedaled her way to an afternoon meeting as car engines stalled out- a reminder to us to never underestimate the resilience of the bicycle.
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Safe Streets Back to School
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Most South Carolina kids are a few weeks into the new school year now, and we want Safe Streets Save Lives to be a resource for you and your children in discussions about biking to school and play. Kids today often hear a lot about the good old days of walking to school (both ways uphill, of course) but few have the opportunity to have those experiences and that level of independence. Both poor infrastructure and the perception that a once standard activity is now inherently unsafe are to blame.
The Safe Routes to School Resource Center is working diligently with schools to help them encourage students to travel to school by foot and bike. By visiting their website, you can learn more about programs and partners at various schools and how to encourage schools in your area to become more walkable and bikeable.
In an era of shrinking recess and growing obesity, showing kids how to be active is crucial. But teaching them to stay safe while doing so is another hurdle entirely. When we created the Safe Streets videos, we wanted something fun and funny that would appeal to all ages. We encourage you to visit the site with your kids and spend time discussing about safe bicycling in South Carolina. But you don't have to stop there- get involved with Safe Streets!
We want to know what issues and questions you face and what you would like to see addressed. Have pictures of you and your family bike commuting? Pin it! Is there a piece of gear your kids love or you couldn't live without? Tell us! We want to know what your tips and tricks are!
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Georgia-lina Bike Summit Update
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The first Georgia-lina Bike Summit is really taking shape! Presented by Bikelaw.com, the summit will feature social events Friday and Saturday night, bike rides Sunday morning, and a day packed full of sessions on Saturday. We're hoping to get you a full schedule soon, but until that time we wanted to share the South Carolina presenters who will be speaking on behalf of our state in Augusta. The list includes:
- Peter Wilborn (BikeLaw.com)
- John Cock (Alta Planning)
- Charles Fox (Charleston Moves)
- Frank Babel (Palmetto Cycling Coalition)
- Pamela Browne (Carolina Cycling News)
- Tanya DeOliviera (Clemson University)
- South Carolina Safe Routes to School Center
- Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
- SC Institute of Medicine & Public Health
- Our fellow host, SORBA
The sessions during the summit will cover issues of planning, advocacy, events and infrastructure at the state, city, county, university and business level. Whether you're already an advocate or a newcomer who doesn't know where to start, there are plenty of sessions to educate you on the issues facing bicycling in both Georgia and South Carolina. If you plan to stay overnight in Augusta during the summit, be sure to book a room at our preferred hotel, Augusta's Partridge Inn. To take advantage of our reduced rate, call 706-737-8888 and tell them you are booking for the "Bike Summit with Greater Augusta Sports Council." To register for the summit, please visit Georgiabikes.org. We will continue to update you on summit information as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. See you in Augusta! |
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We Did It! National Bike Challenge by the Numbers
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You did it! By getting on your bike this summer and joining the over 30,000 members of the National Bike Challenge, you helped us reach our national goal of 10 million miles in four months! In that national effort, we've burned over 300 million kcal, eliminated over 11 million pounds of CO2 and saved over two million dollars! We also set some respectable goals to beat for next year in our own state. South Carolina had 286 people in 36 teams get on on two wheels and:
Ride 116,030 mi,
Burn 2,944,132 kcal,
Save $10,632, and
Eliminate 106,212 lbs of CO2
PCC Board member Tom Lex takes first place in miles ridden, followed by William Kerrigan and Edward Redfoot. Our top three teams were the PCC Board & Staff, Team Buddy and Aiken SC. Palmetto Anesthesia and Pain was our third place workplace, followed by the PCC in second and our state's retired community in first. Greenwood, Anderson and Sumter rounded out our top communities.
So what next? We hope that by choosing to go by two rather than four wheels this summer has shown you what trips you can easily make by bike and has become a fun part of your day that you don't want to stop now- especially as our weather finally cools off. We finished 28th out of states this year, five spots behind Georgia. If we keep riding through the fall, winter and spring, we can come back next May ready to take on our neighbors in the challenge!
Let's get ready for next year! We think South Carolina can get 150,000 miles, don't you?
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Over the last month, we've diligently worked with SCDOT on negotiating for compromises with their rumble strip plans. This paid off as SCDOT agreed to alter many of their rumble plans to accommodate bicyclists on select bike routes around the state. They aren't utilizing an updated preferred statewide bike route map created by a planning firm, but we're helping them with all the resources we have to compile this list of routes so they can modify these rumble strip plans.
Simultaneously, we are also working with a forensic engineer to create better specificity for SCDOT in the Engineering Directive that dictates their rumble strip plans. This is to ensure that future rumble applications are more consistent with the needs of bicyclists. We know these rural routes are a big concern for cyclists in South Carolina, and we are taking our efforts to the table with SCDOT in a timely fashion as these projects are rapidly being implemented.
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We are thankful whenever we can avoid having to reinvent the wheel in our work around the state, and national programs like the League of American Bicyclists' Bike Education program takes that much weight off our shoulders. This program includes a variety of classes designed to develop all skill levels. Amy recently attended a packed session of Traffic Skills 101 taught by Charles Fox of Charleston Moves. The class includes a classroom session during which students learn the rules of the road and basic maintenance and equipment checks. Then they get out on their bikes to learn several useful defensive bicycling maneuvers. Coming to the Palmetto State from Georgia, Amy was especially interested to learn that bicyclists may cautiously proceed through a red light if the light does not change after two minutes. We highly recommend TS 101 for bicyclists of all levels; though it may seem too basic for those with experience, the defensive maneuvers are useful skills and the class serves as the prerequisite to becoming a League Certified Instructor. The more LCIs we have in South Carolina, the more classes we can offer. We'll keep you updated as we hear about classes being offered around the state, but if you'd like, you are welcome to email us we can keep track of interest.
Of course, adults are not the only ones who need to learn these traffic skills. A bicycling skills class can serve as a wonderful primer for children who do not know the rules of the road yet and also help keep them safe and aware. In Columbia, Officer Jutkofsky of the Columbia Police Department is hosting a Cycling Skills Clinic for kids at the Wheatley Branch Library from 10 am to noon on September 15. The class is designed to get kids on bike and practicing their skills and so that each time they attend a session, they become more adept. Helmets and bikes are required.
Do you know of any other skills clinics like these? Send us a message and let us know so we can add it to our calendar!
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Palmetto Cycling at Chicora Alley
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On a recent tour of the state, Amy visited Greenville and took a bicycle tour to get a feel for the city. We are pleased to announce that both she was very impressed and believes Greenville is a model city for our state. From the infrastructure on the ground to the community support, cities like Greenville that understand the benefits of bicycling offer a wonderful resource to help our communities across the state become more bike friendly.
We'd especially like to thank both New Belgium Brewery and Chicora Alley for their efforts and support this past month for bicycling in our state. To promote the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, New Belgium decided to host a viewing party at Chicora to benefit the PCC. Chicora ran with the idea and decided that rather than one day of bicycling, they would show the whole week of racing, allowing our upstate board members and new Executive Director a chance to rub elbows with our members and local bicyclists. When businesses join together like this to support bicycle advocacy, we know something is moving in the right direction.
We are always glad to see events that bring together the recreational and commuter crowds as well as local planners and advocates. These opportunities allow us to enjoy ourselves and our bikes while also discussing concerns and successes. As an organization spanning the entire state, it is enormously beneficial to us to be able to speak one-on-one with you about what you are seeing on roads and trails you travel every day.
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September Gear Review: Cygolite Metro 420
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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 excerpt of the gear review for August; 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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One of the most reviewed cycling products are lights. Because lights come in all shapes, sizes and luminosity, the amount of review space devoted to them seems to be ever expanding. In keeping with this unsettling trend, this month's product review focuses on a newly released light from Cygolite, the Metro 420!
The Metro 420's name encapsulates the light's capabilities in a nutshell. It's meant for commuting and it produces a healthy 420 lumens. Like most newly produced lights, the Metro 420 is USB compatible so you can charge it at your office desk as you check your Facebook instead of churning out those excel spreadsheets. The charge time is 5 hours so don't forget to plug it in during the morning. There are 5 different light settings (hourly run time shown in parentheses): High (1:40), Medium (2:30), Low (10:00), Steady Pulse (3:00) and Daylight Flash (25:00). The low setting isn't worth using and the medium setting seemed only worthwhile on city streets with low lighting. Anything genuinely dark needed the high setting for truly safe riding.
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Read the rest on our blog!  |
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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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