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October 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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MAP-21 is the name of the new, national transportation legislation, and it's now filtering into the state level. These next couple months are going to be critical in advocating for equal representation for bicyclists in transportation funding.
The good news is the feds are insisting SC spend more money on "Fix It First" projects like repaving, as opposed to new road or widening projects. The bad news is the Safe Routes to Schools programs are on the chopping block, but they can be transferred to another funding pot if SCDOT makes that choice. Second good news is we hear the Governor didn't opt out of funding the Recreational Trails program, in part from all of our efforts, so that's protected. But the second bad news is we hear the SCDOT will probably transfer 50% of their Transportation Alternatives money back into road building. This is a traditional source of bike facility money locals get from the state, and we will let them know we want this reloaded again to 100%. However, it's not as bad as we think, considering there is more than one way to skin a cat - or rather, to fund a bike lane. How do we do that? From mainstream transportation money.
Our regional and local planning bodies receiving this fed/state money can still use their funds to build bicycle facilities, and you can let them know you'd like that. Also, the state can still use its Highway Safety and Congestion funds on transportation projects that include bicycle accommodations, and we will let them know we want them to do that. The feds allow it, and we will advocate for it. On behalf of our membership, here is what the Palmetto Cycling Coalition is doing: we're communicating with the Governor and other associated elected and SCDOT officials, listing everything we expect from them in giving equal representation for bike facility funding. Then we'll be collaborating with local advocacy organizations to help get these funding needs heard at all levels. We need grassroots support in a broad based coalition, working at the state and local levels. We're all asking for safer streets for everyone. And that's never too much to ask.
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Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
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Tomorrow marks one of our favorite mountain biking events of the year- IMBA's Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. For the eighth year in a row, we encourage you to share your love for mountain biking with kids. This year's event has a special focus on military families. You can get involved by just hitting the dirt with your kids, or you can join one of the organized rides happening around the state.
Just across the border in Mistletoe State Park, SORBA CRSA is hosting an event for young mountain bikers ages 6 to 16+ and their families to celebrate. All skill levels are welcome to join the rides, but for family members who want fun out of the saddle, there will be swimming, fishing, picnicking and more!
The Waccamaw Trail Blazers are hosting their ride on the Jackson Bluff Trail in Conway this year. All club members are encouraged to attend to share and spread the love of mountain biking. The ride will start at the Cox Ferry Lake entrance to the trail.
Midlands SORBA and Friends of Harbison State Forest will hold a bike safety check-up, off-road riding skills clinic and challenge course, a ride in the woods and a free lunch for all participants. The event will feature the Richland County Sheriff's Bicycle Patrol and will be held at the Education Center at Harbison State Forest.
How ever you decide to hit the trails, we encourage you to have a great time and to tell us all about it! And make sure you remember your helmet!
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Georgia-lina Bike Summit Update
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Following up on our Georgia-lina Bike Summit update from last month in which we gave you the head's up about some of our exciting South Carolina presenters featured during the two-state event, we thought it's important to also let you know about the weekend's activities outside Saturday's sessions.
On Friday evening, join us for a pre-summit reception and social at Enterprise Mill where you can check-in and mingle with other summit attendees. Take this opportunity to learn about the exciting work of the East Coast Greenway from executive director Dennis Markatos-Soriano
Stop by Outspokin' Bicycles Saturday night for the Summit After Party presented by New Belgium Brewery for relaxed socializing. The sessions during the day will be a great learning experience, but talking about them with other people in a more casual environment may help you better reflect and discuss all that you learned during the conference.
Before you leave Augusta, we hope you'll join us on one of several ride options suited for all levels and types of bicyclists. Departing from Lake Olmstead Park at 8 a.m., we have a road ride for those of you who want to get some training in over the weekend, and a leisurely history tour of Augusta by bike. Our off-road ride will take you over one of the best mountain bike trails in North America and starts at the FATS Trail at 8 a.m. If none of those options appeals to you, you can also watch (or race in) the Augusta Cyclocross Race at Lake Olmstead that morning.
We hope you will take advantage of all that the weekend has to offer. While most of the learning will occur during the sessions on Saturday, socializing and networking with your fellow advocates can teach you a lot and is not an opportunity that should be skipped. For more information and to register for the summit, please visit GeorgiaBikeSummit.org. |
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Bike Corrals in South Carolina
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We spend so much time coveting bike infrastructure in other cities and states that it is a special treat for us when we get some new bike treatments in South Carolina. There's a particular buzz around bike corrals lately as Charleston has just put the first in the state downtown in with plans for two more soon, and Columbia plans to put four in shortly.
Bike corrals are the answer to several bike parking questions. It is not terribly comfortable to stop on the side of a road as cars continue to whiz by to dismount and walk your bike to the rack on the sidewalk, or to inconvenience pedestrians by riding right to the rack (which we don't recommend), or to arrive at your destination and spend more time than the ride over trying to find a suitable place to lock your bike. Wouldn't it be nice to be like a car and turn into a parking spot and be able to leave your bike there? That is the concept behind a bike corral; they are parking spaces or places that would normally be parking spaces designated for bike parking and containing bike racks. Where shops would have had one car and one customer before, now at least ten bicycles and customers can park and begin shopping.
It comes as little surprise that our state's first flurry of bike corrals are centered around business districts - the Vista, Five Points, and Main Street in Columbia and King Street in Charleston. The City of Charleston is planning additional corrals near Waterfront Park and
upper St. Philip Street, along with another on King Street.
We can't wait to use these corrals for the first time, and to hear about your experiences with them- share your thoughts and pictures with us at our Facebook page. With these cities so excited about their new bike corrals, maybe more bike infrastructure is on the horizon. We're crossing our fingers for painted bike lanes and bike boxes! |
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Columbia's Jam Room Music Festival
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To celebrate 25 years of helping musicians chase their dreams, the Jam Room Recording Studio is hosting the inaugural Jam Room Music Festival on Main Street in Columbia on October 13. The Jam Room believes that bicycling is an important part of a great city and wanted to include it in this free city-wide art event.
Beyond a stacked line-up of local and regional bands, the festival features a relaxed morning bike ride to show off Columbia and its bike routes. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bike to the main event and a series of rides starting in different neighborhoods around the city will allow you to join a group lead by experienced bicyclists and with a police escort. Once you're at the festival, you can park your bike worry-free at the bike valet. We will have our own table at the event and hope that you'll stop by to say hello!
Learn more about the festival here. If you have any questions about the rides or event, contact Jodi Barnes or Tim Malson. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Cait.
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Charleston Moves and the B2B
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What do you get when a local advocacy organization brings everyone to the table? A great project with a pretty good chance to make it happen. The Battery 2 Beach initiative could provide safer bike access for a huge portion of the Charleston population.
A component of the East Coast Greenway, this is a 32 mile section of streets and roads, all within 1 mile of 67,000 people. These routes are already used by cyclists, but improvements are needed to invite more than the experienced cyclist to ride. The group is currently working on forming a Battery2Beach multi-jurisdictional working group, getting a formal buy-in by all participating municipalities, and finding a facilitator (possibly Charleston County Parks and Recreation Dept.). Citadel and College of Charleston graduate students did a study for Charleston Moves on the proposed project that demonstrated a $42,000,000 annual economic benefit, primarily in tourism.
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| Spartanburg's Main Street gets improvements |
In the upstate, Spartanburg's city AND county complete streets policies are churning out some great street improvements. Partners for Active Living worked under a grant from the Mary Black Foundation to enact these policies and get everyone on board. West Main street is in the process of going from a four lane highway into a pedestrian-scaled, bike-friendly road that will benefit residents, visitors and businesses in the downtown area. This "road diet" also allowed for extra parking space.
Given the new transportation legislation's emphasis on "Fix It First" and repaving before more road building, we're hoping to see more of these road diets in places where they make sense.
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The largest bike ride in the lowcountry, Pedal 4 Kids had over 400 participants of all ages in this benefit for the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head Island. Facilitated by the local ride organization, Kickin' Asphalt, this biking event brings the Lowcountry community together.
This event is just one one of the reasons the League of American Bicyclists awarded Hilton Head Island certification as a "Bicycling Friendly Community" at the silver level. Hilton Head is one of only three communities on the eastern US shores recognized at this level.
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Smart Growth America Greenville Profile
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How do you see lots of growth in your city? Plan well. Greenville was featured by a national smart growth organization for its efforts to connect commercial growth with its residential areas. Anticipating serious urban revitalization and growth, city planners are working hard to make sure the connections are there.
Greenville planner Leftwich was quoted saying "We want economic growth to happen ...We want it to be revitalized so that current residents are able to benefit from development and are integrated into it." And a newly hired Livability Educator will be educating elementary kids on the idea of community involvement, the interactions between residential, transportation and work choices, and overall quality of life.
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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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