West Ashley Greenway Workshop Set

The Byrnes Down Neighborhood Association has scheduled two workshops to discuss possible improvements to the West Ashley Greenway. The two meetings are scheduled for June 5 and June 7. Please see the official notice, posted below.
Charleston Moves views the West Ashley Greenway as a still-unpolished gem in the City of Charleston and has pledged to work with city officials and community groups to make it more useable by a larger number of citizens.
The Greenway will soon link to the Charleston penninsula via a cantilevered addition to the Legare Bridge over the Ashley River.

Charleston & Summerville Ride of Silence

The Ride of Silence, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
Charleston Coastal Cyclists will lead the Ride of Silence from Hampton Park (near the Citadel). We'll leave from the north parking area of the park at 6:30 PM and make a 12 mile circumnavigation of the peninsula. Please join us for pizza afterwards at the home of Peter Wilborn a few blocks away on Grove Street.
Summerville Mark Greenslit, of the Greater Summerville Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, is organizing this year's Summerville Ride. They'll leave the Publix parking lot on Trolley Road at 7 PM.
Come out and show your support at either ride. Help demonstrate that we need a safer environment for cycling!

Post & Courier Editorial Calls for Bike/Ped Facilities on All Bridges

In an editorial published in Wednesday's editions of the Post and Courier, the newspaper called in no uncertain terms for connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians on all major bridges in the greater Charleston area.

It noted the recently-published study by the College of Charleston showing physical activity rates rising due to the popularity of the bike/ped lane on the new Cooper River Bridge and said this facility should be an example for all crossings.

The editorial called upon State authorities to change their tune about making a bike/ped lane available on the "North Bridge," which crosses the Ashley River carrying Sam Rittenberg Blvd. and Cosgrove Ave. traffic.

People on bicycles are frequently seen on that bridge, and they take their lives in their hands as they use it because there is no provision for them at all. CARTA is allowing them to take a bus across the bridge for free.

Click here to read the full P&C editorial.

Charleston Moves Powers "BlenderBike" at Charleston Battery Game

Charleston Movers Lenny Greene and Tom Bradford took part in a The Charleston Battery's recent "Go Green" day. The pro soccer team was taking on a team from Miami. Greene and Bradford "spun" almost 100 Margaritas for soccer fans, and passed out Charleston Moves literature on the "green" qualities of walking, bicycling, and taking mass transit.

Feedback!

I would like to tell you how pleased I am to find such
an organization. I just recently received a used bike
and have been riding it from my home in Pepperhill,
down Ashley Phosphate to the Food Lion to buy a few
items and to visit my sister, in Wescott. I am deeply
saddened that our local, State and Federal governments
have not addressed and/or taken seriously the issue of
getting to and from point A and B by ways other than a
personal automobile. There are many healthier,
cheaper and environmentally friendly ways, one of
which is riding a bike. All blame cannot be placed on
our elected officials but on the voters for allowing
it. I still have hope for the future thanks to many
fine organizations like this one. Again, Thank you so
much for all your efforts.

Becky Kapperman
North Charleston, SC

PROOF: Bike/Ped Lane Encourages Exercise

The bike and pedestrian lane is doing what people thought it would: encouraging people to get out and excercise!

That's the finding of a new study done for the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments with the backing of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Further details will be released later.

For many, including a Mount Pleasant octegenarian, it has brought new vitality, perhaps even new leases on life.

Read the full story from Charleston.Net.

Charleston Moves supporters never needed proof, but we're happy to show it to those who may have doubted----and we're sure it'll help us make the case for more such wonderful additions throughout the Low Country.

Add YOUR OWN comments about what the bridge has meant to you!

60+ Riders at '08 Tour de Tomato

Just some of Charleston's network of Greenways and bikeways made up the scenic route for Saturday's 12-mile fun-for-everyone Tour de Tomato. Riders saw for themselves the promise of a planned linkage between the bike routes in the various West Ashley neighborhoods.
Sponsored by Earthfare, the ride started at 9am sharp from the parking lot of the South Windermere shopping center, immediately adjacent to the West Ashley Greenway. Charleston Moves assisted helmetless riders, fitting them with helmets provided by The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government's Vonie Gilreath.
Assisted at busy road crossings by the Charleston Police Department, everyone in the group finished in (at most) two hours.
Earthfare served lunch for the participants and held a raffle for prizes including a new hybrid bicycle.
Proceeds from the entry fees benefit Charleson Moves, now working with Charleston officials to improve the West Ashley Greenway, and to Low Country Earth Force.
Charleston Moves thanks Earthfare's Leeza Johnson and our own Cathy Nixon.