COLEMAN BOULEVARD BIKE LANES: THERE'S HOPE

The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission tonight (Wednesday) heard a second (but still preliminary) presentation about aspects of the master plan for re-making Coleman Boulevard.
Turnout was probably heavier than ever. There were at least a dozen from the cycling community in attendance.

The master plan, overall, is impressive. Clearly, there has been a lot of thought, deliberation, energy (not to mention money) invested in it. But of most interest to the cycling community: the notion that there would be no bike lanes designated on at least a portion of the boulevard.

The town's planning staff had advanced that idea based on their belief that cyclists and parked cars cannot safely coexist, that cyclists would be "doored," or worse. The staff was sticking by its guns, but clearly was impressed by the sentiment prevalent in the room.

Vice Chair Cathy McGinn sternly instructed members of the planning staff to include bike lanes saying that bikes would be on the boulevard in any case, and they must be accommodated. She was joined in airing this view by former Mayor Cheryll Woods-Flowers. Their view seemed to carry substantial weight in the discussion.

Several of us, including yours truly, Patricia Carson of the Charleston Bicycle Coop, and Alys Campaigne, a cyclist and resident of the Town, spoke strongly in favor of the bike lanes.

In the end, it appeared that the staff would have to go "back to the drawing boards" to consider how they could include the lanes. Staff members (perhaps chastened) stressed that the plans were still in an early stage and could be altered to meet public requirements.

Bottom line: chalk one up (TENTATIVELY) for our side. But stay alert. It's not over yet!