More on the Bike Rental System Coming to Spartanburg

Help Charleston Moves at the Cooper River Bridge Run Expo

Charleston Moves needs your support at this year’s 2011 Cooper River Bridge Run Expo, so if you can make some time to come out and help that would be wonderful. 

Sign up new members, sell raffle tickets for a new Trek bike and answer questions about Charleston Moves.  Our Hot Topic?: the Ashley Crossing Coalition (see below). Ask everyone who comes to the booth to sign petition and support this much needed bike lane!  (The parking garages closest to the Gaillard will be open for free parking on both days.)

Volunteers are asked to serve a 4 hour shift or whatever is possible. We request two people per shift.  Please click here to sign up for this volunteer opportunity.  

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Talking Points for the Ashley River Bridge 

The Lowcountry is accustomed to thinking about local transportation as cars and, oh yeah, sometimes bikes if it's convenient. It is time to recognize that transportation should include biking and walking just as it always does driving.

The path just might have to look different from what was being planned.

Indeed, given that the bike path was projected to cost $4.4 million to build, it makes fiscal sense to try a short-term solution that should be relatively inexpensive.

By giving up the southernmost lane of the Allen Legare Bridge to bikes and pedestrians, motorists still would have three lanes, just as they do on the sister bridge that goes from the peninsula to West Ashley.

City Councilman Mike Seekings, an outspoken advocate of making the city more bike friendly, believes that the public would almost universally like the change when they see how it works. He said he uses the bridges across the Ashley frequently and doesn't run into heavy traffic unless they open for boats.

And should authorities come up with a plan that is more appealing, the lane could be converted back for cars.

Mayor Riley has asked Charleston County to study the plan.

The reasons to forge ahead and find a way to let cyclists cross the Ashley River safely are many: More bikes can mean fewer cars. Fewer cars can mean less pollution, congestion and dependence on fossil fuels. Biking is healthy and can help combat obesity, which is epidemic.

Not pushing ahead should not be an option. It is a pity that the 57,000 or more West Ashley residents who live within a half-mile of a greenway cannot use those paths to get to work or shop on the peninsula.

And it is a pity that Charleston's spectacular water and marsh views on the Ashley River aren't easily accessible to bicyclists, including tourists and commuters.

The question is not if cyclists and pedestrians should have a way across the Ashley.

It's how.

****Sign up Sheet For Your Shift*****

EXPO HOURS  Charleston Moves Booth 

Thursday March 31st

• Noon-4p
•  
• 4p-8p

Friday April 1st 

• 8a-12noon
•  
• 12n-4p
•  
• 4p-8p

Thank you very much for help in the "manning" our Charleston Moves booth!   

Best regards always,  Cathy Nixon

Ashley Crossing Resolution Gathers Speed

Header from the C of C Student Government body's signed
Ashley Crossing Petition

Signed Resolution of the
Elliotborough-Cannonborough
Neighborhood Assn.

Charleston Moves has now received signed Ashley Crossing Coalition Resolutions from two important groups:  The College of Charleston Student Government,and the Cannonborough-Elliotborough Neighborhood Association.
Charleston Moves Director Tom Bradford said he hopes this prompts other organizations to take action immediately.

To quote the (Charleston) Post & Courier’s Editorial on the subject:

After a long and costly ($430,000) study, engineers say the bridge from West Ashley to the peninsula can't support a cantilevered bike path as envisioned and supported by the mayor.

Hernan Pena, city traffic and transportation Director, dismissed the idea of using a traffic lane for bikers as unsafe and inconvenient. But his concerns at this point are speculative. And given the limited number of options available right now, the plan is worth a look.  And should authorities come up with a plan that is more appealing, the lane could be converted back for cars.

City Councilman Mike Seekings, an outspoken advocate of making the city more bike friendly, believes that the public would almost universally like the change when they see how it works. He said he uses the bridges across the Ashley frequently and doesn't run into heavy traffic unless they open for boats.

Mayor Riley said he will encourage the county and the state to study the plan, which would extend the waterfront path around the peninsula to the West Ashley Greenway eventually.

The reasons to forge ahead and find a way to let cyclists cross the Ashley River safely are many: More bikes can mean fewer cars. Fewer cars can mean less pollution, congestion and dependence on fossil fuels. Biking is healthy and can help combat obesity, which is epidemic.

Not pushing ahead should not be an option.
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Organizations wishing to consider the Resolution can see and download it here.
(You are asked to copy the resolution onto your organization's stationary before executing it.)

Mark Your Calendar

PT Biking

(Formerly 3D Biking)

A family bike event on the Palmetto Trail

April 16, 2011

The Palmetto Conservation Foundation and Santee Cooper are proud to host the 3rd annual PT Biking event. Bring your family and your bike and ride along the Rediversion Canal and the Lake Moultrie Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Afterwards enjoy a BBQ lunch and entertainment at Russellville Landing. All proceeds will go towards improving the Palmetto Trail.

Event Schedule

• 9:30-10:30am Sign-in and Bike Checks
• 10:30am Ride starts (rain or shine)
• 12:30pm Catered lunch from Music Man BBQ, Kayaking, Birds of Prey Demonstration, Live Music

Registration

• Adults: $20 PCF Members,
• $25 non-members
• Kids: $10 (15 and under)
• Price Includes Lunch!
• A separate registration form must be filled out for each rider. You can pay online or call our office to make a payment over the phone.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

Another Approach to Marking Complete Streets

"Floating Parking" Makes for Safe Bikeways, calms streets

"Floating Parking" & Bike Buffer Zone in Separated Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Loving Paris...For a New Reason!

BIKE LANES....Ubiquitous in the French Capitol

(thanks to our friend Randall Goldman....)

Bicycling 2.0. Object lesson.

Right.
  It's not your town or mine.
      But look at how much sense it makes.


and here's an unlikely American city that's trying...

Even Easley, SC ! Road "Diets" a Great Way to Make Way for Bicycles!

Easley's on its way to becoming "Bike Friendly."  Check out this story from the Pickens Sentinel.

A Western City where 37% of Commuters go by Bicycle!

Post & Courier Weighs in on Goose Creek Tragedy and Challenge

(..this from our friend Mark Greenslit:)

As you may be aware, a 17 year old Goose Creek boy was killed by a car on Sunday evening.  

 

Articles about this tragedy are below.  

 

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/mar/08/cane-bay-high-mourns-student/

 

How safe are South Carolina roads for bicyclists?

 

This is an editorial in today's paper.

 

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/opinion/editorials/

 

With gas prices continuing to climb and many residents struggling economicly, more people will be forced or choose to ride their bikes for transportation.  Unfortunately, this is not the last such tragedy that will occur.

 

Improved infrastructure is needed to help avert cyclist and pedestrian injuries and deaths. SCDOT does have a complete streets resolution, which provides for bike lanes and sidewalks with new roads, like the one described above. Bicycling and walking are valid forms of transportaton and are here to stay.

 

Please contact the people listed below to ask that bicycle and pedestrian facilities be included in the Henry Brown project in Berkeley Co.

 

Dan Davis, Berkeley Co. Supervisor

843.719.4234

dwdavis@berkeleycountysc.gov 

 

Brent Rewis, progam manger at SCDOT

803.737.7903

rewisbl@scdot.org

When you contact Brent Rewis, please ask that your email be included in the public hearing comments for the Henry Brown project, and that you were not able to attend the hearing. The comment period is still open.

 

Frank Carson, Berkely Co. Engineer

843.719.4324

fcarson@co.berkeley.sc.us

 

Thank you.

Mark Greenslit

 

Only 23 spots remain! Rent along the Battery2Beach Route today

Have you ever dreamed of renting property on Folly Beach, Isle of Palms or the Battery? Now's your chance! For only $100 a year you can rent your own quarter-mile along the Battery2Beach bike route!

The Battery2Beach Route (B2B) is an initiative of Charleston Moves and a proposed new foundation of a regional Charleston people-powered connectivity plan. The route will cover 24 miles from Isle of Palms through downtown Charleston to Folly Beach. Marked by distinctive signage, the goal is to make the route safe enough for bicycle riders of all ages and abilities. And here is how you can help..."Rent the Route" is Charleston Moves inaugural fundraising campaign to help raise money for signage and road markings for the Battery2Beach initiative. We started in September 2010... 

And look how far we've come! Only 23 spots remain till we reach our goal.

Here's how it works:


The 24-mile route is divided into 100 virtual tracts, each .25 miles in length. The 1/4 mile tracts are up for grabs and will be rented out for $100 each to the lucky community members who want to make their contribution to the Route.

If you would like to rent your part of the Route, fill out the information below. The Route will rent fast, so secure your section today!

What's your type of bike?

Beach Cruiser $100.00 Ten Speed $400.00 Fat Tire $800.00

Renters Name for Listing

Another renter! Ony 23 spots left on the Battery2Beach Route

Thank you to our latest Beach Cruiser, Ruth Barrow who rented .25 miles on the Battery2Beach route. We now only have 23 spots left on the Battery2Beach route for rent!

New Renter Along the Battery2Beach Route!

Another .25 mile Rented on the Battery2Beach Route. Many thanks to our latest Beach Cruiser renter Wofford Stribling. We are closer to reaching our goal, thanks to you!

Sharrows -- Antidote for Misguided "Bike Guides"

Tom Bradford and Don Sparks met today with Charleston's Traffic and Transportation Director Hernan Pena to discuss what can be done to make the so-called "bike guides" on Chapel Street safe.

The "bike guides" have been met by howls from knowledgeable bicyclists and drawn heavy criticism from League of American Bicyclists certified bicycle safety instructors.

We assured Mr. Pena that cyclists appreciate the city's good intentions, demonstrated by this project. However, we said we had expected that when paint was applied to Chapel Street, it would have been in the form of actual bike lanes.

As things stand, the new "bike guides" leave little doubt but that they should be considered "lanes" and that bicyclists should stay within the white lines. Doing so, however, puts the cyclists immediately in the zone where car doors can be opened -- with disastrous results.

In fact, immediately following the meeting this morning, a helmetless young cyclist navigated eastward on Chapel Street obediently staying within the white lines, a clearcut candidate for being "doored."

The "bike guides" appear in no approved traffic manual that we're aware of, and we told Mr. Pena that applying sharrows in the traffic lane would be a solution, a strong sign to both cyclists and motorists that the cyclists can (and should) use the lane of traffic.

Mr. Pena's proposed solution was to erect signs saying that cyclists can use the traffic lanes. We told him that, while welcome, such signs would do little to combat the danger in the "bike guides."

Mr. Pena said he would discuss the matter with Mayor Joe Riley.

Charleston: How Bike-Friendly Do You Think It Is?

Charleston City Councilman Mike Seekings is seeking YOUR viewpoint: Is the city on the right track when it comes to managing ballooning bicycle traffic? And is Charleston good to pedestrians?

His public hearing will take place on Monday, March 28 at 3:30pm in the City Council Chambers, Charleston City Hall at on the northeast corner of Meeting and Calhoun.

Seekings told Charleston Moves he wants everyone with an opinion on the subject to show up and testify.

"I just want to make sure that people come and give their views," said Seekings. He said the hearing would last a maximum of two hours.

The City last year was awarded the League of American Bicyclists' prestigious "Bicycle-Friendly-City" citation at the Bronze, or first level. The award often goes to municipalities that are demonstrating good plans for better bike accommodations and who have taken the first significant steps in that direction.

Most everyone is proud of the almost three-mile-long bike and pedestrian lane on the new Cooper River Bridge, but many people using it for exercise or sightseeing drive to it because connections to it for bicyclists and pedestrians aren't good. "Connecting the dots remains a significant issue for Charleston," says Tom Bradford, Director of Charleston Moves.

The City recently painted what it calls "Bike Guides" on Chapel Street in one neighborhood, but savvy cyclists are up in arms over the street markings, calling them more dangerous than no lanes at all because of their narrowness and proximity to parked cars, raising the sometimes fatal danger of getting "doored." (People exiting parked cars without looking frequently open doors into the paths of approaching cyclists, and the resultant sudden accidents can be deadly.

Charleston Moves has been urging city officials to move more quickly with lane and other bicycle markings. Bradford says this is crucial, in his words "because there's no better form of education for bikers and drivers alike than white paint on asphalt showing people where they should be."

Bike! Bike! Southeast: March 25 through 27

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Holy City Bicycle Co-op
Charleston Moves

Holy City Bicycle Co-op Hosts Bike! Bike! Southeast! Conference
March 25th-27th, 2011
Charleston, SC

The Holy City Bicycle Co-op will be hosting the 3rd annual Bike! Bike! Southeast! regional conference the weekend of March 25th-27th in Charleston, SC. Leaders from more than thirty other bike co-ops and collectives throughout the Southeast and beyond will be visiting Charleston to share their knowledge and experience and to witness how bicycles work in our community. “It’s an opportunity to learn from each other so we can be better citizens, better serve our communities, and develop a support network between cities,” explained Dan Kelley. “Anyone interested in knowing more about bicycles is welcome to attend.”

This conference is unique in that its workshops and seminars are proposed and facilitated by attendees. Currently topics will include general bike maintenance courses, repairs on the road, creating safe respectful spaces, tips for bike commuters, successful fund raising strategies, creating outreach programs, organizing a race, finding community partners, wheel-building, welding tall bikes, and grant writing. The first keynote speaker, Peter Wilbo rn of MyBikeLaw.com, will be presenting during orientation at Theatre99 at 10pm Friday.

In addition to the educational components, the Bike! Bike! Southeast! will include a Friday night social bike ride, a special bike polo half-time show at the next Lowcountry Highrollers' bout, a screenprinting and sticker swapping session, and Saturday night dance party. Group meals prepared by Food Not Bombs will be provided during the conference, and any locals willing to host guests are encouraged to let us know online. "It's great that this event’s coming to Charleston!" says Tom Bradford, Director of Charleston Moves.

Additional information on registering, hosting guests, and workshops is available on the website bikebikecharleston.com. A contribution of $20 to $30 is requested at check-in to cover costs, although no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Pre-registration on the website is preferred, but you may also register at check-in. For information on sponsorship/donation opportunities, please let us know by emailing info@holycitybikecoop.org with the subject line “Sponsor BBSE.” Charleston Moves is a fiscal sponsor of the event making in-kind and monetary donations for the event eligible for a tax write-off.


People who would like to display a poster for their business can request one with an email to info@holycitybikecoop.org?


Special thanks to our current sponsors who include MyBikeLaw.com, Charleston Moves, Cru Catering, Theatre99, Kudu Coffee, Affordabike, Andolini's and The Hub.

Standup for Summerville (and Everywhere!) Sidewalks

This from our associate Mark Greenslit in Summerville
As you may have heard, an irate driver recently injured four kids that were walking to Alston Middle School. They were on a road, like most in Summerville, with no sidewalk. If a sidewalk had been present, this situation likely would not have occurred, despite the fact that the driver seems to be mentally unbalanced. See the link below for story details.

http://www.journalscene.com/news/Bond-set-in-vehicle-assault-case

Below is a letter to the editor in today's Post and Courier responding to the incident.

Sidewalks needed
Last week's story of a woman driving her car into a group of school children is a tragedy. Thankfully, in this case, there were no fatalities.

But the fact that many school children have no choice but to walk in the streets to get to school is a catastrophe in itself. There are many who have contributed to this scenario including elected officials on County Council, the school board and representing the municipalities. They have yet to draw up plans and seek funding to install sidewalks or bike paths for schools in their district. They have yet to work together to resolve this issue.

And while the current economy does make installing sidewalks or bike paths challenging, there are funds available.

Many of the schools in the Lowcountry were built decades ago, and there has been a thriving economy for many of those years. Our elected officials have simply chosen, individually or collectively, to ignore this problem.

I encourage all Lowcountry residents who do not have sidewalks or bike paths for their neighborhood schools to come together on this issue.

Children who walk or bike to school have been found to perform better academically, and every child who walks/bikes to school equates to one fewer car clogging our streets. One fewer car means less pollution.

Convince your elected representatives that installing sidewalks or bike paths in the neighborhoods surrounding our schools should be a priority. Demand that they be proactive.

Byron White

Mooring Drive

Charleston

Sadly, our town is mostly without sidewalks, and contains several sidewalks to nowhere. Please take a moment to tell your councilman by phone, email, or letter that this is not acceptable, and that the citizens of Summerville, the children in particular, deserve better.

Their contact information can be found at this link http://www.summerville.sc.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D4F5083F-224F-4F31-BD4C-01883112910B}

You can call 871-6000, if you don't know who your councilman is.

Thanks.

Mark

Tortise v. Hare (Greenville v. Charleston?)

Henry Brown Boulevard, Goose Creek: What? No Bike Lanes??

We've been hearing from two guys in Goose Creek that they need help with the fact that SCDOT hasn't included bike lanes on Henry Brown Boulevard.  

Our advice:  the best remedy for a local issue is local action!  If you live in or around Goose Creek, consider pitching in on this!

Here is what we know about the issue.  We're not certain of everything, but it is clear that there are no bike lanes planned for Henry Brown Blvd.

We're being told that SCDOT says it doesn't have the money for bike lanes on Henry Brown Blvd., and that there may be environmental concerns, perhaps having to do with a bridge at Fosters Creek ?

Goose Creek has approved a "Complete Streets ordinance" and from what we hear, town officials are trying to live up to it.   SCDOT, on the other hand, has just has a memo supporting the concept with no actual requirements to make it happen... so is trying to save a little cash (5-10% of project cost?)

The current Plans call for 2 full lanes either direction, with a wide center turn lane.  No median, no landscaping.  There is room in the Right-of-way for sidewalks and bike lanes... or a ~10' multi-use path.

The advice we are being given is that calling Frank Carson at the Berkeley county office (719-4179) will be the key.  With enough local support he may be able to make this happen.  

In this case, we would  advise  a softer, friendly approach, specifically from local residents.  (In fact, having Charleston Moves parachute in could be counter-productive, at least at this stage.)  

Frankly, Goose Creek-ites, this is the time for you to get together and see if you can change this. 

The Mayor is interested in getting bike and ped access as well.  So, if you are able to get the voters calling and/or writing he can put his foot down on it.  It will be the difference between politics and cash... which is all politics is really about  :)

Early on, Charleston Moves help 'spawn' an active group in Summerville.  You guys may have the issue with which to obtain some local traction in much the same way.  Please keep us posted!!  

the two men who contacted Charleston Moves about this are:

Dennis Bud:  warddbud@gmail.com

Mike Adams:  trailodex@yahoo.com

Go For It, Goose Creek!

What's in a Word? Bikelash!

Subject: Word Spy - bikelash bikelash n. A strong, negative reaction towards cyclists, particularly by police officers or drivers. Also: bike-lash. Example Citations: Call it a bikelash! The NYPD has been ordered to begin a borough-wide crack-down that will hit renegade riders for often-overlooked "vehicular offenses" like failing to obey traffic signals and signs, breaking the speed limit, tailgating, and even failure to signal before turning.  —Thomas Tracy, "Bikelash! Cops to crack down on two-wheelers," New York Post, January 5, 2011 There's a feeling among many drivers that cyclists, either by their ignorance of the law or by their blatant disregard for it, are asking for trouble. ... In one sense, the so-called bikelashhas little to do with transportation modes.  —Tom Vanderbilt, "Rage Against Your Machine," Outside, March 2, 2011 Earliest Citation: Britain's army of cyclists are facing a bike-lash because of their increasingly illegal and aggressive behaviour, according to new research.  —Emma Wall, "New motorists being driven round the bend," Daily Star, October 19, 2007

editor's note: We get hints of "bikelash" here in Charleston all the time as people demand that we do more to educate people on two wheels about where they're supposed to be in traffic and what their responsibilities are.  The short answer is that people on bikes should behave just like people behind the wheels of automobiles and trucks.
CHARLESTON MOVES continues to work to educate cyclists and work with others toward the same goal.  When you see someone on two wheels doing something stupid and/or illegal, DON'T scream.  Just try to calmly point out what's wrong and why it's important to observe the laws.

Only 25 spots left along the Battery2Beach Route!

A huge thank you to Mike Keck with Mike's Bikes for his generous donation to Charleston Moves. He is the newest renter of a quarter-mile along the route!

 

 

Here's how you can join in and become a renter on the Battery2Beach route:

What's your type of bike?

Beach Cruiser $100.00 Ten Speed $400.00 Fat Tire $800.00

Renters Name for Listing