Charleston Moves at Pecha Kucha

On Wednesday, May 25th, Tom Bradford, Executive Director of Charleston Moves, took part in Pecha Kucha 10. Pecha Kucha is a creative forum held in Charleston about four times a year (as well as around the world). Each presenter is allowed 20 images, each shown for just 20 seconds, giving 6 minutes 40 seconds to tell a story and get their point of view across.

Tom talked to the efforts Charleston Moves has been implementing to get bike lanes painted and educate bicyclists to ride safety around Charleston. The crowd responded favorably and were excited to hear of the advocacy efforts for the Ashley River Bridge Crossing and with recent improvements elsewhere (sharrows on Chapel St. and bike lanes on East Bay), the crowd understood that yes, a designated bike lane over the Ashely is possible.

It was a beautiful evening, as the event was held outdoors. See some images here of Tom's presentation.

From the S.I. Bicycle Committee <bikesullivans@yahoo.com>

This looks like tons of fun for folks with kids. Thanks to the Island Club for putting this on - use your bicycle for the hunt.

Carlsen Huey

Please Join us for an

Island Scavenger Hunt

Test your clue savvy and Island knowledge as you scour Sullivan’s historic spots for your bounty.

Island Club Kid’s Night

Friday, June 3rd

4:00PM-6:30PM**

Pizza and other refreshments will be provided at the Island Club following the hunt.

RSVP to dianabrowder@yahoo.com

**this will be a staggered start - come when you can**

Adults and children of all ages welcome

Sullivans Island Bike to Work Day - May 20: Meredith Nelson and Shawn commuted to Sullivans Island from Daniel Island - Scott Parker and myself rode downtown, and Merideth rode to old Mt. Pleasant. All in all a beautiful day, a great way to save money, get some exercise, and have fun. About 11 parents and schoolkids also rode to the relocated SI elementary school at old Whitesides. We liked bike to work so much we're going to do in again on June 17th - same plan - meet at Cafe Medley between 7:30 and 8AM; depart at 8AM. Maybe if we do it enough times it'll become a daily thing!

Carlsen Huey
bikesullivans@yahoo.com

Another Charleston Cycling Tragedy -- You Can Help!

Yuri Babenko

The Charleston cycling community has recently suffered another great tragedy. Yury Babenko,  a Russian living in Charleston as an exchange student, was struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike in West Ashley last Friday.  He worked in Charleston to send money home to his family in Russia.

Yury was 25 years old, the youngest member of his family. He loved sports and drama and took part in school performances when he was young. He is described as very kind, caring, energetic, and sociable. He was involved in many activities. He set up a break dance association in his home town of Armavir, and taught children and teenagers how to break dance.  Yuri was planning to leave Charleston this summer to return to Russia to propose to his girlfriend.

The Babenko family needs financial help to transport Yury's body back home, a very expensive process requiring a special casket as well as meeting complicated and costly border crossing requirements. The Babenko family is being represented by Peter Wilborn and BikeLaw.com, in Charleston.

Please help. Make your check out to the "Derfner, Altman & Wilborn Trust Account. Mark the check "Reference Babenko" and mail it to Derfner, Altman & Wilborn Trust Account, P.O. Box 600 Charleston, SC 29402.

Bike to Work Over the Ashley

Friday, May 20th was a beautiful day here in Charleston. It was also Bike to Work Day. Charleston Moves organized a pre-work ride over the Ashley River Crossing that morning. And what a turn-out! Thank you to Mayor Riley, City Councilman Mike Seekings and the 100 supporters and riders who came out. This was truly a community affair with riders that ranged from avid cyclists to bike enthusiasts wearing work-attire. Participants were even greeted by Normandy Farms passing out cookies.

Mayor Riley spoke about the city's commitment to providing a safer Charleston for pedestrians and cyclists, "The transportation network must now include people on foot and on bikes, and we're not going to quit until that's done."

The ride showed what could be. Designating 3 lanes for autos and 1 lane for bike/ped on the Legare Bridge is possible. If approved, the Legare bridge will then have the same about of traffic lanes as the neighboring bridge and the designated bike/ped lane will provide a safe and convenient way for citizens to bike or walk from one side of the Ashley to the other. If you are in support of the rededication of one lane over the Legare Bridge for bike/ped, join the Ashley Crossing Coalition.

And then we were off over the bridge. Thanks to the Charleston Police Department as well for escorting the group of riders safety across.

There has been a lot of great coverage from the day of the event. To read more:

Post & Courier
Charleston City Paper

Stay up to date with the Ashley Crossing Coalition and Charleston Moves on Facebook.

Surge in Obesity Correlates With Increased Automobile Usage, Study Finds

"For the last 60-plus years, we've literally built our society around the automobile and getting from point A to point B as quickly as we can. Because we choose to drive rather than walk or cycle, the result is an inactive, sedentary lifestyle. Not coincidentally, obesity also became a public health issue during this period."
(Scientist at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana)
For the entire article, click here

Ride to Work -- OVER THE ASHLEY!

Join your fellow cyclists to demonstrate just how much we need that lane over the Ashley!  

As Mayor Riley presses the case to rededicate one of four lanes on the Legare Bridge, you can show him and everyone just how many people might use that lane!
Forward the link to this posting to as many people as you can.  Let's make this an historic cycling event in the Lowcountry!

Charleston Proclaims Bicycle Month 2011

I was in City Council chambers to accept the proclamation displayed below.  (CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT TO SEE IT FULLSCREEN)
The proclamation comes at a time when, undeniably, the pace of progress in Charleston has picked up.
Bicycle Month Proclamation 2011
Mayor Riley cited new bike lanes on East Bay Street, sharrows on Chapel Street, the coming bike lanes on Morrison Drive and St. Andrews Boulevard.  He also pledged to work diligently to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to use a lane on the Legare Bridge over the Ashley River.
In accepting the proclamation on behalf of all bicyclists and bicycling activists, I thanked Mayor Riley, members of the City Council, the city staff for the progress made recently..

BIKE LANES ON EAST BAY!!

Picking up the pace, making good on Charleston's Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly status, lo and behold, now we have bona fide bike lanes on East Bay Street!
Within days they'll extend all the way up Morrison Drive to Meeting Street.
The lanes are regulation, sure as can be.  But they taper off to non-existence just south of Columbus Street.  (SCDOT goes by the book on lane widths.....no squeezing, no road diets...)

(forgive my shadow!)

(From The City of Charleston Traffic and Transportation Department in response to our message about the grates, etc.)

The resurfacing project and bike lane striping was part of a South Carolina Department of Transportation resurfacing project. All signs and markings will be installed by their maintenance office or their contractor. They are familiar with proper bike lane striping and signage and should install what is required. However, we will follow up with the SCDOT to make sure that they install the appropriate signs and markings prior to finalizing the resurfacing project. The project was divided into three phases and the SCDOT may postpone installing all signs until the end of phase three.

Robert Somerville in our office is following up with the SCDOT and Tom O’Brien in our Public Service Department to find out who is responsible for the grates and will notify the appropriate department of the potential liability.

- - - - - - - 

The one peril we have brought to the attention of the city is the continued existence of grates installed parallel to travel, able to suck in a front wheel in a flash!

"Pedal to the Parks" tops CHARLESTON PARK WEEK

EVENTS BEGIN MAY 9
The Charleston Parks Conservancy is celebrating all things parks with its second annual Park Week. The Conservancy will host free events in various Charleston parks during May 9-13.
Monday, May 9: Peninsula Pedal
This bike tour begins at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Beaufain Street and Ashley Avenue. Although all levels and bikes are welcome, this event is for adults only. The ride begins at Colonial Lake with stops at Cannon Park, Waterfront Park, and Chapel Street Fountain Park. The Conservancy’s resident cyclist, Kellen Goodell, will lead participants on a scenic ride with prizes and giveaways along the way. There also will be a brief bicycle safety talk to review the rules of the road. Free.
Later during the week, there'll be gardening classes, stargazing and more.

click here for the full schedule

All events are free and open to the public. For a complete list of events and more information visit the Conservancy’s website at charlestonparksconservancy.org.

If Parking Spaces are Real Estate, What Are They Really Worth??

Think about it. There's no such thing as "Free Parking." Someone pays for the real estate, with every spot occupying more than 200 square feet.
Also, think about this: experts believe that in some cities, 30% of traffic is related to people driving around trying to find parking places.
These are the factors around which some enterprising businesspeople are building businesses.
Read on...