The Palmetto Spokesman

Statewide News Roundup

2012-03-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

2/26/12. Opinion: Don't stall on DOT reform (Post & Courier)

2/27/12. Clover driver pleads guilty in crash that killed Rock Hill bicyclist (Rock Hill Herald)

2/28/12. Adversity bonds cyclists biking through Tanzania. (Go Upstate)

Curt McPhail, of Globalbike and Safari Simbas founder David Kinjah take a rest from cycling. Photo from SHJ.

2/28/12. Plans for improvements to Highway 1, Whiskey Road now available to public (funded with Federal Trans Enhancement dollars). (Aiken Standard)

2/28/12. Opinion: Task Force Should Step It Up. (Post & Courier)

2/29/12. Globalbike shock: Bicycles delivered to Tanzania in pieces. (Go Upstate)

2/29/12. New Swamp Rabbit app pinpoints ATMs, drinking fountains. (Greenville News)

2/29/12. Senate panel ruling favors state DOT board. (Greenville News)

3/1/12. House puts brakes on DOT expansion. (Greenville News)

March Gear Review: Jet Black Flight Glasses

2012-03-01T06:46:00.000-08:00

Jet Black Flight glasses

After losing my beloved Smith sunglasses, I was in the market for a new pair but with a lower price point. Following an exhaustive search, I settled upon the Jet Black Flight. Three things drew me to these sunglasses. Eye coverage, lens options and price. The Flight has a larger lens, which covers more of your eye and the surrounding area on your face. Lateral glare is reduced but the side venting makes sure moisture doesn't build up on the inside of the lens. Speaking of lens, the Flight comes with three distinct options. The "blue" is great for sunny riding conditions. The "amber" is for overcast skies as it brings out clarity and contrast in your surroundings. I used the third lens, the "clear", for racing and cold night rides this winter.

Finally, and this was a major factor as I am a cyclist on a budget (sic. poverty stricken), the price was hard to beat for 3 lenses, a hard carrying case and lens cloth. I saved the cheapskate rationale for last because cyclists can be somewhat "elitist" when it comes to their riding gear, but nowadays, price matters to a lot of riders of both the serious and recreational breeds. The Jet Black Flight combines that low price with superior eye protection, visual clarity and durability that makes these sunglasses a cut above the rest. MSRP $39.99.

Partnership for Prosperity: OPEN HOUSE

2012-02-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

I attended the first Partnership for Prosperity focus group meeting last September with a select group of Charleston County individuals. To recap, the Partnership for Prosperity is an initiative led by the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Government intended to bring about more connectivity to the Charleston 'Neck' region which spans from well above Park Circle in North Charleston to below the 'Crosstown' in Downtown Charleston.

During the first meeting I was encouraged to identify and highlight areas of the Charleston 'Neck' that needed bike lane or pedestrian designation or could benefit from 'sharrows', bike way signs, or sidewalks. The meeting was a success and a collaborative initiative has evolved to transform the Charleston 'Neck' into a comprehensive networks of roads, bike ways, businesses, and more.

Tomorrow night, the Partnership for Prosperity will host an Open House at the Military Magnet Academy, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM during which time attendees can view the Draft Master Plan and offer their feedback and recommendations.

If you live or work in the Charleston 'Neck' region this meeting is a must! This area of Charleston has seen significant growth in the past several months and it's necessary for residents to voice their concerns and needs for this area. For more information on Partnership for Prosperity and their initiative check out this link.

Legislative Update

2012-02-28T10:23:00.003-08:00

It has been an eventful time in our state legislature lately, with two bills moving forward to improve safety on our roads and reform the Department of Transportation.

South Carolina is one of only eight states without any bans on drivers texting, though that may soon change. A new law to ban texting while driving is moving smoothly through the legislature currently without encountering any speed bumps. The bill was expected to face more opposition, but the only questions and concerns focused on enforcement. An amendment to the bill to ban texting or typing on the phone while stopped has also been included in the law.

Legislators compare the problem to drinking while driving, citing studies that show reading and typing texts can impair a driver even more than alcohol. Just like with drunk driving, stiff penalties are seen as the key to getting people to stop. Drivers caught texting could get a $100 fine, a $25 charge for the Trauma Care fund and two points on their license. Additionally, if injury results due to a driver texting, the fine would increase to $2,500 to $5,000 and mandatory prison time for 30 days to five years. If someone dies as the result of a distracted driver sending or receiving text messages it’s a felony charge and if convicted they could face a $5,000 to $10,000 fine and one to 10 years in prison.

The bill is supported by the South Carolina Teachers Association, the State Transport Police and the SC Children's Trust. Police are already enforcing a federal ban on commercial drivers using electronics that aren't hands-free, and cities across the state have already banned drivers from texting through local ordinances, including Clemson, West Union, Columbia, Camden and Sumter.

The Department of Transportation may soon be facing an overhaul. The House Judiciary Committee has given a favorable report to the bill that would eliminate the SCDOT Commission in favor of transferring control to the Secretary of Transportation. Currently, the Secretary manages day-to-day operations, while the seven-member Commission sets policy and approves projects. The plan would create a new 17-member advisory panel that would make recommendations to the Secretary on local road and bridge needs, but would not set policy.

Under the House bill, the legislature would also be more involved in DOT's annual budget, requiring the Department to submit its annual funding plan each year and allowing approval of a much more detailed budget. This bill enjoys broad support, with 64 sponsors, though it does face opposition under the concern that it gives the governor too much power.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-02-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

2/19/12. Our contagious vision: Transform the world through bikes. (Go Upstate)

2/21/12. Bicycle advocates stop in CSRA to promote safe cycling. (WRDW)

2/21/12. Bicycle Ride rolls through the CSRA. (WFXG)

2/22/12. Asheville-area bikers gear up for inaugural Pisgah 111K race. (Asheville Citizen Times)

2/23/12. Driver not charged in pedestrian death. (Post & Courier)

2/23/12. Globalbike goes to Tanzania to give out 140 bicycles. (Go Upstate)

Gobalbike team in Tanzania; photo by Carroll Foster

Riding for Safe Bicycling Routes

2012-02-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

On Monday night, I was the host of five fantastic women as they were passing through Columbia on their bikes. Columbia and South Carolina were lucky to be visited by this team as part of their adventure to ride their bicycles across America in benefit of bicycle and pedestrian safety and access. Set apart from a typical cross-country road trip by their two-wheeled vehicles and the mission that drives them, these women are riding to raise funds for the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

RASR van at my home in Columbia

It was an honor to be in the presence of these dedicated and passionate ladies as they are on their mission to spread bicycling cheer across the country. Rather than travel the well-work Southern Tier route, they are making a special visit to the deep south states of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, where bicycle commuting rates are low, where bicycle fatalities are high, and where rates of obesity and physical inactivity are also some of the highest nationally. The RASR team felt that they could have the most impact in these southern states, which was why their travels brought them through town.

As evidenced by the 2012 Benchmarking Report, South Carolina has a-ways to go before improving in it's bicycle friendliness, so we can certainly benefit from a visit by dedicated advocates like the RASR team. While in Columbia, they made a visit to Leaphart Elementary to speak to the students about bicycle safety.

We wish the RASR team well on the next stages of their adventure, and are so appreciative of the cross-country message that they are spreading. Timing for this couldn't be better, as Congress is debating the transportation bill and advocates like us are scrambling to make sure that we maintain the tiny piece of the pie that is allocated to bicycle and pedestrian projects. Without this funding, a state like South Carolina would be in dire straits for funding of new bicycle projects. These funds are vital to ensure a safer and more bicycle friendly state. Please stay tuned as we will need your voice and support over the months to come!

Statewide News Roundup

2012-02-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

2/13/12. Gita Sports past and present. (Velo News)

2/14/12. Transportation boosted to top of political agenda. (Post & Courier)

2/14/12. Spartanburg couple enjoys joint exercise on their tandem bicycle. (Go Upstate)

2/17/12. Conway Area Bike Ride to benefit new group home. (Sun News)

2/17/12. Salters Road project may include bridge replacement. (Greenville News)

2/21/12. New Belgium Brewing is seeking film submissions for 'Clips of Faith' tour. (Charleston Digitel)

Statewide News Roundup

2012-02-13T07:10:00.000-08:00

2/7/12. A makeover for IOP connector? (ABC News 4)

2/7/12. EDITORIAL: Be kind on the roadways. (Aiken Standard)

2/9/12. Bicycle rider dies after being struck by car (Anderson Independent)

2/9/12. Bike paths growing across Lowcountry. (Post & Courier)

2/10/12. Friend says bike rider was rebuilding his life before fatal accident. (Anderson Independent)

2/10/12. Cyclist killed in Anderson accident. (Greenville News)

2/11/12. Advocating for cyclists: Family tragedy drives lawyer to help victims, push safety. (Post & Courier)

Peter Wilborn (second from left) is joined by Paul Wood (from left), Jana Morris, Mike Bannister and Tom Bradford on a cycling trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway last year.

Join Us in Preserving Bicycle Funding

2012-02-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Both chambers of Congress are developing versions of the Federal transportation bill that are detrimental to bicycle funding. We've already asked you once this month, and we're already asking again: please contact Congress to save bicycle funding that is extremely valuable to South Carolina.

The current Senate transportation bill dilutes walking and biking programs. To improve the bill, we're asking Senators Graham and DeMint to vote for the Cardin-Cochran amendment on the floor to guarantee local governments a voice in transportation decisions, allowing them to build sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep people safe. Tell Senators Graham and DeMint:

Local governments deserve a maintained voice in transportation
Safety matters--particularly in SC where we we are ranked 49th for bicycle safety
Active transportation is a wise investment that pays off in the long-term

In the House, we are asking representatives to oppose the House transportation bill entirely. Despite the fact that walking and bicycling infrastructure is a low-cost investment that creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, the House bill eliminates dedicated funding for walking and biking. Tell your Representative that the current transportation bill (HR 7):

Takes us back to the 1950's
Is not cost effective and does not invest wisely
Eliminating the Safe Routes to School program makes streets unsafe for children

If you are wondering why this is happening yet again, the answer is fairly simple (although the details are complex): both Chambers of Congress are developing versions of a new Federal transportation bill to update the last bill, of which we are currently operating on the 8th extension. As they are working to develop these bills, both the House and Senate continue to make motions to eliminate funding for biking and walking. Last week, we needed your support as were working to get House Committee votes in favor of an amendment to protect bicycling and walking. Today's alert, and future ones that are sure to come, are to let Congress know that we will not stand for these short-sighted bills.

SC's Members of Congress needs to know that that finding effective, efficient transportation solutions to keep South Carolinians safe on the streets should be a national priority. These sources of Federal funding are vital to bicycling in South Carolina and without it, there is little likelihood that state or local funding would exist to support future bicycle paths and lanes.

This debate matters to South Carolinia, so please contact your Senators and Representatives today. And, the battle is far from over, so stay tuned to future alerts where we will need you yet again.

Thank you so much for your support and time.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-02-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

2/2/12. SC DOT secretary: Commission micromanages. (WISTV)

2/2/12. Man Killed Riding Bicycle To Store. (WYFF News)

2/3/12. Car hits, kills 73-year-old bicyclist. (Greenville News)

2/3/12. 2012 off to a deadly start on SC highways. (SC Now)

2/3/12. ARTS committee OKs plans to improve parts of Whiskey Road--fully funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement dollars. (Aiken Standard)

2/6/12. Man dies, wife injured in wreck on Banks Mill. (Aiken Standard)

Aiken Standard photo of Sunday crash.

2/6/12. Editorial: Connecting a key route for bicyclists. (Post & Courier) *late addition!

Ride America for Safe Routes comes to Columbia

2012-02-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

A group of four women dedicated to raising awareness and funds for safe bicycling is setting out from Florida tomorrow to Ride America for Safe Routes through 13 southern states, 20 major cities, and over 5,000 miles. On Tuesday, February 21, they will make a pit stop Leaphart Elementary School in Columbia to teach students about the fun of biking and walking to school.

Beginning in Key West, Jeanie Ward, Stephanie Palmer, Jane Ward, and Chelsea Ward-Waller will travel by bike across the country, meeting with bike advocates and educating communities about the need for bike safety, all in an effort to raise $50,000 for the League's Bicycle Friendly America program and Safe Routes to School.

Safe Routes to School is a national program dedicated to providing children with encouragement and safe ways to walk and bike to school. In South Carolina, 45% of requests for Safe Routes funding have been awarded since 2005. While $0.95 per capita funding is spent on biking and walking statewide, obligated funds per public school student are above the national average at $10 per student. However, the new Transportation Bill currently in the House of Representatives reverses 20 years of progress for bicycling and walking in federal policy, eliminating Safe Routes coordinators in state DOTs and putting the entire program on the chopping block.

In an era of rampant childhood obesity, taking away a child's opportunity for exercise and independence by walking or biking to school safely is a disappointing leap backwards. South Carolina especially should be concerned about health consequences of this bill; 30% of our adult population is obese. We applaud these women for taking to the roads in support of this important program and look forward to welcoming them to Columbia.

A Silver Partner of SC Safe Routes Resource Center, Leaphard Elementary faculty and students will have an opportunity to meet and learn from them at the event on February 21 beginning at 7:50 a.m., during which students will receive bicycle and pedestrian safety lessons. For more information on Safe Routes to School in South Carolina or to find out if your child's school is a partner, please visit the Resource Center.

February Gear Review: Light & Motion Urban 300

2012-01-31T18:45:00.000-08:00

Each month, our friends at Hawley share a review on the latest gear that is passing through their warehouse on its way to your local bike shop. As always, thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with Hawley, for this sneak-preview and words of wisdom. For more from Hawley on the latest and greatest in bike gear, check out their blog or YouTube channel.

We review a lot of lights because there are so many on the market nowadays that finding the "right" light can be daunting if not downright discouraging. Coupled with the importance of a light in general for riding safety, a considerable amount of time should be appropriated to separating the wheat from the chaff, the barely illuminating from the airport searchlight strength lights.

Every year, light technology advances by leaps and bounds. Batteries have become smaller with many lights eschewing a separate battery and using a completely integrated set-up. Add to that the convenience of rechargeable batteries and bicycle commuters have some great options for riding at night.

One of these options for the truly discerning rider is the Light & Motion Urban 300. The 300 is a mixture of superior performance and convenience at a reasonable price. Adapting technology from their lightweight "race" lights, the Urban 300 uses a compact Li-Ion battery to pump out an astonishing 300 lumens of light (hence the name, clever huh?). Unlike most commuter lights, the beam pattern produces a wide swath of visibility for several meters with gentle gradation. Small side lights provide some amount of safety but visibility is only for a 10 to 15 feet.

Light & Motion Urban 300

Run time for the 300 on the "high" setting is 2 hours and 20 minutes. The medium and low settings run for double the previous setting duration. Although the recharge time isn't the fastest on the market (5 hours), if you can remember to plug it in when you arrive at work, it should be fully charged by the time you clock out to face the rigors of traffic.

With an MSRP of $129.00, the Urban 300 won’t be for the cyclist pinching pennies, but as an investment, you'll reap the rewards of safe nighttime riding and the peace of mind that comes with an optimally manufactured product made in the USA.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

1/25/12. Editorial: Take those 'no bikes' signs down. (Post & Courier)

1/30/12. Cyclist killed after colliding with school bus. (Post & Courier)

1/30/12. Greenville to host international para-cycling championships. (Greenville News)

1/31/12. Update: St. Stephen bicyclist killed after colliding with bus. (Post & Courier)

1/31/12. Holy City Bike Co-op is revisiting its roots with a free, outdoor workshop. (Charleston Digitel)

1/31/12. SC ranks poorly for cyclists, pedestrians. (The State)

1/31/12. Local sidewalk projects in limbo. (Post & Courier)

Sterling Spinners Make Big Impact in Community

2012-01-31T09:26:00.000-08:00

The Sterling Spinners Youth Bicycle Club

Many of us have our own stories of how we began riding a bike and the positive influence and results it has brought to our lives. A group of teens in Greenville can now join the fold with their own bicycle origins thanks to a wildly successful club started by LiveWell Greenville, St Francis Hospital, and Sterling Recreation Center.

An initiative of Building Dreams, the Sterling Spinners began in 2010 as a bicycling club for middle school students from the Sterling community. Ten students were recruited as the club's initial members and talked about eating well and living a healthy lifestyle, but of course they spent a lot of time in the saddle. Frequent rides on the Swamp Rabbit Trail or favorite local parks gave the kids independence and confidence in their abilities- something that carried over into the classroom.

The club also took time to bond off the bike, attending a Furman University football game by bike and taking trips (by car) to Clemson University and Youth-in-Government in Columbia. The original plan was for the program to end along with summer in 2010, but the adults and kids opted to continue riding and welcomed a second class of club members in March 2011. Current club members can scarcely contain their excitement when they come home from a ride, often telling their parents every detail of their adventures. The excitement extends outside the club, as well- younger children at the Sterling Recreation Center are clamoring for their chance to join the bike club.

They will get their chance as stakeholders in the Sterling Spinners look to expand the club in the Sterling Community and ideally replicate its success in other under-served communities. Adult bicyclists who want to be involved with the clubs can contact David Taylor for more information.

South Carolina Ranked 49th in Nation for Bicycle Safety

2012-01-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

South Carolinaranks 49th among states for bicycling safety according to a report releasedtoday by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. “Bicycling and Walking in theU.S.: 2012 Benchmarking Report” shows that while 2.1% of work trips in SouthCarolina are by bicycle or foot, bicyclists and pedestrians account for 11.9%of traffic fatalities in the state.

Lack ofinvestment in bicycling and walking could be to blame. While 12 percent oftrips in the U.S. are by bike or foot, 14 percent of traffic fatalities arebicyclists and pedestrians, and pedestrian and bicycle projects receive lessthan 2 percent of federal transportation dollars.

“A much greater investmentis needed in biking and walking to increase active transportation,” says JeffreyMiller, Alliance President/CEO. “The Benchmarking Report shows that biking andwalking are smart and cost-effective solutions that will pay for themselvesmany times over in healthcare savings and impact on local economies.”

SouthCarolina spends just 0.6% of its federal transportation dollars on biking andwalking, ranking 46th among states for investing in biking and walking.

“SouthCarolina could be an ideal place to ride a bike, but the lack of understandingabout the importance of bicycling and investing in infrastructure holds thestate back from fulfilling its potential,” said Rachael Bronson, executivedirector of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition.

Currently,South Carolina biking and walking funding works out to just $0.95 per person,compared to the national average of $2.17. Without funding, infrastructurecannot be improved to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians, keeping SouthCarolina the second most unsafe state in which to ride a bike.

While lack of investment in bicycling and walking has causedthousands of preventable deaths across the U.S., it doesn’t have to be.

Numerous successful projects across the state have been funded in part with federal dollars through threatened programs like Transportation Enhancements, including trails in Greenville, Charleston and Spartanburg. With continued investment, bicycling and walking can become easier, safer and a realistic transportation choice for South Carolina residents.

“Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2012 Benchmarking Report” wasfunded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and made possiblethrough additional support from AARP and Planet Bike. For more information andto download the report visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/benchmarking.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

1/18/12. Letters to the Editor: Sad Day for Cycling and Whose road is it? (Post & Courier)

1/20/12. Florence League of Women Voters will host SCDOT Commissioner to discuss state projects (SCNow)

1/20/12. Eddie Adams new chairman of transportation commission (Independent Mail)

1/23/12. Editorial: Finally get transportation reform right (Post & Courier)

1/24/12. Connector bike ban is bad news, says advocate (Charleston City Paper)

1/24/12. County to seek views on Powdersville transportation projects (Independent Mail)

1/24/12. Bridge bans posted (Post & Courier)

Post & Courier

1/25/12. Bicycling advocates ask state to lift bike ban on connector (Post & Courier)

1/26/12. Group asks state to let bikes on James Island connector (Post & Courier)

USC Abandoned Bike Project kicks off in February

2012-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Give an abandoned bike a home!

Each fall, thousands of students flock to our state's college campuses, and each spring many will head off to whatever adventures or employment their summers may hold. Their two-wheeled companions are not always so lucky. The abandoned bikes are generally collected and held in storage by the university after attempts to contact the owners have failed.

The University of South Carolina is launching a new program to allow these abandoned bikes to see the road once again. Through Campus Recreation, students, faculty and staff will be able to fix up and ride off with one of these bikes. The new program offers affordable categories for all levels of interest.

The cost is estimated based on the parts and repairs needed, but for the most part will fall into the following categories. The highest quality bike ideal for everyday, rain or shine commuters will be approximately $75, mid-range bikes for those interesting in riding regularly will be about $50, and base level cruisers for those who want to ride occasionally are estimated to be $35. Included with the bikes will be new LED lights for the front and back of your new bike- to comply with South Carolina law- bike registration with Parking Services, and an "Outdoor Recreation Abandoned Bike" decal.

To take advantage of this program, prospective bike owners must attend a 6-hour workshop that will educate you on bike repair and maintenance, basic riding skills, proper etiquette, and South Carolina's bike laws. Bike shop staff will assist you in making the necessary repairs on your new bike and will finish the clinic by leading participants on a campus bike tour, putting the newly-learned skills to use. A helmet and bike lock are required for participation in the program, and can be purchased from Outdoor Recreation for a reasonable price.

Of course, if you already have a bike and would prefer it not wind up in the program, make sure to register it with Parking Services and take it with you when you move away. This is a great program, and though it is unfortunate that it is restricted to USC students, faculty, and staff, we hope that other universities and possibly cities will adopt something similar.

Local Happenings Coming Up!

2012-01-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Two exciting local happenings are on the calendar for the week to come. First, this Thursday, Upstate Forever is hosting a screening of the great documentary series Moving Beyond the Automobile. Moving Beyond The Automobile is a 40-minute series of documentary film shorts that highlights real-world solutions to address America's dependence on the automobile. The film series explore strategies that integrate active living and effective multi-modal transportation. This event kicks off Upstate Forever's 2012 Active Living Event Series in Spartanburg County, designed to engage citizens and decision-makers to prioritize planning policies that support active lifestyles.

The event is free and is taking place at the Spartanburg Community College, Tyger River Campus. Thanks to Mary Black Foundation for making the event possible. Light refreshments will be served and a brief discussion will follow the film screening. RSVP by Jan. 24 to spartanburg@upstateforever.org.

Then, next Tuesday, the City of Rock Hill is hosting a public session relating to biking and walking in the downtown Winthrop University area. This will take place at the Glencairn Garden Learning Center. For more information, contact Danny Ritsema, Long Range Planner with the City.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-01-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

1/12/12. Upstate transportation groups join effort to boost growth (Go Upstate)

1/13/12. Letter to the Editor: Be responsible. (Post & Courier)

1/14/12. Letter to the Editor: Tax on bicycles. (Post & Courier)

1/15/12. Editorial: Catalyst for highway reform. (Post & Courier)

1/16/12. Midnight Mystery Riders celebrate Friday the 13th. (Charleston City Paper)

1/17/12. A Berkeley bikeway victory (Post & Courier)

Statewide News Roundup

2012-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

1/5/12. Augusta's push to be more bike-friendly to get boost with October summit. (Augusta Chronicle)

1/6/12. Mayor Riley: Bike ban to be put in place on JI connector (Post & Courier)

1/7/12. With James Island connector off limits, cycling alternative criticized. (Post & Courier)

Crossing the Ashley River Bridge. Photo by Brad Nettles.

1/8/12. Spartanburg's B-cycle system exceeds expectations. (Go Upstate)

1/8/12. Greer to study transit options for US 29 with Smart Growth America grant. (Greenville News)

1/10/12. The great biking expedition. (Aiken Standard)

1/11/12. Haley threatens veto of helmet restrictions. (Go Upstate)

1/11/12. Editorial: Cyclists merit more attention. (Post & Courier)

Don't Ban Bikes on the Connector!

2012-01-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, news broke that the City of Charleston would be enforcing, within the next few months, a ban made official by the SCDOT: to prohibit bicycles and pedestrians from using the James Island Connector. Advocates from around the state agree that this is a step in the wrong direction. This ban would greatly affect the very limited connectivity that currently exists, and would force bikes and pedestrians to use the dangerous alternative--the Ashley River Bridge.

We encourage all South Carolinians to contact elected officials to oppose this action. We agree with our friends at the Coastal Conservation League in offering some better alternatives:

Lower the Connector's speed limit to 40 mph (adding less than one minute additional travel time for drivers)
Put rumble strips along the breakdown lane
Put signs up telling motorists to yield to cyclists, particularly at exits

Please use the League's action center to contact your elected official and ask that the Connector be retrofitted for the safety of all users--not prohibited.

Thanks!

Rock Hill Handlebar Assessment

2012-01-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

Rock Hill is an up-and-coming bicycle friendly community in our state for a number of reasons, not least of which is the recent Handlebar Assessment conducted by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force.

The Task Force, made up of city planners, engineers, public health officials, city residents and decision makers, conducted the assessment by getting an on-the-bike perspective on the problems and difficulties faced by alternative transportation users in Rock Hill. As current conditions are unsafe and unfavorable to bicyclists, the Task Force analyzed the opportunities and constraints to adding bicycle infrastructure downtown, around Winthrop University and along various connector routes. This assessment comes after a 2010 study by the Task Force that showed 80% of respondents would ride more often if conditions were safer.

In the Task Force's report, there is a common pattern with many of the reviewed roadways. Many were wide, and had room to accommodate car and bike lanes. These roads also serve as a good network to connect the University campus, downtown, restaurant and retail areas. Several roads are due for repaving and restriping projects, offering an ideal time to get bike infrastructure added to the road design. On the negative side, not all of these roads are owned by the city, requiring better partnership and communication between SCDOT, Winthrop and the City of Rock Hill. High travel speeds and on-street parking pose problems for bike infrastructure. Special multi-modal consultants would be needed to analyze intersections on the roads as well.

These hurdles are certainly not insurmountable, however, and the Task Force is moving forward on their goals to make Rock Hill more bike friendly. This formal assessment and the opportunity it presented to get key decision makers on bikes to understand the problems faced is a wonderful format, and possibly the first such official assessment we have seen. This method could be very helpful to any other cities looking to develop plans for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; we look forward to more and more cities in South Carolina taking steps toward more liveable, walkable and bike-able communities.

Statewide News Roundup

2012-01-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

1/2/12. Young bike rider injured on Anderson County road (Anderson Independent)

Photo from Anderson Independent

1/2/12. SC roadway fatalities up for first time since 2007. (Go Upstate)

1/3/12. Cyclists propose major race in Pendleton. (Anderson Independent)

1/3/12. NC State gas tax to increase in 2012 (SC remains 4th lowest gas tax in nation) (Shelby Star)

1/3/12. I-73 work illegal, group says. (The State)

January Gear Review: Jet Black Trainer

2011-12-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

Each month, our friends at Hawley share a review on the latest gear that is passing through their warehouse on its way to your local bike shop. As always, thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with Hawley, for this sneak-preview and words of wisdom. For more from Hawley on the latest and greatest in bike gear, check out their blog or YouTube channel.

Let’s be honest, the only reason trainers were invented was to offer an alternative for those spineless cyclists who lack the meteorological fortitude to ride in cold or inclement weather. In the spirit of candor and openness, I readily group myself among the spineless and weak-willed. Riding outside when most other life forms are either buried underground hibernating or desperately trying to fly south to warmer climes is generally considered a pointless if not destructive activity but for many cyclists is the only way to stay in shape during the fall and winter.

This November and December, in an attempt to fight the scourge of holiday weight gain and keep my extremities frostbite-free, I decided to try out the Jet Black S-1 magnetic trainer. First impressions of the S-1 were positive. The Australian-made trainer comes pre-assembled. Other than attaching the magnetic resistance unit, you’re ready to take it for a spin in literally seconds. Made from a mix of alloys, the trainer is surprisingly lightweight so if you want to load it in your car to take to a spin class or cyclocross race, it won’t require any awkward straining.

With this trainer you can comfortably shed lbs gained from too many Holiday meals!

The S-1 being the base model trainer means there are few if any bells and whistles. The blue collar-styled fixed resistance roller uses a simple screw with a nice giant knob for turning. Once you fix the resistance to your desired level (I prefer “rolling downhill with a hurricane level tailwind”), hop on and start your ride. Unlike most base model and entry level trainers, the S-1 is surprisingly quiet which makes it great for using in front of the TV or listening to your favorite music or NPR podcast.

Other than the garish orange and black paint scheme, I couldn’t find anything functionally wrong with the S-1. Its strength is its simplicity and durability, which will please cyclists looking for an economical and straightforward way to start an indoor training regimen. MSRP $119.99

Statewide News Roundup

2011-12-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

12/16/11. Bike path project gets SCDOT approval (Post & Courier)

P&C photo of the Northbound Ashley River Bridge

12/16/11. DOT gives green light to bike lane on Ashley River Bridge. (Live 5 News)

12/18/11. Letter to the Editor (by PCC Director!): Complete streets increase safety. (The State)

12/20/11. Letter to the Editor: Use Bike Lights (Post & Courier)

12/20/11. Opinion: Bravo for bike lane on bridge. (Post & Courier)

12/21/11. Council tables Walmart action until January. (WISTV)

Support Palmetto Cycling into the New Year!

2011-12-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

As we dig out our arm warmers and shoe covers, we at the Palmetto Cycling Coalition want to thank you once again for your support and for helping us in our mission to make South Carolina a better place to ride a bike.

Over the past year, we have built up great momentum for a bicycle friendly South Carolina. We’ve welcomed a 5^th Bicycle Friendly Community with Hilton Head’s silver designation, toured the state with Mia Birk while she shared her insight and inspiration, engaged in a targeted initiative to grow our membership, and hosted complete streets workshops for South Carolina advocates. We launched our Safe Streets Save Lives campaign with BikeLaw and worked with the Alliance for Biking & Walking to hold a Winning Campaigns Training in Columbia.

Through partnerships with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, AARP, Bike Law, the Department of Public Safety and Eat Smart, Move More, we have been able to accomplish a lot for our state, but our biggest supporters are you, our members. Your letters and voices helped protect federal funding for biking and walking projects, funding for our state parks and trails and to support our bicycle laws. While it may sound cliché, it is nevertheless true that organizations like the Palmetto Cycling Coalition are only as strong as our membership.

We have had big successes this year, and we don’t plan to slow down.

We have great plans for the future, and we need your support to accomplish them.Through efforts to unite aspiring bicycling friendly cities, to map bicycle routes statewide, and to better educate motorists and bicyclists to share the road, we want to make South Carolina a truly great place to not only ride a bike, but to call home.

The Coalition is here to work for the rights of all kinds of bicyclists. Whether you prefer long endurance road rides, technical trails, urban commutes, a trip to a coffee shop or simply to know that your children can ride their bikes safely, we are here to fight for your needs- but we cannot do it alone.

There are many ways that you can support Palmetto Cycling as we head into the new year. You can give the gift of membership to a friend or family member (or yourself!), get a Share the Road license plate or make a tax-deductible donation to support our cause. If you have any questions about your membership status or that of your friends and family, please contact Cait at cait@pccsc.net. You can donate by either mailing a check to 141-F Pelham Drive Suite 116, Columbia, SC 29209 or visiting our secure online program at Razoo.

Your past support had been the backbone of our many accomplishments, and we must continue working together to keep moving forward. Thank you for a great 2011 and what we hope will be an even better 2012!

Statewide News Round-up

2011-12-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

12/7/11. Creative Bike Racks Will Double as Street Art. (Free Times)

12/11/11. Hilton Head bike group pedaling toward gold designation. (Island Packet)

12/12/11. Schools' safety projects derailed. (Post & Courier)

12/12/11. With 5 pedestrian deaths already this year, authorities escalating enforcement efforts. (Times & Democrat)

12/13/11. Jesse Gamble, Teen Killed on Blossom St. Bridge, Honored in Rose Parade. (WLTX)

12/13/11. Jesse Gamble to be honored in the Rose Parade. (WISTV)

12/13/11. Midlands teen leaves his legacy through organ donation. (Midlands Connect)

12/13/11. Transportation group wants DOT answers. (Post & Courier)

12/14/11. Beaufort leverages penny sales tax with $12.6 million federal grant for Boundary Street redevelopment. (Beaufort Tribune)

Rendering of how Boundary Street may look (Beaufort Digitel)

12/14/11. Boundary Street improvements coming with $26.3 million in federal and local dollars. (Beaufort Digitel)

12/15/11. Study complete on bike lane over river; findings withheld. (Post & Courier)

Jesse Gamble honored in 2012 Rose Parade

2011-12-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

While our goal at the Coalition is to reduce bicycling related deaths, we also must ensure that we do not forget those we have lost as we work for a safer future.

Jesse's floragraph

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to again pay tribute to one of our own, Jesse Gamble. Jesse was killed by a drunk driver in August 2008 while riding his bike home from work over the Blossom Street Bridge. Today, the bike lanes on the bridge are named "Jesse's Way" in his memory- but his impact on the community did not end there. As an organ donor, Jesse was able to save the lives of seven people, and for that gift, he will be honored on the 2012 Donate Life Rose Parade Float.

Donate Life's parade presence has been a tradition since 2004 and brings awareness of organ donors' kindness and generosity to over 40 million spectators and television viewers. Jesse is the first Columbia resident and fourth donor from South Carolina receive this honor. The opportunity to celebrate Jesse's life and gift was made possible by Bridge to Life, a Columbia-based biotechnology company dedicated to improving the process of organ transplantation.

This year's float, "...One More Day," was designed to give the donors' families one more day in remembrance and show the value of the donors' gift of many more days to transplant recipients. It will feature "floragraphs" from across the country to be honored on this year's float, 28 float riders- transplant recipients and donor families- representing the millions touched by organ donation and a Dedication Garden filled with roses and unique, personal messages from all over the country.

If you would like more information on how to become an organ donor, or how to confirm that you are one, please visit Donate Life SC. Broadcast coverage of the Rose Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 2. The Donate Life Rose Parade Float is entry #41. If you are interested in watching, the parade will be shown on NBC, ABC, HGTV, Hallmark and Univision.

Protect the Biking Experience on the Blue Ridge Parkway

2011-12-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

Rachael was lucky enough to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway back in June with BikeLaw and a group of fellow bicycle advocates, but your voices are needed to ensure that future bicyclists get the same opportunity.

The parkway is attempting to gain National Historic Landmark status which would make it prohibitively difficult to make any changes to the road to better accommodate bicyclists, and the Draft Management Plan does not look any friendlier to two-wheeled transportation- part of which lists promoting the "driving experience" as a goal. The parkway is overwhelmed and underfunded, and is unfortunately taking a very short-sighted view of the problems they face.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful piece of road that should certainly be preserved. However, we think this particular approach would be particularly harmful to both the riding experience and the economic benefits the area sees as a result of frequent bicycle tourism. If you agree, please take a moment to submit either written or online comments on the parkway's draft management plan. Please hurry, the deadline for comments is on Dec. 16th.

Statewide News Roundup

2011-12-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

A few news headlines from around the state, new and old(er).

11/20/11. Update: Child Hit By 2 Cars Dies. (WYFF)

11/21/11. Who will ride away with bike path funds? (Post & Courier)

12/4/11. Globalbike entourage visits Cape of Good Hope. (Go Upstate)

12/4/11. New map offers area residents options for active lives. (Greenville News)

December Gear Review: Evo Thunder Gloves

2011-12-01T06:32:00.000-08:00

Each month, our friends at Hawley share a review on the latest gear that is passing through their warehouse on its way to your local bike shop. As always, thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with Hawley, for this sneak-preview and words of wisdom. For more from Hawley on the latest and greatest in bike gear, check out their blog or YouTube channel.

A lot goes through your mind when you're trapped in a torrential downpour on your road bike when it's 50 degrees. Apart from the usual abject hopelessness and thoughts of "just ending it so I don't have to endure this anymore!", the mind turns to what to wear for future bouts with rain and cold.

I thought of this as I rode down an extremely cold and wet mountain decent 2 weeks ago. As my hands were pummeled by a stinging rain and stiff headwind, I ruminated on how completely awesome my sample pair of Evo Thunder gloves were doing. Made from sturdy yet flexible neoprene, the gloves were like miniature scuba suits for my hands. After an hour of steady precipitation, my hands were dry and somewhat warm. Warm is a relative term when descending a mountain so I'll qualify it with this: my hands weren't stinging, throbbing or completely numb. The thermal lycra lining worked wonders! The resulting dexterity in my hands made the descent manageable and significantly less terrifying.

The Thunder gloves have a thin silicone palm pattern for increased grip on the handlebars and the extra long wrists meant moisture and wind stayed off the skin and out of the sleeves.

If you are looking for wet ride gloves that manage to keep hand warmth in and repel Mother Nature, the Evo Thunder should be on your short list. Available in the always fashionable black. Suggested MSRP $32.99

2011: A Year in Review

2011-11-30T06:01:00.000-08:00

Phew--what a year! From exciting partnerships, to new campaigns, to events, and much more, 2011 has been an eventful one for the PCC. We hope you’ll enjoy our recap of 2011 in the following narrative. None of our successes and advancements would be possible without the support of our members and donors, so thank you for your continued engagement and investment in our mission to make SC more bicycle friendly.

The year began with a fresh shipment of bicycle lights, helmets and reflective gear, which we allocated to a dozen partners and organizations throughout South Carolina. This effort is made possible because of our partners at Department of Health and Environmental Control--specifically within the Division of Injury & Violence Prevention and Emergency Medical Services for Children. We continued to work throughout the year with these communities, ensuring that they were able to get these materials into the hands of those that need them most.

Congressman Scott's Charleston office.

We also spent much of January preparing for February in-district meetings with a few of SC’s members of Congress. The purpose of these meetings were to engage the members in important bicycle and pedestrian activities happening locally and statewide. These visits rode on the coattails of our March visit to Washington DC for the National Bike Summit. During Bike Summit, the PCC coordinates and attends meetings with all eight SC members of Congress. Keeping South Carolina’s bicycling voice heard on capitol hill is a very important part of our work!

In May, we were delighted to learn of Hilton Head Island’s designation as a silver Bicycle Friendly Community--a designation which PCC staff and Board have been working very hard for several years to achieve.

Presentation of the BFC award from the League to the Mayor of Hilton Head

Also in May, we achieved a very important personnel milestone, with the hiring of Cait Costello as full-time membership and communications director. With Cait’s hire, the PCC earned its second ever full-time staff person. Speaking of personnel, later in the summer, we were able to invite Phoebe Byers to join us through a practicum internship opportunity with USC’s School of Public Health. Phoebe’s focus has been on a South Carolina complete streets campaign.

A snapshot from a Safe Streets PSA

The last bit of exciting May news came during bike-to-work-week: the launch of our strategic bicycle safety campaign, Safe Streets Save Lives. This project a partnership between the Coalition and Bike Law, SC's leading bicycle advocacy organizations, working for the improved safety of all bicyclists on the state's roadways. During the summer and fall months, we began work on phase two of this campaign, which will triple our funding and significantly grow the capacity of the project. The details of this phase are forthcoming in 2012.

In addition to the Safe Streets and Complete Streets Campaigns, we spent much of the 2011 summer working on various local issues, on topics relating to the SC Department of Transportation, and on our Palmetto Joyride partnership with Palmetto Conservation Foundation. With Palmetto Joyride, we were able to bring author and transportation expert Mia Birk to South Carolina to share her wisdom and inspiration with local leaders, community members, and many others in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville.

Following the excitement that Joyride stirred up, we cruised through the fall months into an exciting November and December. In November, we hosted the Alliance for Biking and Walking’s Winning Campaigns Training, a bootcamp for bike/ped advocates. Just a week later, we hosted a complete streets workshop along with our partners Eat Smart Move More, SC and AARP of SC. We were able to make this great progress on the SC Complete Streets Campaign thanks to the work of Phoebe and funding from ESMMSC and AARP.

Group discussion during the Complete Streets workshop

Also in the fall, Cait spearheaded a fundraising and membership effort, to reignite and re-engage former members of the PCC in our current work. With this campaign, the PCC Board and membership raised over $5,000 in very valuable funds to support our growing work and needs.

Finally, with December, we have two important meetings planned; first, with complete streets advocates around South Carolina, led by the Executive Director of the National Coalition, Barbara McCann. Second, we are hosting a meeting of city and town leaders to discuss bicycle policy and best practices in South Carolina.

Looking ahead, we have no intentions to slow down. We plan to continue working with Bike Law on our Safe Streets campaigns, to continue our Complete Streets campaign, and to further develop our SC cities/towns task force. We are looking forward to hosting a League Cycling Instructor seminar in 2012, as well as regional bicycle summits throughout SC. We are planning a May bike month commuter challenge, and are looking forward to launching a statewide bicycle route mapping effort.

It’s been a fabulous year, and we have many exciting advancements and events to look endeavor in 2012. We look forward to working with you to make these efforts a reality.

Complete Streets Workshop: Recap

2011-11-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

Almost two weeks ago we held the Complete Streets Workshop at the South Carolina Farmer's Market in West Columbia. The event was a great success with nearly 50 people in attendance from various regions of the state. The day began with a introduction from Elise Partin, Mayor of Cayce, Columbia. Mayor Partin spoke about the importance of advocating for change within your community and getting involved in local issues especially those relating to planning and transportation. Next, Roger Henderson, the day's facilitator, gave an introduction and overview of Complete Streets and highlighted some elements of a policy. Roger is an instructor for the National Complete Streets as well as an engineer in North Carolina. Roger also touched on some commons concerns associated with Complete Streets.

Following this, each region broke off into groups and discussed three questions relating to recognizing challenges and identifying solutions. After this, I presented in the importance of adopting a policy and also highlighted some local policies throughout South Carolina. Next, Tom Dodds, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator from SCDOT, spoke about policy at the state level. Our group panelists then presented on their personal experiences adopting and implementing Complete Streets policies in their communities. We were fortunate to be joined by Jean Crowther from Alta Planning & Design in Greenville, Philip Overcash, Planner for the City of Charleston, and Shawn Putnam, Planner for the City of Camden.

After lunch, Roger spoke about the six steps to implementation. This was followed by two break-out sessions: Advocacy led by Rachael and Amy Splittgerber of Eat Smart Move More SC and Implementation led by Roger. A brief wrap-up brought the workshop to a close. Thank you to AARP and ESMMSC for their collaborating with PCC and making this workshop possible!

Economic Study of Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Trail

2011-11-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

Several groups in the upstate are partnering with a professor at Furman University to study the economic impact of the 9.5 mile section of the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Trail that extends from Travelers Rest to Greenville. Partners in this effort include Greenville County Recreation District, Upstate Forever, and Furman University. With this study, researchers will examine real estate values, interview business owners, real estate agents, transportation professionals, and local government officials, and conduct intercept surveys of trail users.

Funding for this project comes from diverse sources. Upstate Forever was able to gain $10,000 from the second round of Bikes Belong research grants, as well as funding from the Environmental Protection Agency. Other funding includes a grant from Greenville Pickens Area Transportation Study and from Furman University.

We are thrilled to be able to reference this study of bicycling on the upstate's gem of a bike/ped facility, and commend the partners that have come together in this exciting effort!

Statewide News Roundup

2011-11-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

11/7/11. Parks, neighborhood connections planed for rail trail. (Island Packet)

11/14/11. Ride with George Hincapie to benefit in-town trail. (Greenville News)*

11/16/11. Efforts to improve transportation infrastructure needs to include local communities. (Greenville News)*

11/17/11. Rock Hill velodrome to host cycling championship. (RH Herald)

11/17/11. Cyclists, drivers clash on etiquette as calls ring out to 'share the road'. (Greenville News)*

11/18/11. Child Hit By 2 Cars After Being Reported Missin. (WYFF News)

*There is a sneaky way to avoid the Greenville News fee: Enter the article title in a google search, and click the first result that returns. The full article should appear allowing you to circumvent the fee.

Statewide News Roundup

2011-11-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

11/2/11. Transportation Department begins office shakeup. (The State)

11/3/11. Staying safe on a bicycle (including a mention of our Safe Streets campaign!) (Post & Courier)

11/3/11. DOT records show cash problems began 3 years ago.
(Greenville News)*

11/7/11. Spartanburg bicyclist dies of injures suffered in crash. (Go Upstate)

11/8/11. Cycling on in lung cancer battle. (Post & Courier)

11/8/11. DOT commissioner alleges cover-up. (Greenville News)*

*There is a sneaky way to avoid the Greenville News fee: Enter the article title in a google search, and click the first result that returns. The full article should appear allowing you to circumvent the fee.

Winning Campaigns Training: A Recap

2011-11-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

November 4, 5 and 6 were three eventful days for bicycling and walking in South Carolina, thanks to the Alliance's Winning Campaigns Training. The PCC was the host of this Training that guided bicycle and pedestrian advocates from across the Southeast in the developing exciting projects for their community. By leading advocates through the rinse-wash-and-spin cycles of campaign development, these advocates were able to walk away from a weekend-long investment equipped with a road-map and toolbox necessary win some awesome projects.

We certainly wouldn't have survived the weekend without a bike ride! Here we are on a cruise through Columbia's beautiful neighborhoods.

In total, thirteen attended the session and six campaigns were developed. Three campaigns will focus on projects in South Carolina, to include: a road improvement to better accommodate bicycles and pedestrians; a plan to improve standards and policies at SCDOT; and a city art/bike rack program.

We often talk about the power of partnerships on the PCC blog, and this weekend was no exception. The Training truly would not have been possible without the many partners and sponsors involved--and the projects developed will not be a success without such future collaboration.

Thanks of course to the Alliance for Biking & Walking for even making this training a possibility, and for allowing organizations like the PCC to play host. There are many important national sponsors that support the Training, and we thank those organizations for allowing us to offer sponsorships and keep the costs low. It is worth mentioning a few of our local sponsor champions: Hawley LLC, Earth Fare, Abacus Planning Group, Outspokin Bicycles, and Cycle Center.

The Alliance already has their Winning Campaign Trainings mapped out for 2012. Check out their website for more information on these opportunities!

SC Safe Routes Workshops

2011-11-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Over the last week, the South Carolina Safe Routes Team has traveled the state with Jennifer Toole, Principal of Toole Design Group, sharing information about the National Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Safe Routes to Schools is a movement of parents, schools and community leaders that encourages students to walk and bike to school.

As we blogged in late September, the Team visited Greenville, Rock Hill, Columbia, and Charleston over the last week to talk about the program, to identify engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement strategies, and to observe the school dismissal of a nearby school.

In South Carolina, the first school that was awarded SRTS funding was in Spartanburg, in 2001. Currently, the following schools have received SRTS infrastructure funding:

Aiken Middle, Aiken
Alston Middle, Dorchester
Beech Hill Elementary, Dorchester
Boulder Bluff Elementary, Berkeley
Carver Lyon Elementary, Richland
College Park Elementary, Berkely
College Park Middle, Berkeley
Fairfield Middle, Berkeley Fairfield
Fountain Inn Elementary, Greenville
Georgetown Middle, Georgetown
Hunley Park Elementary, Charleston
Inman Elementary, Spartanburg

North Aiken Elementary, Aiken
North Vista Elementary, Florence
Pine Street Elementary, Spartanburg
Rosewood Elementary, Richland
Stiles Point Elementary, Charleston
Stono Park Elementary, Charleston
Waccamaw Elem, Georgetown
Augusta Circle Elem, Greenville
Willow Drive Elementary, Sumter
Wren Middle, Anderson
Wren Elementary, Anderson
Inman Intermediate, Spartanburg

Unfortunately, this program is not permanent. Many members of Congress who are against any type of Federal funding of bicycle/walking projects would like to see programs like Safe Routes eliminated. With the Federal transportation re-authorization being worked on as I type on this blog, there is a risk that Safe Routes, along with other valuable programs like Transportation Enhancements, could be removed. Now more than ever it is crucial that advocates and proponents of the SRTS program remain vigilant in their support of the funding of this, and other such valuable programs.

Let's not end on a negative note, however. Here is a bit of inspiration from a Greenville school to remind us why Federally funded programs like this are so valuable! (thanks to LiveWell Greenville for the video)

Safe Routes to School from Eleanor Dunlap on Vimeo.

November Gear Review: Elite Ozone Warming Oil

2011-11-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

Warming oil with the author's cat.

With the temperature falling faster as the days grow shorter, my enthusiasm for cold weather riding is also waning. In addition to the discomfort from an icy wind on exposed skin, the muscles themselves grow rigid and atrophied. Lacking both the willpower and biological composition to bury myself underground for winter and emerge several months later during the warmer months, my only recourse is to use topical solutions.

Taking a cue from what Europeans (and especially Italians) have been doing for years, I decided to try out the Elite Ozone Warming Oil. While technically one could consider it an "embrocation", its non-cream properties differentiate it from similar products. Its aqueous oil form makes it barely detectable on the skin.

Application is usually one of two ways: gingerly dab small amounts of the oil or slosh it on like barbecue sauce on a pork sandwich. After finding results "tepid" with the careful dabbing approach, I said a quick prayer and threw on at least a shot glass's worth onto both legs. The resulting intense warmth and pungent scent of mint convinced me of success. As I worked the oil into the skin, the heat intensified ever so slightly, but nothing to the point of discomfort.

During a 39-degree ride, my exposed legs felt not only warm, but also loose and ready for strenuous riding. Unlike many pre-ride lotions and creams, the oil isn't "activated" by moisture. It stays warm and once it begins to evaporate, the heat dissipates imperceptibly. For serious racers, a cream-based embrocation would be preferred but for a morning commuter or trainer, the oil's mixture of moderate heat and duration make it the logical choice.
MSRP $22.99

Statewide News Roundup

2011-10-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

10/24/11. Widow of killed cyclist might sue driver, AT&T.
(Charleston City Paper)

10/26/11. A new Harbor View: Revised road plan approved by County Council. (Post & Courier)

10/26/11. What's Next for Harborview Rd? (Post & Courier)

Planned Harborview Rd cross-section

10/29/11. Lawmakers doubt change at state DOT. (Greenville News)

10/29/11. Cyclist's fundraiser spurred by cancer's impact on family.
(Post & Courier)

Another Senator Takes Aim at Transportation Enhancements

2011-10-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

Bike and pedestrian funding is becoming an easy target these days as Congress finalizes future transportation funding and legislation. Last month, Senator Coburn (R-OK) targeted Transportation Enhancement funding with an amendment in the 6-month SAFETEA-LU extension; and now Senator Rand (R-KY) is targeting the same pot of funds with an amendment that would eliminate all Transportation Enhancement program funds and re-direct them to pay for bridge repairs. Although weary, bike advocates are vigilantly defending our largest source of dedicated bike/ped funding.

If you haven't already, please contact Senators Graham and DeMint and encourage them to vote against Senator Rand's amendment (SA-821) to the 2012 Transportation Appropriations bill.

Meanwhile, you're probably wondering why this continues to occur. In the words of Jay Walljasper, How in the the world can biking and walking be controversial? If bike/ped funding is such a small sliver of the pie (less than 1% in SC), why is it continuing to be targeted? And why now? Unfortunately, a lot of it comes down to politics. There is a small group of Senators that are against Federally supported bicycle and pedestrian funding of any kind, and when a opportunity presents itself, they do what they can to derail any such funding. All the more reason for bike advocates to remain vigilant and voice their support of these programs.

To understand why this seems to be occurring more frequently, and why we should be prepared for even more threats, read our July blog post on the Transportation Reauthorization.

Read the PCC action alert for more details on the Rand amendment, and don't forget to contact our Senators before tomorrow and ask they vote against this amendment!

Complete Streets Workshop - Registration Now Open

2011-10-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago we posted about the upcoming Complete Streets Workshop on November 16th. Well, registration is now open and the event is free!

As a reminder, PCC, along with AARP and ESMMSC, is organizing a statewide Complete Streets workshop to be held at the Columbia Farmer’s Market in West Columbia, SC. The workshop will be comprised of two sessions, AM and PM. The AM session will take place from 9AM – 12PM and focus on 'Laying the Foundation' of Complete Streets. Lunch will be provided and offer guests the opportunity to network and problem solve with individuals from other communities throughout the state. The PM session will take place from 1PM - 4PM, and emphasize 'Applying the Knowledge' of Complete Streets.

This workshop is an invaluable tool for any community or individual interested in learning more about Complete Streets or perhaps implementing Complete Streets within their community. Please join us and learn more about how we can all work together to improve the health and safety of our state.

To register for the event please follow this link, http://sccompletestreets.eventbrite.com/

Roundup of Statewide News

2011-10-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

10/12/11. 'Ghost bike' serves as reminder of tragedy (St. Augustine Record)

10/19/11. Man gets 14 years in pedestrian's sidewalk death. (SC News Now)

10/20/11. DOT boss: Internal report of red balances wrong. (Go Upstate)

10/20/11. DOT Secretary concerned with cash-flow projections for next summer. (Greenville News)

10/21/11. $344M bond package that includes I-73 delayed. (Aiken Standard)

Matthew Burke Case: News Round-up
Sentencing in cyclist wreck ends year of heartbreak for two families.
(Augusta Chronicle)

Editorial: Ended, but not over. (Augusta Chronicle)

Man pleads guilty in hitting, killing army surgeon. (News 12 Augusta)

SC Driver Convicted of Felony for Killing Cyclist. (Streetsblog)

In South Carolina, a New Era of Justice for Cyclists? (Streetsblog)

SC Driver Convicted of Felony for Killing Cyclist. (Bike League Blog)

Driver Pleads Guilty to Felony for Killing Cyclist

2011-10-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Just over a year ago, Dr. Matthew Burke was riding in a group of 15 cyclists on a straight road in Beech Island when he and several others were struck by Daniel Johnson. Dr. Burke was the most severely injured and remained in a coma until he passed away in February.

Daniel Johnson plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Monday and was sentenced yesterday to 90 days in jail, five years of probation and the revocation of his license. So rarely are drivers held accountable for the deaths of cyclists that few cases ever make it this far in the legal system.

The Burke family is represented by Bikelaw's Peter Wilborn, who explained the importance of this conviction, "Matt Burke’s legacy is that drivers can and should be treated as criminals for killing cyclists. Throughout the country, cycling deaths are regularly dismissed by law enforcement as mere traffic ‘accidents.’ But often they are not accidental, the needless fatalities are tragic consequences of reckless driving and lawless drivers. The driver’s felony conviction here proves to police, policymakers, and drivers to take cycling safety seriously. This case from South Carolina is an example of how to do it right."

Dr. Burke's brother Paul added,“Today’s felony conviction establishes the criminal responsibility of Daniel Johnson for the senseless death of Matthew P. Burke. Dr. Burke was riding legally in a group of fifteen cyclists when he and four other riders were struck from behind by Mr. Johnson on a long, flat straight road in broad daylight. Our family thanks Second Circuit Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr. and his team for fairly prosecuting this case to achieve a measure of justice. We also gratefully acknowledge the efforts of South Carolina attorney Peter Wilborn in his pursuit of justice for Matt and the cycling community.”

14th Annual FestiVELO

2011-10-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fall is a wonderful time to ride a bike, especially in the South where we enjoy mild temperatures all the way up to December. This time of year is especially popular for charity rides, like the ones we listed in September. But only the Lowcountry offers one that was named among Bicycling Magazine's "Can't Miss Winter Rides."

Since 1998, FestiVELO has been offering the chance for cyclists of all levels to enjoy beautiful rides and great food in and around Charleston. While it began in December as a way for a group of friends to work off the food they had enjoyed on Thanksgiving, this year's edition will be held from Nov. 3 to 6 to take advantage of the warmer fall weather. Explore the routes and have all your questions answered here.

Online registration closes on Monday, Oct. 17, so be sure you don't miss out on this fun tradition. Along other groups, proceeds from FestiVELO will support the PCC. You can register for the entire event or whatever fits your schedule best. Online registration is discounted; act fast to make sure you don't miss out!

Rockin and Rollin in Rock Hill

2011-10-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

Once a year or so, I have the opportunity to travel to Rock Hill and visit with their Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force (formerly 'Bike Rock Hill'). It is always so exciting to learn the bike/ped advancements of one of South Carolina's fastest growing municipalities, and to catch up with the dynamic, dedicated and diverse group of individuals that are driving these changes.

One of the many bike racks throughout the city, designed and built by Winthrop students.

Rock Hill has a lot happening and is on the cusp of some exciting developments. The Mayor of Rock Hill, Doug Echols, is dedicated to promoting active lifestyles, and he practices what he preaches as an avid bicyclist. Rock Hill is home to South Carolina's premier art university, Winthrop, and just last May, Winthrop art activities and bicycling intersected with an innovative art bike rack project. Rock Hill also has a dedicated and community-oriented bicycle club, Rock Hill Bicycle Club, which really acts as a nexus for many of the bicycling activities in the community.

Finally, last but not least, Rock Hill is the future home to the Giordana Velodrome, which will host national bicycling events "while introducing the local community to the Olympic sport of track cycling through a variety of rider development and outreach programs." This will be an exciting venue not just for South Carolina, but for the southeast. The Velodrome will be connected to the Riverwalk and the future Rock Hill Outdoor Center, and will be an state-of-the-art location for everything bicycling.

With all of these exciting developments, and many more in the works, why is Rock Hill not a Bicycle Friendly Community? We are thrilled to be working with Rock Hill on their progress to an officially designated Community, and have high hopes for what we know will be South Carolina's sixth BFC.

Statewide News Round-up

2011-10-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

10/5/11. EDITORIAL: Bike/ped plan the way to go. (Aiken Standard)

10/5/11. Moxie: Janice Lewis. (Post & Courier)

10/10/11. Pickens Co. dad killed while walking alongside bike-riding son. (The State)

10/11/11. SCE&G, Palmetto Conservation Foundation unveil trestle along Palmetto Trail. (SC News Now)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-10-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

9/27/11. Greenville City Council backs bike-friendly plans.
(Greenville Online)

9/30/11. Woman swerving to miss man kills cyclist instead.
(WISTV)

Matt & Bonnie Burke. Special to Augusta Chronicle.

10/1/11. Blythewood bicyclist struck, killed in Northeast Richland. (The State)

**Late addition 10/1/11. Wife of fatally injured cyclist says family helped her cope with loss. (Augusta Chronicle)

10/4/11. Public hearing on bike and pedestrian paths tonight. (Augusta Chronicle)

10/4/11. Greeneway bike/ped plan progressing. (Aiken Standard)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-09-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

9/22/11. Beech Island portion of cycling route unchanged.
(Augusta Chronicle)

9/24/11. Lesson for bikers and city (Post & Courier)

9/26/11. Funeral Services for Pastor & Infant Grandson Monday Afternoon. (WSPA News)

9/28/11. Chair: Eliminating SC DOT Commission hurts access. (Go Upstate)

9/29/11. Plan reinvents Assembly Street. (The State)

9/29/11. SC schools to celebrate Walk to School Day. (SC Now)

9/30/11. Three pedestrian deaths in Pee Dee area in one week
(Sunday, Thursday afternoon and evening)

9/30/11. Charleston: A bike-friendly city? (Charleston Mag)

Photo courtesy of Charleston Magazine

October Gear Review: Evo Handlebar Basket

2011-09-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

The cycling world is full of people with addictions. For me, my addiction is candy. Whether in a gel-coated fruit form or something from the nougat family, slathered in a milk chocolate, I do not discriminate. I have even been known to experiment with other more nebulous forms like paper cylinders full of powdered sugar or animal shaped chewy globs that reek of chemicals and taste even worse. But my favorite candy of all time is without question, the Reese's peanut butter cup as it combines chocolate and peanut butter into the perfect amalgam for my confection-centric tastes.

With this in mind, it only seemed natural that I would be drawn to the Evo handlebar basket. Much like Reese's peanut butter cup, the Evo combines the critical function of steering with the secondary function of storage into a glorious cycling synthesis.

I was skeptical at first. I assumed once weight was placed in the basket, the angle would eventually tilt downward after the first few road bumps. I was also concerned about steering speed. "Sluggishness" was my guess for its handling verdict.

Evo Handlebar Basket

After a long and adventuresome summer of testing, I can safely say that neither one of those predictions came true. The basket has remained sturdy and immovable after several loads including but not limited to: a 12 pack of Red Stripe, a bag of charcoal, six oranges and a half gallon of milk, two U locks and a large camera bag.

The center of the handlebar (25.4mm) is latticed allowing a better engagement with the stem faceplate, which prevents slippage. Steering in all conditions was smooth and very responsive. Sharp turns with a full load took a little more effort but that was to be expected. Ride steadiness or general balance never felt compromised, even on wet surfaces.

Although traditional handlebar baskets and rear racks carry things equally well, the Evo handlebar basket possesses an aesthetic and simplicity that appeals to a more sophisticated side of urban riding. Retail cost: $65.99.

Your support is needed again in Greenville

2011-09-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Back in June, Cait wrote about an opportunity to influence bike lane development on several Greenville roads. In her blog post, she wrote:

How many times have you ridden down a road and thought "This would be perfect if there was a bike lane?" It's tough to get bicycle facilities added to roads after the fact, but keeping an eye on road projects and getting involved in the planning stages can be much more effective in meeting bicyclists' needs.

There is one such opportunity right now in Greenville. Portions of Pelham and Roper Mountain Roads are scheduled to be resurfaced over the summer, and bike lanes on these roads would be a great step toward connecting the central business district with the suburbs and other parts of the county, allowing residents to safety travel the area by bike.

Unfortunately, the Pelham and Roper Mtn Roads do not appear to be a win for bicyclists. However, another opportunity has arisen in which residents of Greenville can ask for bicycle enhancements on their roads. Old Bumcombe Road, another SCDOT owned road, is due for resurfacing through the Federal Aid Pavement Improvement Program. As the resurfacing is currently planned, there are no accommodations for bicycle users. However, given the specifications of the road, it would be an idea candidate for bike lanes.

Before Wednesday, October 5, please submit comments to SCDOT requesting consideration of bike lanes along this corridor. You can easily submit your comment here, and find out more information about the road in consideration here (view page 32).

Also, do not forget that the Bicycle Master Plan for the City of Greenville goes before Council for a final vote on October 10. Please take part in this process and let Council know that you support this plan.

Partnership for Prosperity: UPDATE

2011-09-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

On Monday night, Rachael and I attended the kick-off session for the Partnership for Prosperity design charrette in North Charleston. To recap, the BCD COG is holding a design charrette all this week to brainstorm and create plans for making the Charleston Neck a more viable community with better connectivity. I was extremely pleased to see all the progress made since the focus group session two weeks prior to Monday night's meeting. All the suggestions put forth for bike/ped provisions had been taken into consideration and were clearly displayed on the updated map.

This is what the map now looks like:

It may be hard to make out all the details, but basically the blue lines are suggested bike routes, either bike lanes or bike ways... very exciting!

Renaissance Planning Group, the design team, has been more than helpful and open to suggestions. For anyone who has yet to attend a session, tomorrow night is your last chance so don't miss out on this great opportunity. The final session will be held at Sterett Hall, located at 1530 7th Street and Hobson Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405 from 5PM - 8PM. For more information check out this link.

Here's to a better and more livable Charleston Neck!

SC Safe Routes Program Opportunities

2011-09-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Back in May, we told you about the SC Safe Routes to School Program (a project of SCDOT) and their initial kick-off meetings. In just a few months, this program has gained momentum, has unveiled a new website, and is offering some great opportunities this fall.

The program offers Safe Routes to School Travel Plan assistance to eligible schools, and they have selected the following three schools statewide to receive assistance for the upcoming year:

Lewis Greenview Elementary, Columbia

Mellichamp Elementary, Orangeburg

Manning Primary School, Manning
**Correction: the following schools also have received travel assistance:
Stone Academy, Greenville
Sterling School, Greenville
Mary H. Wright Elementary, Spartanburg
McCracken Middle School, Spartanburg
Westview Primary, Goose Creek
Conway Elementary, Conway
A. C. Corcoran, North Charleston

The Travel Plan serves as a complete Safe Routes to School guide for the school. It includes a 12-month activity/event calendar for Education, Encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation activities; and also includes recommendations for physical changes to sidewalks, roadway crossings and trails leading to their campus. The process is broken down between 3 meetings throughout the year. The first series of meetings has already occurred, and the second set is scheduled to occur in October or November.

For those interested in learning more about the Safe Routes program, they are offering four condensed workshops statewide, led by National experts with Toole Design Group.

Tuesday, October 25 from 11:30 to 4
Blythe Academy
100 Blythe Drive
Greenville, SC 29605

Wednesday, October 26 from 12 to 4:45
Sullivan Middle School
1825 Eden Terrace
Rock Hill, SC 29730

Tuesday, November 1 from 11:30 to 4:30
Jeep Rogers Family YMCA at Lake Carolina
900 Lake Carolina Drive
Columbia, SC 29229

Wednesday, November 2 from 11:30-4pm
Drayton Hall Elementary - Media Center
3138 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414

If you are interested in becoming involved or want to learn about the workshops or next Travel Assistance meetings, please call the SC Safe Routes to School Hotline at 866.4SC.SRTS or email info@SCsaferoutes.org.

Statewide News Roundup

2011-09-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

9/20/11. New Harbor View Road widening plan to be aired. (Post & Courier)

9/20/11. SC Gov Haley wants DOT board eliminated. (The State)

9/20/11. A rare glimmer of sunshine at DOT. (The State)

9/21/11. Pacolet man dies after car hits bike on Southport Road.
(Go Upstate)

Bike belonging to Bobby Spencer, who was killed after crash in Spartanburg County. Photo by Alex Hicks.

9/21/11. HICKS COLUMN: Bike, board riders bring it on selves.
(Post & Courier)

9/21/11. Go Magazine, Joyride, and the Master Plan. (Bike Greenville blog)

9/22/11. Jury finds man guilty after road rage caught on cyclist's helmet cam. (WISTV News)

9/22/11. Pacolet church mourns pastor killed while cycling on Southport Road. (Go Upstate)

Partnership for Prosperity

2011-09-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Exciting news for City of Charleston and North Charleston residents! The Berkeley-Dorchester-Charleston Council of Government (BDC COG) is holding a design charrette all next week to envision plans for bike/ped provisions for the Charleston Neck region. This area spans from well above Park Circle in North Charleston to below the crosstown in downtown Charleston.

I attended a focus group session on Monday 9/12 and along with a few other individuals, we hashed out some problems and solutions for this area. The BDC COG has some great ideas on the table but they need public opinion in order to create the best routes that suit everyone's needs.

If you live in this area and utilize these roads for active commuting or recreational riding, PLEASE attend one of these sessions. The BDC COG is working hard to make sure the bike/ped needs are met in this area and they need your input. Make a difference in your community by attending one of these sessions and helping Charleston County move forward with better bike/ped resources.

For anyone in the downtown Charleston region, I'll be riding up to the Monday session, leaving the Rutledge Ave entrance of Hampton Park at 6PM, come join me!

Sessions will be held at Sterett Hall, located at 1530 7th Street and Hobson Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405. For more information check out this link.

Winning Campaigns Training

2011-09-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Are you are a parent who wants to improve safety and encourage students to ride to school, a city planner who cares about bike lanes, or a concerned neighbor who thinks children should know more about the importance of helmets and lights? If so, read on- the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the Palmetto Cycling Coalition have teamed up to bring a valuable training to Columbia for people just like you!

The Alliance created their Winning Campaigns Trainings to help you get your projects off the ground. Whether you are a novice or veteran advocate, the training is a three-day boot camp designed to give you the tools you need to create and manage powerful campaigns in your communities.

Columbia will play host to the last of six Winning Campaigns Training this year from Nove. 4 to 6. This dynamic and sought-after training focuses on the seven key skills of an effective campaign, in the context of biking and walking organizational building. The proven curriculum will help you choose, direct, and win campaigns to promote better biking and walking. After three days of fun and inspiring work with the country’s leading experts in advocacy, you’ll come away with the tools and confidence to be a better leader in your community -- one who knows not just how to advocate for improvements, but win them.

Our generous sponsors for this event include the Hawley Company, Planet Bike, Bicycling and Walking Vacations, SRAM, Bikes Belong, Specialized, AARP, Sun, Alta Planning and Team Estrogen.

Early registration for this training ends Oct. 7, and there are scholarships available, so sign up now and don't miss your chance to have a real impact on cycling in our state!

Statewide News Roundup

2011-09-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

9/13/11. Bike path ideas resurface in Carolina Forest. (WMBF Myrtle Beach)

9/13/11. Let’s Move Camden and Kershaw County. (City of Camden blog)

9/15/11. Cowpens man charged with DUI in connection with wreck that critically injured bicyclist, 18. (Go Upstate)

9/16/11. DOT board relents; will hear public. (The State)

9/16/11. Public weighs in on I-73 project at forum. (SC Now)

9/16/11. I-73 project gets boost from road commissioners. (The State)

9/19/11. WRONG WAY: Actions of cyclists, skateboarders prompt crackdown. (Post & Courier)

A College of Charleston student looks down George Street as he rides down St. Philip St. the wrong way Friday morning. Many cyclists have ignored the rules of the road, prompting a crackdown. (Photo by Brad Nettles, Post & Courier)

Transportation Enhancements on the Chopping Block

2011-09-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hopefully by now you've received the alert from us or one of our national partners about the threat to Transportation Enhancement funding, which is the largest source of Federal bicycle and pedestrian funding. If you do anything to better bicycling this September, please contact Senators Graham and Demint to ask that they continue their support of this vital program during the next extension of SAFETEA-LU.

Advocates outside Senator Demint's Capitol Hill office during 2011 National Bike Summit

To understand SAFETEA-LU and extensions, revisit our blog post from July where we discuss the transportation bill.

What is particularly alarming is that every attack made on the program that occurs now is potentially devastating. If Enhancements are stripped during this next extension, the chance of Enhancements reappearing in a new transportation bill is near zero.

The Senate has until midnight tomorrow to act. As you may imagine, should Enhancements survive this vote, we don't expect Congresional opponents to go home. More attacks will come, most likely during the November appropriation process.

In the words of our friends at the National Center for Biking and Walking,

We must continue to make the case that Enhancement projects help connect people to jobs, they lower the cost of transportation, they are more efficient job creators than road projects, and that the Federal government should be building a transportation system that works for everyone.

If you'd like to know how the roads or trails that you ride in your community have benefited from transportation enhancements, contact Rachael and we'll give you the run-down.

Thanks for your support, and don't forget to contact our Senators asap!

Mind the blog lull

2011-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Our apologies for the lack of blogging. As you likely know, we spent last week Palmetto Joyriding with Mia Birk from Charleston to Columbia to Greenville, and we've spent much of this week recovering and debriefing.

It's amazing to think that we put on over a dozen events in three cities in three days. The only way that an effort like this would even be possible is through strong leadership, willing sponsors, and dedicated partners. The leadership came from Palmetto Conservation Foundation's Executive Director Natalie Britt, who is also the PCC's first and former Executive Director. Natalie's dedication, clear vision, attention to detail, and compassion to the cause truly led the way in making Palmetto Joyride a success.

Me (Rachael) along with the Joyride leaders, Natalie Britt (center) and Mia Birk (right).

Our sponsors in the Joyride events truly represent the diverse public/private support that exists for bicycling in South Carolina. The program was funded in large part by the FHWA and South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism. In Charleston, our gracious sponsors include Doctor's Care and Charleston Moves. In Columbia, we were fortunate to have the support of both the City of Columbia and Richland County; Hawley LLC; Outspokin Bicycles; and Edens & Avant. The Greenville events were made possible thru the support of Synterra, Duke Energy, Piedmont Healthcare Foundation, Livewell Greenville/YMCA Greenville, and Tandem, Touring & Recumbent Bicycles. It's a long list, but it shows the overwhelming support and dedication involved!

A recurring theme of the workshops was the power of partnerships, and there is no doubt that strong partnerships fueled this effort. Our many partners in Charleston include the City of Charleston, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, the College of Charleston, and the Real Estate Studio. In Columbia, we could have not made the events possible without the help of Sustainable Midlands, the Publick House, USC, Nexsen Pruet, Earthfare, Fuss & O'Neill, Summit Cycles, and Cycle Center. Greenville was made possible because of the City of Greenville, Upstate Forever, Fluor, and Alta Planning.

If you were unable to join us at any of the events, I'll gladly share a quick recap. On Wednesday, September 7 we began the morning with a van tour of the region around the peninsula along with several key players of the Greater Charleston Planning & Engineering community. Many of these individuals, and several others, joined us for a luncheon after the tour, in which the Mayor spoke and Mia shared her insight and inspiration to the group. Following lunch, Mia was swept off on a bike ride of the peninsula, she then had a brief moment to relax, before we took her via pedicab to the College for her keynote lecture. In his welcoming remarks at the lecture, the Mayor assured the audience that he would succeed in dedicating a lane of the Ashley River Bridge to bike/ped use. To cap off a successful day, many joined us for a reception on King Street.

Mayor Riley at the Charleston evening lecture

Thursday began with a working session at USC to discuss how to make the campus more bicycle friendly. After this productive meeting, Mia wowed a room of business and policy leaders at Nexsen Pruet's beautiful downtown office for a luncheon presentation. We then traveled across town to historic 701 Whaley for a fabulous welcoming by several important local/statewide stakeholders, which was followed by a lecture by Mia. In Mayor Benjamin's welcoming of Mia to Columbia, he gave her a key to the City and reiterated his support of bicycling for the betterment of the community. Welcoming remarks were also shared by Brian Curran (owner of Outspokin), Representative James Smith, Otis Rawl (President of the SC Chamber of Commerce), Paul Livingston (Chair of Richland County Council), Peter Rowe (Director of HUD for SC), Ryan Nevius (Sustainable Midlands) and Michelle Lewis (Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC). After a brief book-signing, dozens (including Mia, of course!) hopped on their bikes and rode to a fabulous reception at the Publick House.

We concluded our whirlwind week in Greenville, which is often thought as SC's shining star of bicycle friendliness. The day began with a luncheon meeting at Synterra's downtown offices, just a stone's throw from the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Welcoming remarks were shared by Representative Garry Smith, Mark Taylor (CEO of Synterra), as well as a representative from Piedmont Healthcare. We then transitioned to a 'rolling up of the sleeves' session in which vital stakeholders met to discuss common challenges and opportunities in the development of a more bicycle friendly upstate. Mia had a brief moment to ride on the Swamp Rabbit before her keynote lecture and the reception at the Greenville Little Theatre.

Thanks again to everyone for your support in making last week a fabulous moment in SC's bicycling history. Finally, there's no one better to have the final words of this very lengthy blog post than Mia herself:

In my experience, there are three critical human elements needed in order for a community to be able to become truly bicycle/pedestrian friendly. They need political leaders, training/motivated/supported staff within the bureaucracy, and reasonably organized community advocates. With these three, great progress can be made. Without any one, good things can still happen (especially if one is particularly strong), but it’s less likely.
What I saw in North and South Carolina this past week filled me with joy and hope. All of communities I visited have these elements in place, largely thanks to the advocates and staff. I have great hope for all. Tons of momentum, enthusiasm, positive media, and energetic leaders and residents.
Enormous thanks to our entire NC/SC team – y’all are terrific! It was great to see you. Big thanks to the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, whose energetic director Natalie Britt organized the SC Palmetto Joyride.

September Gear Review: Bodyglide Sunblock

2011-09-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Each month, our friends at Hawley share a review on the latest gear that is passing through their warehouse on its way to your local bike shop. While we usually publish this review in our monthly e-newsletter Palmetto Spokesman, we've decided to also publish it in our blog. As always, thanks to Ken Klatte, Production Artist with Hawley, for this sneak-preview and words of wisdom. For more from Hawley on the latest and greatest in bike gear, check out their blog or YouTube channel.

The giant, yellow, molten ball of nuclear energy the Earth revolves around is what heats our planet and also prevents it from rocketing into the gaping maw of a sinister black hole at the center of our galaxy. It also has a tendency to burn our skin, making it gross, red and ouchy. With this in mind, the avid cyclist must do everything he or she can to prevent the beloved yet dreaded sun from inflicting its passive yet direct harm upon our collective epidermis.

Sun block is a great way to prevent sun damage (for those of us not into long sleeve jerseys) so for the past 3 months, we've been testing Bodyglide's "Anti-Chafe" sunblock. What sets this sunblock apart from other brands is its non-liquid, roll on form. Instead of the wet, oily surface from standard sunblock application, the Bodyglide rolls on like a deodorant without leaving the usual oil slick behind. The rounded shape made facial application on this tester's large, angular nose easier than expected. It takes only a few minutes to dry into an invisible layer of protection.

Did I mention it's odorless? Always a plus not to smell like a water park locker room during a ride.

On the bike, the Bodyglide performed ably enduring all but the hottest and sweatiest conditions. Several rides of 3 plus hours in 95 plus degrees could not dislodge the first layer of sunblock. Longer, sweatier rides eventually started to remove the first application but the .45-ounce size of the Bodyglide meant that it could be easily stored in a jersey pocket and then reapplied during a stop for water. The fact that Bodyglide comes in such a miniature size (in addition to its standard 1.3 ounce) gives it portability not available with other sunblocks.

Sunblock is often forgotten by us cyclists but if you can remember to use it and use a brand that doesn’t come off with sweat, your skin will thank you for years to come!

Statewide News Roundup

2011-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

8/28/11. I-73 funding has senate leader ready to scrap Transportation board. (SC Now)

8/29/11. RiverDogs, Affordabike and Fat Tire team up to honor Charleston's fallen cyclist. (Charleston Digitel)

8/30/11. Letters to the Editor: Bike convert. (Post & Courier)

8/30/11. Live longer. Be happier. (Summerville Journal-Scene)

8/31/11. Driver in fatal bike accident pays fine. (Post & Courier)

8/31/11. Beaufort rail-to-trail project gets $1 million for paving and a name. (Beaufort Digitel)

8/31/11. Riley meets with DOT head on bike path plan. (Post & Courier)

Complete Streets Workshop in South Carolina

2011-08-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

Despite some of the setbacks South Carolina has seen in bike safety in the past year, PCC along with ESMMSC is moving forward with plans to create a statewide Complete Streets Campaign in South Carolina. In order to get started with this goal, we’ve identified various stakeholders throughout the state who would be instrumental in realizing our vision for a healthier and safer South Carolina.

Along with AARP and ESMMSC, PCC is organizing a statewide Complete Streets workshop to be held on November 16^th at the Columbia Farmer’s Market in West Columbia, SC. The workshop will be comprised of two sessions, AM and PM. The AM session will take place from 9AM – 12PM and focus on Complete Streets Introduction and Development. During the lunch hour, breakout sessions will be held so that attendees can discuss and problem solve. The PM session will take place from 1PM - 4PM, and emphasize Complete Streets Implementation.

This workshop is an invaluable tool for any community or individual interested in learning more about Complete Streets or perhaps implementing Complete Streets within their community. Please join us and learn more about how we can all work together to improve the health and safety of our state.

For more information regarding the Complete Streets workshop please contact Phoebe Byers at phoebe@pccsc.net

Statewide News Roundup

2011-08-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

8/19/11. Bicyclist pronounced dead after crash with truck (Island Packet)

8/21/11. Mountain bike trail created along scenic Lake Hartwell. (Greenville News) To view this and other Greenville News articles, enter the title 'Mountain bike trail created along scenic Lake Hartwell' into a Google search and choose one of the links in the search results.

8/22/11. SCDOT Receives $1 million to construct inaugaral section of the Beaufort Rail Trail (Beaufort Rail-Trail blog)

8/24/11. SC DOT provides breakdown on late payments. (Post & Courier)

8/24/11. Editorial: Safe bicycling rolls ahead with improved road-sharing. (Island Packet)

8/25/11. Haley calls for restructuring of DOT. (Post & Courier)

8/25/11. Greenville Bicycle Master Plan Fact Sheet. (Bike Greenville)

8/25/11. SC DOT says overdue bills to contractors are paid. (Sun News)

Bike safety and the homeless

2011-08-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

Homeless individuals face many difficulties in their day-to-day lives, but one that can often be forgotten is the problem of transportation. Many rely on public transportation, bicycles or their own feet to make it around the city. Often, they may not aware of the importance of visibility or do not have the means to get the necessary items to stay safe and legal on the roads.

This morning Rachael and I had the opportunity to join Jennifer Jutkofsky of the Columbia Police Department and the Carolina Cyclers' own John Quinn at the Midlands Housing Alliance Transitions Center to distribute front and rear lights as well as reflective ankle straps to Columbia's homeless. These safety materials were purchased as part of a PCC program with DHEC's Division of Injury and Violence Prevention and have been distributed across the state to a wide variety of individuals, including in a similar effort for Greenville's homeless earlier this year.

At Transitions, we explained South Carolina's laws and spoke with many people who reported being hit in the past while walking as well as riding. Two were especially grateful to receive lights as they had been ticketed for riding without them around the city at night. It is encouraging to see our local police enforcing the laws relating to bike lights, but it also highlights the crucial need to reach this vulnerable community.

This morning's visit was a notable opportunity for Rachael and I because rather than staying in a behind-the-scenes capacity- working with DHEC to order the items, storing the materials, allocating them to the statewide community, processing data and submitting reports- we were able to personally participate in distributing and connecting with recipients. This first attempt at using this program to serve the homeless in Columbia was such a success that we would like to recreate it in other communities and major cities around the state. Our experiences today helped us to iron out some of the details and process, but we can always use help. If you are interested in volunteer or helping us as we develop this program, please contact Rachael at rachael@pccsc.net!

PCC member to bike 80 miles on his 80th birthday to help student veterans

2011-08-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

We were so touched by this recent article in the Rock Hill Herald that we had to re-post it. Both Frank and George are long-time members of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition. We are so proud of them.

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- It is exactly 8 miles from Frank Rizzo's garage to his part-time job at the information desk at Winthrop University's DiGiorgio Center.

Most days that there is not snow or rain, which is most days, he rides his bicycle to and from work.

Heat? Frank Rizzo laughs at heat."Eight miles is easy," says Rizzo, a rough and tumble Korean War veteran who talks so tough he seems like he should be hanging out on a Flatbush Avenue street corner, picking his teeth with a switchblade."I do that in my sleep."

Other days, he rides around many miles with his buddies from the Rock Hill Bicycle Club. On birthdays, Rizzo is a man possessed. The past six years, Rizzo has bicycled the same number of miles as his birthday. Saturday, Rizzo will celebrate his birthday, coming up next week, with a ride.Rizzo turns 80."Yep, 80 miles," he said. "It will take most of the day. We'll stop a couple of times. But at 80, believe me, one thing I have is patience."

Sharon Witherspoon works with Rizzo at the welcome desk."He sure will do it," she said. "This guy does anything he puts his mind to. A character, to say the least."

Rizzo is the same guy who took a part-time job at Winthrop a few years ago to stay busy after retirement. He carried a vacuum cleaner around on his back, like a jet-pack, through the student union. He looked like George Jetson.

Since taking up cycling after retirement in 1995 at age 64, Rizzo has become a fanatic. The retired book peddler rarely misses a day. This year, the ride is for charity. More than 40 people have already signed up for "Frank's Birthday Ride" - let's call it the Rizzo Ramble - at $35 a pop. The money will go to the Student Veterans of Winthrop University, a group of military vets attending the school. "These young guys coming back from these wars, they need all the help we can give them," Rizzo said. "They got guts."

Michael Widrich, a 25-year-old Winthrop senior and a five-year veteran, served as a tank crewman in Iraq before heading to college and running the student vets group. Tough guys like Rizzo, he said, show the tenderness of veterans all over the place. "Frank Rizzo's gesture, wanting to help us, shows the kind of guy he is," Widrich said.

Right alongside Rizzo, and the other organizer of this ride the past six years, will be a pup of a guy named George Davis. Davis rides more than 100 miles a week on his bicycle. He mapped out this crazy 80-mile jaunt. This ride is so Davis and Rizzo can show that age means nothing. Davis is 71."Next to Frank, I'm in diapers," he laughed. "I'm old, but he's ancient."

Why would Rizzo and Davis, 151 years between them, ride so much? "Peace," said Rizzo. "I found peace and exercise on that bicycle, and I am never stopping." The ride will head through western York and Chester counties - starting and finishing at Winthrop. But this ride is 80 miles - mostly flat, and through some beautiful country - but 80 miles.

"I'm gonna be 80, so I ride 80," said Rizzo. "Wait till I turn a hundred. Now that'll be some ride."

These two guys are the same duo who protected a novice bicyclist three years ago on a 14-mile journey from his house in Fort Mill to Rock Hill. The guy was a dope who hadn't ridden a bike in years, so Rizzo and Davis had to pamper him, cajole him, yell at him, and make fun of him to get him to finish even half the ride. The guy rode a bicycle while wearing his daughter's Dora the Explorer backpack, walked up the hills, and wailed like a little brat.

That guy was rightfully mocked by anyone fortunate enough to be there to make fun of him.That dummy was me. And that day in August 2008 when Rizzo rode - a week after he rode 77 miles on his birthday - he rode circles around me - at about half his age. Saturday, when he rides 80 miles, I will be somewhere far from him.

Davis, the retired engineer, laughed and said I had no guts. He was right. Rizzo with his bald head, the old Brooklyn kid, laid it out plain."Wimp," chuckled Rizzo. No argument here.

Want to get involved?

The public is welcome to participate in the annual Rizzo birthday ride. To ride Saturday, a cyclist must have a bicycle in good repair, wear a helmet and be self-sufficient. Donation is $35, with all proceeds to the Student Veterans of Winthrop University.

For details, call Frank Rizzo at 803-325-1908.

Statewide News Roundup

2011-08-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

8/17/11. State next stop for Ashley bike plan. (Post & Courier)

8/17/11. Balog Column: Safe passage over Ashley long overdue. (Post & Courier)

8/17/11. S.C. DOT to get $52M advance from fed government to pay bills. (Herald Online)

8/17/11. Editorial: A safer city for cyclists. (August Chronicle)

8/17/11. Charleston Cycle Chic seeking strutters. (Charleston CP)

8/17/11. Editorial: Bike lane to fill missing link. (Post & Courier)

8/19/11. DOT money woes delay roadwork. (Herald Online)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-08-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

8/7/11. Cherokee County to help decide on location of trails. (Go Upstate)

8/11/11. SCDOT Cash Crunch “Much Worse” Than Reported. (Fits News)

8/12/11. Doctors' long bike ride a benefit for kids. (Independent Mail)

8/14/11. Cycling sailor finishes 4,000-mile journey. (Post & Courier)

Photo by David Quick

8/15/11. SC woman charged in fatal hit-and-run. (Post & Courier)

8/16/11. Ashley River bike plan: Walkers, cyclists find out today about bridge study. (Post & Courier)

Palmetto Joyride: website and event updates!

2011-08-15T09:01:00.001-07:00

At long last, we have finalized the details of the Palmetto Joyride events in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. Below is a run-down of each event, and find out further details at the official event website.

September 7: Charleston
8:30am-10:45am
Morning Van Tour (Invitation Only)

11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Transportation Policy and Business Leaders’ Luncheon (Invitation Only), Charleston City Planning Office

1:30 pm
Joyride on the Ravenel Bridge

5:30 – 7:15 pm
Mia Birk Public Lecture (Open to the public), Wachovia Auditorium, Beatty Center

7:15 – 8:30 pm
Charleston Joyride Reception and Booksigning (Open to the public), 214 King Street (Real Estate Studio)

September 8: Columbia
10:00am-11:30pm
USC: Becoming more bicycle and pedestrian friendly (Invitation Only), Green Quad

12:00pm-1:30pm
Transportation policy and business leaders lunch (Invitation Only), Nexsen Pruett

2:30pm-4:30pm
Lecture at historic 701 Whaley (Invitation Only)

5:30pm-8:00pm
Columbia Palmetto Joyride free finale at Publick House (Open to the public)

September 9: Greenville
10:00am
Morning Media: Your Carolina

11:30am – 1:00pm
The Economics of Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure: A luncheon for local business and policy leaders
Hosted at the Innovate Building (Invitation only)

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Overcoming Obstacles- An afternoon roundtable discussion to help the rubber meet the road (Invitation only)

5:30pm - 8:30pm
Public presentation and reception, Greenville Little Theatre (Open to the public)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-08-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

7/28/11. ‘Complete streets’ concept pushed by cyclists. (Summerville Journal Scene)

7/31/11. Riding in Edwin Gardner's memory. (Post & Courier)

Ride in honor of Edwin Gardner. Photo by David Quick, Post & Courier.

8/1/11. Rock Hill cyclist dies after hit-and-run. (Charlotte Observer)

8/1/11. Mountain Biker Killed; Fellow Biker Stung 50 Times. (WYFF Greenville)

8/1/11. New details emerge in deadly bicyclist hit and run. (Rock Hill Herald)

8/2/11. Colombian Cycling Team speaks to Rock Hill youth. (Rock Hill Herald)

8/2/11. Firefighter injured in hit-and-run speaks out. (WISTV)

8/2/11. Road rage caught on cyclist's helmet cam will be decided by jury. (WISTV)

8/2/11. James Islanders want changes to Harbor View plan. (Post & Courier)

August Gear Review: Gu Brew Tablets

2011-08-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, the days and indeed nights have been a steady parade of 100 degree highs. The heat has been record-breaking for much of the country. For cyclists, this means extra attention must be paid during rides to avoid dehydration and the accompanying muscle cramps.

As a younger and perhaps stupider rider, I was able to get by with plain old water in my bottles. Water was an economical beverage choice for a college student on the edge of penury in addition to being "readymade" and easily found in a variety of taps and spigots. As I have aged and found myself with a little more disposable income, I have grown to enjoy putting things into my formerly "plain" water to keep my muscles from locking up like a pair of brakes on interstate 26. Although powders work adequately, I have found the ease of hydration tablets to be more my speed.

Gu introduced their Brew tablets earlier this year and I can't stop using them. Although Peach Tea and Lemon Lime are palatable, Orange is the flavor that comes closest to embodying its appellation. It's got a subtle citrus taste and unlike Nuun hydration tablets, it doesn't have a fizz or bite to it (for those with finicky stomachs). I have been using them on rides during June and July and have found the results surprising to say the least. In addition to riding cramp free, the fructose/maltodextrin combination gave my muscles a little boost on some super steep climbing sections.

A hydration supplement that keeps you feeling normal during extreme heat is a plus, but one that gives you a little something extra is an invaluable bonus. While tablets might not meet the needs of serious racer types, they're excellent for casual or training riders to prepare bottles quickly but with the knowledge that everything their muscles need for a ride will be provided, including large amounts of sodium which will leave lovely, decorative white stains on your jersey. Fashionistas take warning!

Progressive in Poland

2011-07-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Bike lanes in Krakow

I recently had the pleasure of traveling throughout Poland. During my trip I couldn't help but notice the many bike lanes throughout several Polish cities and towns. Even the countryside was filled with parks, complete with biking and walking paths. Krakow locals explained to me that bike lanes have become more common in the last ten years and during that time their use has also increased, especially among the younger generation of Poles.

Bike lanes in Zakopane

According to one blog, a prominent Polish newspaper recently created a campaign, "Polska na rowery!" (Get on bikes, Poland!) to increase cycling in Poland through a series of bike-friendly events. In addition, the All for Planet Foundation, came up with several bike rack designs for various Polish cities and encouraged residents to vote for their favorite designs.

Bike lanes in Torun

I was impressed by the display of progressive action in Poland, considering the many challenges the country has faced and overcome. Poland has only been a democracy for twenty years but has achieved transportation ideals that many American cities and towns are struggling to accomplish. While Poland is not without its problems, it has made great strides in an area often met by great resistance. After my trip, I can say that in addition to architecture, pierogi, and vodka, Poland can claim bike lanes as a national asset!

Statewide News Roundup

2011-07-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

7/27/11. Edwin's Ride to be a celebration this Saturday. (Charleston Scene)

Photo from 1st Annual Edwin Gardner Memorial Ride (2010). Photo by David Quick, Post & Courier.

7/28/11. Panel keeps pushing for more bike lanes. (Post & Courier)

7/28/11. Tour de La France adds categories for children, baby boomers. (Anderson Independent)

7/28/11. Residents rally against Harbor View Rd widening. (Chas City Paper)

7/28/11. Mayor Riley: Ashley River bike crossing 'absolutely essential.' (Chas City Paper)

7/28/11. Registration now open for the 'Bridge Ride' benefit event. (Chas Digitel)

7/28/11. Bike safety committee pushes for more bike lane. (Chas Digitel)

7/28/11. Cycling toward confidence: 26 work to Lose the Training Wheels. (Post & Courier)

7/29/11. Hit-and-run driver strikes, kills Florence pedestrian Friday (SC NOW)

7/29/11. How A Park Helped One Town Weather The Recession. (NPR!)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-07-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

7/12/11. Some Greenville leaders cautious on city's bike plan.
(Asheville Citizens Times) (we missed this headline from a few weeks ago--thanks Bike Greenville for bringing it to our attention!)

7/22/11. DOT mulls transparency issue. (Sun News)

7/22/11. Letter to the Editor: Share the road. (Post & Courier)

late addition: 7/23/11. Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run crash in Myrtle Beach. (Sun News)

7/24/11. Editorial: Use greenbelt funds for bike trails. (Post & Courier)

7/24/11. Rock Hill hopes new velodrome will attract big events.
(Post & Courier)

Joyriding through South Carolina

2011-07-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Alongside Palmetto Conservation Foundation, we are delighted bring you an excited series of events this September as a part of Mia Birk's visit to three South Carolina cities: Charleston, Columbia and Greenville. Thanks to our local partners, Livewell Greenville, Bikeville, Sustainable Midlands, and Charleston Moves, for helping us make these exciting events happen.

An agenda for each city is forthcoming; for the meantime, feast your eyes on the flyer!

Click here to view the flyer as a pdf.

Statewide News Roundup

2011-07-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

7/1/11. Narrow Passage: A case for bicycle lane expansion. (Charleston Outdoors Magazine)

7/19/11. Looking for a solution to safe biking. (Moultrie News)

Bike advocates Chris Tullman (front) and Carlsen Huey are shown on Rifle Range Road where vehicles have to swerve around them. Photo by Helen Hammond.

7/20/11. Firefighter recovering, troopers still looking for hit-and-run vehicle. (WISTV News)

7/20/11. It takes different strokes to make Charleston a bike-friendly town. (Chas City Paper)

7/20/11. The way to make Charleston bike friendly is to get more bicyclists on the road. (Chas City Paper)

Statewide News Roundup

2011-07-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

7/15/11. Cyclists irate over minimal charge in fatal wreck. (Post & Courier)

7/15/11. Letter to the Editor: Better Biking. (Post & Courier)

7/16/11. Op-Ed: Local motorists, cyclists should work together to save lives. (Post & Courier)

7/16/11. Op-Ed: Push bikeway improvements. (Post & Courier)

7/17/11. Racer stresses safety: Triathlon participant strives ‘to spread the message.’ (The State)

Cyclist competing during Tom Hoskins Memorial Sprint Triathlon

7/17/11. Crosswalks: Vista’s path to future? (The State)

7/18/11. Letter to the Editor: Make the healthy choice the easy choice.

(The State)

7/19/11. Time to crack down on distracted drivers. (Post & Courier)

Statewide News Round-up

2011-07-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

7/7/11. Bike-sharing system launches in downtown Spartanburg. (Spartanburg Herald)

7/7/11. Reports name SC as eighth fattest state; Spartanburg programs trying to improve city's health. (Spartanburg Herald)

Columbia firefighter Travis Kinley

7/13/11. Widow of deceased cyclist: "Enough is enough". (WISTV)

7/13/11. Troopers: Firefighter injured in hit-and-run hit by two different vehicles. (WISTV)

7/13/11. Motorist sought who hit firefighter riding bicycle. (The State)

7/13/11. To the street bicyclist. (Bluffton Today Blog)

7/14/11. Van driver charged in bicyclist fatality. (Post & Courier)

7/14/11. Firefighter recovering after hit, run. (The State)

Losing federal funding: What does it mean?

2011-07-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

If you're tuned into this blog, then you likely are aware of the recent threat from Washington to valuable bicycle and pedestrian programs (see the PCC alert sent last Thursday). If you haven't already, we hope you'll taken a moment to contact your member of Congress and ask that they recommend that these programs not be slashed.

Meanwhile, you're probably wondering, why and what does it mean?

Here's the scoop. Every six years, Congress re-visits the country's transportation and infrastructure priorities, and funds projects that shape our communities. However, on September 30, 2009, this six year legislation expired and has since been renewed with short-term extensions that are detrimental to our economy and public safety. In the words of Transportation 4 America, "it’s time to let Congress know we’re keeping track of their continued delays and we’re tired of watching them simply extend America’s out-dated transportation policy."

What happened last week, which sent shock waves to the bicycling and walking community nationally, was a proposal for the next six year transportation legislation--a proposal that devastates biking and walking programs that have been in place for many years. This proposed six year surface transportation re-authorization bill was submitted by the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, John Mica (R-FL).

In a press release submitted shortly after the draft bill was released, the League of American Bicyclists' President Andy Clarke closely scruitizines the misguided direction of Mica's bill:

Whether the next transportation bill is $200 billion or $400 billion is frankly less important than what is done with that kind of investment. Mica’s ‘New Direction’ proposal in fact turns the clock back on decades of hard-fought progress towards a truly multi-modal transportation system that offers American’s real choices. Even with a ’small’ bill, returning to a 1950’s highways-only mentality flies in the face of fiscal responsibility by guaranteeing more single occupant vehicle travel on ever more congested and dangerous highways that we can’t even afford to maintain, let alone build.

The League calls on Chairman Mica to reinstate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking in his bill. We also ask that the Senate resist the efforts of Senator Inhofe eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking. In addition to being healthy activities, bicycling and walking are valid transportation options, with more than four billion bike trips made annually for trips to work, school, and tourism. Furthermore bicycling and walking projects have the potential to create 46 percent more jobs per million dollars spent than auto-only projects; and bicycling and walking are critical generators of economic activity in communities across this country. Now is the time to be investing in these modes, not cutting them off just as 20 years of investment is starting to bear fruit.

Under Mica's proposal, not only will we lose these valuable programs, but we will also lose our go-to people at state DOT's--the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator may no longer be a mandated position. In South Carolina, we would say goodbye to our lone soldier, Tom Dodds.

If you haven't already, please contact your member of Congress, and encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to do the same. South Carolina dedicates little of it's own funding to exclusive bicycle projects, and is the #2 most dangerous place in the nation to ride a bike. This plan, if enacted, would devastate the already dire bicycling and walking conditions that exist.

Statewide News Round-up

2011-07-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

7/5/11. County launches website for Rail Trail project. (Island Packet)

7/7/11. Death of beloved anesthesiologist refocuses debate on cycling-safety issue. (Post & Courier)

7/8/11. Man on bike injured in hit-and-run accident. (Anderson Independent)

7/8/11. Vehicle Description Released In Bicyclist Hit-And-Run. (WYFF News)

7/9/11. Port Royal rail-to-trail sparks back to public life. (Beaufort Digitel)

7/10/11. Readers lament a cycling tragedy: Letters to the Editor.
(Post & Courier)

7/10/11. Survey tracks Georgia drivers' attitudes towards cyclists.
(Augusta Chronicle)

7/12/11. Highway Patrol looking for suspect in hit and run with bicycle.
(WACH FOX)

Spartanburg B-cycle is the First Bike Sharing System in the Southeast

2011-07-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Beginning July 7, Partners for Active Living is helping Spartanburg residents increase daily physical activity with the Southeast’s first bike-sharing system, Spartanburg B-cycle. The initiative includes 14 B-cycles at 2 B-stations, one at the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail and the other at Morgan Square.

“Partners for Active Living is working to create the healthiest community that we can. Spartanburg B-cycle is an innovative, convenient tool that can help get residents and visitors, alike, more active. We want physical activity to be as easy as possible in Spartanburg,” said executive director Laura Ringo. “We hope that the bicycles are used for trips around downtown and for recreation on the Rail Trail. In addition, we want to ensure that Spartanburg continues to be a leader as a bicycle-friendly community.”

The sharing process is simple: become a member and then users have access to the red cruiser bikes. The program has three different membership types: annual, 30-day or 24-hour. The price of membership is $30, $15 and $5, respectively. The first hour with each use is free. Each additional half-hour is $1. Memberships are purchased with a credit card online or at either of the kiosks. Annual and 30-day members will receive a B-card in the mail to make bicycle check-out take only seconds. Bikes can be checked out and returned at either location.

The bikes are equipped with a front basket, an easily adjustable seat, three gears and a handy bell, as well as a computer to track mileage, calories burned and carbon offsets. Riders can monitor their personal fitness, miles traveled, carbon offsets and connect with others online at http://spartanburg.bcycle.com.

Spartanburg B-cycle has been made possible with support from the Mary Black Foundation and City of Spartanburg, as well as other corporate sponsors.

“We are committed to making a Spartanburg County healthier, bike-friendly community,” said Cate Brandt Ryba, Communications and Media Officer for the Mary Black Foundation. “B-cycle will increase daily activity options for residents, employees and visitors, reduce the number of short car trips, improve air quality, and complement existing transportation options. The Foundation is proud to partner with the City of Spartanburg and Partners for Active Living on this innovative project.”

Partners for Active Living’s staff will be holding B-cycle introduction sessions (10-15 minutes) so that members and interested community residents can learn about all of the bells and whistles.

The remaining schedule includes:

Tuesday, July 12 at noon in downtown Spartanburg

Tuesday, July 12 at 5:30 pm at the Rail Trail

Tuesday, July 19 at noon and 5:30 at the Rail Trail

Thursday, July 21 at noon and 5:30 pm in downtown Spartanburg

Tuesday, July 26 at noon and 5:30 pm at the Rail Trail

Thursday, July 28 at noon and 5:30 pm in downtown Spartanburg

For additional information about Partners for Active Living and Spartanburg B-cycle, please visit www.active-living.org or call 864.598.9638.

Thoughts in light of Charleston's recent bicycle tragedy

2011-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's tragedy in Charleston, where Mitch Hollon was killed after being struck by a van on the James Island Connector, has sent waves of sadness, frustration, anger, contempt--and many other emotions--into the community. The story has been covered by media outlets all over the state after AP released the story first covered by local sources. The comments sections of each source--the Post & Courier, Live 5, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, The State, WISTV, Charleston Digitel, and counting--are filling up with the usual motorist vs. bicyclist rhetoric that always rears its nasty head after a tragedy like this. Although unproductive, harmful and often exaggerated, this rhetoric reminds bicycle advocates like me just how much work remains in making our communities safer for bicycles and cars to coexist.

In light of all of this, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family and friends of Mitch during this very sad time.

There is no doubt that we face a significant uphill battle in the SC bicycle community. Not only are our roads some of the most unsafe nationally for bicycling, but tragedies such as Mitch's death--which the media loves--paint a bleak and negative picture of bicycling in South Carolina. What we end up with is situation that is perpetually worsening. It is no wonder that there is a sentiment that only the most fearsome ride their bikes. Unbelievably, this is a sentiment that was expressed to me several months ago even by the former Director of South Carolina Department of Public Safety Mark Keel.

So, what are we to do? We keep on believing. And we keep on riding.

Study after study proves that the more people that ride their bikes, the safer the conditions become. Indeed, it sounds counter-intuitive, but as Portland, New York, Minneapolis, and countless other cities have shown, the more people on their bikes, the better cars and bicycles coexist (see more on the 'safety in numbers' theory on the League's blog). And what is the #1 thing that will get more people on bikes? More places to bike, of course. Like bike lanes and multi-use paths.

That leaves us with two takeaways. One, keep riding your bike (and while you're at it, be sure to obey the laws). Second: continue to advocate for more places to ride your bike--locally, statewide, and federally.

This is timely advice, because TOMORROW Congressional committee members are expected to lay out the transportation re-authorization bill (aka future transportation funding plan). And the future for bike/ped funding that comes to SC--to fund those projects that you love--is looking very bleak. We will need you to contact your members of Congress at a moment's notice to make the case for this continued funding.

Stay tuned and thank you for all you do!

Statewide News Roundup

2011-07-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

7/1/11. Keep on riding in the free world: Hilton Head's path to becoming an official cyclist's paradise. (HH Monthly)

7/2/11. George Hincapie cycles toward Tour longevity record. (Greenville News)

7/2/11. Armstrong a hero off the bike. (Sun News)

7/4/11. Cyclist struck twice, destroying his bike. (WISTV)

7/5/11. Bicyclist killed after being knocked from James Island connector. (Post & Courier)

The scene of a Tuesday morning wreck on the James Island Connector. (G. Beahm)

Statewide News Round-up

2011-07-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

6/23/11. On Any Given Tuesday: Southern Greenville County's roads are full of bikers. (Journal Watchdog)

6/23/11. Editorial: Another reason to eliminate DOT board. (The State)

6/26/11. Sharing road can become ordeal: Cycling competitors provide their stories. (Augusta Chronicle)

6/28/11. Greenville spreading out on Washington Street. (Greenville News) As with most Greenville Online news, you can circumvent the fee by google searching the article's title and choosing one of the links from the search outcome.

6/28/11. U.S. Moving Forward on Bicycle Interstate Highway System (but not SC). (Eco Geek)

7/1/11. Myrtle Beach committee eyes median beautification (read: 17-bypass a complete street?). (The Sun News)

July Gear Review: Cygolite's Centauri 1000

2011-07-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

Cygolite's Centauri 1000

As the name implies, the Centauri cranks out 1000 lumens of "blindingly powerful light" that illuminates even the darkest of trail nooks and crannies. Programmable brightness settings allow the rider to customize four different light outputs. I preferred using two high outputs and then two substantially lower outputs. Utilizing two LEDs, I found the beam pattern to be deep enough to see what was coming up at high speeds but with enough of a peripheral spread to avoid on trail debris and branches that like to grab handlebar ends. Terrain was clear and crisp looking which was especially helpful during a stint of night riding in Georgia where the trail alternated between tacky dirt and loose rock.

When you see better, you ride better if not faster and in the end, those are the most tangible results you can gain from a riding light. The Centauri comes with both handlebar and helmet mounts and plenty of extension cord for folks who store their battery in a hydrapack or run it along their frame's top tube. Run time on high-brightness is 2.75 hours while on low you have a whopping 12 hours.

My only complaint was the 7 hour charge time but for such a powerful light coupled with a small battery, the long charge time seemed like a fair trade-off for performance. MSRP is $449.00

Biking the BRP with Bikelaw and friends

2011-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

If you follow other blogs in the bike blogosphere, you may have noticed that I (Rachael) had the great fortune to receive a scholarship from Bikelaw to attend the first annual Tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway from June 22-26. Not only was this a fantastic opportunity to rub elbows with colleagues and bike-advocate friends from North and South Carolina, but it was an incredible way to enjoy a couple hundred miles of the BRP by bike.

A self-portrait while riding

Our adventure began in Blowing Rock, NC last Wednesday. We convened at a lovely lodge in the afternoon, and departed for a 30-miler in the surrounding countryside. That evening, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the lodge and shared in a great round-table conversation about the positive aspects of the movement that we are all a part of.

Day two began a little cloudy, clouds which eventually broke to rain as soon as we mounted our saddles and shoved off. Forty miles of rain was welcomed by this Columbia-resident; it was a wonderful respite from the heat of June in SC. Riding on day two was a bit challenging, but we all arrived in Little Switzerland safely, just in time for a delicious lunch overlooking the valley. Check out Peter's post from day one and two for more details and fantastic photos.

On the evening of day two, we had a great social marketing schpeal from Bike Shop Girl extraordinaire Arleigh Jenkins. We again shared conversation about our advocacy pursuits and various tactics to promote and improve our work.

Day three was by far my best, as it also included some exciting firsts. The weather was just glorious--the sky was the bluest of blues, the clouds were billowy and cotton candy-like, and the temps were incredible. I successfully climbed Mt. Mitchell, definitely a first for me, and I accomplished my first near-mountain metric-century (63 miles in the SC midlands does not compare to 63 on the BRP). We rolled into Asheville just before happy hour, and were joined over dinner by friends, family members, and a PCC Board member. Dinner conversation was full of fellowship and good cheer. Check out what Peter has to say from day 3.

I decided to sit-out from riding on day 4--this was probably for the best given the pain in my knees and bottom. From the stories and photos that I've heard and seen, it sounds like the group showed the Parkway what they were really made of. Again, visit the update from day 4 on Bikelaw's blog to get the spin.

Last but not least, we wrapped up the multi-day adventure on Sunday with another first for me--an alley cat before breakfast. Sunday AM, Arleigh challenged us with a delightful scavenger hunt around downtown Asheville, full of laughter, surprises and lots of fun.

All in all, the experience was incredible, made possible because of the goodwill and foresight of Peter and Jana at Bikelaw, and the logistical expertise of Paul and Keith at Black Bear Adventures. Stay tuned for next year's adventure--I hope you will be able to experience it yourself!

1st annual Bikelaw BRP Tour gang, looking fairly disorganized atop Mt. Mitchell; notice that Peter and Jana are the only two that seem to have it together!

Last week's DOT Commission Meeting

2011-06-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the pleasure of attending my first DOT Commission Meeting and it was very interesting. As the commissioners discussed various proposals, I was struck by the interest and passion of one commissioner in particular, Ms. Sarah B. Nuckles.

Ms. Nuckles commented on every proposal and appeared to represent the voice of the public. She defended the right for public comments at commission meetings, stating that "after all we're a public agency, and public officials." She also challenged project proposals that had greatly exceeded budget, and questioned whether those excess funds wouldn't be put to better use in communities where road resurfacing is in great need.

Also present at the meeting was the new Secretary of Transportation, Robert J. St. Onge, Jr and Clifton Parker, recently appointed by Governor Haley as the At-Large Commissioner. Parker is President and General Manager of G&P Trucking Company, Inc. He was recently appointed to a Study Committee on Public Private Partnerships in Transportation to make recommendations to the Governor for Highway funding.

All in all, the meeting was an eye-opening experience. As I learn more about the inner workings of SCDOT and how they determine the future of transportation in South Carolina, I am reassured to know that Ms. Knuckles is committed to the public needs of transportation in our state.

Making Rock Hill more bicycle friendly

2011-06-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

It is always quite exciting to witness the bicycle advancements happening in communities around South Carolina from our perspective as a statewide organization. This is a source of endless inspiration and collectively makes a difference in propelling our work on a statewide level.

Recently, several members of Bike Rock Hill, a city-led organization working to make Rock Hill more bicycle friendly, presented their progress at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting earlier this month. These individuals, several of whom include Winthrop University faculty members, evaluated data from their bikeability survey and compiled the information in the following presentation (which can be viewed as a pdf here).

The conference had about 5,000 attendees from around the world, and Rock Hill was well represented by this dedicated and passionate group of individuals. We're very proud of their efforts!