July/August 2018 Newsletter

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Making South Carolina more

bike and walk friendly

Special 2 month edition!

Thank You!

Thank you for taking Action when SCDOT announced public comment period (now ended) on their $5 Million Non-Motorized User safety program.

Our current, focused statewide campaign for a SCDOT complete streets policy depends on YOU! We are as strong as our grassroots networks. :)

We also made progress this month with multiple meetings at SCDOT.

Save federal funding!

Act Now! Tell your US senators to restore eligibility for trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and other safe infrastructure in the new budget funding

As part of a plan to rebuild America, Congress is providing an additional $10 billion in next year’s budget for all types of infrastructure. But the current funding bill specifically denies eligibility for trails, walking and biking projects from those new funds. Support the amendment to restore eligibility!

Safe Routes to School:

October 10th is International Walk to School Day. Register your School here .

Yellow Jersey Sponsors

Thank you to new sponsor American Heart Association!

Local Spotlights:

AARP Community Challenge Grants awarded!

Of 1,600 applications, 129 were awarded, and 2 went to South Carolina!

Charleston Moves will create two artistic crosswalk murals as well as improvements to local intersections, providing safer pedestrian access to the neighborhood.

City of Greenville, Parks & Recreation, will install new park amenities including a park shelter, ADA-accessible game tables, horseshoe pit and entrance ramp.

Local Spotlight #2 :

Columbia Gets Bike Share!

We are thrilled! The sponsor launch occurred this week (Blue Cross Blue Shield), and the bikes and docking stations will soon be here It's an exciting time in the capitol city!

Mayor Steve Benjamin announced at the press conference that "It’s a constant education process; it’s not easy anywhere in the world and certainly that much more difficult in the American south but it’s going to take some shared responsibility.” City of Columbia further stated: "“Bike share is a relatively inexpensive and quick infrastructure extension to a city’s public transportation system, allowing it to serve as a convenient ‘last mile’ connector and function as ‘transit by bike’.”

We couldn't agree more. See PCC's blogpost for more details. Stats:

single-trip is $2, day pass is $6, pay-as-you-go for $5
all rides 45 minutes; if you want to ride longer than 45 minutes, it’s $2 for each additional half hour
phase one is 15 stations & 135 bicycles (50 are pedelec bicycles); phase two is 10 additional stations & 90 additional bicycles

Good Read :

Farrow Road Bike Lanes

If ever there was a case to stress adequate, effective public engagement, this is the case: the Farrow Road Bike Lanes. For innovative road projects, set them up for success by remembering to engage any community proactively, with the issues that matter to them most: livability, safety, pedestrian safety, and bike safety. PCC and the SC Livable Communities Alliance is currently working with SCDOT to stress the need for a 3 year repaving list, to enable room to breathe, for effective public engagement.