PCC Newsletter: Sept/Oct 2019

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Making South Carolina more

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Sept/Oct 2019 Newsletter

SCDOT policy campaign UPDATE

Voices from across the state speak out to SCDOT in favor of a complete streets policy.

Four people delivered comments in September in favor of a complete streets policy, at the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission meeting, held monthly in Columbia. Thank you to the SC Chapter of the American Planning Association, and to the SC Governor's School for Science & Math. Read More HERE.

Then today, two more organizational representatives delivered public comment testimony to the October Commission meeting: AARP of South Carolina and Eat Smart Move More of SC. Read more in our upcoming SC Livable Communities campaign newsletter.

THANK YOU, SCDOT!

Today the Secretary of Transportation publicly announced the development of a Bike-Ped Action Plan, started in the last few months. This is progress!

S.723, Hands Free bill, gets Hearing Oct. 29:

PCC will Testify - Can you?

The Senate version of the Hands Free bill will get its hearing October 29th, and all are invited to attend in support. Those wishing to testify should show up early and sign up. The hearing will take place in the Gressette Building, Room 207, at 2pm. This bill is also known as the Distracted Driving bill and DUI-E (electronics) bill. Contact PCC here if you can attend or testify , and we will be prepared to meet you with something that visually illustrates your support. Other anticipated testimony will be from AAA Carolinas, the National Safety Council, southeast chapter, families of those impacted by the epidemic, and others .

SCDOT & Road Safety Audits

PCC participated recently in a Road Safety Audit (RSA) in Columbia, SC's near the University, in the Five Points area. SCDOT consultants facilitated this, and many in the community were present, adding to the discussion and quality of conclusions. This pedestrian locus point in our state's capitol will soon receive improvements aimed at making walking safer on these streets, as part of SCDOT's new $5M annual Non-Motorized Safety Program. RSA info here.

Public Input Opp: SCDOT Pavement Program

Work with your local planning office in repaving opportunities, for possible complete streets retrofits. Linked here . Deadline: Oct. 21.

PCC Welcomes 2 new Board Members

Welcome to John Green and Lanneau Lide of Columbia, SC. Read board bios here .

Yellow Jersey Sponsors

3 Local Spotlights

Hilton Head man Pleads Guilty in DUI-caused Crash with Bicyclist

Hilton Head Island residents suffered the death of a fellow cyclist, but the twice DUI offender recently pleaded guilty, bringing justice closer.

"...Alford, 67, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run in the crash that killed Jeff Garske on Aug. 18, 2016. ... Weeks after the fatal accident, Alford ... was charged again with a DUI on Hilton Head. Circuit Judge Michael Nettles [then] revoked his bond .., , and Alford has been held in the Beaufort County Detention Center since. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to both DUI charges and the hit and run." Read more here .

Coastal Carolina University, the largest Free University Bike Rental in the USA, becomes a Silver Bike Friendly University!

Coastal Carolina just upgraded their Bike Friendly University Status to Silver, for their 2019 designation. This is a big deal.

Of the USA's Bike Friendly Universities (BFU's), there are:

8 Platinum BFU's
24 Gold BFU's, and
51 Silver BFU's
90 Bronze BFU's
4 Honorable Mention BFU's

In this Video link and program page, you'll see more of their program. Beth Javener, Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, CCU (also Chair Elect, PCC Board), explains how it works: "Once they line up and get their ticket, they'll get to go inside and watch a safety video; then they'll get in line and sign the waiver, pick out their bike, and then check it out. It's kind of a choose your own adventure, because they all get to go and figure out which kind of bike speaks to them today."

College of Charleston also just became a brand new Bronze BFU!

New & Renewing Bike Friendly Universities, 2019

PCC's BFU blogpost, 2015

N. Augusta Plans

Expansion of Greenway

North Augusta City Council unanimously voted recently to move forward with a Greenway expansion. They accepted two pieces of land as a gift from the North Augusta Forward organization. The land will be used to extend the Greenway even further beyond Interstate 20. Article here.