Walking Safely in Savannah

The greater downtown area is known for its walkability – but do you know the rules of the road?

Below are our tips for walking safely in Savannah, as well as applicable laws.

Safety Tips

  • Be predictable, and follow the rules of the road.
  • Walk on sidewalks when available and passable.
  • If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
  • Be alert! Never assume a driver sees you.
  • Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions.
  • If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; if you are crossing a multi-lane road, use extra caution when crossing each lane.
  • Watch for drivers entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.

The Laws

Pedestrians crossing at any point other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway.

When a pedestrian signal says WALK, you may proceed across the roadway. When it is flashing DON’T WALK, finish your crossing and do not start crossing if you have not entered the roadway. When it is steady DON’T WALK, do not start crossing.

“Crosswalk” means (A) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or (B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

Crosswalks exists at most intersections whether or not they are marked by painted lines.

“Jaywalking” is not a legal term and does not appear in the Georgia Code. Even so, people often use “jaywalking” to describe a pedestrian crossing outside of a crosswalk. In fact, crossing the street outside of a crosswalk is perfectly LEGAL in most places, as long as the pedestrians yield to traffic.

Do not suddenly leave a curb or sidewalk and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close it is impractical for the driver to yield.

This blog post is produced thanks to support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

What to do if you’re in a crash

If you have the misfortune of being involved in a crash, it can be overwhelming and you may not know what to do. When your blood is pumping, your mind is racing, and you may be injured, the last thing you want to do is have to Google what to do. Below are our steps for the best actions to take after a collision.

Before we start, we always recommend carrying your cell phone, ID, a listed emergency contact, and something to write with/on in case your phone is broken. A bracelet like a RoadID can provide your information, emergency contacts and allergy information if needed.

  1. Do not immediately move – you may be more injured than you think. 
  2. Dial 911. Request the police and an ambulance to your location. 
  3. Leave your bike in the same state it was after the crash. Take pictures of the scene, including your bike, any damage to yourself, damage to the motor vehicle, and license plate number.
  4. Obtain the contact information of any witnesses.
  5. Always wait for the police to arrive and file an official report.
  6. Get the business card of the officer. Write your report number on the card in addition to getting a copy.
  7. Immediately seek medical attention. When in doubt, go to the ER! 
  8. Never negotiate with the driver of the vehicle at the scene of the crash, regardless of who may be at fault. Get the driver’s name and their insurance and contact information, along with the names and contacts of any passengers. You may discover additional injuries or destruction to property after the crash.
  9. Make no statement to insurance until you talk to a lawyer. 

Involved in a crash or want to report a close call? Submit your report on our website.

Data collected from the Close Call form can help us and agency partners assess potential conflict points and the frequency of near misses (or unreported crashes) involving bicyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicle drivers. Bicycle and pedestrian related crashes are under reported and this offers another way to address persistent issues. 

If you have encountered a dangerous road hazard call 311 or visit our Report Hazards and Issues page. In an emergency, please call 911.

Riding bikes comes with risks — like all vehicles. If you have been in a crash involving a bicycle and aren’t sure where to begin, contact the Law Offices of Joseph J. Steffen, Jr. for a free consultation.

Joseph J. Steffen Jr is an avid cyclist who specializes in local bicycle law, and serves on the board of Bike Walk Savannah. His focus and passion is for safe cycling for you and your family here in the Southeast, knowing the challenges of working with police officers on their reports, and picking an unbiased jury panel at trial that will understand a cyclists right to SHARE THE ROAD.

Visit joesteffen.com/bicycle-law for more information.

This blog post is produced thanks to support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Signaling & Scanning

You should always let others know when you are turning, changing lanes or stopping — both for safety reasons, and because it’s the law.

While cars and motorcycles have devices built in, like turn signals and brake lights, we have to rely on our arms to signal our intent on a bike.

Signaling

  • Left Turn: Fully extend your left arm out to the side.
  • Right Turn: Fully extend your right arm out to the side or bend your left arm up at a right angle with your hand flat. Both are legal signals, and depend on your level of comfort with which arm you use.
  • Slowing or Stopping: Extend your left arm at a right angle with your hand open and pointing down towards the ground.

Scanning

Scanning is the act of looking over your shoulder, and is a key part of riding anywhere. It helps communicate your intentions to others and also shows you what is happening behind or around you.

Pro Tip: It may be difficult to scan and maintain a straight line while riding. Start by practicing scanning on a stationary bike to see your range of motion. You may want to purchase a mirror to help if you have limited range. Once you start practicing on a moving bike, if you have trouble maintaining a straight line you may want to try removing your hand (from the direction you are scanning) from the handlebars and place it on your lower back. This helps prevent your body from fully turning and pulling the handlebars. And make sure to keep peddling while scanning!

Scanning should be used in conjunction with signaling — you should scan before any turn and before making any signal.

This blog post is sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Plan Your Route

Whether you’re commuting to work or school, getting some exercise, or riding to get your groceries, planning your route can be a difficult — but necessary — step. You don’t want to get to your destination and realize you have to cross a six-lane highway in order to get there, but you also don’t want to ride down a cul-de-sac and not be able to get out. Below are our tips on how to plan your perfect route.

Mapping Out a Safe Route

Use Google Maps

Google Maps has come a long way in helping plan bike routes! Visit Google Maps, click Layers at the bottom of your screen, and then click Biking to show trails, dedicated lanes, bicycle-friendly roads and dirt or unpaved trails.

You can input your starting point and destination and select biking, which will suggest routes that follow bike infrastructure or bike-friendly streets, if available. You can even select street view in order to see a photo of the street, which can help you in quickly identifying if that’s a route you’d like to take. Pro Tip: Under Layers click Traffic, which can help you identify if streets are closed or if traffic is moving slowly in certain areas. Also, the wider the street the more cars are likely to be on it — and moving quickly!

Use Strava, Map My Ride or Ride with GPS

The great thing about biking in Savannah is that we have a lot of people out biking with you! There’s a pretty good chance that someone has a route similar to the one you’re looking to create, which means that websites like Strava, Map My Ride or Ride with GPS can help you find a route that someone has already ridden. They can also have heat maps, which can show you where people are riding.

Image © Bikabout

Tips for Planning Your Route

Maybe you can find a route digitally, but you’re concerned about riding it in person. You don’t have to dive all in right away!

  • Talk with other bike riders: Check out local biking groups on social media or in person and ask for some tips! Check out Bike Walk Savannah’s events for some more details on our rides.
  • Scout the route: If your route is on streets and not on bike paths, try it out in your car first. While you won’t be able to get exactly the same feel for the road, you can easily see if there are areas that are blocked off, high volumes of other cars, or might not have a safe crossing for you to use.
  • Experiment with your route: If you know the area well enough, take some time to experiment with different possible routes. Make sure to leave around the same time you would be biking to or from your destination, but give yourself some extra time (like on your day off). This can help you find additional streets that might be a little more comfortable for you.
  • Be familiar with your map: What happens if the street you usually take is closed due to construction or a crash? Do you know what other streets you can take? We recommend knowing a few different alternate routes, as well as knowing what sections you can’t swap out. This can also be helpful for different times of day — maybe you go to work taking one route, but return home on another.
  • Don’t be afraid to go multi-modal: Maybe you can’t ride directly from your house, but you can pick up some safe
  • streets a mile or two away. Check out Chatham Area Transit and see if there’s a bus you can take for part of your trip!

Need some more help? Request some bike route assistance from the BWS team or check out our routes page.

Visit joesteffen.com/bicycle-law for more information.

This blog post is produced thanks to support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Do you know your ABCs?

We’ve all had this happen — you get dressed, you put your helmet on, make sure your lights are charged, and as soon as you roll your bike out the door you notice the tires are flat. Or even worse, you get halfway to your destination and notice that you’re losing air — or your brakes are squeaking.

Familiarizing yourself with basic bike maintenance will help you whether you’re commuting to work every day or riding recreationally, and will help keep you safe. And the first part is as simple as knowing your ABCs! Performing the ABC Quick Check before heading out on your ride ensures your bike is safe to ride, and helps you notice when anything might go wrong.

A is for Air

Make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire

When your tires are correctly inflated, use your thumb to gently push on the outside edge and feel the pressure. This will help you quickly gauge if you need air in the future!

Check for damage on your tire and replace if it is too worn

B is for Brakes

Inspect your brake pads for wear, replace if there is less than 1/4″ of pad left

Check pad adjustment and make sure they don’t rub the tire

Look to see that you can fit your thumb between the brake lever and handlebar when the brakes are squeezed all the way — this means they’re properly adjusted

C is for Cranks and Chain

Pull on your cranks/pedals away from the bike — if they are loose, tighten the bolt.

Check that your chain is free of rust, gunk and any debris

Quick is for Quick Releases

Make sure all your quick release levers are closed (check your wheels and seat!)

They should all be pointing down and towards the back of your bike, so they don’t get caught on anything.

And then CHECK it all over!

Take a quick roll around to make sure everything is working properly, and if you’re carrying any cargo that you’re well balanced.

More of a visual learner? Check out this video from our friends at the League of American Bicyclists:

Learn more tips on our Resources Page.

Visit joesteffen.com/bicycle-law for more information.

This blog post is produced thanks to support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Pedestrian safety can be a two way street. Interested in learning how to be a bike and pedestrian friendly driver? Sign up for our next webinar!

Read on for some Pedestrian Safety Tips from Bike Walk Savannah.

  1. Walk on the Sidewalk
    If there are no sidewalks, walk as close to the left side of the street as safe, facing traffic.
  2. Cross at the Corner
    Cross at intersections or street corners for the most visibility, unless directed to a mid-block crossing by signage or markings. When possible, cross between white painted crosswalk lines.
  3. Obey Traffic Signals
    Before stepping out into the street, be sure to look at all traffic signals — don’t rush!
  4. Look Left, Right, Left
    Make sure traffic has come to a complete stop, and that you can fully see the street and any drivers. Don’t forget to look the wrong way down one-way streets, especially downtown!
  5. Watch for Turning Traffic
    Try to make eye contact with any drivers, especially those who may be turning. Watch for right turns on red!
  6. Be Careful around Driveways
    Check for signs that someone may be driving backwards, including brake lights or reverse lights. Drivers often move without checking as much as they should when they are in their own driveway.
  7. Aim to be Seen
    Avoid wearing dark-colored clothing at night or in inclement weather, or use reflective materials and carry a light. This may not always be possible due to required uniforms for work, so if you do have to wear darker clothes try to stick to well-lit routes.

Decorate your neighborhood with sidewalk chalk!

The weather is beautiful and it’s a great time to decorate the neighborhood with some sidewalk chalk!

Your sidewalk chalk can serve multiple purposes — not only can it be a beautiful drawing, but it’s a great way to create fun games for your neighbors.

We’ve seen so many different ways that people are having fun with their community from a distance. We’ve collected some of our favorites, from historical information to sidewalk games, so check them out below!

Need some chalk? Contact our friends at Starlandia Supply and see about a curbside pickup.

Image © Your Modern Family

Stained Glass Sidewalk Chalk Mural

Tape out a design on your sidewalk, fence or wall, and get ready for some beautiful art! The next day, you can wash it off with the hose and start again. Click here for a tutorial.

Bike Rodeo Activities

One of our favorite things in Kids Bike Rodeos is creating a tiny town! Try chalking out a street, stop signs and a crosswalk for a creative way to teach kids about crossing the street and bike safety. You can also try out the Stop on a Dime, Figure 8 and Slow Race games. 

Sidewalk Games

Find a safe spot in a driveway, a schoolyard, or on a sidewalk and you’re good to go! Check out some ideas on Active For Life, including hopscotch, foursquare and twister, and here are some more fun games from Make and Takes.

Image © Wade and Melissa Livingston

Fun Info About Your Neighborhood

Our friends John, Robin and Nick have been busy at work identifying historical features of homes in our neighborhoods. You can read more about it at Garden & Gun. But you can also chalk information about plants, trees, and history about your neighborhood — the sky’s the limit!

Image © Playtivities

Obstacle Course/Activity Markers

Taking the same route through your neighborhood can be a little monotonous. Why not shake things up with an obstacle course or activity? You can chalk an obstacle course on your stretch of sidewalk, including instructions to hop, spin or jump, or create a “Macarena Zone” or a “Cha Cha Slide” area!

Pretend Play

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman! Draw in some buildings and props, grab a costume, and you’re set.

Do you have some sidewalk chalk art or games to share? Tag us on social media @BikeWalkSav and tag #BikeWalkSAV and #WednesdayWalks!

We’re Hiring: Now accepting applications for New Standard Cycles program manager

New Stanard CyclesWe are looking for a new part-time (20 hours per week) program manager for New Standard Cycles. The successful candidate will have the unique blend of skills necessary to continue the success of this program, which provides safe, dependable and affordable transportation to deserving people in our community.

  • The program manager is a competent bicycle mechanic and must be able to share and teach bicycle repair skills to others.
  • The program manager is able to recruit, train, supervise, motivate and retain volunteers of all backgrounds and abilities.
  • The program manager will continue beneficial relationships with our nonprofit partners and establish new ones.
  • The program manager will create and maintain an environment in which volunteers, program partners and bicycle recipients feel welcome, valued and comfortable.

Is this you? if so, NSC Manager Position Description 2016, then email a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for three professional references to info@bicyclecampaign.org

Take our Smart Cycling class and learn to be safe and confident riding your bike with traffic

find_class_gridDo you know all you need to know to safely ride a bike with traffic? Do you feel you know enough to teach your children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews how to ride cautiously and conspicuously while on their own? When you drive your car, are you confident on how to share the road with people on bikes?

Our next Smart Cycling class, scheduled for July 17 and 18 gives you the tips, tools, and techniques to confidently to answer YES to each question. Our classes are taught by League of American Bicyclists certified instructors.

Class sessions will be held on Friday, July 17 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (With break for lunch). All participants must have their own bikes and helmets. If you do not have a helmet, you can purchase one from us for a very low price. You must be 16 years or older to take this class. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who is also registered for the class.

Registration is limited t0 15 people. Savannah Bicycle Campaign and Coastal Bicycle Touring Club members receive a $5 discount off the $40 registration price. Register today!

 

Volunteers needed for annual “bicycle census”

newscycle1-1Over the next two weeks, the Savannah Bicycle Campaign and the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization conduct pedestrian and bicycle counts at locations in Savannah and elsewhere in Chatham County. The data gathered is critically important. We need volunteers to help gather this crucial information.

Jane Love, a transportation planner at the CORE MPO, said the information collected by citizen volunteers is used for a variety of purposes, including “before and after” comparisons that can identify changes in traffic patterns resulting from infrastructure improvements such as new sidewalks or bike lanes.

For example, Love said past counts revealed bike traffic on Price and Habersham streets suggest the Price Street Bike Lane “attracts some southbound trips off of Habersham Street but also attracts some new trips that weren’t captured previously in the selected count locations.”

Conducting counts can also reveal the presence of people on bikes and on foot in places where some may presume they are not likely to be, Love said. When new infrastructure is proposed, sometimes residents question the need by claiming they never see people walking or riding bikes, and don’t dare to do so themselves. Because of this tendency to underestimate bicycle and pedestrian trips “that are in fact occurring in spite of bad conditions,” Love said, data is helpful in ensuring that “decisions are not based on conjecture.”

The information gathered during the counts is also used beyond Savannah, through an effort called the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.

Volunteers receive instructions on how to conduct the counts, necessary forms and a SBC volunteer t-shirt. Sign up to count bicycles today!