City Council Candidate Forum

This November Savannah will elect leaders to watch over the present and future of our city. Because the decisions they make on transportation and the built environment have long reaching effects, election season is an important opportunity to educate and get feedback from candidates and voters on how those changes should shape the community.

Savannah Bicycle Campaign, U.S. Green Building Council, and
the League of Women Voters present
Alderman At-Large Candidate Forum
6-8pm, Tuesday September 27
Coastal Georgia Center

With that in mind, we have partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and the League of Women Voters to host a forum for city council candidates elected by city-wide vote — Alderman At-Large Post 1 and Post 2. The forum is next Tuesday, 9/27 at 6pm at the Coastal Georgia Center. More details are below in the press release.
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Midnight Garden Ride Forecast

_MG_3056100% chance of awesome.

We’ve spent the year preparing for this Third Annual Midnight Garden Ride. We have a fantastic group of volunteers ready to show off this great city to a record number of riders. This Saturday night we launch from Forsyth Park at 8pm for a whirlwind tour of sights and sounds, of friends and families, celebrating the joy of 2 wheels overtaking the Savannah night.

The fun doesn’t stop when we get back, either. We roll into the park for a free concert headlined by Ben Sollee. How cool is that? Seriously, you won’t want to miss it. And if you want to be up close and personal with Ben and the other bands, head over to our friends at Savannah Stopover and grab one of the last VIP stagefront tables still available.

T-shirts are only guaranteed to registered riders, so if you haven’t registered yet, you’d better get on it — pre-registration closes tomorrow at midnight! We won’t even mention that the weather forecast is looking great — register today!

Price Street Bike Lane 2 Beer

A very special Tuesday August 16 awaits. Two jolly bike related events are planned for your enjoyment.

First, join the City of Savannah’s Open House on the Price Street retrofit (pictured below) at Savannah Arts Academy from 3-6pm. Be present to add your voice to others acclaiming the wondrous changes thermoplastic will bring to Price Street: a southbound bike lane out of downtown, traffic calming, and a more positive pedestrian atmosphere. We won’t miss the small total volume of cars travelling much too fast, to be replaced by a small volume traveling at a reasonable speed.

As if that weren’t enough, follow it up with a sneak partial preview of the Midnight Garden Ride route as we mosey to our third Tuesday Bike 2 Beer, this month at Blue Turtle Bistro on Paulsen Street. We should arrive around 7pm for Bike 2 Beer if you can’t join us for the ride from Savannah Arts at 6pm.

What: Bike 2 Beer monthly social

Where and When:
Savannah Arts Academy, 3-6pm: Savannah Price Bike Lane Open House
Savannah Arts to Blue Turtle Bistro, 6-7pm: A Midnight Garden Ride route preview
Blue Turtle Bistro (5002 Paulsen St), 7pm: Bike 2 Beer social

Who: You and all of the rest of our awesome Campaigners

Why: Celebrate the coming of the new Price Street bike lane and the Midnight Garden Ride

Get in Gear and Bike to Beer!

As mentioned last week and correctly indicated on our calendar, the July Bike to Beer social is TOMORROW, Wednesday 7/20 at 7pm. This time, Bike-to-Beergoers will be witnesses to a secret early announcement of our post-ride entertainment for this year’s Midnight Garden Ride… AND we’ll be giving away 2 pairs of free tickets for this year’s ride to some lucky SBC members – you must be present to win, and must be a current member, so join or renew today!

So, c’mon out with us and enjoy the impressive B Matthews beer selection, and grab a bite while you’re there.

3 feet 2 pass celebrations this weekend!

This weekend, join one or both of two Savannah rides celebrating passage of HB 101 in the state legislature this year, defining 3 feet as a minimum safe distance for cars overtaking bicycles!

As dedicated Campaigners know, this Friday July 1, Georgia will become a safer place for cyclists as a state law that includes the 3 foot minimum takes effect. Over this Independence Day weekend, bicycling clubs and advocacy groups statewide will take to the roads on “3 Feet 2 Pass” group rides to celebrate and publicize this year’s passage by the General Assembly of HB 101, the “Better Bicycling Bill.”


Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 101, the “Better Bicycling Bill,” on May 11th and Georgia joined 17 other states with safe passing laws. The bill makes several other improvements to bicycling laws. The law now clarifies that bicycle lanes must be built according to nationally recognized minimum safety standards and that cyclists have the right of way while travelling in bicycle lanes.

Language in the bill also clarifies conditions under which a bicycle, long recognized as a vehicle under state law, may move from its legally mandated area of operation “as far right as practicable” into the center of a travel lane. “This is particularly important to the safety of cyclists,” notes SBC director Frank McIntosh, “as they oftentimes must move more into the travel lane to ensure their safety. A lot more road hazards gather in the gutter and you are not as visible.”

Savannah Bicycle Campaign partner ‘3 Feet 2 Pass’ rides include a road ride Saturday, July 2 morning ride launching from Gallery Espresso at 8 a.m., concurrent with the usual Saturday morning road ride there. Ride options range from 30 miles at 18-20 mph to 47 miles at 25mph+. For more information on the ride, contact David Udinsky at info@perryrubberbikeshop.com.

Then on Monday, July 4th, the Coastal Bicycle Touring Club will host a 25 mile ride starting from the north end of Forsyth Park at 10 a.m., proceeding around Isle of Hope and back. It is a more moderately paced ride that allows time to enjoy the scenery. For more information contact: Ed Jewell, 912-826-3657.

Full press release of rides around the state is here.

Don’t forget to register for the Midnight Garden Ride Saturday September 3! It’s going to be a sight to behold!

Dump the Pump Challenge, 2W2W, Thurs. 6/16

Free bus fares, a group bicycle commute and the Third Annual Dump the Pump Challenge are among the activities being held this Thursday, June 16, to help mark National Dump the Pump Day.

Chatham Area Transit is offering free rides on all of its fixed-route buses for the entire day. Also on Thursday, cyclists can join a group bicycle commute that leaves Habersham Village Shopping Center at 7:40 a.m., and ends at Savannah City Hall. Led by trained volunteers from the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, this is a great opportunity for those who live in midtown and work downtown to give bicycle commuting a shot.

The end of the Bicycle Commute will also serve as the finish line for the much-anticipated Dump the Pump Challenge. The Challenge pits car vs. bus  vs. bike in a race from the 12 Oaks Shopping Center near DeRenne and Abercorn to City Hall.

Savannah Bicycle Campaign Director Frank McIntosh, the bicycle competitor, will attempt to defend the title he has won for the past two years. He will be up against Georgia Legal Services Managing Attorney Bill Broker, a longtime bus commuter; and City of Savannah Mobility and Parking Director Sean Brandon, who will drive his car. The race should be exciting, as just a few minutes have separated the competitors in past years.

Dump the Pump Challenge II

The rules are these: The race begins at 8 a.m. when CAT’s regular Abercorn 14 bus arrives at the 12 Oaks bus stop (where the Publix is located). The bus continues on its regular route, making normal stops. The car must follow all traffic laws, and will head north on Abercorn and Drayton streets, parking in the Whitaker Street Garage. The cyclist must also follow traffic laws, but can park his bike at the City Hall bicycle rack. Winner is the first to step across the finish line next to City Hall, which should occur between 8:20 and 8:30 a.m.

National Dump the Pump Day is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of alternative modes of transportation, and to encourage people to leave their car at home for one day and commute to work via public transportation, carpool, bicycle, scooter, skateboard or foot. With near-record-high gas prices, it’s a particularly good time to Dump the Pump.

And with the addition of new bicycle lanes and more than 50 bicycle racks over the past two years, it’s now easier than ever to bike in Savannah. You can find a map of bicycle racks, as well as public garages, by visiting the City’s Web site at the Mobility and Parking Services link. Find the CAT bus schedule at catchacat.org. And learn about bicycle commuting right here at bicyclecampaign.org.

Awesome Bike Education Class this Saturday

This Saturday, join our League Cycling Instructors for Traffic Skills 101!

Learn how to prevent bicycle accidents, perform basic bike maintenance and how to ride a bike in traffic from local League of American Bicyclist certified instructors and pro bike mechanics. The course starts at 10am at the Bicycle Link, and wraps up around 5pm at the Spoked Bike Culture Exhibit at DesotoRow Gallery.

Cost is $25 members/$35 non-members and includes a course book. Attendees should bring a bike and helmet or plan to rent one from the Bicycle Link.

Who: Anyone who wants to develop greater confidence riding on the streets of Savannah.
What: TS101, League of American Bicyclists course Where: Bicycle Link, 408 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd, Savannah
When: 10am-5pm, Saturday May 21
Why: Tons of useful information and skills development for safer bicycling! TS101 is a prerequisite course for League Cycling Instructor certification.

Spoked – Art! Bikes! Feats of Strength!

The Spoked Bike Festival is a unique annual festival that promotes the art of bicycles and the growing subculture of cycling in Savannah. Organized by the Desotorow Gallery in partnership with SBC, the event will be held at the gallery at 2427 Desoto Avenue in Savannah.

The 2011 festival will feature a multimedia juried gallery exhibition celebrating bicycles and bicycle culture from 6-9PM on Friday, May 20th. On Saturday, May 21st from 2-6PM the festival will feature a parts swap meet and bike activities — trackstand and braking contests and more. For more information visit the Desotorow Gallery, Inc. Facebook page.