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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100% 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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Join us for the National Bike Month edition of our Bike to Beer social at Moon River Brewing Company tonight starting at 7pm.  We’ll be celebrating a year with Frank McIntosh as Executive Director as well as revealing upcoming changes to Price Street, Bike Education, and the Midnight Garden Ride.  See you there!