Thank you for your support!

Friends,

I’m especially thankful for our Savannah community this year. Whether you’re down the street or across the country, your support has helped us through 2020 and continued our work to create a community for all street users — no matter their mode of transportation.

December 1 is GivingTuesday — a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Your contributions on #GivingTuesday will directly support our work to:

  • Continue the next phase of the Truman Linear Park Trail, and continue work on Tide To Town, Savannah’s urban trail system.
  • Provide bicycles, lights, helmets and safety classes for children and adults in need of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Update policies and guidelines with the City of Savannah, Chatham County and surrounding cities to create a safe, reliable and connected network for people walking and biking.
  • Host events in our community like virtual group bike rides, scavenger hunts, the Moonlight Garden Ride, Matt’s Moon River Cruise and more.
  • Expand our education programs to create a full roster of classes for children and adults, including our new Bicycle Friendly Driver program.

Help us reach our #GivingTuesday goal of $2,500 by making a contribution today!

Bike Walk Savannah to Host 7th Annual Holiday Bike Drive

Many of us remember the feeling of fun and freedom that came with getting a bicycle of our very own. In an effort to spread some holiday cheer and ensure that children across our community can have that experience, volunteers from Bike Walk Savannah’s New Standard Cycles Program take in donated kids bikes, fix them up, and work with Blessings in a Book Bag to identify kids who would not otherwise receive a bike for the holidays. 

Bike Walk Savannah has organized Bike Drop Off Days on Sundays to make spreading holiday cheer a little easier. New locations to be added.

Volunteers will be on hand to collect the bikes at the following locations:

Bike Walk Savannah HQ – 1301 A Lincoln St. Nov. 22, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m.

Green Truck Pub – 2430 Habersham St. Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 from 12-4 p.m. (Drop off at Drive Thru on Maupas Ave. side)

Community members are encouraged to donate bikes for kids of all ages that have been outgrown or are no longer needed. Volunteers can work with a little dust (and change some tires, tubes or grips) but please — no rust. 

If your organization would like to serve as a drop off point or collect bikes to deliver to Bike Walk Savannah, please email info@bikewalksavannah.org. 

Financial contributions can be made at bikewalksavannah.org/donate. These donations help sustain the important work done by Bike Walk Savannah to redefine our city as a place for people, no matter their mode of transportation.

Virtual presentations scheduled for Canal District Master Plan

The City of Savannah is inviting the public to learn about the Canal District Master Plan by participating in one of three virtual meetings.

The Zoom meetings will take place on Wednesday, July 1, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m.

If you are unable to attend one of these virtual meetings, please call 912-429-3364 or email planning@savannahga.gov for additional information on how to learn more about the Canal District Master Plan.

To register for the meetings, visit the following links:

Wednesday, July 1, 2 p.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtf–tqjwsGtfrUs62SrxN0AfWU4pAmenL

Tuesday, July 7, 6 p.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcOyqqDgvE9O6lk9WtcUZxiIkkxuTqd-T

Thursday, July 16, 10 a.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEldumrpjgqE9xrvaS3U7zlRbZ4NSbh6ALZ

The Canal District is the City of Savannah’s premier planning and development initiative. Anchored by the new SPLOST-funded arena, the Canal District is located on the west side of Savannah near the intersection of Gwinnet Street and Stiles Avenue. The arena and surrounding district will be one of the largest projects the City has ever undertaken and presents the opportunity to create a vibrant new center of activity adjacent to Savannah’s downtown.

To better prepare for the area’s future growth and development, the City conducted multiple workshops and meetings to obtain feedback from the community and determine priorities for the area. This effort resulted in the Canal District Master Plan and accompanying Action Playbook, which will be presented to the City Council on July 23, 2020.

The Metropolitan Planning Commission also launched an online survey to gather feedback and comments on the proposed development. To participate in the survey, visit thempc.org and select the “Input on Savannah’s New Arena and Canal District Master Plan” link on the homepage. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete.

We need your support to make Savannah better for people biking and walking

“I wish I could ride my bike to work, but I just don’t feel safe.” 

“I want to walk my children to school, but people won’t stop to let us cross.” 

“I don’t feel safe crossing my street because there is no visibility.”

Does this sound familiar to you? I hear variations of these three statements every single day from people all around our city.

It frustrates me because these are fixable problems. Making biking and walking (and transit riding) more convenient and welcoming through Complete Streets infrastructure like bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use paths produces the obviously desirable results. But unlike automobile centric infrastructure, everyone benefits from active transportation improvements — even people who drive.

We’ve made great strides on these Complete Streets projects in 2019. We cut the ribbon on improvements on Lincoln Street and Price Street, secured $1 million in SPLOST funding for Tide To Town, begun construction on the Truman Linear Park Trail and provided bikes to more than 110 people in need. But we have a lot we want to tackle in 2020, including needed policy updates, implementing more high-quality bike lanes and multi-use paths, and installing sidewalks and crosswalks across the city. And in order to do that work, I’m asking you to make a tax-deductible contribution today to help us reach our $10,000 goal.

Your contribution will:

  • Help us to provide bicycles to those in need through our New Standard Cycles program.
  • Allow us to continue serving as your voice for connected, equitable and welcoming places to bike and walk.
  • Provide education classes for children and adults.
  • Support our public policy work to ensure that places to bike and walk are always on the list.
  • Help us continue our great events like the Moonlight Garden Ride, Matt’s Moon River Cruise, Tweed Ride, Seersucker Ride, and so much more.

And anyone who donates more than $100 this month will receive a commemorative, limited-edition Bike Walk Savannah mug.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE >

Thank you, as always, for your support of the people-powered movement.

Caila Brown

Bike Walk Savannah Executive Director

Matt’s Moon River Cruise Rides June 15

The rescheduled Seventh Annual Matt’s Moon River Cruise will be held on Saturday, June 15 at PERC Coffee Roasters. The event is named in memory of Matt Kohler, who was hit from behind by a driver on July 26, 2012 while riding his bike on U.S. Highway 80 in Bloomingdale. Matt’s Moon River Cruise is presented by the Law Offices of Joe J. Steffen, Savannah Bike Law. Children under 12 are admitted for free.

A casual bike ride will leave PERC at 1 p.m. and return for a party featuring coffee and snacks from PERC Coffee Roasters, food trucks, a silent auction, and more.

Moon River Brewing Company will be on site pouring some of their top drafts, including Matt’s Moon Cruise, a Belgo-American Pale Ale.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

The goal is to educate the public on how to safely share the road with people who bike and promote efforts to make our streets safer for all road users. All proceeds benefit Bike Walk Savannah’s education programs.

Helmets are required for the ride. If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up here.

Celebrate the Lincoln St Bike Lane with a Ribbon Cutting on April 5

Spring has sprung and it’s a perfect time to bike to work on the newly painted Lincoln Street bike lane!

Join Bike Walk Savannah and City of Savannah Government on Friday, April 5 at 8:15 a.m. at 1301 Lincoln St to celebrate the painting and restriping of the Lincoln Street Bike Lane with a ribbon cutting.

We encourage you to ride your bike to the event and to make this a stop on your daily commute.

Snacks and drinks provided by The Sentient Bean.

For more information and to RSVP visit our Facebook event.

See you at the CAT System Redesign Launch & Open House Jan. 15

The Chatham Area Transit Authority announced its Let’s Go! Designing Better Transit Together initiative, which will result in a system-wide redesign of the community’s fixed-route bus network. Residents are invited to learn more and provide early feedback at the first community open house on January 15, 2019.

Let’s Go! Community Open House

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Coastal Georgia Center, Room 113, 305 Fahm St, Savannah, GA

(Drop-In Format – A brief presentation, with Q&A, will start at 5:30 p.m.)

The meeting will be an open house format and community members are welcome to stop by at their convenience. During the open house, residents can learn more about the initiative as well as provide input through interactive stations and discussions.

In addition to the open house, an online webinar will be presented on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.  To register for the online webinar, send an email to letsgo@catchacat.org and a link will be provided.

The Let’s Go! Designing Better Transit Together system redesign project will rely heavily on input from the community. The initiative will feature a dedicated webpage, three online surveys, and a series of community meetings.  The project schedule is anticipated to conclude at the end of 2019. Click here to learn more information.

Holiday Bike Drive drop off at Wilmington Island Farmers Market rescheduled to Dec. 8

UPDATE: Due to rain the the bike drop off has been postponed until Dec. 8. If you would like to drop off a bike for the Holiday Bike Drive before then, you can take it to Quality Bike Shop during business hours our bring it to the Bike Walk Savannah office (1301 Lincoln St.) on Thursdays from 7-9:30 p.m., Sundays from 2-4:30 p.m. or by appointment by contacting Henry Rocha.

MEDIA RELEASE

Savannah, Ga. (Nov. 27, 2018) – The Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market will partner with the Savannah Bicycle Campaign to collect gently used bicycles for the 2018 Holiday Bike Drive. Bicycle donations will be accepted on Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the entrance to the market, which takes place at 170 Whitemarsh Island Road on the grounds of Islands High School.

Bicycles can also be dropped off at Quality Bike Shop, located at 1127 East Montgomery Crossroads, during business hours and the Savannah Bicycle Campaign headquarters, located at 1301 Lincoln Street, on Thursdays from 7- 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 – 4:30 p.m.

“We have a limited amount of time to refurbish bikes, so badly damaged bikes cannot be accepted,” Executive Director of Savannah Bicycle Campaign John Bennett explains. “We can handle a little bit of dust but not lots of rust.”

In keeping with the mission of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign’s New Standard Cycles program, each of the donated bicycles will be thoroughly restored by volunteers before they are presented to deserving children on December 16 as both a Christmas gift and healthy mode of transportation.

The recipients will be hand-selected by Blessings in a Book Bag, Inc. — a nonprofit that provides impoverished school children with weekend meals and supplemental academic resources. Children will also receive a complimentary bike helmet from the Heads in Helmets campaign of the Justice for Children Foundation —  a nonprofit foundation founded by Savannah attorney Howard Spiva.

Last year, the Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market collected nearly 40 children’s bicycles for the Holiday Bike Drive and hopes to surpass that amount this year with donations from Wilmington and Whitemarsh Island residents.

“Through partnerships with other local nonprofit organizations, the market can truly bring our community together through giving, so we hope to see dozens of bicycles coming into the market on Saturday,” Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market Founder and Event Coordinator Debby McIncrow says.

The Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market will showcase a wide variety of regional food and artisan vendors and offer family-friendly activities and live entertainment from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Big Bon Pizza will serve their delicious wood-fired pizzas from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Children can enjoy free pony rides and spend time with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their elves. Steel the Show’s Melvin Dean will perform and the Gretchen Greene School of Dance company dancers will thoroughly entertain guests as they bring to life classic holiday songs. The market is free and open to the public.

For questions about the 2018 Holiday Bike Drive, please email bikes@bicyclecampaign.org. Photos of bicycles being considered for donation can be evaluated via email, and owners will be notified if their bicycles can be refurbished and given to a deserving child this Christmas.

To see a detailed event schedule, please visit wifarmersmarket.org.

NOTE TO MEDIA:

Media may contact Lauren Ashley at 912.663.3790 or laureneashley16@gmail.com for additional event information and post-event photo/video requests. Executive Director of Savannah Bicycle Campaign John Bennett will be available for interviews at the market throughout the day’s donation drive.

ABOUT THE WILMINGTON ISLAND FARMERS’ MARKET:

The Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market (WIFM) is a nonprofit organization that provides Wilmington Island and adjacent islands’ residents with locally grown produce, baked goods, natural skincare solutions and a variety of artisan creations. Since its establishment in 2012, the WIFM has grown and impacted the community through partnerships with local businesses and other nonprofit organizations. WIFM is a beloved seasonal favorite for the wholesome fun it offers against the backdrop of the beautiful Whitemarsh and Wilmington Islands. For more information, visit wifarmersmarket.org.

Children’s bicycles needed for annual Holiday Bike Drive 2017


Our New Standard Cycles program is seeking donations of children’s bikes for our annual Holiday Bike Drive in conjunction with Blessings in a Book Bag. After volunteers recondition the bicycles, they will be given to deserving children selected by Blessings in a Bookbag on Dec. 16. Here’s coverage of last year’s event from Fox 28: Savannah Bicycle Campaign gives 53 children bikes this Christmas.

Bikes can be dropped off at 1301 Lincoln St on the following days and times:

  • Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Other times by appointment.

Bikes can also be dropped off at the Wilmington Island Farmers Market on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Please note that badly damaged or rusted bikes cannot be accepted.

For more information or to schedule a donation, email New Standard Cycles Program Manager Henry Rocha at bikes@bicyclecampaign.org. If you’d like to help refurbish the bikes, sign up here.

We are grateful to the Spiva Law Group for providing helmets to go along with the bike and to Junk Luggers of the Coastal Empire for donating and transporting bikes.

Be smart! Ride your bike to St. Patrick’s Day!

Bogata has Ciclovia, Atlanta has Streets Alive! and we have St. Patrick’s Day, a time when Savannah’s streets are closed to cars (except those carrying dignitaries), at least while the parade is in process.

If you are heading downtown to join in the festivities, do yourself a favor and go by bike. Driving a car into downtown and trying find parking on Savannah’s most famous holiday — and, really, anytime between now and Sunday night — is a fool’s errand.

If you are planning to ride your bike on the big day, make sure to bring lights, in case you stay out later than you thought you would, and your lock to protect your bike from mischief. And, of course, wear a helmet and stay alert for impaired, distracted and aggressive drivers. If you need extra bikes for guests, SBC business members Savannah on Wheels and Perry Rubber Bike Shop offer rentals. Don’t wait until it’s too late, reserve your bikes in advance.

Stay safe, enjoy the parade and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!