Senior White House Advisor Joins City, State Officials to Celebrate Safe Streets for All Grant Award

Tom Perez, Senior White House Advisor, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, will join City of Savannah and state officials on Thursday, Oct. 31, in front of the Bull Street Library to celebrate a $9.9 million grant awarded to Savannah by the U.S. Department of Transportation to enhance safety at intersections along 37th Street. 

Director Perez will deliver remarks alongside Ann Purcell, chair of the State Transportation Board of Georgia, Mayor Van R. Johnson II, and City Manager Joseph A. Melder.  

In September, the City of Savannah’s Vision Zero Program was awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant as part of $1 billion in new funding released by the DOT under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. Along with Savannah, funding was awarded to 354 local, regional, and tribal communities to improve roadway safety and prevent deaths and serious injuries. 

The Vision Zero funding will target 15 intersections along 37th Street, upgrading them with new signals, dedicated left-turn lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and extended bicycle lanes. The City will match the $9.9 million grant with $2.4 million, bringing the total project cost to $12.3 million. 

In February 2022, City Council passed a resolution implementing the Vision Zero Initiative, followed by the completion of the Vision Zero Action Plan in September of that year. The plan identified 37th Street as part of a high-injury network and recommended it as a high priority for improvements. Between 2018 and 2022, approximately 970 crashes were recorded along this major east-west connector, which links central Savannah to I-16 access. The corridor is one of the City’s highest-risk roadways, with frequent intersection and turning crashes involving pedestrian fatalities. 

The grant funding will support new planning activities aimed at meeting several objectives, including capturing the most recent safety data, identifying the impacts of improvements, and engaging the public and the Vision Zero Task Force in the planning process. 

What: SS4A Grant Event 

When: Oct. 31, 2:30 p.m.  

Where: Bull Street Library, 2002 Bull St.  

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.

Savannah Bicycle Campaign invites community to participate in Sixth Annual Savannah Cranksgiving on Saturday, Nov. 17

 

 

For Immediate Release

Nov. 12, 2018 Savannah, Ga. — The Savannah Bicycle Campaign’s fourth annual Savannah Cranksgiving Ride is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17. Cranksgiving is bicycle-powered food drive benefitting Emmaus House. Founded in 1982 by a group of downtown churches, Emmaus House provides food and day services to the homeless and needy of Savannah. Breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, fifty weeks each year.

Registration for the ride starts at 1 p.m. at the Savannah Bicycle Campaign office at 1301 Lincoln St. (Corner of Henry and Lincoln streets). At registration, participants will receive a shopping list of items needed by Emmaus House. The challenge begins at 1:30 p.m. when riders roll out to shop by bike. Participants will buy items from the shopping list without going over $15-20 price limit. Riders may compete by themselves or on teams. Prizes in the following categories: Most Items Carried by a Single Person, Most Stores Visited, Best Team Effort, and Most Innovative Cargo Rig.

“Cranksgiving is an awesome opportunity for the community to not only promote environmentally conscious transportation alternatives, but also spread awareness about the painful underbelly of this beautiful city,” said Emmaus House Executive Director Ariana Berksteiner. “We are grateful for the Savannah Bike Campaign and our partnership with them in giving our neighbors a hand up.”

“It’s an honor to assist Emmaus House in their mission of helping people in need again this year.” said Savannah Bicycle Campaign Executive Director John Bennett. “Cranksgiving also serves as a reminder that thousands of people walk and ride their bikes to grocery stores every day in Savannah. They need safe streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes to help them make these and other trips to important destinations.”

About Cranksgiving: Cranksgiving started in New York City in 1999, and there are now nearly 80 independently organized events across the globe. The event has its roots in bike messenger alleycat races, but there are no requirements other than “get food” and “do it on a bike.” This year Cranksgiving celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

About the Savannah Bicycle Campaign: The Savannah Bicycle Campaign is a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating a livable, connected and safe community through public education, fun rides and consistent advocacy for improved facilities and enforcement in Chatham County and throughout Georgia. The Savannah Bicycle Campaign aims to empower residents an