Take the SR 307 Corridor Community Study!

The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, on behalf of the CORE MPO, is undertaking the SR 307 Corridor Study to identify short-term and long-term improvements needed along the corridor to maintain and enhance traffic safety and operations along SR 307/Dean Forest Road.

The study will evaluate the existing and future capacity, operation, and safety conditions of the corridor from its southern terminus at SR 25/US 17/Ogeechee Road northwards to its terminus at SR 25/Main Street near a major Georgia Ports Authority truck gate. This study will:

  • Utilize data to evaluate the operation and safety of the corridor with strong consideration given to access management improvements that will improve the operation and safety;
  • Consider freight, commuter, local traffic and pedestrian/bicyclist travelers, and;
  • Account for current and future land use patterns and anticipated continued growth.

The goal of the study will be to identify and prioritize short and long-term improvements in a prioritized list of recommendations to facilitate the planning and programming of projects through the Metropolitan Transportation Process (MTP).

Meaningful engagement of the community is critical to ensure that residents, businesses, community leaders, and other stakeholders have an opportunity to actively participate in the process and support the final project recommendations.

A survey is available for those who live near, work on or frequently take SR 307. Click here to take it!

Click here to view the presentation from the Community Meeting on Nov. 8, 2021.

BWS October Newsletter

Friends,

We can’t believe it’s almost October! Before we close out September, however, we’d like to encourage you to view the presentations and submit comments on the Forsyth Park Draft Master Plan. If you enjoy biking or rolling in and around Forsyth Park, it’s important to have your voice heard. The deadline for comments is this Thursday, Sept. 30 — so let’s keep Forsyth for All! 

Great news on the construction front — Police Memorial Trail is open to the public again! Thank you to the City of Savannah for completing this crucial infrastructure link in the Truman Linear Park Trail and Tide To Town network. Click here to view the map and for more information. Stay tuned for a ribbon cutting date!

And on the other side of the county, we had the opportunity to visit the construction site at McQueen’s Island Trail. This trail has been closed for many years due to erosion and degraded trail surfaces from various hurricanes and tropical storms, and we’re excited that the crew has done a great job to repair the seawall and prevent further erosion of the property. Tides and weather permitting, the County hopes to complete construction by the end of November.

We have a ton of great events planned for October, including the return of the Cycle Social! This month we’ll meet on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at Lake Mayer to ride the Truman Linear Park Trail and discuss next steps for Tide to Town, our urban trail system. Want to host a Cycle Social in your neighborhood? Send us an email at info@bikewalksavannah.org. Check out all our events and volunteer opportunities on our website.

Happy biking, walking and rolling! Stay tuned for some exciting additional fall events and new plans for 2022.

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

Submit your photo for the 2022 BikeSAV Map Cover Contest!

2022 is fast approaching… which means it’s nearly time to print next year’s BikeSAV Map & Guide! Our guide provides a street suitability map of downtown, recommended longer-distance routes around the county, and tips for safe biking. It’s distributed free of charge to residents and visitors of Savannah in bike shops, tour spots, visitors centers and more.

Each year we look forward to working with Bike Walk Savannah members and supporters to find the perfect cover photo, showcasing our favorite spots in Savannah and some pretty cool bikes.

That’s where you come in! Submit up to 3 vertically oriented photos (or photos that can be vertically cropped, like seen in our maps above) to our 2022 BikeSAV Map & Guide Cover Contest, showcasing your bike and your favorite spot to ride within Savannah or Chatham County. If your photo includes people, please ensure that you have their permission to submit.

The top submissions (as identified by the BWS board and staff) will be posted on Facebook for voting in early October. The top submissions will receive a free BWS family membership, and the winner will receive a BWS family membership and BWS Swag Pack.

2022 BikeSAV Guide Cover Contest Submission Form

My initials above certify that I have granted Bike Walk Savannah permission to include my entry(entries), if selected, on the 2022 Bike SAV Map & Guide and on accompanying promotional materials. I retain all other copyrights for this entry. I have received and read a copy of the official rules and understand that failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification of my entry.

2022 BIKESAV GUIDE COVER CONTEST RULES

  1. Work published previously in any copyrighted newspaper, magazine, book or other medium is ineligible. Entries must be original and be the intellectual property of the submitter.
  2. Contestants may enter up to three (3) images.
  3. Submissions should follow these guidelines:
    1. Photo dimensions: at least 300 dpi, with image size of at least 4″ x 9″. If your image cannot print clearly, it may not be selected.
    2. Photo file should be named: FirstNameLastName-1. If submitting multiple entries, please label them -2 and -3.
  4. Submissions will also be accepted via email at info@bikewalksavannah.org. All form fields must be included in the email.
  5. Entries should be submitted via this form or by email no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. We will only accept entries in digital format.
  6. Bike Walk Savannah board members and staff will judge the top submissions, and Facebook audience/BWS members will decide the final winner. BWS reserves the rights to alter the final selection based on print quality and needs.
  7. All contestants agree to allow Bike Walk Savannah to use their entry in social media posts and in the final print and digital distribution of the BikeSAV Guide, if selected. Winners may be asked to provide a photo to appear with their entry on the Bike Walk Savannah website.
  8. The top submissions will receive a free BWS family membership, and the winning entry will receive a BWS family membership and BWS Swag Pack.

ADVOCACY ALERT: Ask Congress to create a safe sustainable transportation system

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (formerly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework) is moving fast — and so far it looks pretty good for people who bike and walk.

Is it perfect? No. While it is a great step forward that will build safer, more accessible communities — and while we celebrate the wins for bicycling and walking — we can take action today to make the bill better.

Join us and the League in contacting your Senators in support of amendments to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that will mitigate some of the bill’s shortcomings.

We’re asking the Senate to support amendments that would:

  • Bring back key parts of the Bicycle Commuter Benefit (Brown 2236)
  • Require states to set road safety goals that actually reflect better safety outcomes (Klobuchar 2301)
  • Increase funding for the Reconnecting Communities Program to reverse harm caused to Black and brown communities by highway construction (Warnock/Cardin 2167)
  • Require states to fix and maintain roads before building new ones (Kaine 2143)
  • Collect data on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (Cardin 2465)

Read more about these amendments on their blog »

Take action now to show that bike advocates want this bipartisan bill to be as transformative as possible not only for people who bike, walk, and roll, but for everyone.

Click here to sign on.

Sign up for our Fall bike and pedestrian counts!

We can’t believe it, but summer is already almost over. Kids have headed back to school, our beach days are dwindling, and the temps are right for just about everyone to walk or ride a bike — which means it’s time for our Fall bike and pedestrian counts!

These counts take place at a variety of locations around Savannah, and the data collected helps us, the City of Savannah, Chatham County and the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization track the usage of existing facilities, as well as plan for safer places to bike, walk and roll in the future.

So grab a friend or load up some podcasts, bring a lawn chair and a clip board, and get counting! Click here to sign up for a shift.

Want to count a certain location but the date doesn’t work with your schedule? Send an email to info@bikewalksavannah.org and we can talk. Below are the rules:

  • Weekday counts must take place on Tuesdays or Thursdays, from 7-9 a.m. or 5-7 p.m.
  • Weekend counts must take place Saturdays from 12-2 p.m.
  • Counts are rain or shine, although if there is a severe weather alert the shift will be rescheduled to the next available count day.

April Newsletter: Get ready for Spring!

It’s officially spring in Savannah, which means we’re getting ready for our Bike and Pedestrian Counts!

These counts help us keep track of how people are moving around the City — and help us plan for safer places for people to bike, walk and roll. We have shifts available from April 19 through May 15 all around the City, and you can sign up for a shift on our website.

We also have two action alerts for you this month, one of which is in our own backyard. Friends of Forsyth is soliciting feedback on their proposed designs for the Forsyth Park Master Plan, and you can take their survey at their website.

The other opportunity is a little more technical, and all your help is appreciated! If you’ve ever submitted a traffic calming request, asked the City for a crosswalk, or wondered how engineers decide what type of bike lane to install, you may be interested to learn that it’s not necessarily up to neighborhood residents — or even up to traffic engineer’s wishes.

Instead, these decisions are up to a technical document called the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This manual is meant to create “uniformity” in the look of our road signs and symbols, including traffic lights, crosswalks and all kinds of street markings. Unfortunately, it is full of assumptions and value judgements that privilege driver’s convenience over the safety of people biking and walking.

But we have good news! The MUTCD is currently being revised by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and we have a chance to make it better. Our friends at The League of American Bicyclists have drafted a great overview on the MUTCD and areas of concern, and America Walks has prepared a comment template that you can use. We encourage you to visit their websites and submit comments on the MUTCD by May 14.

Stay tuned for our Bike Month events. See you out biking, walking and rolling!

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

ACTION ALERT: Do you support dedicating more funding for trails? Contact your state legislators today

At their Feb. 25, 2021 meeting the Savannah City Council adopted a resolution to increase the City’s hotel/motel tax from 6 to 8%. As part of this increase, they have allocated $17 million in funding for trails, sidewalks and other connections between westside neighborhoods, the Historic District and the new arena, and $10 million in funding for to expand the Tide To Town urban trail system.

We support this legislation for quite a few reasons:

  • The completion of the roughly 30-mile core loop of Tide To Town would result in almost 60% of Savannah neighborhoods being within a 1/4 mile or 5 minute walk of the loop, and serve over 100,000 Chatham County residents who live within a 3/4 mile biking distance.
  • This is a project for all Savannahians: nearly 75% of neighborhoods within the Core Loop walking distance are majority-minority.
  • 10 neighborhoods that include Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s Title I schools are within the Core Loop walking distance.
  • According to 2016 U.S. Census Bureau data, 13.7% of Savannah residents lack access to a motor vehicle. These residents rely on walking, using public transportation and biking to get to their jobs, doctors appointments, grocery stores, etc., and providing direct access to dedicated facilities like the Tide To Town Urban Trail System will only further help them.

While the funding is for tourism related projects, we know that Savannah and Chatham County residents of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy every single project on the list. If you also support this proposed hotel/motel tax increase, we encourage you to contact your state representative or senator today. Click here to find out your representative in the Coastal Delegation.

Today is Giving Tuesday! Help us reach our $2,500 goal

Hi Friend,
Today 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!
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation
If you unable to make a financial contribution this holiday season, you can still help! Donate your gently used bikes for kids of all ages, we’ll give them a new home with the help of Blessings In A Bookbag, Inc. Volunteers can work with a little dust (and change some tires, tubes or grips) but please — no rust.

Bikes can be delivered to the following locations on these dates:

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

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

If you have any questions about the suitability of your bike for our program, or your business would like to collect bikes to deliver to BWS, please email info@bikewalksavannah.org.
Thank you, as always, for your support.

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

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!

Mobility Justice is Racial Justice

Bike Walk Savannah
We know that a Black person riding a bike or walking through a neighborhood is at greater risk of harm, harassment and violence — whether or not there are sidewalks and bike lanes. And we hope it has become as clear to you as it is to us that we cannot advocate for safer streets without also advocating for racial and social justice.
 
From traffic fatalities to police brutality to a broken justice system, Black people like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and a disturbingly long list are being killed with alarming frequency. This needs to end now.
 
Bike Walk Savannah stands with those fighting against racism in the United States and around the globe. We remain committed to our mission of an equitable environment for biking and walking in Savannah — and beyond — and commit to supporting the racial justice work that needs to be done to get there.
 
Over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing more content from those fighting for racial justice and mobility justice, and will share actionable steps that we all can take. Thank you for joining us in the fight to create truly safe streets in Savannah.
 
Caila Brown, Executive Director
Michael Edwards, Board Co-Chair
Mike Nadeau, Board Co-Chair
The Board and Staff of Bike Walk Savannah