News Cycle: The slow but sure shift in public opinion about the benefits of bicycling

The slow but sure shift in public opinion about the benefits of bicycling by John Bennett was originally published in Connect Savannah on June 12, 2019.

IT’S AN understatement to say I was preaching to the choir. It was more like preaching to choir directors when I made a presentation on the benefits of bicycling and walking to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah’s “Green Team” on June 1.

These folks needed no convincing. The group’s vision statement confirms its members’ intention to “ally with like-minded communities to support the vulnerable, and evolve a resilient and sustainable way of living in our shared world.”

I’ve never turned down an opportunity to talk about how bicycling and walking can make our city safer, healthier, and an altogether better place to live. University classes, civic organizations, neighborhood associations — if they invite me I’ll be there early and bring a screen and projector.

While most of my audiences aren’t as receptive as the Green Team, the truth is the rooms are not as tough as they used to be when I started making presentations on biking and walking over a decade ago.

Early on I learned to stash additional “secret” slides after the apparent end of the deck that I could advance to when I needed to bat down popular, but inaccurate notions about bicycling and walking that frequently came up in post-presentation question and answer sessions.

I could depend on someone to erroneously assert that people who ride bikes violate traffic regulations more than people who drive or make the misinformed suggestion that people who walk and bike don’t pay their fair share of infrastructure costs. The Green Team harbored none of these notions.

As I was concluding my presentation, Brent Buice was disproving another misconception about biking and walking infrastructure: The idea that sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails are unnecessary because people don’t use them. Buice — South Carolina and Georgia coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance and chair of Friends of Tide to Town, the nonprofit working to promote an urban trail system in Savannah — led a tour of a trail that doesn’t even exist. On a sweltering Saturday at noon, around 70 people turned out for a ride that showcased an envisioned route along the banks of the Springfield Canal.

Read the full article in Connect Savannah.

News Cycle:Cycling and diversity: The larger context

Cycling and diversity: The larger context by John Bennett was originally published in Connect Savannah on May 29, 2019.

IF YOU want to encourage and empower people to become more physically active and improve the health of entire neighborhoods, Armand Turner is your man.

“You really have to figure out what people enjoy doing already and then give them the opportunity and tools to do it more consistently,” he said.

It’s an approach he first learned as a summer camp counselor in Indiana and later working as the head of the recreation and intramural sports department of Albany State University.

Today Turner is managing the physical activity component of a $3.4 million Centers for Disease Control grant awarded to Healthy Savannah through the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. The funding from the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity is aimed at reducing health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest burden of chronic disease using culturally tailored interventions to address preventable risk behaviors. Savannah is one of 31 communities nationwide to receive a Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health grant.

Healthy Savannah will use the funding to reduce health disparities among African American and Hispanic/Latino Americans in low income areas of Chatham County by improving access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity, and creating more effective links between people in need and the clinical service providers and organizations that can help.

Turner sees the REACH grant fitting into a larger context.

“It seems as if a lot of things are lining up for Savannah to be one of the healthiest cities in the South, between the coalition of health organizations looking to deconstruct old habits of unhealthy living to opportunities to make healthier choices easier for citizens through the new zoning ordinance. Savannah has the chance to flip the switch and it’s sitting right in front of us,” he said.

In order to flip that switch, especially when it comes to encouraging physical activity, barriers must be overcome.

“In the hierarchy of ‘reasons not to do anything,’ personal safety will always be at the top,” he said. “No one wants to ride a bike if they think they’re more likely to get in an accident, than to get where they’re going.”

Turner said improving safety is key to encouraging people to bike and walk for recreation and transportation.

Read the full article in Connect Savannah.

BWS receives grant from Downtown Neighborhood Association

Improving literacy, teaching children about healthy food, enhancing bike safety, sponsoring summer camps, providing food and shelter for the needy, tree planting and care, Forsyth Park preservation, youth conflict resolution, and counseling for women who have experienced trauma. These are just some of the activities that the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) will support with its 2019 Community Partner Grant Program.

DNA’s Board of Directors recently announced the recipients of this year’s grants. They are:

Bike Walk Savannah $1,500

Deep Center $3,000

Emmaus House Soup Kitchen $1,000

Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Foundation $1,500

Forsyth Farmer’s Market, $1,000

Frank Callen Boys & Girls Clubs $5,000

Friends of Massie $500

Heads Up Guidance Services $1,000

Inner City Shelter $1,000

League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia $1,000

Loop It up Savannah $1,500

Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire $2,000

Savannah Association for the Blind $500

Savannah Children’s Choir $2,000

Savannah Tree Foundation $1,000

Thomas Park Food Pantry $1,000

Trustees Garden Club $5,000

Urban Hope, Inc. $5,000

WRUU-LP $500

Each year, the DNA bestows grants to community organizations that have an impact on the greater downtown area, particularly those that help or enrich the residential quality of life. Each recipient goes through an application process and before the DNA Board of Directors for selection.

“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in the Historic Landmark District, protect Savannah’s unique downtown environment, and advocate public policies which support these objectives,” said Melinda Allen, president of the DNA. “With that in mind, our grant programs are geared to protecting the Landmark District’s architectural heritage and encouraging restoration & beautification. We also support local organizations that enhance the community through aid to Savannah’s citizens, education, safety, music, and youth development. We’re very proud of supporting these organizations and the outstanding work they do for the community.”

The funds for the grants are raised each year through the DNA’s Holiday Tour of Homes and Inns. Members and supporters of the DNA open their homes and inns for visitors to tour and learn about architecture, home décor, and the history and culture of the South. Close to a hundred volunteers supported the day-long event held last December. The DNA sold more than 800 tickets and raised $45,000 from the event. With two-thirds going to grants, the additional $10,000 will support community initiatives that address livability issues for downtown residents.

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.

Bike Walk Savannah Names Caila Brown New Executive Director

The board of directors of Bike Walk Savannah, formerly Savannah Bicycle Campaign, has selected Caila Brown to serve as its full-time executive director.

Brown previously served as board of directors chair and has been a board member since 2010. During her time as chair she oversaw the organization’s transition from Savannah Bicycle Campaign to Bike Walk Savannah, demonstrating a new, more inclusive vision for Savannah.

“Caila brings to the position deep institutional knowledge and a long history of service to Bike Walk Savannah, demonstrated leadership as a professional bicycle and pedestrian advocate, and a broad command of local, state, and national policy issues,” said Charisse Bennett, board secretary. “She is the ideal person to move the organization forward in its second decade and make our streets safer for people of all ages, abilities, and incomes.”

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead Bike Walk Savannah,” Brown said. “I’m eager to continue the work of John Bennett, the previous executive director, along with our talented board, dedicated volunteers and supportive community partners.”

Brown will be responsible for coordinating Bike Walk Savannah’s events, including Matt’s Moon River Cruise and the Moonlight Garden Ride. She will also oversee the operation of the organization’s New Standard Cycles Program, which provides dependable transportation to underserved individuals throughout Savannah and Chatham County, in addition to producing the BikeSAV Guide and working with City of Savannah staff and elected officials on policies and projects that affect people who bike and walk.

“I believe that residents and visitors of Savannah deserve to travel our beautiful city safely and with dignity, no matter their mode of transportation,” Brown said. “By making our streets safer for people who bike and walk we make them safer for all road users. Additionally, these improvements play a critical role in creating communities that are healthy, culturally vibrant and economically robust.”

Brown served as interim executive director following the departure of John Bennett, who served as executive director from 2013-2019. She began her full-time role with BWS on March 28.

Brown previously served as Complete Streets Program Manager for Georgia Bikes. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Brown can be reached directly at caila@bikewalksavannah.org.

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.

New bike lanes, new trails, and new leadership at Bike Walk Savannah in 2019

This is going to be a big year for Bike Walk Savannah!

All indicators point to 2019 as a pivotal and productive year for Bike Walk Savannah as we continue making Savannah a safer, friendlier, and more accessible city for people who walk and ride bikes, both for transportation and recreation. Consider:

  • Although there was a temporary pause due to bad weather and equipment malfunctions, work has resumed on the Lincoln Street bike lane improvements, which include a green resin surface and additional buffer zone.
  • Chatham County has issued a notice to proceed on construction of the Lake Mayer to DeRenne Avenue section of the long-awaited Truman Linear Park Trail.
    Installation of the Wheaton Street bike lane is expected to begin later this year.
  • New Standard Cycles Program Manager Henry Rocha and his volunteers are providing even more refurbished bicycles — along with important safety equipment — to deserving people in our community with the assistance of an ever-increasing roster of social service agencies.
  • We are strengthening our relationships with government agencies, civic organizations, neighborhood associations, and other nonprofits to cooperate on street safety improvements and other efforts.

I look forward to making progress on these projects and other initiatives this year, but in a different role. On Feb. 15 I will be stepping down as executive director of Bike Walk Savannah. I’m happy to announce Caila Brown, a longtime member and current chair of our board, has agreed to serve as interim executive director. She has the experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to move BWS forward and I have complete confidence in her.

It’s been a pleasure and privilege to serve as executive director of our organization for almost six years and I’m grateful for the support and guidance I’ve received from the Bike Walk Savannah Board of Directors. My belief in our mission is as strong as ever as is my expectation that we will be successful. That’s why, although I am stepping down, I am not stepping away. I intend to continue my involvement as a Bike Walk Savannah member, volunteer, and donor. And I hope you will join me. We have much work still to do, but together we can make Savannah’s streets safer and expand mobility options for people of all ages, abilities, and incomes.

Sincerely,
John Bennett
Executive Director

Join the Bike Walk Savannah Board

Bike Walk Savannah was formed in 2008 as the Savannah Bicycle Campaign. At the time our mission was to make Savannah better for bicycling — because bicycles make Savannah better. We did this through advocating for better facilities and enforcement, and encouraging, educating and empowering residents and visitors to make bicycling a healthy, enjoyable, useful part of their daily lives.

But we never have been just about bikes. In 2018 we changed our name and mission to reflect our successful advocacy efforts and progress toward streets that are safe for all road users — no matter their mode of transportation — and safer, more equitable transportation options.

We advocate for safer streets at all levels of government, including city, state and federal. We host community bike rides, and provide Bike Valet at a variety of events to encourage bicycle riders to explore our community. We empower area residents and community advocates with our education programs. We provide hundreds of bicycles to members of our community who need reliable, affordable transportation through our New Standard Cycles Program. We work with neighborhoods to find opportunities for improvement and address conditions that will increase neighborhood safety. And we are working with community partners on a city-wide urban trail system that will be ideal for runners, walkers, and cyclists — while also connecting neighborhoods and serving as a safe route for bike commuters.

2019 is just the start of our future. We want to expand our programming and advocacy campaigns. We want to increase our membership and revenue to build a sustainable organization. We want to create a Savannah that is safer, accessible, and connected for all road users. And we need your expertise and support to do so.

Are you someone who wants to help create safe streets in Savannah, and promote biking and walking as a viable and essential means of transportation and recreation? Are you interested in being part of our fundraising and development strategy? Do you have experience with community engagement, fundraising, or political strategy?

If any of these boxes are checked off for you, we invite you to apply to join our board of directors. Our all-volunteer board is comprised of community members who support our vision of a connected, safe and vibrant Savannah, with welcoming places to bike and walk.

Click here to learn more about the commitment details for the 5 available board positions. To apply for a position, please submit your resume and an intro letter to info@bikewalksavannah.org.

Help us win a $50,000 grant to improve safety around three Savannah schools

This fall, Zendrive launched a new program to support local solutions to local traffic safety programs called #FundMyStreets. The company invited communities across the country to send in their innovative and impactful proposals for making change where they live, and apply for up to $50,000 to make streets safe in their neighborhoods. Bike Walk Savannah partnered with the Charles Ellis Montessori Academy School Council to apply for the grant. We’ve learned we are one of 23 finalists nationwide.

One of the criteria for final selection is community support, which is gauged by the number of times this short video about our application is retweeted:

 

We are asking all Twitter users who support safer streets around Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, Savannah Arts Academy, and J.G. Smith Elementary to like and retweet before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. Include the hashtag #FundMyStreets and the @zendrive in your retweet.

Happy New Year from BWS!

Thanks to you we were able to surpass our year-end goal and raise $13,725 to support our advocacy efforts in 2019. And we’ve already gotten to work!

For many, it’s not a surprise that Savannah has lagged behind in direct support for better (and safer) mobility options. It can be discouraging when you think about the more than 70 percent of streets in Savannah that do not have sidewalks or our woefully insufficient bicycle network that is especially shameful in a city where bikes are the main mode of transportation for so many people.

But there’s hope for 2019 — and we’re right at the table serving as your voice for a safe, connected, and accessible city for people of all ages, abilities and incomes.

  • Our long bicycle infrastructure drought could be coming to a close, as the City of Savannah has signaled it’s moving forward with improvements to the Lincoln Street bike lane and the creation of a critically needed east-west bike route on Liberty and Wheaton streets.
  • Later this month Chatham Area Transit will begin a year-long, system-wide redesign of its fixed-route bus network led by Jarrett Walker + Associates. We’re hopeful that this redesign will not only improve conditions for current public transit riders, but encourage more people to make this essential mode of transportation a part of their daily lives. See you at the Open House on Jan. 15!
  • A group that includes some of the smartest and civically minded people in town has been working on an initiative that will connect neighborhoods, decrease rates of chronic disease, reduce traffic crashes, allow people to travel to work safely and with dignity, and improve quality of life in Savannah from the Southside to River Street. More information to come in the next few months!

That’s not all we’re working on — but I’d love to hear from you. Is there a project that is near and dear to your heart? A critical component of the street network that you would like an update on? A neighborhood that would like to partner on its own mobility study? Send me a message at caila@bicyclecampaign.org and let’s get rollin’.

Finally, please consider becoming a member of Bike Walk Savannah. With your help, we will make Savannah a place for all people, no matter their mode of transportation!

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to working with you in 2019.

Caila Brown
Board Chair, Bike Walk Savannah

P.S. As a thank you, those who donated during our end-of-year campaign will be receiving an Individual Membership for Bike Walk Savannah. Please contact info@bicyclecampaign.org with any questions.