5th Annual Earth Day Wheelie

It’s on! An Earth Day tradition since 2008, we are bringing back all the fun, music, and street empowerment that goes with a free police escorted ride through downtown Savannah with our fifth Earth Day Wheelie. The ride starts at Park and Bull at the south end of Forsyth Park at 4pm and proceeds to Blowin’ Smoke for the Post Wheelie Dealie, a great party we throw to say thanks to our fantastic membership!

2011 Earth Day Wheelie from Savannah Bicycle Campaign on Vimeo.

Who: All of y’all…
What: A free, police escorted bike ride through downtown, followed by our annual membership party!
When: Sat April 21, 4pm ride-party. 5pm post-ride-party.
Where: Ride-Bull St and Park Ave to Blowin’ Smoke BBQ at 514 MLK Jr. Blvd for the Post Wheelie Dealie.
Why: Celebrate the freedom and fun of sustainable active transportation!

Bike the Savannah Music Festival

We at Savannah Bicycle Campaign are organizing opening (March 22nd) and closing night (April 7th) rides for the upcoming festival, both to begin at 6:30 pm from the Charles H. Morris Center at Trustees Garden. SBC is also encouraging festivalgoers to bike to events by providing free bicycle valet for shows on March 22nd, 29th and April 7th. The SBC bike valet will be set up in front of the Trustees Theater for attendees of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and Justin Townes Earle/The Head & the Heart on opening night, Futurebirds/Acollective and Pink Martini March 29th, and at the Morris Center for Blow My Blues Away April 7th.

We still need a few volunteers to marshal both rides and to help with valet on 3/29 and 4/7. Volunteer with us and you may get a glimpse of Frank’s famous shimmy (valet volunteers may also get in to see part of the shows, and will definitely get a t-shirt…)

Summary below…

SMF Funky Sunset SocialOpening Night Sunset Social Ride
This Thursday (3/22) 6:30pm
Charles Morris Center, 10 E Broad Street

Closing Night Sunset Social Ride
Saturday 4/7 6:30pm
Charles Morris Center, 10 E Broad Street

Bike Valet (free, though your donations are quite welcome)
Thursday 3/22 7-10pm
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones at Trustees Theater (8:30pm show)
The Head & the Heart/Justin Townes Earle at Lucas (7:30pm show)
Valet location: East Broughton by Trustees Theater

Thursday 3/29 7-10pm
Futurebirds/Acollective at Trustees Theater (8:30pm show)
Pink Martini at Lucas Theater (8:00pm show)
Valet location: East Broughton by Trustees Theater

Saturday 4/7 6-10pm
Blow My Blues Away (Lucky Peterson Band/Joe Krown Trio feat. Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste, Jr)
Valet location: Charles Morris Center

Please see savannahmusicfestival.org for more information on the shows and for tickets.

Bike to Beer is Tonight 3/20

mcdonoughs!bike-2-beer
WHO
People who like bikes or good company or both.

WHAT
Share the road, share a cocktail…

WHEN & WHERE
Ride there with us – 5:30pm from Forsyth Park (Park and Bull St) OR Meet us there – 6-8pm at 
McDonough’s, McDonough and Drayton
Tonight only! Tuesday March 20

WHY
Extend the Irish love — McDonough’s
will offer happy hour specials (2 for 1!) to happy Bike 2 Beergoers.

Telfair PULSE Ride This Sunday

This Sun Mar 4, 1-3 pm, join Telfair Staff and AASU Art Students for a workshop on decorating bikes at Telfair Square on Barnard Street between Broughton and Oglethorpe. Participants bring their bikes and upcycled materials including candy wrappers, tin foil and other stuff that can be taped or tied. Drop in with your bike! Drop by to check out a deal on Telfair and SBC Memberships.

Following the workshop at 3pm, beginning at Telfair Square, SBC will lead a 5.5 mile ride around downtown to show off some of the freshly decorated bikes, do a little sightseeing and socializing, and generally enjoy this fine early spring weather. Bike ride will from Telfair Square no later 3:15 pm. View route: http://g.co/maps/et2vj

Bike 2 Beer Next Tuesday

Our February Bike 2 Beer is on deck. Next Tuesday, join your pedal powered pals in our monthly social! Two options – ride with us from Habersham Village starting at 5:30pm (we’ll take the long way) OR meet us at this month’s Bike 2 Beer destination, Foxy Loxy Cafe, starting at 6! Hang out, check out the member giveaways and hear about events on the horizon for the Campaign. The fine folks at Foxy Loxy will be serving up lattes and Lone Star beer for $2 each, not to mention that their craft brews will be 10% off…

foxyloxylogo 2bike-2-beer

bear 2WHO: You and yours
WHAT: Bike 2 Beer – Monthly Social!
WHEN: Tues Feb 21, 5:30pm Ride/6pm Social
WHERE: Ride starts in Habersham Village parking lot. Social at Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull Street
WHY:  Because it’s there.

Arbor Day Ride This Saturday

In partnership with our friends at the Savannah Tree Foundation, we’re leading a ride out of Daffin Park this Saturday. We’ll go for about 10 miles and see some tree plantings carried out by Savannah Tree Foundation in their mission of maintaining and growing the urban forest of Savannah!

Tellu-Ride
WHO: Everyone! Probably not appropriate for kids under 8 to ride under their own power, but they’re welcome in kid seats, trailers, or tag-a-longs.
WHAT: Arbor Day Ride – 10 miles at a casual pace. Helmets are strongly encouraged.
WHEN: Saturday, February 18, 10am
WHERE: Daffin Park start. Meet on Waring Drive south of the circle.
WHY: The Lorax would want you to go.

Pedal Medal Celebration: silent auction, volunteer

We have another Pedal Medal update. The upcoming Groundhog Day (Thurs Feb 2, 5:30pm) celebration promises some exciting surprises!

First up, we have an array of silent auction items including Savannah Music Festival tickets, a 2012 Midnight Garden Ride package (ride, food, and a front row table), and some great active coastal excursions; full details on those below.  Next, in addition to the Savannah and Georgia bicycle luminaries being honored, speaking and in attendance, we may have a surprise guest or two, but most of all, we are looking forward to seeing you!

Attendees will be treated to a sampling of culinary delights from B Matthews, tasty malted potables from New Belgium Brewing, and the limited run Savannah Bicycle Campaign pint glass pictured here.

Buy your tickets today!

We’re also still looking for a few volunteers to join in the fun – please send an email to volunteers@bicyclecampaign.org if you’re interested.

Earth Day Wheelie Package
Enjoy Dinner for 8 at Blowin’ Smoke BBQ, the annual host of the Earth Day Wheelie Wrap Party.  Get your bike geared up before you go with a $50 gift certificate from Bicycle Link.  VALUE: $170

Midnight Garden Ride Package
Don’t miss SBC’s signature event, the Midnight Garden Ride.  Enjoy 8 registrations to the 2012 ride on September 1, a front row table at Forsyth Park for the concert, a delicious picnic for 8 from Sentient Bean, and bike lights from Princeton Tec so you light up the road as you ride.  VALUE: $530

Bicycle Melodies
Savannah Music Festival has the hottest tickets in town this spring.  Don’t miss out with this great opportunity for two tickets for three different shows, Cajun Dance Party: Lost Bayou Ramblers, Zakir Hussain: Masters of Percussion, and Noon30: Joe Krown Trio. End the day with a bike ride to bar-food in Habersham Village for a cocktail or two.  VALUE: $300.

See Savannah SLOWLY by Bike
What is better than a bicycle built for 2 – how about one built for 15?  Enjoy a ride on the Savannah Slow Ride for 6 and a $100 gift certificate from The Distillery.  VALUE: $250

Get Inspired
Join the creative and inspiring energies of TEDx with two all-access tickets to the May 18th event at the Jepson Center.  Then keep your creative juices flowing with an annual Telfair Museum of Art Dual/Family Membership and Collection Highlights book.  VALUE: $155

Bikes on the Beach
A relaxing bike ride on the beach is captured in this wonderful black and white photograph by local artist Jane Neville.  VALUE: $300

Champagne and Cupcakes Night Out
Enjoy delicious cupcakes, cool champagne, and a night out with friends with this unique party opportunity for 20 at Gigi’s Cupcakes.  Invitations provided by Heidi Halabuda.  VALUE: $150

Don’t Bike; Paddle Standing Up
Tired of biking?  Try a weekend of stand-up paddleboarding for two with this gift certificate from Half Moon Outfitters. VALUE: $240

Don’t Bike; Paddle
Enjoy the peace and serenity of a kayak trip through Georgia’s barrier islands.  A 3 hour kayak tour for two, leaving from Brunswick or St Simons, with SouthEast Adventure Outfitters.  VALUE: $150

Sean Brandon and Bill Bailey to be honored at the 2012 Pedal Medal Celebration

We’re so excited about our first Pedal Medal Award, that we just couldn’t keep it under wraps. Savannah director of Mobility and Parking and friend to cyclists Sean Brandon is our first recipient of the Pedal Medal. He embodies
the idea of building a better Savannah through bicycling.historic Kennedy Pharmacy We’re grateful for his dedication to a more bike-friendly city, and look forward to seeing you all at the Pedal Medal Celebration at the historic Kennedy Pharmacy on Thursday February 2. Get your tickets today, or attend as a volunteer!

More in the press release:

For Immediate Release

SAVANNAH BICYCLE CAMPAIGN TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO ARE MAKING SAVANNAH BETTER FOR BICYCLING

Bicycle advocacy group will honor City of Savannah employee for implementing cycling infrastructure improvements

Jan. 23, 2012 Savannah, Ga. — The Savannah Bicycle Campaign will recognize Mobility and Parking Services Director Sean Brandon at its first Pedal Medal award ceremony, Feb. 2 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Kennedy Pharmacy, 323 E. Broughton St. The organization will also recognize Bill Bailey as its volunteer of the year.

“The Savannah Bicycle Campaign has made significant progress toward the goal of making Savannah safer and friendlier for cyclists, and encouraging people to make bicycling part of their daily lives,” said SBC vice chairman John Bennett. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the Sean Brandon’s leadership and vision.”

Brandon has spearheaded the expansion of Savannah’s pavement-marked bicycle lane network, including the Washington Avenue bike lanes and the Price Street bike lane and traffic-calming project, which will be completed later this year. He has also increased the number of bicycle parking locations, including racks at the corner of Broughton and Bull streets and other prominent locations.

“Sean is a public servant who leads by example,” Bennett said. “As a daily bicycle commuter, he demonstrates the practicality of cycling and the considerable benefits of going by bike.”

Tickets are still available for the ceremony, which will feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online at https://bicyclecampaign.org/pedal-medal-award-celebration/ or by calling 912-228-3096.

Proceeds from the event will help fund a Bike Restoration and Education Center, to serve as center of cycling activities in Savannah-Chatham, to provide a physical presence for SBC and to allow for collection and rehabilitation of discarded bicycles to be put into safe operating condition. Bikes will be distributed to members of the community who have limited means for transportation and often resort to dangerously ill-fitted, poorly maintained bicycles. Distribution of these bikes and safety equipment will be a means to improve mobility for this at risk community and to allow us to deliver basic bike safety education and equipment.

Tellu-Ride celebrates Telluride MountainFilm festival in Savannah on Jan. 21

The Telluride MountainFilm festival is coming to town Jan. 20 and 21 and the Savannah Bicycle Campaign is celebrating with a group ride and a chance to learn more about how bicycles are changing lives all over the world.

The Tellu-Ride leaves from the south end of Forsyth Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 and touches every square in Savannah on its route. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the ride, courtesy of the Sentient Bean and Brighter Day Natural Foods.

One of the most exciting films to be screened at the festival (at least in our opinion) is With My Own Two Wheels  and the filmmakers will be joining the ride and participating in a question and answer session afterward. What’s With My Own Two Wheels All About?

“For Fred, a health worker in Zambia, the bicycle is a means of reaching twice as many patients. For Bharati, a teenager in India, it provides access to education. For Mirriam, a disabled Ghanaian woman, working on bicycles is an escape from the stigma attached to disabled people in her community. For Carlos, a farmer in Guatemala, pedal power is a way to help neighbors reduce their impact on the environment. For Sharkey, a young man in California, the bicycle is an escape from the gangs that consume so many of his peers. With My Own Two Wheels weaves together the experiences of these five individuals into a single story about how the bicycle can change the world—one pedal stroke at a time.”

The ride is free and open to the public. Helmets are strongly encouraged. The total distance is about 7 miles and that number is significant: 5-7 miles is average bicycle commute for a student in rural Zambia. A map of the route is available here. Want to spread the word? Download and print out the event poster here.