Sadly, the monthly commuter event scheduled for tomorrow, Friday February 5, is cancelled due to heavy rain in the forecast for pretty much the whole day (though we know there are folks who will still ride). Please look for an announcement soon about the Friday March 5 2Wheels 2Work!
I expect most of you saw yesterday’s Savannah Morning News about new multi-use paths going in on Wilmington Island. It’s great news for folks in the islands, especially considering the high speeds on Johnny Mercer Blvd. Here’s a portion already complete:
We are happy that the article focuses on connectivity rather than recreation, though they are not mutually exclusive:
The 550-foot-long, 10-foot-wide sidewalk is part of a multi-use path that will run alongside Johnny Mercer from its intersection with Bryan Woods Road to an existing trail that meanders through the woods at the Y.
“We’re trying to get connectivity all through there,” said Panther, a civil engineer who’s overseeing county projects on the islands.
“The ultimate goal is to get connectivity over to Wilmington Island,” he said of a process that could take up to four years and should “promote healthier lifestyles.”
The majority of the multi-use path will be composed of two inches of asphalt laid over a four-inch-thick rock base. A 1,700-foot-long asphalt section of the path will ramble from the eastern end of the sidewalk – constructed of concrete because it passes over a creek and a marshy area – into and through the woods alongside Johnny Mercer to the boulevard’s intersection with Bryan Woods.
Thank you to Chatham County — we look forward to your continued commitment toward the goal of connectivity, to include the bridges that come on an off the islands as well!
As a footnote, we take issue with the use of the word sidewalk since a 10 foot swath of pavement constitutes a multi-use trail, and also since a law passed in the Georgia General assembly last year prohibits bicycling on sidewalks.
I don’t recycle. So the ironic catchphrase goes for Recycle in Georgia’s campaign. Locally, this has been promoted with giveaways from none other than Tybee city council member and cruiser enthusiast Paul Wolff (that’s him at the Tybee Trailblazers’ Ride with the pinwheel in his helmet).
Paul’s looking for volunteers to pass out koozies for the recycling campaign in the Tybee Mardi Gras parade February 13. The parade starts at around 3pm and volunteers will bike the route (Paul has a few loaner bikes you could use if you like) which sounds like it should be a pretty fun time. To top it off, you’ll walk away with an I don’t recycle t-shirt and koozie with which you can taunt your friends. So, if you’re ready to laissez les bons temps rouler, let Paul know you are on board — contact him at tybeeduo {a t} bellsouth {d o t} net.
Reminder! This Friday 1/29, we roll from the Jepson with 2 art/tech stops on the way as part of the Telfair’s PULSE festival.
Come to the Jepson early to see Copyright Criminals at 6pm.
Ride at 7pm. We will cruise through Medeology Collective’s Interactive Installation in York Lane on the way and finish at Matt Hebermehl’s wall blast at Atwell’s on W Broughton. We will follow up with some socializing at T-Rex Mex. Don’t miss it!
How many of you Campaigners out there get Savannah Magazine? Or at least read it while you’re waiting for your doctor or to get your hair cut? Us too!
We were thrilled to see so much about bikes in the 20th anniversary issue out this month. Gracing the cover are two great bike people, friends and SBC supporters Jake and Miriam Hodesh of New Moon of Savannah. They and other Savannah futurists see great possibility for our city in improving bikability and walkability. No less than 6 of the 20 idea makers including Martin Melaver (Living Above the Store), Scott Boylston (SCAD, Emergent Structures Project), Judy Jennings (Sierra Club, Riverkeeper, Wilderness SE), and others provide a specific mention of bicycling and bikability in their vision of Savannah 2030. Two others make mention of livability and walkability, which of course go hand in hand with the same idea, not to mention Tom Barton’s notion of merging city and county government which might indeed make us more efficient. All great ideas, and we’re glad we have so many of the same mind working together for the future of Savannah.
In the same issue, Anne Hart (also of SouthernMamas.com) wrote another article on new year’s resolutions, and while no specific text is devoted to cycling, the idea of bicycling as a family activity is not-so-subtly promoted in the photo. 
Also, before any of you gives Savannah magazine or us a hard time for displaying this photo of an unhelmeted child passenger, just remember that we all as adults braved the gauntlet of helmetless riding through many years as kids, this child is pictured on a trail where the laws of the road (namely those under 16 must wear a helmet in Georgia) do not apply, and this has all been staged for a photo opportunity to give readers positive messages about physical activity (i.e. it is not something dangerous to be avoided). Just as an FYI, for my own kids the rule is still: no helmet, no bike. For more info, these links take a look for some of the swirl of the helmet debate…
Bikes! Art! Technology!
The Telfair’s PULSE festival begins next Wednesday:
The Telfair’s 2010 Pulse: Art and Technology Festival is a FREE, all-ages event exploring the intersection of art and technology. The 11-day festival features a mind-expanding array of programs including interactive art installations, musical robots, wearable art, game design, VJs, and more!
In celebration of the event, we’re bringing everyone together for a night ride! Following the screening of Copyright Criminals at the Jepson Center from 6-7pm on Friday, Jan 29, your Savannah Bicycle Campaign will lead a fun, casual, slow paced 5 mile nighttime bike ride through downtown Savannah starting at around 7pm. The short ride will include a cruise through another of the PULSE events, the Medeology Collective’s Interactive Installation and finish at Matt Hebermehl’s wall blast at Atwell’s on West Broughton. Post ride festivities will follow across the street at T-Rex Mex at around 8pm. A front white headlight is required for all riders, and a rear red light and helmet are stongly encouraged.