Celebrate National Bike Month by participating in the Bike Walk Savannah “Bike There Challenge”!
Biking every day has many health benefits — including increasing muscle strength, mobility, and decreasing stress — but also helps our environment. Many of our motor vehicle trips are under 2 miles, and can easily be replaced by a short bike ride. Sign our pledge at to commit to making at least one trip each day by bike. Whether you’re biking to work, to school, to the grocery store, or around your neighborhood, you’re making a difference!
Need some inspiration? Check out our Bike There Challenge BINGO card. Complete a row, column or diagonal and receive a free BWS membership — complete the full card to be entered to win a prize pack!
Whether you’re commuting to work or school, getting some exercise, or riding to get your groceries, planning your route can be a difficult — but necessary — step. You don’t want to get to your destination and realize you have to cross a six-lane highway in order to get there, but you also don’t want to ride down a cul-de-sac and not be able to get out. Below are our tips on how to plan your perfect route.
Try planning out your own bike route this May!
Mapping Out a Safe Route
Use Google Maps
Google Maps has come a long way in helping plan bike routes! Visit Google Maps, click Layers at the bottom of your screen, and then click Biking to show trails, dedicated lanes, bicycle-friendly roads and dirt or unpaved trails.
You can input your starting point and destination and select biking, which will suggest routes that follow bike infrastructure or bike-friendly streets, if available. You can even select street view in order to see a photo of the street, which can help you in quickly identifying if that’s a route you’d like to take. Pro Tip: Under Layers click Traffic, which can help you identify if streets are closed or if traffic is moving slowly in certain areas. Also, the wider the street the more cars are likely to be on it — and moving quickly!
Use Strava, Map My Ride or Ride with GPS
The great thing about biking in Savannah is that we have a lot of people out biking with you! There’s a pretty good chance that someone has a route similar to the one you’re looking to create, which means that websites like Strava, Map My Ride or Ride with GPS can help you find a route that someone has already ridden. They can also have heat maps, which can show you where people are riding.
Maybe you can find a route digitally, but you’re concerned about riding it in person. You don’t have to dive all in right away!
Talk with other bike riders: Check out local biking groups on social media or in person and ask for some tips! Check out Bike Walk Savannah’s events for some more details on our rides.
Scout the route: If your route is on streets and not on bike paths, try it out in your car first. While you won’t be able to get exactly the same feel for the road, you can easily see if there are areas that are blocked off, high volumes of other cars, or might not have a safe crossing for you to use.
Experiment with your route: If you know the area well enough, take some time to experiment with different possible routes. Make sure to leave around the same time you would be biking to or from your destination, but give yourself some extra time (like on your day off). This can help you find additional streets that might be a little more comfortable for you.
Be familiar with your map: What happens if the street you usually take is closed due to construction or a crash? Do you know what other streets you can take? We recommend knowing a few different alternate routes, as well as knowing what sections you can’t swap out. This can also be helpful for different times of day — maybe you go to work taking one route, but return home on another.
Don’t be afraid to go multi-modal: Maybe you can’t ride directly from your house, but you can pick up some safe
streets a mile or two away. Check out Chatham Area Transit and see if there’s a bus you can take for part of your trip!
If you ride your bike in downtown Savannah, you’ve definitely come across some railroad tracks! Here’s how to cross them safely so your ride continues without a hitch.
Slow down and come to a complete stop if the crossing is un-signalized.
If the crossing is signalized, reduce your speed and still look both ways.
Always cross at a 90 degree angle. Make sure your tires run perpendicular with the tracks.
Take extra precaution when the tracks are wet, as there is less traction for your wheels.
While crossing, stand on your bike pedals out of the saddle. Keep them level (feet at three and nine on the clock) as you smoothly coast across the tracks and keep your knees and elbows loosely bent — it’ll help you keep your balance and absorb shock.
Never cross when the lights are flashing and the arm is down, or if you see a train coming. Railroad lights and the arm are designed for your safety.
Small tires — like on bicycles, wheelchairs, skateboards or skates – can become stuck when in-street tracks are crossed at too low an angle. Always pay attention to the angle of your wheels when you cross!
Last week, City of Savannah staff presented the recently completed Vision Zero action plan to City Council. The public can view the plan by visiting www.savannahga.gov/visionzero.
The overarching goal of Vision Zero is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Savannah by creating safer streets for everyone on the road. City Council approved the Vision Zero resolution on Feb. 24, 2022 and directed staff to develop an action plan for the initiative within one year.
“Regardless of how you may travel in Savannah, whether by car or bike or on-foot, we want you to get to your destination safely,” said Mayor Van Johnson. “Vision Zero will guide the City’s efforts to design transportation networks that prioritize safety with a focus on the unique and ever-evolving needs of our community.”
The Vision Zero action plan emphasizes substantive community engagement and collaboration, as well as continuous collection and analysis of data, to identify safety concerns and opportunities for improvement.
“I’m proud to say the Vision Zero action plan is a holistic, inclusive approach to traffic safety,” said Alderman Nick Palumbo. “This plan is a living document, designed to be as responsive to the diverse community it serves as it is aligned with the best practices in modern mobility management.”
As part of the plan, a Vision Zero Task Force will be created to bring together City staff, local officials, members of the community, and representatives from outside agencies to provide ongoing input on Vision Zero strategies, policies, and projects.
“I want to commend City staff, including our experts in traffic engineering and mobility planning, who have worked diligently in the last year to create an equitable and actionable plan for Vision Zero,” said City Manager Joseph A. “Jay” Melder. “We are excited as the City organization to take on a lead role in this effort. This action plan will help our community be a safer place for all forms of transit.”
Nothing ruins your ride faster than having your bike stolen! Here are some steps you can take to seriously reduce the likelihood of that happening.
Use a U-lock. Cable locks can be cut more easily than you might think. Cheaper and older U-locks can often be broken without any tools. Sourcing your U-lock from a local bike shop is a good way to make sure you’re buying a quality product.
Don’t make it easy to steal! Bike thieves love low hanging fruit, and nothing deters them like the presence of a quality lock. Many thefts are crimes of opportunity, so make your bike the hardest one on the rack to steal.
Lock the frame first. Try to secure the wheels and seat, too. Your bike frame happens to be the most expensive part; make sure you lock it to something secure. Use a secondary cable to lock the wheels and seat. In many cases a U-lock can be used to lock both the frame and rear wheel. Accessories (lights, pumps, etc) are commonly stolen items. Take them with you.
Your lock is only as good as what it is locked to. Make sure whatever you locked up to isn’t going anywhere. Be mindful that trees and wood can be cut or kicked through.
Your garage, shed, or storage room isn’t as safe as you think. Even if you have parked your bike in a “secure location” be sure to lock it to something. Bikes are commonly stolen from garages or shared basements.
Document it! Take pictures of your bike, record the serial number, and where possible list your bike on your insurance.
After you’ve done that, make sure to register your bike with Savannah Police Department and Bike Index. The Bike Index makes stolen bikes harder to sell and easier to recover by making sure important information about your bike is there when you need it the most. The process is simple, secure, and free.
Need to find available bike parking in Savannah? Check out our map below. If you find a rack that isn’t on our map, please submit it to info@bikewalksavannah.org.
Multi-use paths like the Truman Linear Park Trail and Police Memorial Trail are popular, but they can get congested and create issues with different modes of travel! It’s important to be courteous and for everyone to follow the same rules in order to have a safe and enjoyable time.
Be courteous & know the rules of the trail you are using.
Give a clear, audible signal when passing — bells or your voice are great!
Be cautious and yield to crossing traffic.
Stay to the right.
If you’re moving faster than the people in front of you, slow and wait for an opportunity to pass — don’t thread the needle.
Always be predictable — ride in a straight line, don’t weave across the trail.
Stay on the designated path.
Travel at a speed that allows you to watch for hazards as well as your surroundings.
Don’t blast your music. If you’re listening on headphones, make sure you can hear your surroundings or use one earbud.
Yield to more vulnerable path users. Bicyclists and skaters yield to pedestrians, pedestrians yield to those with young children or assistive devices.
If you’re riding in a group, move to a single file to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
If you are riding or walking while it is dark, be sure to use lights.
If you’re on the trail with your dog, make sure to keep it on a short leash. Retractable leashes are not recommended, as they can cause cuts and burns to both pets and people.
Keep it clean — whatever you bring in, bring out! If you notice a lot of trash or debris, call 311 or come out for a trail cleanup!
Our friends at The League of American Bicyclists have put together a great video overview below.
Knowing how to change a flat tire is a useful skill, especially if you’re going on longer rides or don’t have a local bike shop nearby. It can be daunting at first, but it’s easier than you think! All it takes is some practice.
Our friends at Park Tools have a great basic overview of how to repair a flat tire on a bike. Read on for step by step instructions!
Rear Wheel: Shift derailleur to the outermost gear and innermost front chain ring to give you chain slack.
Disengage any rim brakes.
Disengage the wheel from your frame.
Quick Release: pull outward on end of quick-release skewer lever. If necessary, loosen quick-release adjusting nut to clear any tabs at end of fork.
Thru Axle: some function similarly to quick-release axle – pull lever outward to disengage and turn to loosen. Some thru axles are equipped with a special fitting that must be engaged to loosen the axle. Still others are simple levers that turn to loosen or tighten – no engagement or disengagement is necessary.
Solid Axle: For wheels with axle nuts, loosen both nuts outside of dropouts.
On a front wheel, guide the wheel down and out of the fork. For rear wheels, pull back on the rear derailleur to allow the cogs to clear the chain and lower the wheel.
Deflate your tube completely
Remove your tire
Push one side of the tire inwards, close to the rim of your wheel, to help loosen the tire bead from the rim. Do this around the entire wheel.
Push one tire lever under the bead of the tire, between the tire and the rim of the wheel. It can be helpful to do this near the valve stem.
Insert the second tire lever under the bead of the tire a few inches away from the first one, between the tire and rim of the wheel.
Pull both levers toward spokes to lift the bead off the rim. Move one lever a few inches along the rim and lift the next section, proceeding around the wheel.
Starting opposite the valve, pull the tube from the tire. Lift the valve from the valve hole to full remove the tube.
Remove the tire completely to fully inspect the tire for any cuts or holes.
You may be able to use a tube or tire patch kit to fix any small holes or cuts, but replacing the tube is always the safest and most reliable option.
Inspect the wheel rim for any sharp edges or protruding spokes. No point in replacing a tube if your wheel rim is damaged!
Install your tube
Inflate tube enough to hold its shape
Install tube inside tire, with valve adjacent to air pressure recommendations written on the sidewall of the tire.
Lower tire and valve into rim valve hole. Note any directional arrows on your tire and orient the tire appropriately.
Make sure to keep your valve pointing straight towards the hub of your wheel!
Install one side of the tire bead at a time. You can use your tire lever carefully and strategically to help work the tire in, but be careful and avoid pinching your tube.
Once both sides of your tire are installed properly, inflate the tube to low pressure and inspect each side for any bulging, inner tube sticking out, or inconsistencies. You may need to deflate the tube and reinstall the tube and tire.
Once everything looks ok, inflate your tube to full pressure.
Make sure any quick-release levers are tightened and your wheel is secure.
Re-engage brakes.
Make sure your wheel is centered in the frame or fork.
And now you’ve changed your tube and tire!
Want some practice? Volunteer with our New Standard Cycles Crew on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. and help fix up bikes while learning some new skills.
A bike helmet that fits you properly will feel better — and do its job in case of a crash. But how do you select the right size bike helmet?
To find your bike helmet size, measure the circumference of your head using a cloth tape measure or a piece of string and a ruler. Be sure to measure horizontally across your brow and over your ears. Most helmets come with a size guide (or you can find one online), so make sure to measure your head before you go to save some time!
You also want to look for a helmet that matches your style of riding. Road bike helmets are designed to be lightweight, well ventilated and aerodynamic. Mountain bike helmets often offer extended rear head coverage to account for collisions with objects on off-road trails. If you’re an everyday commuter or recreational rider, look for helmets that are well-ventilated with an adjustable tightening wheel and visor to help shield some sun.
Get the right fit
Put your helmet level on your head (not tilted back) with the front edge two fingers above your eyebrows. This helps protect your forehead.
If your helmet has one, tighten the rear adjustment dial until the helmet no longer wobbles or slips. It’s important to have your helmet properly positioned before tightening it.
Next buckle the chin strap. The straps should join right under your ear to form a “V”. Adjust the straps around both ears so they are not twisted and it’s comfortable. You can use your pointer and middle fingers to form a “V” around your ears to figure out the best position — snug but not too tight. Put those same two fingers together and put them between the strap and your chin. There should be enough room for two fingers. Any tighter and you may have trouble breathing, talking or drinking water while riding, any looser and your helmet can easily be knocked to the side.
A helmet that fits correctly should be comfortable and will not move forward (obscuring your vision) or backward (exposing your forehead.) A comfortable helmet is a helmet that you’ll actually wear!
We’ve all had this happen — you get dressed, you put your helmet on, make sure your lights are charged, and as soon as you roll your bike out the door you notice the tires are flat. Or even worse, you get halfway to your destination and notice that you’re losing air — or your brakes are squeaking.
Familiarizing yourself with basic bike maintenance will help you whether you’re commuting to work every day or riding recreationally, and will help keep you safe. And the first part is as simple as knowing your ABCs! Performing the ABC Quick Check before heading out on your ride ensures your bike is safe to ride, and helps you notice when anything might go wrong.
A is for Air
Make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire
When your tires are correctly inflated, use your thumb to gently push on the outside edge and feel the pressure. This will help you quickly gauge if you need air in the future!
Check for damage on your tire and replace if it is too worn
B is for Brakes
Inspect your brake pads for wear, replace if there is less than 1/4″ of pad left
Check pad adjustment and make sure they don’t rub the tire
Look to see that you can fit your thumb between the brake lever and handlebar when the brakes are squeezed all the way — this means they’re properly adjusted
C is for Cranks and Chain
Pull on your cranks/pedals away from the bike — if they are loose, tighten the bolt.
Check that your chain is free of rust, gunk and any debris
Quick is for Quick Releases
Make sure all your quick release levers are closed (check your wheels and seat!)
They should all be pointing down and towards the back of your bike, so they don’t get caught on anything.
And then CHECK it all over!
Take a quick roll around to make sure everything is working properly, and if you’re carrying any cargo that you’re well balanced.
Lime will host a series of three demonstrations of its latest model e-bike in Savannah on Thursday, September 22nd, and Friday, September 23rd. The City of Savannah has graciously given Lime permission to provide a preview of the shared electric bicycles it could provide residents and visitors if and when a pilot program does occur. The demos will be conducted in conjunction with Chatham Area Transit (CAT), and Georgia Southern and will take place in three locations throughout the City. Members of the media are invited to attend and test ride the vehicles themselves.
Lime, the world’s largest provider of shared electric vehicles, aims to familiarize residents with its vehicles and services, offering a glimpse at what a micromobility program could entail in Savannah. Lime will discuss and demonstrate proper parking etiquette, safe riding techniques, where to ride on the street, and how to be respectful of other road users. For first-time and inexperienced riders, Lime’s team will offer its signature First Ride Academy safety course. Lime is excited to demonstrate its vehicles and thrilled about the possibility of a successful micromobility program here in Savannah, especially given the City’s post-covid transportation needs. The demonstrations will be conducted in close proximity to public transit and historic Georgia Southern.
The demonstrations will be held at the following times and locations:
September 22, 9 AM – 12 PM: Ellis Square, Downtown Savannah
September 22, 1 PM – 4 PM: Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus in Savannah Bookstore
September 23, 9 AM – 12 PM: Chatham Area Transit, Joseph Murray Rivers Jr. Intermodal Transit Center located at the corner of Fahm Street and W. Oglethorpe Ave
“Chatham Area Transit is excited to partner with the City of Savannah and Georgia Southern University to bring a live-action electric bicycle demonstration to parts of Chatham County. We are sure these electric bicycles will be a big hit to those who try them out this week,” said A’riel Johnson, Public Information Officer and Communications Manager.
Lime offers shared electric vehicles in more than 250 cities globally and its riders have completed more than 350 million trips, replacing more than an estimated 80 million car trips. Lime’s mission is to build a future where transportation is shared, affordable and carbon-free, and focuses on decarbonizing urban mobility and helping cities reduce reliance on cars. Lime e-bikes offer the potential to fill the need for affordable and sustainable transportation. Lime helps to provide easy, affordable options for commutes, local travel, and curbside pickups–helping to reconnect people and communities.
