Burnside Island, we’re crossing you in style this Sunday. Come on out for the lowcountry beauty of Burnside Island. We’re starting at 4pm at Ferguson Avenue Baptist Church.

Thanks to sponsor Quality Bike for donating the giveaways for the end of the ride. Thanks also to Georgia Bike Law and Big H little h for their continued support of the series!

One of the stated goals of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign is to work toward the establishment of an off-road multi-use corridor connecting Savannah and Tybee.  About 6 miles of that old Tybee railway (on McQueen’s Island adjacent to the entrance to Fort Pulaski)  is already developed as a trail as noted in today’s Savannah Morning News:

The trail has a long history of conveying tourists and locals to and from Tybee. It was the 1887 railbed for the Savannah and Tybee Railroad Company, whose customers paid 20 cents to get to the beach from Savannah. It eventually operated as the Central of Georgia’s “Marsh Hen” run, which last ran July 31, 1933.

The county is now working to fix the eroded sections of the trail in an environmentally responsible way that preserves the spartina grass — kudos to Chatham County, as we know this has been some time in coming.  With this section about to be reestablished, we should now focus our attention on the city owned piece of the old Tybee railway right-of-way along President Street.  The City of Savannah could get a jumpstart on making our city Thrive by developing their section into a multi-use path, and thus also take the next step toward making the Savannah to Tybee connection whole for nonmotorized users.

Also, if you want to help develop the eastern side of the trail (from the Fort Pulaski entrance to Lazaretto Creek), come out to Fort Pulaski for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27.

Two things for you to ponder today:

1.  Tomorrow (Sept 16) is the third Tuesday, the second installment of Bike to Beer, 4-7pm:  those arriving by bike to Moon River get indoor bike parking, $3 drafts, deals on food, and did I mention indoor bike parking?

2.  Dump the Pump is coming back to Savannah Friday October 3, to correspond with the grand unveiling of a new set of on street bike racks at Bull and Broughton in front of Panera.   We are looking for commuters who would be interested in leading others from their neighborhood to the downtown area to finish at the new racks for a press conference at 9am.  There will be at least one such group commute from Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent — let us know in the comments if you are interested in leading another.

New Bike Rack location is in yellow. Click for a larger map.

Many of you have asked, so if I join SBC, what’s in it for me?  You mean, besides the tax deduction and the satisfaction of knowing you support the ongoing improvement of bicycling conditions here in Savannah?  Besides direct support for bike education, building new facilities like those at Tom Triplett Park, and the public relations campaign to get more people on bikes more often?

Well, here you are — direct benefits to you!  Business members and sponsors Quality Bike Shop and the Bicycle Link and Perry Rubber Bike Shop offer 10% off accessories to SBC members.  Quality is also offering 5% off larger items like racks and bikes.

In addition, B Street Salon at Broughton and Price Street donates 10% of members’ bills to SBC — so when you go there, you will look great AND feel awesome supporting a better Savannah through bicycling.

If you have already joined, we thank you for your support.  If not, you can do so by paypal online or print this form and mail it in with a check!  Look for more deals to come from other bike friendly retailers — if you are one, please let us know and we can start sending you customers!

Oops!  We had the wrong date on the Wheelie poster.  The Burnside Island Wheelie is next weekend, Sunday Sept 21, not this weekend.

A perfect time for a reminder on the Greenfest Pedal Cruise on Saturday at 5pm for a little leisurely downtown fun, followed by the Greenfest bike in movie and afterparty at Cha Bella at 6!

Well, 2 bikes isn’t exactly a fleet, but it’s a start.  We are overjoyed to see Savannah city government getting behind bicycles in a big way.   Some nice coverage of this fact in the SMN today, with none other than City Manager Michael Brown taking to the streets on one of two city owned bikes to be used by employees for runs here and there in the city.

The story highlights the city’s efforts in seeking Bicycle Friendly Community designation, and we look forward to working with them on the changes needed to gain that designation.  My favorite part of the story, however, was most certainly our friend and Vice Chairman John Bennett’s comment regarding bicycles in Savannah, which he made at the city council meeting approving the BFC Action Plan:

“If you can’t get behind bicycles, at least think of every person you see on a bicycle as another parking space for you,” he said. “Maybe that will help get you on board.”

Too true, as long as they save a few parking spaces for us.  Secure bike parking is at an increasing premium, with bike theft a continued problem in the city as noted by one of the commenters on the SMN story.  As noted in the story, new racks are going in soon, as the city has now received their order of racks, the first set to be installed outside of Panera on Bull Street at Broughton, with more to follow.

Thank you to the city, and we thank you for your continued support of positive action for bicycling.