ADVOCACY ALERT: Ask Congress to create a safe sustainable transportation system

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (formerly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework) is moving fast — and so far it looks pretty good for people who bike and walk.

Is it perfect? No. While it is a great step forward that will build safer, more accessible communities — and while we celebrate the wins for bicycling and walking — we can take action today to make the bill better.

Join us and the League in contacting your Senators in support of amendments to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that will mitigate some of the bill’s shortcomings.

We’re asking the Senate to support amendments that would:

  • Bring back key parts of the Bicycle Commuter Benefit (Brown 2236)
  • Require states to set road safety goals that actually reflect better safety outcomes (Klobuchar 2301)
  • Increase funding for the Reconnecting Communities Program to reverse harm caused to Black and brown communities by highway construction (Warnock/Cardin 2167)
  • Require states to fix and maintain roads before building new ones (Kaine 2143)
  • Collect data on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (Cardin 2465)

Read more about these amendments on their blog »

Take action now to show that bike advocates want this bipartisan bill to be as transformative as possible not only for people who bike, walk, and roll, but for everyone.

Click here to sign on.

Sign up for our Fall bike and pedestrian counts!

We can’t believe it, but summer is already almost over. Kids have headed back to school, our beach days are dwindling, and the temps are right for just about everyone to walk or ride a bike — which means it’s time for our Fall bike and pedestrian counts!

These counts take place at a variety of locations around Savannah, and the data collected helps us, the City of Savannah, Chatham County and the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization track the usage of existing facilities, as well as plan for safer places to bike, walk and roll in the future.

So grab a friend or load up some podcasts, bring a lawn chair and a clip board, and get counting! Click here to sign up for a shift.

Want to count a certain location but the date doesn’t work with your schedule? Send an email to info@bikewalksavannah.org and we can talk. Below are the rules:

  • Weekday counts must take place on Tuesdays or Thursdays, from 7-9 a.m. or 5-7 p.m.
  • Weekend counts must take place Saturdays from 12-2 p.m.
  • Counts are rain or shine, although if there is a severe weather alert the shift will be rescheduled to the next available count day.

Participate in the SR-21 Access Management Study!

The CORE MPO, in collaboration with the City of Garden City, is undertaking a State Route 21 Access Management Study from I-516 to Grange Road. The study will provide a vision for SR 21 and a set of recommendations to address the corridor’s operations and safety, and provide mobility improvements, streetscape elements, and increase economic development.
There are a few ways to join in the process!
ONLINE SURVEY
You can participate in an online survey by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/SR21Phase1 or texting “sr21phase1” to 833-382-1387.
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 from 6-7 p.m.
https://bit.ly/2Q7foP8
Meeting ID: 954-4050-2374
Passcode: 983669
COMMENT ON THE INTERACTIVE MAP
Have an idea on how they can improve State Route 21 in Garden City? Use the online tools to add feedback or specific comments. https://wikimapping.com/SR-21-Access-Management-Study.html

April Newsletter: Get ready for Spring!

It’s officially spring in Savannah, which means we’re getting ready for our Bike and Pedestrian Counts!

These counts help us keep track of how people are moving around the City — and help us plan for safer places for people to bike, walk and roll. We have shifts available from April 19 through May 15 all around the City, and you can sign up for a shift on our website.

We also have two action alerts for you this month, one of which is in our own backyard. Friends of Forsyth is soliciting feedback on their proposed designs for the Forsyth Park Master Plan, and you can take their survey at their website.

The other opportunity is a little more technical, and all your help is appreciated! If you’ve ever submitted a traffic calming request, asked the City for a crosswalk, or wondered how engineers decide what type of bike lane to install, you may be interested to learn that it’s not necessarily up to neighborhood residents — or even up to traffic engineer’s wishes.

Instead, these decisions are up to a technical document called the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This manual is meant to create “uniformity” in the look of our road signs and symbols, including traffic lights, crosswalks and all kinds of street markings. Unfortunately, it is full of assumptions and value judgements that privilege driver’s convenience over the safety of people biking and walking.

But we have good news! The MUTCD is currently being revised by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and we have a chance to make it better. Our friends at The League of American Bicyclists have drafted a great overview on the MUTCD and areas of concern, and America Walks has prepared a comment template that you can use. We encourage you to visit their websites and submit comments on the MUTCD by May 14.

Stay tuned for our Bike Month events. See you out biking, walking and rolling!

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

ACTION ALERT: Do you support dedicating more funding for trails? Contact your state legislators today

At their Feb. 25, 2021 meeting the Savannah City Council adopted a resolution to increase the City’s hotel/motel tax from 6 to 8%. As part of this increase, they have allocated $17 million in funding for trails, sidewalks and other connections between westside neighborhoods, the Historic District and the new arena, and $10 million in funding for to expand the Tide To Town urban trail system.

We support this legislation for quite a few reasons:

  • The completion of the roughly 30-mile core loop of Tide To Town would result in almost 60% of Savannah neighborhoods being within a 1/4 mile or 5 minute walk of the loop, and serve over 100,000 Chatham County residents who live within a 3/4 mile biking distance.
  • This is a project for all Savannahians: nearly 75% of neighborhoods within the Core Loop walking distance are majority-minority.
  • 10 neighborhoods that include Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s Title I schools are within the Core Loop walking distance.
  • According to 2016 U.S. Census Bureau data, 13.7% of Savannah residents lack access to a motor vehicle. These residents rely on walking, using public transportation and biking to get to their jobs, doctors appointments, grocery stores, etc., and providing direct access to dedicated facilities like the Tide To Town Urban Trail System will only further help them.

While the funding is for tourism related projects, we know that Savannah and Chatham County residents of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy every single project on the list. If you also support this proposed hotel/motel tax increase, we encourage you to contact your state representative or senator today. Click here to find out your representative in the Coastal Delegation.

ACTION ALERT: Savannah City Council to vote on proposed increase to hotel/motel tax

At the Feb. 25, 2021 Savannah City Council meeting, council will vote on a resolution to increase the hotel/motel tax, with a portion of the taxes collected for tourism product development supporting $10 million for “the expansion of the Tide To Town Urban Trail Network,” as well as allocating $17 million “ to create trail, sidewalk, and other connections between the Historic District, westside neighborhoods, and the new arena.”

This modest adjustment, from 6% to 8%, would provide significant funding for trail construction and other much needed infrastructure investments in Savannah and would put us on the map as a world-class destination for biking and walking.

Click here to read the resolution and supporting information from the City of Savannah.

Want to share your thoughts with City Council? We’ve included some sample text below. Click here to find your council member’s email.

My name is [Name] and I am a resident of [District #]. I am writing to you in support of the proposed Hotel/Motel Tax increase, that would support the expansion of Tide To Town and create trail, sidewalk, and other connections between the Historic District, westside neighborhoods, and the new arena. The proposed projects, like Tide To Town, will create safe and welcoming places for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to walk, bike and exercise safely and experience all districts of our great city. Thank you for your support.

Today is Giving Tuesday! Help us reach our $2,500 goal

Hi Friend,
Today is #GivingTuesday — a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Your contributions on #GivingTuesday will directly support our work to:

  • Continue the next phase of the Truman Linear Park Trail, and continue work on Tide To Town, Savannah’s urban trail system.
  • Provide bicycles, lights, helmets and safety classes for children and adults in need of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Update policies and guidelines with the City of Savannah, Chatham County and surrounding cities to create a safe, reliable and connected network for people walking and biking.
  • Host events in our community like virtual group bike rides, scavenger hunts, the Moonlight Garden Ride, Matt’s Moon River Cruise and more.
  • Expand our education programs to create a full roster of classes for children and adults, including our new Bicycle Friendly Driver program.

Help us reach our #GivingTuesday goal of $2,500 by making a contribution today!
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation
If you unable to make a financial contribution this holiday season, you can still help! Donate your gently used bikes for kids of all ages, we’ll give them a new home with the help of Blessings In A Bookbag, Inc. Volunteers can work with a little dust (and change some tires, tubes or grips) but please — no rust.

Bikes can be delivered to the following locations on these dates:

Bike Walk Savannah HQ – 1301 A Lincoln St. Dec. 6, Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m.

Green Truck Pub – 2430 Habersham St. Dec. 6 from 12-4 p.m. (Drop off at Drive Thru on Maupas Ave. side)

If you have any questions about the suitability of your bike for our program, or your business would like to collect bikes to deliver to BWS, please email info@bikewalksavannah.org.
Thank you, as always, for your support.

Caila Brown
Executive Director, Bike Walk Savannah

Thank you for your support!

Friends,

I’m especially thankful for our Savannah community this year. Whether you’re down the street or across the country, your support has helped us through 2020 and continued our work to create a community for all street users — no matter their mode of transportation.

December 1 is GivingTuesday — a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Your contributions on #GivingTuesday will directly support our work to:

  • Continue the next phase of the Truman Linear Park Trail, and continue work on Tide To Town, Savannah’s urban trail system.
  • Provide bicycles, lights, helmets and safety classes for children and adults in need of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Update policies and guidelines with the City of Savannah, Chatham County and surrounding cities to create a safe, reliable and connected network for people walking and biking.
  • Host events in our community like virtual group bike rides, scavenger hunts, the Moonlight Garden Ride, Matt’s Moon River Cruise and more.
  • Expand our education programs to create a full roster of classes for children and adults, including our new Bicycle Friendly Driver program.

Help us reach our #GivingTuesday goal of $2,500 by making a contribution today!

Bike Walk Savannah to Host 7th Annual Holiday Bike Drive

Many of us remember the feeling of fun and freedom that came with getting a bicycle of our very own. In an effort to spread some holiday cheer and ensure that children across our community can have that experience, volunteers from Bike Walk Savannah’s New Standard Cycles Program take in donated kids bikes, fix them up, and work with Blessings in a Book Bag to identify kids who would not otherwise receive a bike for the holidays. 

Bike Walk Savannah has organized Bike Drop Off Days on Sundays to make spreading holiday cheer a little easier. New locations to be added.

Volunteers will be on hand to collect the bikes at the following locations:

Bike Walk Savannah HQ – 1301 A Lincoln St. Nov. 22, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 from 2-4 p.m.

Green Truck Pub – 2430 Habersham St. Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 from 12-4 p.m. (Drop off at Drive Thru on Maupas Ave. side)

Community members are encouraged to donate bikes for kids of all ages that have been outgrown or are no longer needed. Volunteers can work with a little dust (and change some tires, tubes or grips) but please — no rust. 

If your organization would like to serve as a drop off point or collect bikes to deliver to Bike Walk Savannah, please email info@bikewalksavannah.org. 

Financial contributions can be made at bikewalksavannah.org/donate. These donations help sustain the important work done by Bike Walk Savannah to redefine our city as a place for people, no matter their mode of transportation.

Virtual presentations scheduled for Canal District Master Plan

The City of Savannah is inviting the public to learn about the Canal District Master Plan by participating in one of three virtual meetings.

The Zoom meetings will take place on Wednesday, July 1, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m.

If you are unable to attend one of these virtual meetings, please call 912-429-3364 or email planning@savannahga.gov for additional information on how to learn more about the Canal District Master Plan.

To register for the meetings, visit the following links:

Wednesday, July 1, 2 p.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtf–tqjwsGtfrUs62SrxN0AfWU4pAmenL

Tuesday, July 7, 6 p.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcOyqqDgvE9O6lk9WtcUZxiIkkxuTqd-T

Thursday, July 16, 10 a.m.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEldumrpjgqE9xrvaS3U7zlRbZ4NSbh6ALZ

The Canal District is the City of Savannah’s premier planning and development initiative. Anchored by the new SPLOST-funded arena, the Canal District is located on the west side of Savannah near the intersection of Gwinnet Street and Stiles Avenue. The arena and surrounding district will be one of the largest projects the City has ever undertaken and presents the opportunity to create a vibrant new center of activity adjacent to Savannah’s downtown.

To better prepare for the area’s future growth and development, the City conducted multiple workshops and meetings to obtain feedback from the community and determine priorities for the area. This effort resulted in the Canal District Master Plan and accompanying Action Playbook, which will be presented to the City Council on July 23, 2020.

The Metropolitan Planning Commission also launched an online survey to gather feedback and comments on the proposed development. To participate in the survey, visit thempc.org and select the “Input on Savannah’s New Arena and Canal District Master Plan” link on the homepage. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete.