Truman Linear Park Phase II: Keep up the pressure!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the MPC last week to show support for bicycling projects in Chatham County, GDOT and Savannah’s projects to be included in stimulus funding.  We were thrilled to have at least ten bike advocates packing the Tuesday night meeting which recommended the local projects from GDOT, Chatham County, and Savannah for stimulus funding eligibility.

Much good came of our presence that night — specifically, the Truman Linear Park phase II, which had been wiped from Chatham County’s list of projects for stimulus funding, was clarified and added to the list of stimulus-funding-eligible projects that was approved at the policy committee of the MPO Wednesday 2/25.  We very much hope that Chatham County will make this project a priority and obtain the $600,000 in stimulus funding that is needed for full funding of the project.  This money in addition to the $1 million in existing funding will allow completion of a bridge for the path over Derenne Avenue.

Lake Mayer Park, from the Savannah Morning News

The entire project will link Lake Mayer to 52nd Street just east of the Truman Parkway, and connect to the Police Memorial Trail on the west side of Truman Parkway.  With all of this in place, a paved multi-use path linkage between Daffin Park and Lake Mayer Park will be complete.  Our understanding is that the county is currently seeking environmental review and pending stimulus funding would begin construction this fall.

We need your help in urging your county commissioners to take the necessary steps to secure the stimulus funding and get this trail built!  Follow this link for your county commissioner’s contact information and district maps.

Dump the Pump Returns

Whatever happened to Dump the Pump? Well, we took a small hiatus to reorganize and reenergize. Rest assured that we are back in force and are restarting the Dump the Pump Bike Convoys every first Friday of the month (rain date second Friday) starting Fri March 6 at 8am.

Come out every month to Baldwin Park (Atlantic and 41st) or Habersham Village to join Mayor Otis Johnson, City Manager Michael Brown, other elected officials and fellow Savannahians on a short ride to downtown (<3 miles). Rides will be led by experienced bike commuters, and we will finish at Davant Park (the south end of Colonial Cemetery) for treats from Jittery Joe’s, which is located in the Ex Libris Bookstore.

Mayor Otis Johnson at the October 2008 Dump the Pump Bike Convoy, from the Savannah Morning News
Mayor Johnson will continue his participation in the Dump the Pump Bike Convoys.

Volunteer Opportunities: Please Help!

Want to have fun with your bike, and feel good about helping your community at the same time?  We have some great ideas for you!

Sat Feb 28 at 7:30am-10am:  SBC volunteers on bikes will be helping direct runners at the Historic Savannah Foundation Critz Race for Preservation.  Cheer on your friends running in the race.  Volunteers will get a race T-shirt for helping out.  Please email Drew at awade1975 <at> gmail <d o t> com if you can help.

Tue-Wed Mar 3-4:  The City of Savannah and Savannah Bicycle Campaign are conducting the first ever Savannah bike census.  This weighs heavily in the application for Bicycle Friendly Community Status and will be a benchmark from which to measure future progress.  Take part in this historic event, as we will need volunteers stationed at multiple locations to count bicyclists!  Email Sean Brandon (Sean_Brandon <a t> savannahga <dot> gov), Director of Parking and Mobility for the City of Savannah, if you are interested in volunteering for one or more hour.  Locations include Bull and Broughton (Panera), Lincoln at Gwinnett (Kroger), Bull and Park (Bean/Forsyth), and Habersham and 52nd (Ardsley).   Counts will be conducted between 8am and 6pm.   This is a vitally important to our efforts, and we need your help, so please join us.


Sat May 2:   Interfaith Hospitality Network is holding their first Tour de Kids event in Daffin Park.  Designed for ages 3-13, kids will ride a closed course in the park in the morning.  A festival for the kids awaits at the end.  Volunteers are needed to mark off and marshal the courses, and to man the safety check station for the bikes.  Proceeds benefit Interfaith Hospitality Network’s support of homeless families with children.

Please join us in supporting these local events, and in so doing spread the goodwill of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign to all of Savannah.  If you are available to volunteer, please contact us at savbikecampaign <a t> yahoo <dot> com.

Now Boarding

Join the board Tuesday night (Feb 17) at 6pm at Moon River Brewing Company on Bay Street. There is much to be discussed, including Savannah’s Bicycle Friendly Community application, a presentation on proposed bikeways on Wilmington Island, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.  Click here for the full agenda.

Savannah Forward/Project for Public Spaces Forum

Destination: Savannah ForwardReminder:  the Savannah/Chatham County MPC’s Destination: Savannah Forward survey review and discussion with the Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces is tonight, Feb 5 at the Coastal Georgia Center — reception at 6pm, forum at 7pm.  Check the tagline — it’s right up our lane.

As the population of Chatham County continues to grow, we need to plan appropriately for that expansion. Thoughtful consideration and planning in development of thoroughfares will make a difference to the livability of this community for many generations. 

February 5th – Community-based presentation of survey results and response by Fred Kent on ways to move Savannah Forward at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St.

Visit pps.org to find out more about Fred Kent and the Project for Public Spaces.

Jerry Jaycox Memorial

Much too soon, we are very sad to report, SBC Board Member, local racer and friend to the cycling community Jerry Jaycox passed away last night during the Georgia Tech ride.  Jerry was always ready to lend a hand, and there were lots of hands on the scene last night to return the favor.  Many on the ride worked to resuscitate him after he apparently went unconscious while still riding. An ambulance brought Jerry to Memorial last night, though he never regained consciousness.

Please keep Jerry’s wife Susan in your thoughts. The visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5pm, with a memorial service on Monday at 2pm, all to take place at the Fox and Weeks funeral home at 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive.

Triplett Park MTB Bridges Workday

Great news to report — someone was listening when we made a call for materials to fix the bridges out at Tom Triplett Park.  Because of the efforts of Chatham County Commissioner Pat Farrell, County Manager Russ Abolt, and Assistant County Manager Pat Monahan, all of the lumber for replacing the crumbling Triplett bridges is being supplied by the county from some that was donated for their use.  The county has also offered to cut it to size and deliver it to the park.

BEFORE-1 After-Beautiful new bridge 1

So, Andy Woods, Mark Prince and Lee Kreutz who led the charge to rebuild the first bridge (above) want your help to rebuild the rest:

Have you crashed your Mountain bike lately? In need of some Good Trail Karma? Well, ya know, nothing will build good Trail Karma like a good maintenance day.

Tom Triplett Workday
Sat, Feb 7.  8a until the work is done

With the help of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, the Pooler Parks and Recreation Association, and Chatham County, we have been successful in securing all building materials needed to repair/replace all of the bridges at the Triplett Trails. Now it is up to us to complete the work. We are asking for volunteers to help with the construction.

Can’t drive a nail? Don’t worry! Can’t read a level, not a problem! Never even heard of a plumb-bob? We still need ya!!!! With this type of work, one of the largest obstacles is the logistics of getting the material to the build site. So if you can tote, lug, cart, carry, drag, slide, move, or transport material in any way, shape or form, WE NEED YOU.

The goal for this workday is to build/replace the first three bridges once you enter the trail from the park service road (past Andy’s Golden Great Bridge).  Park in the main parking lot by the bathrooms for easy access.

Just can’t be there by 8am?  No sweat!  Just call Lee @ 507-1744 and he’ll let you know if we are still a workin’.  So come on out even if it’s after lunch.

I am also asking that anyone who can participate please RSVP to me @ h2ojunke <at> hotmail <dot> com or call 912-224-5805 so we can get a headcount and ensure we have enough volunteers.

Until then, I will see you at the Trailhead,

Mark Prince

Safe Routes School Outreach Coordinator Job Posting

We have some good Safe Routes to School news to report.  On the heels of putting out its first grant cycle in December, GDOT has finally settled on a provider for its non-infrastructure SRTS resource center provider, URS Corporation.  Additional good news is that they are hiring 6 coordinators to manage the project throughout the state.  Would it not be great to have one of these folks based in Savannah?  Follow this link for more details.

Job Description:

URS Corporation is a fully integrated engineering, construction and technical services organization with the capabilities to support the full project life cycle—from inception through start-up and operation to decommissioning and closure. We offer planning, engineering and architectural design, environmental, construction, program and construction management, operations and maintenance, and management services. URS ranked #449 on the FORTUNE 500 list and #1 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) list of the Top 500 Design Firms for the eighth consecutive year.

In this position, you will join the Georgia Safe Routes to School team to assist in the establishment of healthy school travel options for elementary and middle school students statewide. You will educate school and community stakeholders on program benefits, build partnerships to design and implement Safe Routes initiatives, and evaluate program impacts. Safe Routes to School activities aim to reduce traffic congestions, air pollution, and traffic challenges while improving students’ health, mobility, and safety.

Responsibilities/Objectives

  • Develop school-based outreach activities encouraging walking and bicycling
  • Design customized solutions for elementary and middle schools, including education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities
  • Assist with program implementation including adult-guided walking/bicycle groups and frequent walker/rider activities
  • Specific tasks include: in-the-field outreach activities and delivering presentations to school stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers, parents, public safety officials, and community leaders

    Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop

    Update, and reminder:  Preston Tyree, Director of Education for the League of American Bicyclists, will be in Savannah to facilitate a Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop Wednesday, January 21 from 9am-1pm.  Location is confirmed for the Coastal Georgia Center.  Come by bike or bring one along, as there will likely be an on-bike component to the day’s events.

    The LAB administers the Bicycle Friendly Communities Program, and the City of Savannah has completed the first of its two-part application.  The four hour workshop will review facilities and programs in Savannah for their bicycle friendliness, and include a review of the Bikability Checklist.

    Whether or not we as a community rise to the national definition of Bicycle Friendly Community (in Georgia, only Roswell has achieved this status), we are sure to learn about how to get better and closer to that goal.

    We as bicyclists often face adverse conditions — this workshop represents a chance to look at those and discuss how we can make things better locally.  Please consider joining us and Savannah city officials on Wednesday, January 21.