ADVOCACY ALERT: Submit comments on Tybee Island Project

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is seeking feedback about a proposed solution to reduce crash frequency and severity on US 80/SR 26 from Lazaretto Creek to Tybrisa Street on Tybee Island, Chatham County.

The proposed improvements, which can be seen on the GDOT website, would improve safety and accessibility and reduce the frequency and severity of vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes along the corridor. They would also allow for improved emergency response times and provide better connections to the Bull River and Lazaretto Creek bridge replacements.

Bike Walk Savannah is in support of the project, with the following modifications to increase the safety of people walking and biking:

  • Instead of parking stops and flexible bollards, protect the cycletrack with a continuous curb and armadillo bumps at intersections.
  • 2nd Ave. is part of Tybee Island’s official bike route, but lacks a safe crossing at the intersection. Jones Ave. has a signal, but bicyclists have to go through a parking lot to get to it. This area needs better planning for safe travel.
  • People driving should not cross a cycletrack to back in to parking spaces. Additionally, the proposed design requires a two-phase crossing at N Campbell Ave., which is the main way to get to North Beach, and also has businesses on 3 corners that frequently see vehicles entering and exiting parking lots. During peak times this intersection sees many turning cars, which would reduce the opportunity for safe crossings for people walking and biking. Instead, the crossing should be moved closer to McKenzie Ave. or Byers St., which see a much lower number of turning vehicles.
  • If the crossing remains at Campbell Ave., parking should be parallel and be placed between the motor vehicle lane and the cycletrack as protection.
  • Recommend adding a crosswalk at 6th Ave. to facilitate safer pedestrian crossing opportunities.

GDOT is accepting public comments through April 8, 2024. View the project presentation and find out more information at us-80-tybee-safety-improvements-0019699-gdot.hub.arcgis.com, and click here to take the survey.

We are teaming up with Tybee Island to light the night on March 5

The City of Tybee Island Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee is hosting a Light the Night Bike Ride on Saturday, March 5.  Beginning at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Park Pavilion, we’ll be offering free bike safety checks and minor adjustments. We’ll also have helmets available for sale at very affordable prices. Free bike lights will be provided by Tim’s Bike & Beach Gear, and we’ll award a prize for the brightest bike. The ride will start at 7:30 p.m. and end at Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar, 13 Tybrisa St. More information is available on the City of Tybee Island website.

This month’s Cycle Social to be held on Tybee Island Nov. 17, following GDOT bridge replacement meeting

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This may be the first and last time we say this, but we encourage you to drive to our monthly Cycle Social. That’s because it’s on Tybee and the bridges and road to the island are unsafe for people on bikes.

Want to change that? Please attend the Georgia Department of Transportation’s public meeting on the replacement of the U.S. 80 bridges at Lazaretto Creek and Bull River, from 4-6 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Tybee Island City Hall. (Then join us for the Cycle Social after).

We need citizens to come to this meeting and express support for barrier separated bike facilities on the new bridges (not just bikeable shoulders) with connections to the McQueen’s Island Trail and other improvements that will allow people to reach the beach (safely) by bike.

After the GDOT meeting, we’ll adjourn to Tybee Island Social Club for our monthly social. We will be joined by Bill Nesper, vice president for programs at the League of American Bicyclists. Bill directs the Bicycle Friendly America℠ program with a particular focus on growing the program as a tool for new communities, businesses and universities. Bill first joined the League in 2002 and has worked in membership and managed the education programs before taking on the BFA program.

Let us know you’re coming by joining the Facebook event.

Public invited to provide input on proposed replacements for US Highway 80 bridges, Nov. 17

Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 3.33.00 PMThe public is invited to view design proposed replacements of the existing Lazaretto Creek and Bull River bridges and provide feedback on Nov. 17, from 4-6 p.m. at Tybee Island City Hall. The event is hosted by the Georgia Department of Transportation and is informal in structure, meaning anyone interested can drop by at any time between 4 and 6 p.m.

The roadway is the only connection between Tybee Island and the mainland. US 80 is designated as a hurricane evacuation route on the Georgia Hurricane Plan, as well as a future bikeway in the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long Range Plan. From a memo announcing the meeting:

The proposed project would replace the bridges at Lazaretto Creek and Bull River with a two-lane bridge that includes bike and pedestrian improvements. Additionally, it would improve the roadway from Johnny Mercer Boulevard to Old US 80 on Tybee with paved shoulders and turn lanes. These changes have been determined to to accomplish the purpose of this project, which is to ensure the integrity of the US 80 bridges and improve travel between Savannah and Tybee Island.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide the pubic with an opportunity to view the proposed project, ask questions and comment on the project.

Written comments may be submitted until Dec. 1 to:

Andrew Cobb
Transportation Environmental Planner
Office of Environmental Services
Georgia Department of Transportation
600 W. Peachtree St., 25th Floor
Fax: 404-631-1588
Email: acobb@dot.ga.gov

For more information, visit the GDOT project page. You can also download information distributed at the meeting: PI 10560 GDOT US 80 PIOH handouts 11-17-15

Cycle Social on Aug. 18 will focus on Tybee Island

11745863_10155920515220427_4702127350970579712_nTybee Island is a great place to ride a bike and leaders there are taking steps to make it even better. However, reaching Tybee Island by bike is a dangerous proposition.

Join us on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at SBC headquarters (1301 Lincoln St.) for pizza and beverages. We’ll hear from City of Tybee Island officials about the current status of U.S. Highway 80 and new bike facilities being built on the island.

Seating is limited, so please  let us know you plan to attend by joining the Facebook event or R.S.V.P. via email.