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.