New advocacy group and ride in Savannah, GA

[chocula]

On Monday, April 14 at 11 a.m., a press conference will be held in Downtown Savannah's Johnson Square to announce the launch of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign. The group was organized to work through the political, public policy, and citizen advocacy processes to develop more and better bicycle facilities in Savannah—improved bike lanes, racks, and signage—and to plan and initiate a public campaign to educate bicyclists and drivers about safe practices. More information is available on the Savannah Bicycle Campaign Web site:

http://bicyclecampaign.org

In conjunction with the City of Savannah's Earth Day Festival, SBC is sponsoring an Earth Day Ride on Saturday, April 19. The ride leaves from Forsyth Park at 3 p.m. Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson and Chatham County Commission Chairman Pete Liakakis are leading the ride. More info here:

http://bicyclecampaign.org/2008/03/25/earth-day-savannah-wheelie-and-the-post-wheelie-dealie

Please join us for one or both if you can.

Thanks,

John

http://sustainablesavannah.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/savbikecampaignsmall.jpg

(cross posted in A&S)

[DieselDan]

Give me a minute, but there is a joke here.

[RonH]

On Monday, April 14 at 11 a.m., a press conference will be held in Downtown Savannah's Johnson Square to announce the launch of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign.
Congratulations. As a former employee of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (http://www.atlantabike.org) I know how you all must feel and how excited you are.
Best of luck to everyone in the organization. :beer:

[gapowermike]

I'd be down with that. Downtown seems as bike friendly as possible to me with the exception of bike racks at the most visited spots. I hate seeing all of the bikes locked to streetlights.

I'll try to make it.

Michael

[chocula]

Thanks for the words of support, Michael and RonH. We made the front page of the morning paper:

http://savannahnow.com/node/480538

http://cms.images.morris.com/savannah/mdControlled/cms/2008/04/14/268437873.jpg

[RonH]

chocula

For the past 5 years the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign has received funding from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to pay for radio PSAs, yard signs, bumper stickers, billboards, etc. to educate motorists and cyclists about how to safely share the road. If this is one of your goals/projects why not apply for a grant?
Here's the link. --> http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/
Click on "Extras" on the top right. Then click on "Grants" in the drop down menu.

You can also apply here, I believe. --> http://www.egohs.org/

[chocula]

Thanks for the lead, RonH. We'll follow up on that. Wanted to share a little more coverage:

Connect Savannah: "Cycling into the Future" (http://www.connectsavannah.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A7530)

Creative Coast Relocated Thinking: "Otis and Pete, takin’ it to the streets" (http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/pete-and-otis-takin-it-to-the-streets/2008/04/15)

WTOC-TV: "Savannah Bicycle Campaign Announces Goals for the City" (http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8165022&nav=menu89_2_5%201%2053997)

John

[RonH]

I forgot to mention how some of the grant money was spent. Here are some of the things that the grants paid for. :)
http://atlantabike.org/RoadWays-MotoristEd.html

[gapowermike]

The response in the paper has been great. It was even the op-ed piece by the editor today. You guys are off to a great start. I'll be at the Mellow Mushroom for the TdG stage Monday. Hope to run into some of you guys.

Michael