Bike Walk Greenville

Volunteers Needed in Travelers Rest on March 18 and March 19 to Count Trail Users

Swamp Rabbit Trail Users wishing to Cross Main Street in Travelers Rest must contend with turning vehicles even when they have a white pedestrian crossing signal. Travelers Rest City Council is studying if a “pedestrian scramble” cycle can be installed to make all vehicles stop when a trail user presses the button. Part of this study is to get a new count of trail users at the intersection of Main Street and Center Street/ McElhaney Rd.

Volunteers are needed on Friday March 18 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM and also from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. and on Saturday March 19 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If we get enough volunteers we will also count from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturday.

We need 2 volunteers at all times. We would like a 2 hr commitment, but if you can only commit to one hour that is fine.

Please register as a volunteer using our sign up sheets and we will be in touch with you with all the details.

Instructions for volunteers are at this link: SRT User Count in Travelers Rest March 18 and 19. Contact us with any questions at info@bikewalkgreenville.org.

Our rain dates are March 25 and March 26.

Greenville County Council Adopts First Ever Bike Walk Plan

We are very pleased with the adoption of the bike walk plan that was the first major project that we embarked on as Bike Walk Greenville.

The projects included in this plan were used by the Council appointed Roads Commission as part of the sales tax referendum that was defeated 2 to 1 in the November 2014 County election.

The report has sat on the shelf since that time. Thanks to the good work of board members Lisa Hallo, and Eleanor Dunlap, a path to adoption was developed resulting in the approval on March 1, 2016 as part of the Council consent agenda

A copy of the report can be downloaded at this link.

Feedback to the Bikes vs Cars Event

We received great feedback from many members of the community who attended the film and panel discussion on February 11, 2016. Thank you to all of you who attended and made your voice heard. Here is a just a sampling of some of the feedback we have received on the event.

Randy MacDougald –Carolina Triathlon

“So excited to see Bike Walk Greenville steer Greenville toward a healthier and safer future”

Marni Sumbal –TriMarni Coaching & Nutrition

“After moving from Jacksonville, FL to Greenville, SC, I can honestly say that I love living in my new bike friendly community. However, after watching the Bikes vs Cars documentary, it’s evident that we are lucky to have so many cycling options as to where to ride and not to mention the fact that cyclist are respected by cars when asked to share the road, but it is acknowledged that we can continue to improve the safety, accessibility and awareness for cycling in and around the Greenville community. With a large crowd in attendance for the viewing of the documentary, it is obvious that many people in the community are invested in building an even more bike friendly community. I’m incredibly thankful for the Bike Walk team for all that they are doing for Greenville, all in an effort to make Greenville a safer, more active and more environmentally healthy community. “

Inge Flackett – The eBicycle Store

“Having grown up in Europe, I know what great biking and walking infrastructure can do for a community. This movie really highlighted for me what a great opportunity we have to become truly unique here in Greenville as we grow — to be healthier, greener, and more social through biking and walking infrastructure everywhere. We could become the Amsterdam or Copenhagen of America!”

John Rekers- The eBicycle Store

“I’m very disappointed to see bicycle infrastructure grow so slowly in America, especially now that technology advances have enabled just about anyone of any age to bike [on an electric bicycle]. After seeing this movie, and with an upcoming presidential debate here in Greenville, something occurred to me… I’d really like to see one of our presidential candidates propose a JFK/Eisenhower-type national initiative (like the moonshot or the interstate system): to build nationwide bicycle infrastructure so that in America we would have the best and most comprehensive biking infrastructure in the world — any A to any B on a bicycle. It could be done at a very small fraction of the cost to build and maintain our highway system, and would promote fitness, healthier living, and reduced car emissions, as well as have many other positive knock-on effects. And it’s a great fit with our national identity of being fit, rugged, out door, freedom-loving people!”

Don Hudson – President, Greenville Spinners

“The movie was a big hit, thought provoking and inspiring. BWG pulled the event off in splendid fashion and Meredith ran the show and panel discussion like a pro you would expect to hear on a broadcast like NPR. The city council members were an added bonus to the proceedings and having them in attendance hopefully will move the collective towns of Greenville County towards action that will further BWG’s efforts and our need for alternative transportation options and safe streets. The question and answer session though professionally administrated left an air of de-motivation. City council members were not able to communicate concrete efforts that are underway or in planning that will propel the City of Greenville nor the County of Greenville towards a model community for cycling and walking. There was too much politicking and far too little initiatives and enthusiasm conveyed by the council members to get the audience excited about what could happen to move us forward. Thanks to everyone that worked to pulled this all together to address these topics.”

Stephen J. Quigley- Clemson University PhD candidate

“Bikes vs. Cars demonstrates the incongruity of cars and population density in urban areas. As Greenville continues to build for residents attracted to our downtown culture, people who find solace in density and communal living, we must rethink how we can best connect and move about our city and near suburbs. This design retrofit must accompany our growth so as not to stagnate or deform it. ”

Gregg Alley- Bikeville activist

” Residents of Greenville County are lucky that we have elected officials that can see the “big picture”. As I learned from the film, some are very narrow-minded.”

Mary Reid McGowan- Bicycle Commuter

“I think what stood out to me the most from the film was the quote, ‘what we do now, or do not do now, will stay with us for the next hundred, two hundred years’. It’s so crucial that we consider what is best for our communities and our children, and also that we realize that what we do does matter. We shouldn’t settle for less than clean air and a healthy planet, and we can’t leave these decisions to forces seeking only profit and power.

Thank you so much for bringing this event to Greenville! It was a very powerful and inspiring documentary and I thoroughly enjoyed it”

Exclusive showing of Bikes vs Cars documentary

Bike Walk Greenville hosted an exclusive showing of the documentary film Bikes vs. Cars last week at the Camelot Cinemas. Immediately following the film, we hosted a brief panel discussion with local elected officials from Greenville County on the state and future of active transportation infrastructure. We sold over 200 tickets for the event and are thrilled with the support from the Greenville community for our ongoing advocacy. The Bikes vs. Cars event was the first of many opportunities this year for us to engage with our community and our elected officials in support of active transportation.

Bikes vs. Cars was an interesting documentary film that portrays the ongoing challenges faced by many cities as populations grow. The film told the story of bike activists in Sao Paulo, Brazil, uniting to engage with local government officials and stop the unprecedented rate of one cyclist death per week in the city. Los Angeles was featured as a case study for its place in history as one of the first American cities to have a bike expressway that was replaced by the freeway system in the advent of the automobile. Copenhagen was highlighted as a stellar example of what a city built for people and not cars is like.

The movie inserted humor into sometimes dark storytelling by making fun of anti-bike crusaders, notably former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The film ended on a positive note with the government of Sao Paulo agreeing to insert miles of bike lanes onto critical streets in the city, and Los Angeles showing its potential to once again become a haven for commuting by bike. For those of us in Greenville, it opened our eyes to the plight of active transportation infrastructure and reminded us we are not in a dire situation. Our elected officials are listening to us, we have the support of some critical Council members in our cities, and we are fully at the table when the discussion of future infrastructure planning comes up.

Film attendees were encouraged to submit questions for the panel discussion, and our elected officials did a great job of helping everyone understand exactly what it takes for Greenville to become an even more bike and walk friendly community. Greenville City Council member Amy Ryberg-Doyle put it the best when she described a “complete streets” philosophy, one where the car, the bicycle, and the mother pushing the stroller are all properly and safely accommodated.

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A few highlights from the discussion with our elected officials included:

Taft Matney (Mauldin City Council) said that citizens need to get more involved in local Government. He observed that very few show up at Mauldin City Council meetings, and he suggested that advocates need to engage their Council members. He cautioned about using the bikes vs cars message for local advocacy, as we have a large auto manufacturing sector in the Upstate. Instead, Taft suggested we begin conversations with what we do agree on, which is a safe and desirable community for all citizens.

Amy Ryberg Doyle (Greenville City Council) stressed that there was opposition to the East North Street road diet, yet data after its completion show that traffic is slower; the road is safer for people on bikes and mothers pushing a stroller, and traffic volume works fine with fewer lanes. Amy spoke of the economic development benefits of having biking and walking infrastructure, and it was demonstrated vividly in CH2MHill moving to Greenville from Spartanburg and wanting to be on the Swamp Rabbit Trail extension.

Brandy Hart Amidon (Travelers Rest City Council) spoke of how much the Swamp Rabbit Trail has benefitted Travelers Rest, and was excited about the new bicycle master plan that was done by Alta Planning last year. Brandy expressed a strong desire for people to live and work in a walkable bike friendly TR, but did acknowledge that their small city budget makes new projects a challenge. Brandy is was optimistic that Travelers Rest will continue to find ways to improve the environment.

Once again, thank you to everyone who supported our event and participated in the discussion. We have many exciting events planned for 2016, so stay tuned for more ways to engage with Bike Walk Greenville and help make Greenville a safe, desirable community for many generations to come. It’s time to “Think outside the car”!

Photo credit goes to Andrew Mansbach.

Think Outside the Car

Some things are cliches. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t true. So it is with well-meaning, non-profit organizations. They’re all passionate. They can’t stop talking about their cause. And they are always asking for money.

Plus, they all have t-shirts.

Fact is, no self-respecting non-profit can claim real street cred unless they have a t-shirt of their very own. And now Bike-Walk Greenville has one too.

It’s green. It’s soft. And it’s got a nice message emblazoned on the chest.

After some extended pondering, we landed on the line “Think Outside the Car”. It’s both an invitation to think differently about transportation and a call to action to get out of your car and explore the world. In short, it pretty much captures the Bike Walk Greenville philosophy.

We decided on green for the color because we’re in Greenville County. And we chose the soft style T because, you know, it’s soft.

So, here’s your chance to support a good cause and get yourself an awesome looking t-shirt. Follow the link below and order yours today!

Bike Walk Greenville T-shirts are currently available for purchase at Carolina Triathlon.

Join Bike Walk Greenville to View the Film “Bikes vs Cars”

Join Bike Walk Greenville for a thought provoking film about our cities, our air, and our society’s obsession with the automobile. “Bikes vs Cars” depicts a global crisis that deep down we all know we need to talk about: Climate, earth’s resources, and cities where the entire surface is consumed by the car. How did we get to this point? What can be done to change course? Watch the film then stick around for a brief discussion about Greenville specifically; how we can design our community for people, not just for cars.

Thursday February 11, 2016 7:30 PM at Camelot Theater, 48 E Antrim Dr, Greenville. Tickets are $10

Watch the trailer and buy your tickets at https://www.tugg.com/events/80305

City of Greenville Advocacy Meeting Oct 13

Join us at Greenville City Hall in the third floor conference room on October 13 at 12:00 noon to learn about bike walk initiatives in the city of Greenville.

Meeting Agenda – Celebrate successes, plan our future course and discuss how Bikeville and BWG can best work together in the years to come to make Greenville more bike/ped friendly.

For those who cannot attend this meeting, here is a PDF version of the meeting slides which is also available on this website under Resources/Documents.

Support safer roads and healthier children in Greenville County

We’re raising funds to build a safer community for our children and all the citizens of Greenville County.

There’s little doubt that Greenville County roads are dangerous for pedestrians. In fact, South Carolina pedestrians sustain fatal injuries at double the national average. As Greenville County grows, and more people walk and bike our roads, that tragic statistic will surely rise.

What’s more, only 20% of the county’s elementary schools are walkable. That means most children can’t walk or bike to school without exposing themselves to danger. And without gaining the health benefits of getting to school on their own two feet – or wheels!

Bike Walk Greenville has taken a leadership position in advocating for more sidewalks and bike lanes. Our mission is to make Greenville County a healthier, safer and more vibrant place to live. And our current fundraising goal is to raise $35,000 for paid staff to help advance our cause. We have already secured a $10,000 matching grant!

So, please donate and help us make our roads safer for everyone. Your contribution is tax deductible.

Below is our short history of what we have done to date:

BWG was formed in early 2013 and obtained our 501(c)3 tax exempt charity designation in 2014. In our first two years we have accomplished the following as an all volunteer organization:

Created a tool on our website that allows community members to suggest sidewalk and bike lane locations. To date, nearly 800 suggestions have been submitted, including many in July 2105 in conjunction with the Piedmont Health Care transportation study. This underlines the community’s desire for a more bike and walk friendly environment, and makes our role that much more important.
Partnered with Upstate Forever and Livewell Greenville to fund and facilitate the preparation of the first-ever Greenville County Bike Walk Plan – The Safe Routes to School, Work and Recreation Plan – prepared by Alta Planning + Design in late 2013.
Ensured bike and pedestrian needs were an integral part of the discussion regarding transportation needs when County Council created the Roads Commission that led to the November 2014 sales tax referendum by recruiting speakers for all public meetings and presenting the Commission with a copy of the Bike Walk Plan referenced above. As a result, the commission included 101 pedestrian and bicycle projects valued at $48 million as a part of the referendum.
Worked closely with the Chamber-led group advocating for passage of the referendum. Our role focused on education, versus lobbying, including the production and promotion of a short animated video about the childhood health benefits of walking and biking to school. Although the referendum was defeated, we established BWG as the voice for active transportation in Greenville County through that process.

BWG is one of nearly 200 similar local advocacy organizations that are members of the Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Grow our momentum with your year-end gift

Since our founding in early 2013, Bike Walk Greenville (BWG) has become recognized as a powerful voice for active transportation in Greenville County. We have delivered our message to thousands of citizens and started a community wide discussion about the need for safer roads for all users.

Achieving our goals in 2014

Our 2014 strategy to get new sidewalk and bike lane projects included as part of the sales tax referendum worked as planned leading up to the election. Our advocacy contributed to the inclusion on the ballot of 100 bike walk projects for a total of $47.8MM. While the ballot measure was defeated, we can take away some achievements from the campaign:

We produced a video promoting the benefits of safe routes to school
We had an opinion piece published by The Greenville News
We partnered with the Chamber of Commerce led Citizens for a Better Greenville County to educate voters
We promoted our message on social media attracting many visitors to our website
We received grant funding from LiveWell Greenville and Advocacy Advance

Also in 2014, we collaborated with partners to:

Launch the People on Bikes campaign, creating a visual impact across the community.
Create bike shop handout educating cyclists and motorists about the rules of the road.

Continuing the momentum in 2015

We have only scratched the surface of our advocacy efforts and have many areas to emphasize when we finalize our 2015 strategic plan:

Continuing to educate community leaders on the importance of active transportation and to partner with other nonprofits to host an event with nationally recognized bike walk experts
Advocating for the first protected bike lane project in the city
Educating motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on safe transportation habits
Advocating for safety improvements for the Swamp Rabbit Trail, including possible overpass at highway 253
Bringing more attention to pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the design of our roads and streets

We are currently an all-volunteer organization. To be successful in the long term, our goal is to grow our funding so that we can employ paid staff members. We are over half way to our 2014 funding goal of $20,000 which will help us establish one part-time position and increase our ability to have an impact in our community.

Consider us in your end of year giving

Please support our growing organization and help us keep biking and walking infrastructure an essential part of the future of Greenville County. This is a critical issue, which is only now getting the attention it deserves. Let’s keep the momentum rolling!

Donate today! Thank you for your time and consideration.

We’re raising funds to build a safer community for our children and all the citizens of Greenville County.

Strategic Framework Developed

Increasing Bike Walk Champions in Greenville County

Achieving our goals in 2014

Continuing the momentum in 2015

Consider us in your end of year giving