We’re so excited about our first Pedal Medal Award, that we just couldn’t keep it under wraps. Savannah director of Mobility and Parking and friend to cyclists Sean Brandon is our first recipient of the Pedal Medal. He embodies
the idea of building a better Savannah through bicycling. We’re grateful for his dedication to a more bike-friendly city, and look forward to seeing you all at the Pedal Medal Celebration at the historic Kennedy Pharmacy on Thursday February 2. Get your tickets today, or attend as a volunteer!

More in the press release:

For Immediate Release

SAVANNAH BICYCLE CAMPAIGN TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO ARE MAKING SAVANNAH BETTER FOR BICYCLING

Bicycle advocacy group will honor City of Savannah employee for implementing cycling infrastructure improvements

Jan. 23, 2012 Savannah, Ga. — The Savannah Bicycle Campaign will recognize Mobility and Parking Services Director Sean Brandon at its first Pedal Medal award ceremony, Feb. 2 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Kennedy Pharmacy, 323 E. Broughton St. The organization will also recognize Bill Bailey as its volunteer of the year.

“The Savannah Bicycle Campaign has made significant progress toward the goal of making Savannah safer and friendlier for cyclists, and encouraging people to make bicycling part of their daily lives,” said SBC vice chairman John Bennett. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the Sean Brandon’s leadership and vision.”

Brandon has spearheaded the expansion of Savannah’s pavement-marked bicycle lane network, including the Washington Avenue bike lanes and the Price Street bike lane and traffic-calming project, which will be completed later this year. He has also increased the number of bicycle parking locations, including racks at the corner of Broughton and Bull streets and other prominent locations.

“Sean is a public servant who leads by example,” Bennett said. “As a daily bicycle commuter, he demonstrates the practicality of cycling and the considerable benefits of going by bike.”

Tickets are still available for the ceremony, which will feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased online at http://bicyclecampaign.org/pedal-medal-award-celebration/ or by calling 912-228-3096.

Proceeds from the event will help fund a Bike Restoration and Education Center, to serve as center of cycling activities in Savannah-Chatham, to provide a physical presence for SBC and to allow for collection and rehabilitation of discarded bicycles to be put into safe operating condition. Bikes will be distributed to members of the community who have limited means for transportation and often resort to dangerously ill-fitted, poorly maintained bicycles. Distribution of these bikes and safety equipment will be a means to improve mobility for this at risk community and to allow us to deliver basic bike safety education and equipment.

2nd Annual Bike 2 Beer Caroling Extravaganza

UPDATE: Because the weather outside is so frightful, we thought we’d have a few more happily harmonizing campaigners if we moved the festivities to this Wednesday, December 14. And so we have – please join us Wednesday!

Singing the songs of the holidays and propelled by our bikes, we’ll carol through Ardsley Park THIS WEDNESDAY next Monday starting at 6pm. To join the chorus, bring yourself, your bike and friends to Tiedemann Park (the Atlantic Ave mall in front of Savannah Arts Academy) at 6pm on Monday Wednesday. This is our December Bike 2 Beer, so we’ll finish with good cheer at SBC International Headquarters (Frank and Patty McIntosh’s house) at 205 E 50th St, with those festivities starting around 7:30 if you can’t make it for the ride and song.

HEAR US PERFORM!

To hear the sweet sounds of our band of bicycling carolers, bring good tidings, you and your kin to the locations below on Wednesday 12/14.*

Showtimes… our scheduled route for WEDNESDAY*

6:00pm: Tiedemann Park (Atlantic and Washington)
6:15pm: Guckenheimer Park (45th and Battey)
6:30pm: Theus Park (45th and Harmon)
6:45pm: Solomons Park (50th and Harmon)
7:00pm: McCauley Park (50th and Battey)

*If you are having a holiday gathering in Ardsley Park and would like us to stop by for a song, send an email to our Community Rides Chair, David Acuff – rides[at]bicyclecampaign{dot}org – and we’ll try to make it work!

As Savannah braces for the coming of thousands of marathoners this weekend, we announce the return of the Jerry Jaycox Fort Pulaski Wheelie NEXT weekend, after all the foot-racing hubbub dies down. The Wheelie will begin around 2pm on Sunday, November 13.

The ride, now in its fourth year, is named for founding SBC board member Jerry Jaycox who passed away riding his bicycle. The ride will again take riders of all abilities through the trails and dikes of Fort Pulaski and include a spin out to the McQueen’s Island Rail Trail which parallels the south channel of the Savannah River (The trail runs along the old Savannah-Tybee Railway corridor). The ride will be about an hour (and you’re free to wander around longer, if you’d like), much of it on non-paved surfaces, and so fat-tire bikes are recommended, though it can be successfully negotiated with a hybrid or road bike. Entrance to Fort Pulaski and all national parks that weekend is free in honor of Veterans Day!

As always, after the ride, we host a cookout at the picnic area at Fort Pulaski that serves as our launch and finish point (go left at the fork when you come into Fort Pulaski). It’s a fun event, and we’ll provide burgers, dogs and beverages — please bring a dish to share!

WHAT
Bike 2 Beer: Share the road, share a cocktail!

WHEN
6pm, Tuesday October 25

WHO
You and other awesome Campaigners

WHERE
Bonna Bella Yacht Club
2740 Livingston Ave

WHY
Lots of rain in the forecast for Tues 10/18. We’ll head out to Bonna Bella Tuesday 10/25, ride your bike with us if you like from Habersham Village starting at 5:30 (be sure to bring lights)!

WHO
You and other awesome Campaigners

WHAT
Bike 2 Beer Social…
Share the road, share a cocktail!

WHEN
7pm, Tuesday September 20

WHERE
basement at Moon River Brewing Company
21 West Bay Street

WHY
Fall is here along with beautiful weather for bicycling.
Also, elections are near! Hear about our upcoming Candidate Forum and the Midnight Garden Ride wrap-up

]]> http://bicyclecampaign.org/2011/09/20/bike-2-beer-is-tomorrow/feed/ 0 http://bicyclecampaign.org/2011/09/19/sbcusgbc-city-council-candidate-forum/ http://bicyclecampaign.org/2011/09/19/sbcusgbc-city-council-candidate-forum/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:50:51 +0000 Drew http://bicyclecampaign.org/?p=2046 September 27, 20116:00 pmto8:00 pm

This November Savannah will elect leaders to watch over the present and future of our city. Because the decisions they make on transportation and the built environment have long reaching effects, election season is an important opportunity to educate and get feedback from candidates and voters on how those changes should shape the community.

Savannah Bicycle Campaign, U.S. Green Building Council, and
the League of Women Voters present
Alderman At-Large Candidate Forum
6-8pm, Tuesday September 27
Coastal Georgia Center

With that in mind, we have partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council and the League of Women Voters to host a forum for city council candidates elected by city-wide vote — Alderman At-Large Post 1 and Post 2. The forum is next Tuesday, 9/27 at 6pm at the Coastal Georgia Center. More details are below in the press release.

ALDERMAN AT-LARGE CANDIDATE FORUM TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 27 AT COASTAL GEORGIA CENTER
Alderman At-Large candidates will gather Tuesday, September 27 to field questions regarding their positions on transportation and sustainability issues. The forum is free and open to the public, will start at 6pm and be moderated by Orlando Montoya, news producer with Georgia Public Broadcasting in Savannah, and Jim Morekis, editor-in-chief of Connect Savannah.

Candidates will answer formal questions delivered by the moderators during the program before taking questions from the audience and from the media.

“As we choose those that will represent us in deciding policy for our City, it’s more important than ever to ensure that Savannah grows into the future and grows wisely,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, Chair of the US Green Building Council-Savannah Branch. “Through this forum, candidates can express their vision for how Savannah can be a leader by demonstrating responsible stewardship of our environment while incorporating innovative strategies as part of that solution.”
“We’ve seen a tremendous increase in the use of bicycles for transportation in the community. The City of Savannah government has been a positive influence in that growth, and we hope this forum allows candidates the chance to address how they will help continue this trend and also make transit and pedestrian options more viable,” said Drew Wade, Chairman of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign. “Several long-term transportation planning efforts are reaching the point where those decisions become a critical part of the community we live with for the next several decades; we need to make the right decisions.”

The Forum will be held at the Coastal Georgia Center for Continuing Education, 305 Fahm Street, Savannah, GA, http://cgc.georgiasouthern.edu/. For more information about this forum, please contact Frank McIntosh, Executive Director, Savannah Bicycle Campaign at frank@bicyclecampaign.org or 912-272-1074.

We’ve spent the year preparing for this Third Annual Midnight Garden Ride. We have a fantastic group of volunteers ready to show off this great city to a record number of riders. This Saturday night we launch from Forsyth Park at 8pm for a whirlwind tour of sights and sounds, of friends and families, celebrating the joy of 2 wheels overtaking the Savannah night.

The fun doesn’t stop when we get back, either. We roll into the park for a free concert headlined by Ben Sollee. How cool is that? Seriously, you won’t want to miss it. And if you want to be up close and personal with Ben and the other bands, head over to our friends at Savannah Stopover and grab one of the last VIP stagefront tables still available.

T-shirts are only guaranteed to registered riders, so if you haven’t registered yet, you’d better get on it — pre-registration closes tomorrow at midnight! We won’t even mention that the weather forecast is looking great — register today!

A very special Tuesday August 16 awaits. Two jolly bike related events are planned for your enjoyment.

First, join the City of Savannah’s Open House on the Price Street retrofit (pictured below) at Savannah Arts Academy from 3-6pm. Be present to add your voice to others acclaiming the wondrous changes thermoplastic will bring to Price Street: a southbound bike lane out of downtown, traffic calming, and a more positive pedestrian atmosphere. We won’t miss the small total volume of cars travelling much too fast, to be replaced by a small volume traveling at a reasonable speed.

As if that weren’t enough, follow it up with a sneak partial preview of the Midnight Garden Ride route as we mosey to our third Tuesday Bike 2 Beer, this month at Blue Turtle Bistro on Paulsen Street. We should arrive around 7pm for Bike 2 Beer if you can’t join us for the ride from Savannah Arts at 6pm.

What: Bike 2 Beer monthly social

Where and When:
Savannah Arts Academy, 3-6pm: Savannah Price Bike Lane Open House
Savannah Arts to Blue Turtle Bistro, 6-7pm: A Midnight Garden Ride route preview
Blue Turtle Bistro (5002 Paulsen St), 7pm: Bike 2 Beer social

Who: You and all of the rest of our awesome Campaigners

Why: Celebrate the coming of the new Price Street bike lane and the Midnight Garden Ride

As mentioned last week and correctly indicated on our calendar, the July Bike to Beer social is TOMORROW, Wednesday 7/20 at 7pm. This time, Bike-to-Beergoers will be witnesses to a secret early announcement of our post-ride entertainment for this year’s Midnight Garden Ride… AND we’ll be giving away 2 pairs of free tickets for this year’s ride to some lucky SBC members – you must be present to win, and must be a current member, so join or renew today!

So, c’mon out with us and enjoy the impressive B Matthews beer selection, and grab a bite while you’re there.

This weekend, join one or both of two Savannah rides celebrating passage of HB 101 in the state legislature this year, defining 3 feet as a minimum safe distance for cars overtaking bicycles!

As dedicated Campaigners know, this Friday July 1, Georgia will become a safer place for cyclists as a state law that includes the 3 foot minimum takes effect. Over this Independence Day weekend, bicycling clubs and advocacy groups statewide will take to the roads on “3 Feet 2 Pass” group rides to celebrate and publicize this year’s passage by the General Assembly of HB 101, the “Better Bicycling Bill.”

Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 101, the “Better Bicycling Bill,” on May 11th and Georgia joined 17 other states with safe passing laws. The bill makes several other improvements to bicycling laws. The law now clarifies that bicycle lanes must be built according to nationally recognized minimum safety standards and that cyclists have the right of way while travelling in bicycle lanes.

Language in the bill also clarifies conditions under which a bicycle, long recognized as a vehicle under state law, may move from its legally mandated area of operation “as far right as practicable” into the center of a travel lane. “This is particularly important to the safety of cyclists,” notes SBC director Frank McIntosh, “as they oftentimes must move more into the travel lane to ensure their safety. A lot more road hazards gather in the gutter and you are not as visible.”

Savannah Bicycle Campaign partner ‘3 Feet 2 Pass’ rides include a road ride Saturday, July 2 morning ride launching from Gallery Espresso at 8 a.m., concurrent with the usual Saturday morning road ride there. Ride options range from 30 miles at 18-20 mph to 47 miles at 25mph+. For more information on the ride, contact David Udinsky at info@perryrubberbikeshop.com.

Then on Monday, July 4th, the Coastal Bicycle Touring Club will host a 25 mile ride starting from the north end of Forsyth Park at 10 a.m., proceeding around Isle of Hope and back. It is a more moderately paced ride that allows time to enjoy the scenery. For more information contact: Ed Jewell, 912-826-3657.

Full press release of rides around the state is here.

Don’t forget to register for the Midnight Garden Ride Saturday September 3! It’s going to be a sight to behold!