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!

December Two Wheels to Work (2W2W)
The happy gang that joined us for the November 2W2W (thanks again to Mayor Johnson and Healthy Savannah for being there) all reported some trepidation at braving the 30-something degree weather that greeted that morning’s ride. When we gathered at ride’s end at Jittery Joe’s Coffee (also the December ride’s destination—located in Ex Libris Bookstore at 228 Martin Luther King Blvd just north of Liberty St.) it was all smiles among the rosy-cheeked participants.

So, do yourself a favor and roll out in time to ride through the crackling clear morning over to Jittery Joe’s and join other Savannah bike commuters for a free cup of joe from 8 – 9 am. You can either ride “free range” (just show up at Jittery Joe’s to meet the gang) or join a group launching from the usual Habersham Village beginning point. The group ride will launch no later than 7:45 am.

We like to try to involve other groups as official partners in 2W2W rides. We hope that if we introduce enough people to the joys of a nice morning ride, more people will start to take their bike to work now and then if not always. If we all rode a bike to work one day a month, we would roughly quintuple the mode share for bicycling—it stands at about 1% right now. (We can do better than that, right?)

If you are a member of a group, organization, business, or other pack of people who might be interested in a pleasant morning group ride and maybe the beginning of a career as a bike commuter, please send an email to frank@bicyclecampaign.org to discuss what’s involved. (It’s not complicated.)

Why register your bike?
If your bike is ever lost or stolen, or found and turned in, the police will already have a record of the make and model and can trace it, even across state lines.

So bring your bikes out to the police station at Bull and 31st streets Saturday morning!

Following is the text of the message sent by the SCMPD Crime Prevention Office:

———

BICYCLE REGISTRATION

WHEN: SEPTEMBER 18, 2010, SATURDAY

TIME: 8AM TO 12PM

WHERE: 1512 BULL STREET (BULL & 31ST)

BRING YOUR VALUABLE BICYCLES AND GET THEM REGISTERED WITH SCMPD.

BENEFIT: A RECORD OF THE MAKE/MODEL/SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BICYCLE AVAILABLE FOR REPORTING OR RETURNING THAT PROPERTY.

*WE ALSO ENCOURAGE BICYCLE OWNERS TO MARK/ENGRAVE THEIR BICYCLES OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY WITH DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER OR STATE ISSUE IDENTIFICATION CARD.

FORMAT: GA XXXXXXX-2012
(ENGRAVER AVAILABLE AT REGISTRATION)
STATE LICENSE NUMBER DATE OF EXPIRATION

UNDER PROJECT IDENTIFICATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN TRACE BACK MARKED PROPERTY ACROSS STATE LINES SHOULD THAT LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BE NOTED ON THE PROPERTY AND RUN THROUGH THE NATIONAL DATA BASE.

DON’T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER YOUR BICYCLE SLIP BY. OUR STAFF WILL BE ON HAND SATURDAY MORNING.

For those of you who follow us on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll know that we have been very excited about the upcoming Georgia Bike Summit, a first time event that will be held here in Georgia’s first city on Saturday, Oct 9.

Here’s the deal: through next Tuesday September 14 at noon, you can register for only $30 using this link (and you must use this link). It will be a great day of networking and learning to advance bicycling in Georgia, and it may not be in Savannah the next time around. Take advantage and save yourself $10 off the usual early bird registration cost of $40 (or $30 off the $60 late registration!)

More details of the Summit from their press release:

Safety, Improved Conditions Focus of Statewide Bike Summit

Savannah, Ga. – Sept. 4, 2010 – Georgia Bikes, a statewide advocacy organization for improved bicycling conditions is holding its first statewide bike summit on Oct. 9, 2010 in Savannah, Ga.

Guests include state and local agencies, off-road enthusiasts, commuters and non-profit organizations exploring a wide-range of bicycling related issues including safety, infrastructure, advocacy and transportation.

Demand for bicycle facilities continues to grow as the number of bicyclists using Georgia’s roads for transportation and recreation increases. Proponents of bicycling want to address Georgia’s approach and funding for bicycle projects across the state.

In 2008, Georgia ranked 49 out of 50 on the League of American Bicyclists list of bicycle-friendly states. Georgia has steadily increased its ranking to a current 35 out of 50, but advocates want to see that ranking continue moving upward.

A well-organized day long ride from Augusta to Savannah is now in its 10th year. The Harvest of Hope Ride is on Saturday, Oct 16, and riders will travel to Augusta on Friday evening together by bus. To be guaranteed a ride jersey, you must register by THIS SUNDAY Sept 12.

Join beloved member of the Savannah cycling community Patrick Booton, two time cancer survivor who also just this year recovered from a stroke. This ride brings together so many in our community to raise money for the Harvest of Hope, a cancer survivor support program for families in Savannah.

In this month’s issue of the LAB’s American Bicyclist Magazine, Ben Sollee — the humble, extremely talented and friendly pop cellist who joined us on his tour by bike last fall –announces his plans to perform on a transcontinental U.S. tour by bicycle. Quite an impressive undertaking from quite an impressive guy.

Not only that, but in the article as he recounts a transformation from an occasional bike rider into a cello-hauling bike touring machine over a trip to Bonnaroo and his southeastern coastal tour, he gives a shout out to his visit here in Savannah:

Although we were able to book more traditional shows on the December tour, we found what would become our model event in Savannah, Ga. We teamed up with the Savannah Bicycle Campaign to host an open-door fundraiser and show at a local bicycle hotspot, kicking the event off with an amazing night ride through historic streets. We were able to become a vehicle for the bike group’s message, helping drive membership and getting great coverage in the Savannah Morning News. This event bridged together what seemed like a magical mix of advocacy, community engagement, and shared arts. Within just a day, we felt like we had become part of a community. But, alas, Savannah was an island of bicycle love

Wow. That was our impression, too — what a night it was!

Below is a short film which focuses on Savannah (reminds me of something…), produced by Marty Benson (enthusiastic guy in the goatee in the Savannah waterfront picture above) to promote Ben’s new Ditch the Van Tour, followed by the full article in American Bicyclist!

bell symphony – Ben Sollee Bike Tour from marty benson on Vimeo.

Please keep Jerry’s wife Susan in your thoughts. The visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5pm, with a memorial service on Monday at 2pm, all to take place at the Fox and Weeks funeral home at 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive.

Dave, has four children, seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and is still riding and leading tours at 80 (years!  yes!). He is an avid but not a lifelong cyclist.  In fact, Dave did not start riding until he developed diabetes in his sixties.  Until recently, his touring company, Bicycle Savannah, LLC, put on the Labor Day Historic Savannah Bikefest (where SBC board member Joe Steffen met his wife), Jekyll Island Jingle Bell Ride among the countless other multi-day tours throughout the southeast that they still put on.

Check out what else Dave is up to at his blog (yes, he has a blog!).  To see what is still possible if you stay active is impressive, and our helmets are off to you, Dave for all you have done to advance the cause of better bicycling in Savannah.