Bike and Pedestrian Milestones in South Carolina

• Early in 2002, SCDOT launched a ‘new initiative’ to establish partnerships to provide more facilities for bicycling and walking in South Carolina. A Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Advisory Committee was formed in June 2002, composed of representatives of the private sector, the General Assembly, other state agencies, and walking and cycling advocacy groups. This group has now been combined with the Beautification Advisory Committee to become “The Enhancements Group.”

• Beginning in 2002 in North Charleston, SCDOT has sponsored a series of Bicycle and Pedestrian Conferences. The purpose of these is to bring together the partners and agency personnel who can work together toward the common goal of improving the quality and the number of statewide facilities and facility improvements. Later conferences were held in 2003 in Greenville, and in 2004 in Myrtle Beach. The fourth Bicycle and Pedestrian Conference was held in conjunction with the SC Partnering Conference in December 2005 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. bikeped_05highlights.pdf (70Kb)

• In February 2003, the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission approved a resolution affirming that bicycling and walking accommodations should be a routine part of the Department’s planning, design, construction and operating activities, and will be included in the everyday operations of its transportation system.
  bike_resolutions.pdf (92KB)

• The S.C. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness presents its annual Public Policy Award to SCDOT in recognition of advances resulting from the new initiative in April of 2003.

• During the October 2003 Commission meeting, it was announced that $2.5Million from the state’s Transportation Enhancement fund would be dedicated to providing paved shoulders on sections of the South Carolina Bicycle Tour Route.

• One of the most popular features of SCDOT’s hallmark Cooper River Bridge project is the 10-foot wide shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path. It extends nearly 2.71 miles linking Mount Pleasant and Charleston.

• On March 18, 2005, SCDOT was invited to address delegates at the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Summit in Washington, DC during their celebration of the League’s 125th Anniversary.

• The Bikes Belong Coalition and the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) awarded a “Complete Streets” grant of $50,000 to help South Carolina implement its policy to improve conditions for bicycling and walking. The grant is supporting research, training and evaluation programs to ease implementation of the policy. “This generous grant provided by the Bikes Belong Coalition will help set the stage for South Carolina to become a bicycle-friendly model for the rest of the United States to follow,” said Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League. Tom Dodds, SCDOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator, said, “A project such as this is precisely what the department envisioned to foster true progress for bicyclists and pedestrians.” The League of American Bicyclists, in conjunction with the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, SCDOT, and other local groups are working to support the implementation of “Complete Streets.”

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