We hope those of you that made it last week to Chris Kluth’s discussion on “From 50,000-feet to 5-feet: Bring a Vision to Reality” enjoyed it. This Thursday we’re excited to introduce Don Sparks & the Panel of metro-Charleston planner’s discussion on “The Fear & Romance of Cycling in Charleston”.

Event Details: Speaker - Don Sparks & the Panel of metro-Charleston planners Topic - The Fear & Romance of Cycling in Charleston Date & Time - Thursday April 15th - 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Location - American Theater, 446 King Street

Don Sparks is the founding President of Charleston Bicycle Advocacy Group (CBAG) and is a Board Member of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization. He is a member of the CHATS Standing Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (the Charleston MPO’s transportation planning arm) and serves on the Enhancements Committee. Don is helping with the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Bicycle Policy Committee. He is an avid cyclist, having ridden cross country with his wife Katherine on their tandem in 1993. In addition, he has cycled extensively in other parts of the United States, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, Australia and Southern Africa. Don is member of the Adventure Cycling Association, Coastal Cyclists, Tandem Club of America, the International Randonneurs and is a Life Member of the League of American Bicyclists.

Currently, Don is the Professor of International Economics at the Citadel, and has served on the academic board of directors of the University of South Carolina’s Center for Environmental Policy. Before coming to the Citadel, Don served as a staff assistant to Senator Hollings in Washington, DC and as an economist with the US Department of State. He has presented papers or been an invited participant at the Car Free Cities Conference in Copenhagen (1996), the Velo Austria World Bicycle Conference in Perth, Australia (1997) and ProBike Conference in Santa Barbara, California (1998). He has been a consultant to a number of international organizations, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in Gland, Switzerland and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna, Austria. In 1996-97 he was Senior Fulbright Professor of Economics at the University of Swaziland. Dr Sparks received his BA from the George Washington University and his MA and PhD from the University of London.

The Panel Discussion that follows the talk will cover the efforts of area politicians, planners, and transportation experts to make biking safe and viable. The audience will participate.

Come have your voice heard by people that can make a difference!

Post-event discussions at Fish.

See you on Thursday!

We hope everyone enjoyed William Gallagher’s discussion on “Bicycles & Transit Lead the Way to a More Livable Community”. The series continues with Preston Tyree’s lecture on “The Shape of Bicycle Activism”

Here are the details:

Speaker – Preston Tyree from The League of American Bicyclists
Topic – The Shape of Bicycle Activism
Date & Time – Thursday MARCH 25TH – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location – South End Brewery, 161 East Bay Street

Preston Tyree has transitioned from Chemical Engineer to successful International marketing executive to small business owner to bicycle advocate/educator. His work in advocacy/education gives him great satisfaction; seeing people’s faces light up as they “get it.” Whether it is a special technique to make their cycling safer and more fun or whether it is a concept about how he can get the city government on board.

As Education Director for the League of American Bicyclists, Tyree’s work encompasses training new instructors, communicating with 1,200 current instructors, speaking to local organizations, testifying in court, writing curricula and playing with young riders on bikes.

See you Thursday!

We hope everyone enjoyed Dave Moulton’s lecture last week on the “The Bicycle: Evolution or Intelligent Design?”. The series continues tonight with William Gallagher’s discussion on “Bicycles & Transit Lead the Way to a More Livable Community”.

Here are the details:

Speaker – William Gallagher
Topic – Bicycles & Transit Lead the Way to a More Livable Community
Date & Time – Thursday MARCH 4TH (TONIGHT!) – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location – South End Brewery, 161 East Bay Street

Bill Gallagher is a principal at KGP Design Studio where he leads the urban design and transportation studios. He and his partners have been designing transit stations, creating station area plans and designing related buildings for the past 25 years in the states as well as Asia and the Middle East. KGP just completed the first Bicycle Transit Center on the East Coast in Washington, DC, which has become a “cult” hit in the bicycling community and has been described by the Mayor as the “coolest bike facility in the country”.

Currently Bill is heading the firm’s design on the Purple Line, a light rail circumferential line around the north side of Washington DC which includes a bike trail and station area planning. The firm is also designing the prototype stations of the Honolulu Transit System and new stations and entrances for the Washington Metro. Other projects include housing, office and a glass stair from the Kennedy Center to the Potomac River, connecting to the bike path, promenade and future water taxi.

Bill has a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University where he rode his bike to class everyday – including the winter months in Boston. He currently lives in downtown DC where he continues to ride his bike to work parking next to his desk in the studio. He is one of approximately 10,000 other bicyclists who ride daily in DC. Bikes are not just for pleasure; they’ve become a cool way to get around town! Bikes are leading the way to a more “livable” community.

See you tonight!

Dear Council Members:

I understand the issue of bike lanes will be discussed at the Public Works meeting tomorrow, and I am writing to urge you to support Raleigh’s growing cycling population with a positive view toward bike lanes. Studies have been done around the world and across the U.S. in cities like ours that illustrate the many ways a strong cycling culture benefits the community. Please consider the following:

 ·         Cycling is an excellent form of physical activity, with significant health benefits and a means by which to combat our state’s increasing obesity problem.

 ·         Cycling is an economically efficient activity, as it lowers transport costs through reduced fuel expenditure and individual contributions to congestion.

 ·         Cycling enhances the livability and social health of communities.

 ·         By offering an alternative to motorized transport, cycling presents an effective method of reducing transport related greenhouse gas emissions.

 ·         For many, a reasonable cycling distance is 3 to 4 miles, as it takes about a half hour or less to pedal. It is estimated that 10 percent of urban automobile trips can reasonably be shifted to non-motorized transport.

 ·         A short cycling trip can replace a longer car trip. When people shift to active transportation for more trips, they reduce their total vehicle mileage by avoiding discretionary trips.

Especially in an area like Hillsborough Street – with its high student population and densely populated surrounding neighborhoods – incorporating bike lanes is a must. This will reduce congestion, require less parking, provide greater access to local businesses, and ensure the safety of bike and pedestrian commuters.

 Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this important issue.