Brian Graham is working on his Master's paper in urban planning at Clemson. That paper is to be a bike/ped plan for the City of Charleston, something we should all get behind. Here's his "wish list:"
There are several items that I have proposed as part of my Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan that I could use the input of local bike/ped advocates/ experts/ supporters/ etc. These are the things that I am soliciting input/suggestions for from local peoples. If you could please forward it to the Charleston Moves board, I would appreciate it.
--Where are the public/ private bicycle racks in the city?? (Follow link below to add them directly to an online map or please provide intersections and/or "in front of Earth Fare on Folly Rd" for example)
I've set-up a public, interactive Google Map that community members can map bicycle rack locations that they know of/ use.
--What roads seem ideal for re-striping to create bike lanes or should have 'sharrows'?? (these roads should seem wider than others, have well maintained pavement and/or seem to have a lot of bicycle traffic)
--Are there specific roads you can think of that do not have sidewalks that, in your opinion, need them??
--Where would you suggest that bicycle/pedestrian activity should be counted to document a demand for facilities?? (these should be in the form of intersections or specific locations, 'King/Calhoun,' for example)
--What type of bicycle/pedestrian/motorist education programs would you like to see the City of Charleston support?? (obviously there is a need to educate these groups in different ways, but what do you think those methods should include exactly?)
--How should bicycle and pedestrian activities be encouraged/ marketed in the City??
Please send your suggestions/ answers to the above questions to brian.bikeped@gmail.com. Thank you for your assistance.
Brian Graham
Clemson University
City and Regional Planning Department
Masters Candidate, 2008
Tell me why you love your bike??
4 days ago
1 comment:
"How should bicycle and pedestrian activities be encouraged/marketed in the City?"
It's America, land of the wide open road, armored vehicles, and going fast as possible. The smartest way to encourage them, is not to have non-motorists end up dead and not to have motorists end up cranky.
The European method, of keeping pedestrians and bikers in the same area and off the roadway, is the only viable solution.
With Charleston so crowded and dense downtown, what I would like would be a contiguous, smooth, paved walkway off the main roads. Battery to Waterfront Park, east of East Bay, on up until it intersects the huge wide sidewalk to the Ravenel. There's your main feeder, because, let's face it, the east side of the peninsula is where the activities are that one might stroll to. Then, work on a few cross streets to be your feeders to Meeting and King. Calhoun is a prime pick. Hassell? Broad?
For marketing, work off CHS' natural starting point: tourism. Grab a bike in Mt. P and cross the bridge and then cruise safely and gently to the Battery via Rainbow Row without getting run over as East Bay narrows up by Saffron.
For practicality for natives, it's still a smooth flow in/out of town. Add enough racks near the bars/restaurants and it'll work just fine outside of summer.
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