Charleston Moves:
Getting around the City quickly and safely without your car

June 27, 2006: In a growing region which has become stifled by traffic congestion, we need to become more aware of other ways to get around. That was the message conveyed to Rotarians by speakers Don Sparks and Benjamin Leigh of Charleston Moves, a non-profit organization advocating active lifestyles and active communities through walking, biking and transit. Sparks, President of Charleston Moves, gave some general tips for walking and biking safety, and debunked a few myths including which way to ride your bike in traffic (with traffic, not against!). He was also asked to identify the best places in Charleston to ride your bike, but was quick to point out that the natural landscape lends itself to ride anywhere with Charleston’s flat terrain (with the exception of a few major arterials and collector streets).

Next, Benjamin Leigh spoke about a project he is developing with a grant from the BCDCOG’s Active Living by Design program. Leigh is developing a map showing Bicycle Levels of Service (BLOS) and their ratings. BLOS is similar in nature to a standard road Level of Service, but is designed to assist cyclists in planning a commute, assist city planners with determining streets needing bike paths, and make walking and biking better for all of us overall. He plans to rank the levels of service and assign safety ratings, as well as include a bridge-crossing guide and electronic atlas for CARTA.

This project is important for many reasons: first, demographics show that many residents of the region do not have access to cars, so integrating bicycling and walking with public transportation is crucial for people to simply get where they need to go. This map will allow them to do it safely by identifying safe areas to bike and walk, as well as where transit could be accessed to cross busy or dangerous intersections and bridges. Second, the project has health implications to encourage our population to choose healthier transportation alternatives and fight obesity from sedentary travel. Third, there are environmental concerns as well, including oil and energy costs. With rising gas costs, we could all appreciate having an alternative to driving. And besides, as Sparks pointed out, it takes him less time to ride his bike downtown than to drive and find a parking place!

Benjamin Leigh’s BLOS map will be available in a few weeks, so keep checking the Charleston Moves website for more details (charlestonmoves.org). For more information on other cycling resources: Coastalcyclists.org
Bikeleague.org

Submitted by Amy Riley, Keyway Committee