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Spartanburg Builds Upon
'Bicycle Friendly' Status
Local cyclists will enjoy benefits associated
with the national recognition
Written By Gary Hyndman
An Upstate community’s national recognition for cycling is not only historic,
it means better, safer conditions for area cyclists.
Last September, the Washington, D.C.-based League of American Cyclists recognized
Spartanburg as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the bronze level. The Upstate city
becomes one of only 70 nationwide and the first in South Carolina to wear that
title.
The league established the Bicycle Friendly program in 2003 to encourage
communities to integrate bicycles into their transportation systems. The designation,
which is good for four years, is based on five criteria: engineering, education,
enforcement, encouragement and evaluation/planning. Recipients are rated from
platinum to bronze based upon their achievements in those categories.
The selection represents a breakthrough for the Southeast in general, and
South Carolina in particular, both of which have been slow to embrace the cycling
movement. The state consistently ranks in the top ten nationally for bicycle-related
fatalities, a fact linked to inadequate investments in infrastructure, safety
training and public education.
Jean Crow, associate director of Partners for Active Living who prepared
the application, said league officials called Spartanburg “a shining star” of
the South.
For the Upstate city, it represents the culmination of a determined, three-year
climb.
In early 2005, the community launched Bike Town with a three-year, $106,000
grant from the Mary Black Foundation. The project brought together public and
private stakeholders with an expressed goal of achieving Bicycle Friendly status.
A 26-member advisory committee was appointed to encourage initiatives such
as new bicycle lanes and racks and sponsorship of an annual Bike Month, bike
safety programs and community bike rides.
In 2006, the city made its first application and won Honorable Mention from the
league before reaching its goal last year.
“It makes a strong statement for Spartanburg’s commitment (to cycling),”
says Curt McPhail, program officer for the Mary Black Foundation who serves on
the advisory committee.
Crow says the project has obvious health benefits, contributes to an improved
quality of life and makes for a safer environment for cyclists. McPhail believes
it also sets a new standard for Spartanburg and other Upstate communities to measure
themselves against.
The consciousness-raising has made a convert of Spartanburg City Councilman
Joe Spigner. After jumping on a Cannondale for a ceremonial ride in May 2006 when
the league’s president visited town, he took up recreational cycling, attended
national conferences and has become a bicycle advocate.
“It’s sort of been contagious,” he says, “I’ve become infected myself.”
Spigner and his council colleagues adopted a resolution calling for design of
new street construction and street improvements to accommodate both bicycles and
pedestrians.
Crow says six miles of new bicycle lanes have been planned and funded. Wofford
College and the Preservation Trust of Spartanburg are constructing bicycle lanes
of their own.
The city has also introduced an innovative bike lending program and a plan
is in place to teach the sport of cycling to interested students in School District
7.
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