Update From Palmetto Cycling Coalition
First I want to send a very special thanks to our new Yellow Jersey Sponsors (the first of 2008)! A big thank you to both Peter Wilborn of SCBIKELAW.COM and the Greenville Spinners for their $5000 contributions, we are so grateful for the generosity and support!
A few very brief updates:
1. The PCC has partnered with Peter Wilborn of SCBIKELAW.COM to develop a copyrighted bicycle continuing education training course for law officers statewide. Peter and I are working to see that this training course becomes mandatory for all new officers. We are planning officer trainings from mountains to sea in 2008! The program will train officers on how to properly handle bicycle vs. motorists crashes, including a detailed overview on what our laws are, the importance of accident reports and how to protect cyclists’ rights. Furthermore, we are working on the adoption of an official bike manual to be available in all DMVs. Look for more detailed information soon!
2. The PCC has again partnered with Peter Wilborn of SCBIKELAW.COM to purchase fabulous bike lights from Planet Bike(a big thank you to the Hawley Company in Lexington for making this happen!!). The lights will be part of a major safety campaign for 2008. The PCC and SCBIKELAW.COM will be partnering with a small city in South Carolina and their police department to see that the lights are distributed to cyclists in need. Officers will carry the lights in squad cars and provide them to families, individuals and children that need them. Attached to all lights will be a detailed safety brochure.
3. I have been appointed to the SCDOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan Committee and will serve on an Emphasis Area Action Team for the prevention of future bike-ped fatalities. The goal of this committee will be to develop strategies to prevent fatalities on SC roads.
4. The legislation is moving forward on the Senate side. We are meeting with the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee in mid February in hopes of seeing it pass out of committee in its original format. Be ready to contact your Senators requesting support for this bill at the end of February. We once again must have your vocal support. I feel confident that we can get this bill passed this year!
5. We have other legislative initiatives planned including a statewide advocacy training course in Columbia and development of a statewide Complete Streets bill that could include more funding for bike-ped projects statewide!
6. Finally Senator Jim DeMint stated the following:
South Carolina‘s U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Member: “Gas prices are already at record levels and American families shouldn’t be overtaxed while they are struggling to make ends meet. Until Washington stops funding bridges to nowhere and bike paths while infrastructure crumbles, they can’t be trusted to fix the real problems we face.”(Senator DeMint Statement, 01/15/08)
The PCC has sent communication to DeMint’s office regarding his comments. I will put together some talking points for members that want to contact the Senator’s office. I will also provide where to send those comments. I will not go into great detail here but please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I highly encourage you to contact his office and let him know how disappointing and erroneous his statement was.
We are in the process of annual membership renewal, please be patient as it takes time to process all the applications. If your address has changed please be sure to update your new information with me!
Thanks again for all the support and cycle safe!
Natalie Cappuccio Britt
Palmetto Cycling Coalition
803-252-1174
www.pccsc.net