Savannah Bicycle Campaign

Bicycles got a big boost when gas prices skyrocketed. People looking to save money dusted off their bikes and started riding. But as News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi explains while the price of gas has dropped many are still peddling around Savannah.

Its exercise yes, but it's also cheaper, better for the environment and more hassle free.
‘It reduces traffic congestion, reduces demand for parking, makes the air cleaner,” points out John Bennett.
They are just some of the reasons why instead of driving around town Bennett now peddles.
‘Good for you physically and they make you part of your community,” adds Bennett.
Bennett is just one of many in Savannah spreading the bicycling bug.
Part of a year old group Savannah Bicycle Campaign he and others are working to make Savannah more bicycle friendly and at the same time encourage people to put down the car keys and pick up a bike.
“It's a good effort to bring in all sorts of bicyclists. People who are recreational cyclists, competitive cyclists commuters, people who take care of all their day to day chores on bicycles, we wanted a group that spoke for all of them,” points out Bennett.
The organization is headed up by Drew Wade, a rider for many years who now commutes to work on his bike.
“I think it's a good way for people, especially in a great place like Savannah to get from here to there,” says Wade.
An advocate for bikers his current goal is to make the city more bicycle friendly.
While the historic district is ideal to ride through other areas are not.
“If you were to try and ride on Whitaker or Drayton those would be bad. If you live on the island it's very tough to get from the islands into town or vice versa,” he points out.
So drew along with other members of the campaign are putting some pressure on local government.
“We have a good starting point, now we need to catch up and do some of the things through government and social groups to make use of the great things we have already,” comments Bennett.

In addition to working with local lawmakers to make the area more bicycle friendly Savannah Bicycle Campaign also offers some instructional classes and has group rides numerous times a month.
To learn more about the group log on to: http://bicyclecampaign.org/