Savannah Peddling Toward Bicycle Friendly Community

Savannah, GA: For all of you who enjoy bicycle riding, Savannah and Chatham County's Master Bikeway Plan is just for you and though it may be slow going, street by street, the plan is moving along.
Most recently Habersham was checked off the list... now the city has its sights set on Washington Avenue and after that - the full length of Price Street.
As News Three’s Alice Massimi explains bicyclists are excited.
“I think people are healthier and happier when they are riding a bicycle.”
Frank McIntosh knows he's ridden more than forty five thousand miles on his bike.
“It is a wonderful place to bike and the more people get out there the more they understand how they can use their bike for transportation,” says McIntosh.
It's one of the reasons why McIntosh is so excited about the city’s plan to add bike lanes to Washington Avenue. As the City's Director of Mobility and Parking Sean Brandon explains this will be the first bike friendly east to west corridor in Savannah.
“We have a large number of citizens who bike so this is a connection between Habersham and Daffin Park where at some point in the future the county will begin construction of the Truman Linear Park Trail that will take you to the Southside,” says Brandon.
While plans are moving ahead to make Washington Avenue more bike friendly the city is now eyeing Price Street. What they are hoping to do is shut down one lane of traffic which would allow on street parking and a bike lane.
“The addition, potentially, of a parking lane and a bike lane would solve some issues that residents have had a long price street about speeding cars and lack of parking for specialized events,” says Brandon.
Brandon does point out unlike Price not every street in Savannah needs a bike lane to make it rider friendly.... those less or slower traffic are already safer than most.
McIntosh hopes those safe places continue to grow...
“I do think it helps to encourage people to get out on the roads and use them as bicycle transportation corridors,” adds McIntosh.
Plans are still being laid out for Price Street but the city council will vote on adding bicycle lanes to Washington Avenue at Thursday's meeting.