Last night, I attended a workshop to support bicycle and pedestrian plans, trails and pathways in the City of Anderson and nearby areas. Anderson's volunteer Complete Streets Committee and a few dedicated, volunteer professionals hosted the event. The purpose was to gather public support and ideas for ways to improve the bicycle facilities in the City. There was quite a bit of discussion, and the meeting lasted for over an hour. The committee came equipped with some of the known plans and routes, and they left with new ideas and routes cyclists currently used. They hope to come away with a primary, "home run" route followed by a prioritized list and plan for future improvements.
This was a really exciting meeting because attendees recognized the economic impact the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville has had to the City, County and region. Anderson now wants to capture some of that energy, and synergistically move forward.
A lot of these hopes and plans hinges on funding - as almost everything does these days. With tight budgets and over-worked employees, public support is critical in this initiative moving forward and making plans a reality. The facility improvements in Anderson aren't just for the "spandex" crowd. Attendees and committee members voiced the importance of having "destination rides," especially for families.
So, if you would like to see this initiative move forward in Anderson, contact your City Council members and tell them that this is important to fund and support. I hope to be writing about the progress of biking in the Electric City.
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