Biking in Clemson

Clemson University held a Student Meeting for their Bike Plan at the end of November. There were a small, but dedicated group that attended the meeting. The University is looking at connecting the Campus, Beach (once known as "Y Beach," now called "Campus Beach") and the North and South Forest by bike. Clemson University does not own all the land to connect these places by bike lane or path, but they're working on other ways to draw connections between these places that are inviting to people who ride bikes - recreational riders, families, hard core mountain bikers, road cyclists, etc. Their aim is to develop a network that will appeal to a variety of bike riders.

At the meeting, the University was looking for input on routes that cyclists use - around campus and in the Forest. There isn't much in the way of official bike paths, trails or lanes on campus (or in the Clemson area, for that matter), but a good way of developing a good network of paths is by talking to the users. There are many trails in the Forest, but there are user conflicts, unclear trail signage, etc. If you bike on campus or in the Forest, feel free to post a comment below about places you go, things you'd like to see improve or change and other ideas. 

It was also great to hear that the University and the City are talking about their bike plan together. The City is also working on a bike plan. They are just in the beginning phases, but after input after the public meeting on the update to the City's Recreational Master Plan, public interest in developing better bikeways in Clemson is clear.  The City and University will be working on a network of connected routes and destinations. The two entities are known for working together on other initiatives, programs and events. Great things in Clemson!

Clemson is a great college town, and having a network of bike paths would help to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors to the area! It would also be great if the bike routes connected to the larger apartment complexes. There are a high number of students biking from off-campus, and providing them a safe way of getting around would do a long way. Getting the cities of Central and Pendleton to join in or write their own bike plan would also be great. 

Keep up the great energy, interest and biking!

Melo Velo Bike Swap

Last spring, there was mention of a Cycling Club forming in Clemson. (Greenville has the Greenville Spinners.) At the time, I had just heard of Melo Velo by word of mouth. They have a website up and running. One of their highlighted events is a Bike Swap this Saturday, November 19 in the parking lot of the Hudson Bagel Company in Clemson. Anyone is invited to bring equipment to sell or just stop by to see what others have. After the Bike Swap, there will be an opportunity for a bike ride. There will be three different rides for three different types of riders. Check out the website for more info.

Melo Velo, welcome to the Upstate!

University Campuses (Repost)

In September 2011, Mia Birk came to South Carolina. I mentioned it here. She's done a lot for biking. Here's a link to her TEDx talk about her "joyride." Her most recent blog post (on her blog) is one worth reading. She talks about the value of College Campuses related to biking. The points are valuable, especially in the Upstate. Clemson University, Furman University, Wofford College, Anderson University, Southern Wesleyan University and a slew of other higher education campuses call this region home and could have a powerful influence on biking.

Some of Mia's Ideas:

• Have a good Bike Plan
• Hire dedicated staff to address transportation (bike) issues
• Develop a joint bike advisory committee between the university and college town.
• Educate students in orientation material - before they get to campus.
• Consider changing parking policy and costs.

Wouldn't it be powerful if the University's lead the way, engaging students to consider how biking can play a role in their recreation and transportation lifestyles? Not everyone can afford a car - and not everyone can live without one.

Read Mia Birk's blog post. There are powerful ideas that come from years of experience. Shaping them to fit the needs and culture of the Upstate is something to consider!

Cold Weather Biking :: What to Wear

Brrrr! There's a bite to the morning air as we move deep into Fall. November brings colder temps, but not cold enough to put up the bike for the season if you know how to dress.

I learned how to dress by biking late into November and starting in early March in Wisconsin - just as long as there was dry pavement and no snow, I would ride. That meant riding in and dressing for morning temps of 30 degrees! Was I crazy? Maybe. But I loved to ride, and I was determined not to let the temps get in my way.

Interested in learning how stay warmer during your ride? Whether your a daily commuter, recreational rider, road cyclist or a mountain biker, the tips below may help you learn how to dress for cold temperatures.

Rule #1:  Layer. A little bit of layering will go a long way. You can buy the athletic wear that's meant to wick-away sweat or hold in heat, but cotton clothing goes a long way in keeping your core warm. Layer in tight fit clothing on the first layer. Sport those spandex tops and pants. Put on your long-johns under a pair of jeans and your riding shirt. Take off the under layers once you arrive at your destination. If it's really cold, I'll wear my long spandex shorts under my biking shorts with a long pair of cotton socks underneath it all. On top, I'll wear a short sleeve cotton t-shirt, my long sleeve spandex top and then either my polar fleece vest or my light spring jacket.

Rule #2:  Hat + Gloves. No matter how much you layer, you'll need to invest in a set of hats and gloves to make it through the additional chill you'll encounter as you ride in the cold. I ride with my open-finger biking gloves until it gets really cold. Then I switch to a thin pair of polar fleece gloves with grip on the bottom. (I've tried layering two pairs of those thin stretchy gloves, but the cold still gets through.) Some suggest investing in ski gloves or buying gloves made specifically for biking in the cold. Wearing a hat will go a long way in keeping the rest of you warm. If you wear a helmet, buy a thin hat. You won't need to worry about investing in something heavy duty if your ride keeps you moving. Some riders in cold areas wear a balaclava.

Rule #3:  7 minutes. This is the amount of time it usually takes to warm up. If you can make it this far, the rest of your ride you'll be warm. At this point, you may be able to tell if you've over or under dressed for your ride. If you're sweatin' buckets, you've overdressed (and might catch a chill). If you're still cold, you've under dressed - power through and get home.

It takes practice. Experience is the best teacher. After a few rides, you'll get the hang of what you need to wear to stay warm in cold temps.

Bike Lane Types

I've been thinking a lot lately about the differences among shared roadways, bike lanes and multi-use paths. I've been thinking about it after completing a miniworkshop at the annual APBP conference, about what's best on any street, best in any given community and what may be the ideal scenario for each type of bikeways.

I'm still trying to get my head around what's the best use for each of these, and where in *insert city name here* would each of these bikeway types be appropriate. Here are some of my thoughts:

Shared roadways. Shared roadways are typically good in residential areas or neighborhoods where there's not a lot of fast moving traffic. Shared roadways or shared bike lanes are when cyclists and drivers are obligated to share the road, and it's usually denoted by signs and pavement markings. They can also be good for retrofitting an area, but that's not always going to the solve the "we need bike lanes here" problem. I also like them on wider lanes, and in areas where on-street parking either doesn't exist or is hardly used. Depending on the streetscape, though, only some users will feel comfortable using them.
Best place to find them:  Neighborhoods, city streets that are low-speed, low-traffic volume.
Worst place to find them: On high-speed (45 mph + up) rural roads.

Shared Roadway with "Sharrow."

Bike lanes. These have been reshaping our roadway and bike routes for the last decade. Bike lanes - special travel lanes for those on bicycles. There are a couple of different kinds: conventional, buffered, contra-flow, left lane (think one-way streets). I think that they are generally great. They help improve cyclist safety. With the defined space on the roadway, cyclists are more visible to (and as a part of) traffic. They help legitimize biking. They're good for roads that carry a higher amount of traffic with mid-range speeds (35-40 mph). Depending on the streetscape and traffic, only some users will feel comfortable with them.
Best place to find them:  3 and 4 lane roads with speed limits of 35 mph, near neighborhoods.
Worst place to find them:  Arterial roads. Road with speeds limits posted at 40 mph, but travelled at 45mph+.

Multi-use paths. Assuming that they are off road, I like these for families, slow-moving recreational riders (as opposed to the fast-moving kind) and in communities where they're trying to improve park and recreation facilities. Sometimes multi-use paths are also called greenways. Riding on these paths can give novices confidence before taking to the actual road. I think that there should be some kind of signage and/or pavement to provide designated space for cyclists and non-cyclists (peds, skateboarders, rollerbladers, rollerskaters, etc). Rails-to-Trails paths can also fit in this category. However, experienced cyclists - racers and commuters - usually don't like to ride on these paths.
Best place to find them:  Recreational routes.
Worst place to find them:  In an area where bike lanes should be.

A rendering for one kind of Greenway.

A plan for another Greenway

There is another kind of bikeway - Cycletracks - that interest me, but I've yet to see them or ride on them. I don't feel like I have enough information to have an opinion on these.

One kind of cycletrack.

So, here are some of my opinions and thoughts regarding the different kind of bikeways. Where do you see these fitting in your community - whether in the Upstate or any other state? Are bike lanes good to connect parks or are greenways better? How do families with young kids feel about bike lanes vs. shared roadways vs. off-road paths? Do experienced riders really not like riding on multi-user trails? What are your thoughts? I'd love to engage and learn more!

Bicycle Safety 101: Cyclists, think like Drivers. Drivers, think like Cyclists.

Share the In a previous Bicycle Safety 101 post, I mentioned the that cyclists and drivers should know the rules of the road. Ignorance of the law doesn't exempt us from following it (or get us out of any tickets). But in case you don't have time to take a bicycle safety class or work on memorizing the laws, there is another way to learn how to "share the road." Let's start with addressing the cyclists.

Cyclists - Most of you have driven a car a one point or another. You know the basics: stop at stop signs, pedestrians have the right of way, give plenty of time and signal before turning, don't run red lights, dump the road rage, drive with traffic, be aware of your surroundings and always be on the look out for potential crashes that can be avoided. Follow the rules, and you'll be a safe driver. So, when you're on your bike, things aren't much different: don't red run lights, stop at stop signs, peds have the right of way, etc. Generally, following these traffic safety basics will provide for safe experience on the road, and lessen the road rage drivers feel towards you. (Photo credit here.)

One of the biggest issues drivers have with cyclists is disregard for the law. Every time you coast through a red light, weave in and out of traffic lanes or run a stop sign, biking as a means of transportation is taken less seriously. I don't like stopping at stop signs - Stopping and starting every few blocks in an urban neighborhood is a royal pain. Rolling through that rural blinking red light is very tempting. - but they are there for a reason. As a cyclist, recognize that reason and respect it. If ya don't, ya may not get respect. So, cyclists, think like drivers: follow the rules.

Drivers - You are the majority.  In cars that are fast, convenient, good for hauling lots of people and their stuff over long distances, you rule the road. With your 1 ton mobile shelters, you win in any crash with a pedestrian, motorcycle, moped or bicycle. You had to take training (perhaps many years ago) to get a license to operate your vehicle. You know the rights and wrongs, the do's and don'ts of operating on the road. You set the tone of roadway interactions for all users.

Think about that. Depending on how you act - and react - to any situation, you will contribute to creating an environment of roadway safety or danger, calm or calamity, inclusion or dominance. Think how cyclists feel riding near speeding tons of metal, glass and plastic on a hard, rough surface with only their clothes and helmet to protect them. Combine that vulnerability with a distracted, road-raged driver. It ain't a pretty picture. (An extreme photo.)

You also probably like it when there is less traffic. If there are safe biking conditions, there will be opportunities for your neighbors to hop onto a bike - and out of their car - resulting in less car traffic for you. (Or, maybe you'll even consider doing a few trips a week by bike.) Safe biking conditions include:  designated bikeways/lanes/paths/shared roadways, lower speed limits, drivers who don't run cyclists to the curb or cut them off. Support the development of these things, and it'll be a better, safe place for the community. So, drivers, think like cyclists: be aware of your surroundings.

Consider these things - talk about 'em. It's really important if communities in the Upstate want people to use the bikeways that they're building. And then there's the whole bike feasibility argument, too - no one wants a bike lane to no where. But, here's the take away message:

Create safe, convenient roadways. Work together. Cyclists, think like drivers. Drivers, think like cyclists.

Sustainable Tailgating :: Trial Run

Blake Sanders, fellow upstate bicyclist and advocate, wrote this post about his experience with sustainable tailgating at a Clemson University football game during the 2011 season. Enjoy!

It's a beautiful day in Death Valley; 80,000 screaming fans, the Tiger Rag, and the Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football. It's easy to be excited for Gameday Saturdays but in my case, it's also includes the most dreaded 60+ minutes of my week, traffic and walking. Now don't get me wrong, walking is great, but not lugging a 3-year old, albeit he is as small as me.

Go back 18 months...

I'm hosting a charrette with Clemson University Design Inquiry Students, developing an idea that will be presented to the Student Body Government in hopes of securing funding. With over 30 students/professors in attendance, we knew we would develop an incredible solution to a space on campus. Previous groups have designed memorials and gardens, placed benches, and even honored past faculty. Our group decided against redeveloping a space but rather developing a campus green in an already overused area that has received zero attention since Thomas Green drank from the Seneca River. Our design space, Highway 93, directly across from the Esso Club. An overused space during game day (primarily parking) and vastly underused during the school year, even though it is a gateway from the west.

Two hours later, our group had developed potentially a ground breaking idea that would be like non-other at Clemson, the Green Tiger Trail (A Sustainable Tailgating Experience).

Fastfoward to present time...

Luckily we have an opportunity to go to the Clemson vs. Wofford football game and my wife and I have decided we'll finally take our son, Lane, to his first game. Of course we want him to experience the pre-game festivities, but of course, without a parking pass this becomes sort of an issue. Packing the pull-ups, change of clothes, Chick-fil-A, drinks, etc. it all hits me. I recall our design charrette, talks with Dan Harding, Clemson architecture professor, and Clemson's Bicycle Planner, Tanya DeOliveria. I do it. We load up the bikes and head for "The Valley."

We park on the outskirts of Campus, Highway 93 and Highway 76 to be exact, put on our packs and head to find our tailgating spot. We pass well over 200 people walking and dragging coolers down a road closed to vehicles during our 4 minute bike ride (versus our 25 minute walk). We stop at the Lee Hall Courtyard (covered bicycle parking) and set up camp. We eat, relax in the air conditioned gallery space, take a gallery tour, and play football. 30 minutes before game time we take our final walk to the stadium (a 5 minute walk=9 minutes total commute time).

Wonderful game experience as Lane loved watching the game and the band. Tigers win in somewhat of a nail biter and we head out. A 5 minute walk to our bikes, and a 10 minute bike ride back to the car (uphill coming back).

Things for the University to consider as Sustainable Tailgating becomes closer to a reality:

• The need for bicycle parking next to the stadium.
• Bus/Bike transit back to the car (I must admit I didn't feel like riding after baking in the sun for 3 hours).
• Specific tailgating spots for bike commuters.

I must thank Tanya for convincing me to write about this experience and the many others that I hope to encounter. Consider checking out an article in the Anderson Independent Mail regarding Sustainable Tailgating.