Statement for South Carolina Senate Transportation Subcommittee - April 11, 2012 Sentors Senator Campsen, McGill, Malloy,

Cleary, Sheheenm, Campbell, Bright: Thank you for hearing us. I am here as the Director of Charleston Moves, a Charleston organization that believes in peoples right to transportation choices. This important precept is a high priority today because of our widespread epidemic of inactivity and its close relatives, the epidemics of obesity and diabetes -- now taking an extraordinary toll on our health and our health care costs. We also know about this but often ignore it: the numerous folks whose meager budgets do NOT support ownership (or frequent operation) of automobiles not to mention the people who, for personal reasons, often travel by bicycle or on foot. Green influences can be a big factor -- a good thing. Our group took the lead approximately fifteen years ago when our Department of Transportation contemplated construction of the new Cooper River Bridge WITHOUT lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. We took the lead again when this Connector bike ban was instituted. We speak of these things not only for health and environmental reasons. They are crucial to our economic competitiveness. Here is why this amendment to allow exceptions for cyclists and pedestrians on unique places like the James Island Connector deserves quick approval: SAFETY: It is about SAFETY for drivers and cyclists. The existing law makes it unsafe for all because it forces cyclists onto legal -- but dangerous -- alternative routes. We are not suggesting biking on freeways UNLESS that route is safer than any alternative. DISCRETION: It is about traffic professional having the DISCRETION to manage safety. The Police in CHS believe that the Connector is the only safe route, but feel they do not have the necessary discretion. LOCAL CONDITIONS It is about recognizing LOCAL CONDITIONS. Charleston -- with rivers and bridges -- makes certain routes crucial for all users, because there are no alternatives. LIMITED APPLICATION: It will have LIMITED APPLICATION. in most places, the no-freeway cycling law makes sense, because there are alternative routes. This proposed change is only for extreme, unusual circumstances. We would urge you not only to approve this amendment today but to do your utmost to see that it gets speedy, positive treatment as it goes up the legislative ladder. This route could be crucial to the now widely-anticipated 32-mile Battery2Beach Route stretching from Isle of Palms through East Cooper, past the Battery, over the Ashley and out to Folly Beach. You will be hearing more about this in the coming months. Our organization pledges to work to find ways to make this crossing and others as safe as they can be. Thank You

Tom Bradford, Director