Tonight (July 20th., 2010) the City of Charleston, SC which has been attempting to build a greener urban network will consider an ordinance to prohibit cyclists from locking their bicycles upon the street to light poles, traffic signs, trees and parking meters.
The first reading of this proposed ordinance is at 5 pm at City Hall.
The proposed ordinance provides, "Bicycles shall not be secured or otherwise locked to street trees, street lights, stop signs, boat docks, or other legal encroachments and public property located in the public right-of-ways."
Background and links in main part of post. Seen the end of this post for a way to get your tourism related comments under the nose of City Council this evening.
An article in today's Post and Courier discusses this issue. Post and Courier Article on Ordinance
The City of Charleston is, in many ways, an ideal city for bicycles. It’s fairly flat and has many quiet back streets. The new Ravenel Bridge has a world class multiuse path over two miles long connecting the City with Mt. Pleasant that is popular and well used. Parking and space on the city’s historic streets is at an extreme premium. There simply is no more space to park or move cars available. The economy is weak and wages are low while the cost of living is above the national average, so many younger people and working class people can’t afford the costs of housing and commenting with an automobile. The CARTA bus system includes racks for bicycle transport. The city is on the East Coast Greenway, the Maine to Key West Cycle path which has been in development for over a decade. Charleston needs and uses the bicycle.
However, there are virtually no bicycle racks in the city and most are of the now disfavored "wheel bender" variety. The Charleston area is one of the most dangerous places in the United States to ride a bicycle. Many fatalities involve working class people attempting to return home from work after dark on rural highways and roads outside of the city center.
South Carolina is a rigidly autocentric culture, grounded in a history of racial and class oppression where the car’s is most highly valued as a way many people can obtain isolation from people they don’t wish to associate with because they sweat for a living or are of a different racial group. The automobile was the primary weapon of resistance to racial desegregation here, enabling flight from a racially integrated city to segregated suburbs. Road construction trumps all other government priorities, even in a severe recession.
No sidewalks or bike paths connect my son’s 3000 student Wando High School to his town. Mt. Pleasant’s town hall doesn’t even have a sidewalk connecting it to a public street. Mt. Pleasant’s former police chief once commented that he was only happy when the children attending a community running event were back locked up in their parent’s cars.
A cyclist, even one operating in perfect conformance with the law on a grade separated bike path can provoke astonishing levels of anger among many people here. South Carolina’s rigidly oppressive culture invites lashing out at any perceived non conformity. Someone wearing spandex on a bike who is different can’t be accepted by many people forced to live their entire lives in rigid conformity to a conservative, militaristic culture like South Carolina’s.
The City of Charleston is in the middle of a years long effort to implement a green plan, however that plan came up against tea bagger opposition last year. Friction between drivers and cyclists here is chronic, but not acute. Friction between students and residents of the downtown area is extreme and bitter, except when the money pours in as rent and spending during the school year. However student money and providing student housing has rescued the city from rot and dereliction, supporting property values and renovation.
It is disappointing to realize that another battle has to be fought over something as simple at this. There is no government or private funding available at present for serious increases in formal cycle parking. Mindlessly eliminating thousands of perfectly functional locations to park a bicycle strangles the progress Charleston has been making as a bicycle friendly city. It’s at odds with the City’s focus on tourism.
If you bring your bicycle here as a tourist, you may find it confiscated or receive a fine in the future.
There are places in the City of Charleston where it isn’t safe to lock up a bicycle and where bikes are sometimes parked, however a wholesale elimination of bike parking opportunities is a huge step backward for the City. However support for such a measure does exist and it extends well beyond the obvious problems of having to step around a bicycle.
If you are interested in helping Charleston continue to advance towards a culture supportive of cycle alternatives within transportation options please contact the Mayor with your input at Mayor's Office City of Charleston. The Mayor's office can be reached by telephone at (843)724-3737.
Here's a good local blog post on the issue, with some interesting comments. Blog Post on Charleston Ordinance
I’ll post updates to this blog as this ordinance progresses through future readings, possible amendment and passage. If you are a possible tourist who might decide to avoid Charleston because of this ordinance, comment here an I'll cut and paste those into a handout for tonight's meeting. Please mention your home city.