The Great Escape

The Great Escape is a full service bicycle shop, featuring TREK and GARY FISHER bicycles. Our services include a complete range of bicycle accessories and a full service repair shop. In our Greenville and Spartanburg stores we also have an excellent hobby shop, specializing in Radio Control airplanes and cars, trains, rockets and plastic model of all types.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Anderson: Complete The Streets

Last night, the City Council Meeting was very eventful for cyclists in Anderson, SC. Our Resolution(see below) was presented to the City Council for review and approval. It was met with interest and excitement from all members. Cindy Hopkins from Imagine Anderson spoke to the council members to give them some background of Complete The Streets. She did a great job explaining what our hopes are for Anderson and how this resolution would help everyone. The resolution was passed with members most members seconding the motion at the same time. Terence Roberts(Anderson's Mayor) was excited to hear the resolution and let everyone know that this falls in line with where Anderson wants to be as a community. That being said, I am excited about the future in Anderson. We have a city council that wants the area to be friendlier to the person that wants to walk or ride a bike to the store/park that is close to them instead of getting into their car to drive a few blocks. This will be better for our street, families and environment.

Below is a copy of the resolution:

RESOLUTION CREATING THE CITY OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA COMPLE

Resolution To Endorse and Support a complete streets policy to provide safe and convenient access for all users of streets.




WHEREAS, increasing walking and bicycling offers the potential for cleaner air, greater health of the population, reduced traffic congestion, more livable communities, less reliance on fossil fuels and their foreign supply sources and more efficient use of road space and resources; and


WHEREAS, the City of Anderson’s Downtown Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan and Recreation Master Plan call for the planning and development of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly transportation networks; and


WHEREAS, in 2006 South Carolina had the fourth highest rate of bicycle and pedestrian fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents, and


WHEREAS, the City of Anderson is strongly committed to improving travel conditions and travel choices for people of all ages and abilities; and

WHEREAS, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) calls for the mainstreaming of bicycle and pedestrian projects into the planning, design and operation of our nation’s transportation system; and


WHEREAS, bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs are eligible for funding from almost all of the major Federal-aid funding programs; and


WHEREAS, the City of Anderson affirms that bicycling and walking accommodations should be an integral part of planning, design, construction and operating activities, and will be included in everyday operations of our transportation system; and


WHEREAS, the City of Anderson endorses the Complete Streets Policy by encouraging the design, operation and maintenance of the transportation network to promote safe and convenient access for all users in a manner consistent with, and supportive of, the surrounding community; and


WHEREAS, the City of Anderson endorses policies and procedures with the construction, reconstruction or other changes of transportation facilities on streets to support the creation of Complete Streets including capital improvements, re-channelization projects and major maintenance, recognizing that all streets are different and in each case user needs must be balanced.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, RESOLVES:


  1. City staff shall enforce existing policies, provide guiding principles and create operating practices as deemed appropriate and if feasible so that transportation systems are planned, designed, constructed and operated to make bicycling and pedestrian movements an integral part of the City’s transportation planning and programming while promoting safe operations for all users.

  2. City staff shall plan for, design, construct and operate all new City transportation improvement projects to provide appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and persons of all abilities, while promoting safe operation for all users, as deemed appropriate and if feasible.

  3. City staff shall incorporate Complete Streets principles into transportation strategic planning, transportation plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs as deemed appropriate and if feasible.



Passed and adopted this 18 day of May, 2009.