When Alan Clark moved to Aiken in the course of 2018, he discovered within the metropolis that "particular appeal" that he had not discovered wherever else throughout his years of touring and fell in love with the town.
Clark has been an lively bicycle owner for over 30 years – his different love.
However his devotion to Aiken and the bikes appears to be, in essence, two paths that don’t join.
Clark, additionally a member of the Aiken Bicycle Membership, has discovered an absence of motorbike lanes across the space for cyclists and their security, which places him and different cyclists at odds with the bike. The place he feels most at dwelling and his favourite interest. .
He wished to do extra for Aiken, focusing his efforts on exploring varied avenues that would assist the town turn into a extra biking pleasant place by the addition of particular security options for cyclists.
"I actually love this neighborhood, nearly the whole lot, however there actually are not any designated enjoyable and secure bike paths within the metropolis," Clark mentioned. "It's arduous for somebody like me, bike fanatic."
This lack of biking infrastructure in Aiken led Clark to suggest organizing a rights group with different cyclists within the space, who talk about totally different subjects about biking within the space as soon as a month.
Karl Odenthal, a former public security officer and bike fanatic at Aiken, mentioned including a greater bike infrastructure to Aiken could be a wise transfer, as "progressive cities" do all around the United States .
Al Clark took the initiative to arrange a bicycle owner rights group in Aiken.
"If (we) can flip Aiken into a motorcycle pleasant place, it could possibly be a serious asset for our tourism financial system," mentioned Odenthal. "I believe extra bike lanes and extra security for runners is an effective factor," Odenthal mentioned. "When you get used to seeing individuals using a motorcycle, it would turn into an integral a part of on a regular basis life."
The Aiken Bicycle Advocacy Group grew to become a actuality in April. The group met for the primary time in downtown Aiken.
The group "strives to make the town and county of Aiken supreme locations to cycle" and needs to "form the way forward for Aiken as a spot" bikes, "mentioned Clark.
Along with making the neighborhood pleasant for biking, Clark mentioned the group additionally hoped to "promote biking as a manner to enhance the standard of life in Aiken".
Drawback of motorbike security in Aiken
This yr, the county of Aiken begins badly. Based on Amy Johnson, government director of the Palmetto Biking Coalition, within the first 5 months of 2019, there have been three deadly accidents involving individuals driving vehicles killing cyclists in Aiken County.
Based on Johnson, 5 accidents resulted in accidents in Aiken County in 2017. Nonetheless, in 2016, there have been 12 accidents and one fatality, and in 2015, there have been 12 accidents leading to accidents and a demise. two runners concerned below 19 years previous.
A coalition report from 2009 to 2017 reveals that Aiken County had 107 bike accidents, accounting for zero.6% of the inhabitants.
The three municipalities that report bicycle accidents are the Aiken Division of Public Safety, the North Augusta Division of Public Safety, and the South Carolina Freeway Patrol.
Johnson had no figures for 2018, however the Aiken Division of Public Safety reported 4 accidents in 2017 and 2018, whereas ADPS Lt. Jake Mahoney reported that there are had one in 2019. None of those within the metropolis has made any victims.
Aiken Bicycle Advocacy Group
The advocacy group meets at 7 pm Each third Monday at Pizza Joint on Newberry Avenue in downtown Aiken.
For extra data on the Aiken Bicycle Advocacy Group, please ship an electronic mail to Al Clark on the deal with slowtwitch2001@hotmail.com.
South Carolina is among the many worst states for cyclists. In 2014, the state ranked 47th in biking and pedestrian fatalities with 21.2 deaths per 10,000 inhabitants, in keeping with the Alliance for Bicycle and Strolling. In 2016, South Carolina was even worse with a demise charge of 5.04% per million individuals. Solely Florida, with 6.68%, had a better mortality charge.
Based on experiences, the variety of reported accidents involving cyclists could appear small, however Johnson believes that not all accidents are reported.
"I believe accidents involving bicycles are underreported," she mentioned. "When one automobile hits one other, property injury is reported to the insurance coverage firms – typically, if a automobile hits a motorcycle, it might not be reported."
Johnson mentioned that there have been occasions when a driver may hit a bicycle owner, test to see if the bicycle owner was nice and the 2 had been separating. Or worse, a driver can hit a bicycle owner and run away in successful and run.
"In the event that they get hit and an ambulance has to reach, they should report it," Johnson mentioned.
A motorbike infrastructure in Aiken would create a safer atmosphere for these cyclists, which, in Clark's opinion, in addition to different native cyclists, is a crucial addition to the neighborhood.
Clark was personally concerned in an incident involving him and a car, and noticed first-hand what can occur when cyclists are hit by vehicles.
"I got here throughout a automobile as soon as – I used to be using in a motorcycle path (not in Aiken), when a automobile stopped in entrance of me and I fell on the entrance of the car – turning it over" Clark mentioned.
Clark, who left Wisconsin to settle right here, mentioned there had been a three-month interval throughout which 5 cyclists had been hit by automobiles whereas they had been touring. at work.
He hopes that Aiken Bicycle Advocacy Group will play an necessary function in making a bike-friendly future for Aiken.
"We’re on our manner," mentioned Clark. "It's a course of that may undoubtedly take some time to finish, however it is going to be."
Accredited biking route
This new bike advocacy group was fashioned at a handy time, a minimum of on the town, as Aiken Metropolis Council has already accredited the mapping of a brand new bike path connecting the USC Aiken campus to the downtown core. metropolis of Aiken.
Stuart Bedenbaugh, the town's director, mentioned indicators could be erected alongside the street.
The route would start on the USCA campus and would comply with a descent into Medical Park Drive, primarily into the facet streets, so as to keep off the busiest roads, whereas encompassing the USCA, the Aiken Regional Medical Heart and Eustis Park earlier than touring to downtown.
"I believe it's a tremendous itinerary," Johnson mentioned. "You’re contemplating a route from the college to the town heart, college students are more likely to take their bike and this route will preserve vehicles off the road."
As well as, bike pleasant avenues could be added on Hampton Ave.
"Principally, these shall be simply indicators for cyclists, and a few" sharrows "will even be added on Hampton Avenue between the six-point space and Vaucluse," Bedenbaugh mentioned.
A sharrow is a street marking within the type of two inverted V kinds over a bicycle, indicating which a part of a street must be utilized by cyclists when the roadway can be shared with automobiles to engine, defined Clark.
The six-point space is the intersection of Hampton Avenue which turns into the Trolley Line Street and joins the Vaucluse Street that separates them.
Metropolis Council should approve street indicators and railway crossings, which shall be put in with taxpayers' cash and supposed for the completion of the bike path, Bedenbaugh mentioned.
Council members are resulting from discuss bike lane indicators this month.
Some residents could keep in mind that this deliberate itinerary was not the primary time that Aiken had been attempting to create a motorcycle route between the USCA campus and the downtown core.
Sharrows, or shared bike lane marks, reminiscent of this file picture on Hayne Avenue in Aiken, could also be doable on a route alongside Hampton Ave.
The unique bike path, drawn and accredited by the town a number of years in the past, was deserted after receiving quite a few complaints from residents residing alongside the street, Odenthal mentioned.
"Somebody argued that the bike path was a avenue litter and that it was lowering the worth of the property," he mentioned.
Tom Lex, who has been selling bicycle owner security in Aiken for years, says the brand new route is the second likelihood for the town to attempt to create one thing that neighborhood cyclists can actually respect.
Lex additionally mentioned that lots of the bike lanes proposed previously have by no means been resolved, as a lot of Aiken's downtown streets must be improved earlier than including any sort of motorbike lane.
"Over time, now we have managed so as to add bike paths, related by sidewalks, to all future street enchancment tasks in Aiken," Lex mentioned.
Which means all street design plans accredited for some roads within the metropolis of Aiken will have already got specified cycle lanes connected to the mission.
"It may take years earlier than the town has ample funds to approve a few of these enchancment plans, however a minimum of we all know that many of those plans will already embody new bike paths and sharrows. added, "he mentioned. "We have no idea when that may occur, however nonetheless, it's higher than nothing."
Native cyclists for safer biking routes
Odenthal was a former member of Aiken Public Safety's bike patrol, who had his personal tempo in downtown Aiken.
"I beloved it as a result of there was a name, I may bike to the door, whereas officers of their patrol vehicles needed to cease on the road or on the street." "Alley," mentioned Odenthal. "I may get to the motion."
The Bike Patrol is not lively, however Odenthal, who retired from the division in 2018, continues to cycle repeatedly.
After years of biking in Aiken, Odenthal has a data of the area from a special viewpoint from most individuals. Considering his native expertise, he expresses the bike path he want to see developed in downtown Aiken.
Lieutenant Karl Odenthal retired on 14 September from Aiken Public Safety. He was one of the crucial recognizable faces of the division. He has now taken a job as chargeable for the code of the town of Aiken.
"Personally, I believe route on Abbeville Avenue could be nice and actually enjoyable for the runners," mentioned Odenthal. "There’s not a lot site visitors on this roadway and it’s largely flat, which is sweet for households who’re searching for that sort of expertise once they drive their bike collectively."
Many bike as hobbies, often with household or associates, and these kind of bikers are inclined to search for secure bike paths, mentioned Odenthal.
Mike Labacte, 39, one other native bicycle owner in Aiken, additionally agrees that a greater biking infrastructure in Aiken could be one thing he want to see sooner or later.
"I've been biking all my life," Labacte mentioned. "I'm actually used to not having a chosen bike lane right here, and I'm comfy with that, however it could be nice to see the town add bike lanes, I believe it could be highly regarded with the bike riders. I additionally assume it could make driving a lot safer. "
Lacbacte additionally mentioned that he thought extra individuals would begin biking round Aiken if there have been routes.
The 12-kilometer North Augusta Greeneway Path, which is without doubt one of the hottest leisure amenities within the space, is an effective instance of motorbike lane effectivity.
The Greeneway has allowed many cyclists north of Augusta to avoid busy roads, thus strengthening the protection of the neighborhood and households.
"They actually did an excellent job of constructing this place a secure place for cyclists," mentioned Odenthal. "Households need enjoyable and secure actions they’ll do with out having to fret about security."
Sooner or later, the town of Aiken may additionally take a look at the conservation of rails from one observe to the opposite, which permits to create multipurpose public roads from previous railway corridors. These paths are supreme as a result of they’re flat or gently sloping, making them simply accessible.
Based on sctrails.internet, solely the paths of Boyd Pond Park and Citizen's Park, in addition to these of Citizen's Park, are at present reserved for people who find themselves in Aiken.
