The Conference Beat

Before funding was eliminated in 2007 due to budget constraints, the SC Department of Transportation would host an annual bicycle and pedestrian conference in the state. This was a fabulous opportunity for industry, advocacy, clubs and others to come together, learn, and network. Although the Coalition is exploring a partnership to co-host a bicycle conference in 2012 with our neighbors to the north, for the meantime we are without a bike-ped specific conference for yet another year.

Fortunately, there are several conferences of interest happening in South Carolina over the next several months that incorporate bicycle and pedestrian components.

2010 TASC Conference

The Transportation Association of South Carolina is hosting a 2011 conference and trade show from March 19-23 in Myrtle Beach. There are several sessions that will have a bicycle/multi-modal focus. On Monday, March 21 from 9am to noon there will be an opportunity to experience the East Coast Greenway during a mobile workshop (Session B). Later that afternoon a panel of state and regional representatives will discuss the natural connection between transit and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure (Session B). On Tuesday, March 22, the morning workshop will cover marketing transit and examples of campaigns to include outreach to pedestrians and bicyclists (Session C). The afternoon mobile workshop will be a bike ride around the Myrtle Beach area (Session D).

From March 25-27, Charleston will be the site of the 3rd annual Bike!Bike!Southeast, an annual conference for community bicycle shop organizers from around the country (and abroad) to convene, explore, share, affirm, and critique each others work.

April 6 is the date of the 2011 South Carolina Obesity Summit, a conference that provides an interactive and engaging look at best practices for obesity prevention within schools, worksites, communities and more. This annual conference will take place in Columbia. 

Finally, June 5-7 are the dates of the Southeast Association for Commuter Transportation Conference. This regional conference is also taking place in Charleston.