Complete Streets Coming to SC’s Piedmont

At the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, one way that we advance and elevate bicycling issues locally is through our complete streets campaign. For the last decade, we have been working to bring complete streets–roads built for all users in mind, regardless of age or ability–to South Carolina. In that time, we have built our campaign upon the National Complete Street Coalition’s work, and have expanded our network by partnering with DHEC, Eat Smart Move More SC, and AARP.

Complete street resolutions and ordinances in South Carolina.

Occasionally, we have the opportunity to visit a community and provide technical assistance on complete streets policy adoption or implementation. Just yesterday, I was invited to speak before the City Council of Greenwood to encourage their adoption of a complete streets resolution. The political and community climate is ripe for this–there is a growing group called the Greenwood Endurance Team that is supportive and involved on active lifestyles issues; a small town just to the east, Ninety Six, just adopted a complete streets resolution of their own; and just a few days ago a bicyclist was hit and killed in the City. I was also impressed to travel through downtown Greenwood, where I have never visited, and see that complete streets elements are already being implemented.

Many from the Greenwood Endurance Team came out for the meeting to show their support of the resolution, and City Council was receptive of my presentation. A reporter from Greenwood Today was also present and wrote an article in today’s paper on the effort. City Council decided to put the resolution on the April full council meeting, at which time we hope they will adopt it.

A complete streets resolution makes sense for a small, rural city like Greenwood. It offers a way for City leadership to formalize their commitment to biking and walking, and it offers directives to staff, other partners and community members to make the vision a reality. I look forward to the ways in which Greenwood can begin leveraging the political and community support for complete streets and make their road network safer for all users.