Walk Bike Columbia
The City of Columbia is currently developing a pedestrian and bicycle master plan and bike share plan. This initiative (Walk Bike Columbia) is being supported by the Central Midlands Council of Governments, with funding provided in part by the Federal Transit Administration, Palmetto Health, and Abacus Planning Group.
In recent years, the City of Columbia and partners have taken steps to improve its multi-modal network and advance the culture of bicycling and walking and transit. Examples include additions to the Three Rivers Greenway, the completion of Phase I of the Vista Greenway, installation of bicycle corrals and the first HAWK pedestrian signal in South Carolina, as well as successful programs like Bike and Walk to School Day, “Handlebar Happy Hours,” and the creation of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). In 2008, Columbia earned the national designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community and in 2012, the University of South Carolina became the first Bicycle Friendly University in the state and one of only a few dozen around the country.
Columbia can be challenging to navigate on foot and by bike. In some cases, even transit is difficult to access. Columbia’s streets need to be designed to move people, regardless of their choice of travel mode, and to remove barriers to pedestrian and bicyclist mobility. Creating active transportation and transit access to destinations in Columbia will improve the quality of life for residents, enhance the experience of visitors, and positively impact the region’s health and economic vitality.
The planning process kicked off in May 2014 and will extend through April 2015. The project will recommend a network of complete streets for the City of Columbia, as well as biking and walking related programs and policies. The completion of this Plan will set the stage for the City of Columbia achieving a higher national designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community and becoming the first nationally designated Walk Friendly Community in South Carolina!
Public Workshops were held in late July. You can take a 5-minute survey or recommend enhancements on an interactive map at: walkbikecolumbia.org.
