Bicycle and Pedestrian Meeting July 14, 2011 8:00 AM

Bicycle and Pedestrian Meeting
July 14, 2011 8:00 a.m.
Council Chambers of City Hall

Members Present: Chris Mann, Dave Watson, Brian Garrison, Mayor Bagwell, Christine de Vlaming, Fox Simons, Lisa Garrett served as the secretary.

There have been some questions about why there are bike lanes for three blocks here and there. The lanes were put in to go along with the Pickens County’s paving schedule. All bike lanes will be tied into together as per the master plan. There have been complaints about citizens getting parking tickets for parking in the bike lanes during church services. It is State law not city law that states you cannot park in a bicycle lane.

Mayor Bagwell asked the police department to hold off on giving tickets until this meeting so the churches can inform their congregations. It was Mayor Bagwell impression that the churches had been notified.

Chairman Mann opened the floor for comments:

Some of the concerns from the churches are parking for the elderly because it is closer to the church and a more level area. Some churches have suggested having valet parking.

Councilman Watson suggested taking away one of the lanes. Ms. deVlaming stated if that was done a bigger lane would need to put in for two way traffic. Another issue that Police Chief Traber had was if a car is illegally parked in the bike lane and it gets hit the parked car will get ticketed for illegal parking along with ticketing the person causing the wreck. Councilman Garrison stated that he understood all of the issues and didn’t think City Council had the right to change a state law. Major Tollison stated that you can make a city ordinance that is tighter than a state law but not one that is less.

Mayor Bagwell asked that the public be patient while we work out all the kinks in the plan. The City is dedicated to seeing the project finished but we need to make sure we are not breaking any laws. Update on Couch Lane project: An 8’ Bike Lane has been approved on the East side of the road for 8/10 of a mile. It will be early 2012 before the project is complete it is in the surveying stage right now. The grant for the Brushy Creek Greenway is still in Columbia awaiting the Governor’s signature.

The sign at the intersection of 135 and Fleetwood Drive has to be redone in a Styrofoam type material instead of brick because it will be located in a SCDOT crash zone. We are still waiting on SCDOT approval.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 a.m.