 |
The Story of Wonders Way
In 1999, the South Carolina Department of Transportation
realized that the two aging bridges over the Cooper River
would eventually fall down and need replacing. They presented
their vision to a community meeting in Mt Pleasant strategy
session audio request 11/3/04 . It was a fine plan to move
cars across the river in a safe and efficient way. However,
that plan did not include accommodating other modes of transportation,
especially walking and bicycling.
Shortly thereafter, a small group of local residents got together to offer another vision. Led by Lenny Greene, Don Sparks, Jennifer Rezeli, Tom Mather, Jane Lareau, and Sandy Lang, they began the long struggle to make the new bridge one for the 21st century, and one that would welcome all sorts of users, not just cars. This group included representatives from the Charleston Moves (formerly Charleston Bicycle Advocacy Group (CBAG)), the Coastal Conservation League, the local Sierra Club chapter, Earth Force and Community Health Partners.
They were joined by countless volunteers. Over the next
eight months, led by Charleston Moves, they participated
in over 75 meetings and community events with planners,
engineers, environmentalists, the mayors of Charleston and
Mt Pleasant, the Charleston Area Highway Study (CHATS) members,
bridge designers and consultants, Senator Hollings, the
Charleston-Berkeley-Dorchester Council of Governments, SCDOT,
and other advocates in San Francisco, Chicago, New York
and Washington DC.
At first SCDOT was not responsive. They claimed that allowing
pedestrians on the bridge would encourage suicide jumpers.
They also (perhaps understandably) balked at the added costs,
estimated then at $25 million. Local politicians did not
believe the community would support the facility, so there
was no obvious political payoff. Legislators in the upstate
mocked the very idea, and suggested that the next thing
Charleston would want would be to allow horse-drawn carriages
across the bridge. Most of the objections are not worth
repeating here.
Nonetheless, despite what appeared to be a very uphill battle,
the groups came together in an astounding way. The effort
rallied around the cry, "Can't Wait to Bike the New
Bridge'. Hundreds of tee shirts with that logo were produced,
thousands of bumper stickers soon appeared on area cars
(one was seen in Washington DC and another in New York ),
the mayors received some 30,000 postcards supporting the
cause, students from Belle Hall Elementary won a national
Earth Force award and were honored in Washington DC. The
director of the National Center for Walking and Bicycling
called the campaign the most effective advocacy effort he
had witnessed in his over 20 years of bicycle work. Mayor
Riley's secretary complained to us that she had never seen
such a volume of cards and letters on any issue of public
policy. Soon, the politicians were on board. Charleston
Moves ran a half page ad in the Post & Courier thanking
them (even before the deal was actually done). Mayor Woods-Flowers
and Joe Riley became adamant advocates. And, after some
more weeks even SCDOT had bought in. In fact they now even
take some credit for the idea.
The efforts paid off. At the national meeting of the East
Coast Greenway Alliance's meeting in Charleston, Charleston
Moves was recognized as their advocate of the year. During
that meeting it was observed that this key element will
be "the closest place to heaven you can get" along
the entire East Coast Greenway. Interest in the project
has come from all parts of America, and Charleston Moves
members have given talks about the project in places as
far afield as Cape Town and Copenhagen.
During the next five years Charleston Moves kept its focus
on the bridge. There were a few times when it appeared the
political will was lacking, particularly regarding the finances.
Letters to the editor, TV and radio interviews and op-ed
pieces again saved the day. By this time SCDOT was a strong
supporter, and at last the final plans included a 12 ft,
two directional, shared facility. It was not quite what
we wanted (and ASHTO's national guidelines calls for 15
feet), but it was a fantastic achievement.
About a year ago Charleston Moves recognized the need to complete the other important details, such as lighting, signage, striping, approaches, etc and recommended that Ms Mabry appoint a committee to deal with these issues. She agreed, and named Bobby Claire, the project director, as the chair. Since then we have met almost monthly to iron out these details, most of which were things we wanted (eg. striping the lane so that cyclists and pedestrians all knew where they should be).
It is very fitting that this lane is named for one of Charleston's
leading cyclists, Garrett Wonders. In honoring his memory
we also honor the other 26 cyclists who tragically lost
their lives on our area's unsafe roads during the past six
years of the project's completion. But, we also recognize
that the new bridge will provide a safe means to ride or
walk between Charleston and Mt Pleasant, and will set the
tone for a more bicycle-friendly community. For this we
celebrate and congratulate everyone involved in this long
and difficult effort.
Post and Courier Archived History of the Bike / Ped Lane and the New Cooper River Bridge
Bicyclists say bridge design ignores needs - Published on 02/09/99
http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch99/0299/arc0209220299.shtml
Class recognized for efforts to get bridge bicycle lanes - Published on 05/25/99 http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch99/0599/arc0525227319.shtml
Hodges Has bridge Plan 8-Lane Span Could be Built Within 4 years - 1/12/01 http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch01/0101/arc0112280868.shtml
Count begins on Cooper River bridge decisions When proposals come in, the stage will be set for a bridge to be built - Published on 02/23/01
http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch01/0201/arc0223281730.shtml
Single eight-lane diamond concept may be leading bridge design race- Published on 05/22/01
http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch01/0501/arc0522293107.shtml
WOUNDS HEAL AT BRIDGE KICKOFF - Published on 07/03/01 http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch01/0701/arc0703296414.shtml
DON SPARKS - Citadel professor an advocate for bicycle-, pedestrian-friendly towns http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch04/1004/arc10231987360.shtml\
New bridge will have bike path - Planners working out final details for walkers, cyclists - Published on 12/25/04
http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch04/1204/arc12252079749.shtml
Bike Bunch Reuniting in Celebration 6/11/05
http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch05/0605/arc06112370039.shtml
8 lanes' worth of challenges -Debate over new bridge's design, questions about paying the bills kept officials busy - Published on 06/19/05 http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch05/0605/arc06192384844.shtml |
