Cyclists, pedestrians, runners speak uo for trail connectivity

Cyclists, runners and walkers in Bryan County — whether competitive athletes or weekend warriors — have let the county know they would like more trails for biking, walking and running in the county’s future planning. The most recent data was collected fro

Many of Bryan County’s bike lanes and bike trails are not connected, especially in unincorporated areas of the county. Resident responses within the survey indicated they want the existing trails linked.

The public’s desire for biking and walking trails within the county is not new. Bike lanes exist on some major streets in the county, in addition to trails within the parks. Bryan County conducted studies in 2015 and 2018, but that data was deemed “a little outdated” by county staff as the county is the fastest growing county in Georgia, according to the 2020 U.S. census. County planners say they want to stay ahead of that growth and plan accordingly.

“We asked (our) consultant to go through all of the studies and help us consolidate all of the proposed routes, improvements, goals into one plan for the unincorporated areas of Bryan County,” explained Audra Miller, Bryan County development director. “The multiple planning documents, and in some cases, age of the documents, made it difficult for staff to identify the priority and/or need for the projects.”

Miller added Bryan County residents who answered the survey indicated they want more trails for walking or running, and separate multiuse trails for biking.

More than 600 responses

The online survey appeared to be popular with the county’s walkers and cyclists. On the county’s Facebook page, the survey invitation was shared more than 70 times. The Bryan County Development Department received more than 600 responses by the survey’s end on Oct. 31.

Residents still have two chances in December to voice their opinions about the future of bike and walking trails. The county has scheduled two opportunities for residents to meet with county development staff.

“The purpose of these open houses is to get additional input (from the public) and for the county to provide information about its bike and pedestrian plan,” Miller added.

Miller said the open houses will be “drop-in” style, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, at the Bryan County Board of Education meeting room, 8810 Highway 280, in Black Creek; and 4-7 p.m. Dec. 9, at the Bryan County Administration Complex hearing room, 66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive, in Richmond Hill.

An upgraded vision

Bryan County resident Christopher Sanden was at Hill on Wheels bike shop in Richmond Hill recently and said he rides his bike “about three times a week.” He indicated he was interested in the county’s plan for trail connectivity.

The survey results are in line with what customers at Hill on Wheels have often told the shop’s owner, John Cameron. “They’ve been pinched by the increase in motor vehicle traffic,” Cameron said. “Six years ago when we opened, you could ride a bike pretty much anywhere (in Bryan County) and not worry too much about cars.”

To illustrate that point, Cameron said the newest 4 miles of bike lane that are part of the State Route 144 expansion “has been very well received. However, (it) ends when you get to the city of Richmond Hill,” Cameron added. “(We) need to focus on connecting it to where people could actually go out and ride 10 or 15 miles. You can’t get to a city park or county park without putting your bike in a car.”

Those disconnected trails were the impetus behind the recent survey, according to Amanda Clement, assistant director of the Bryan County Community Development Department. “Bryan County has seen unprecedented growth over the last 10 years with new (residential and business) developments. We felt like it was time to maybe refresh those plans and get an upgraded vision for where residents wanted to use these types of facilities and where we can make new connections.”

Where the rubber meets the road

Cameron agreed the survey was needed now. “We have a population that’s growing faster than the infrastructure can keep up with, so it’s nice that the county is asking for input from the residents.”

Even though bike and pedestrian trails have upfront costs, Cameron continued, the benefits and return on investment help their communities.

“We know there’s expenses putting infrastructure in, but when you just look at the fact that people in cities who have invested (in the) infrastructure, people that bike to go shopping spend more money than somebody that goes shopping by car, and they go more often,” Cameron explained. “People’s homes, (which) have been adjacent to bike trails, have increased in value,” Cameron said. “So, there’s good economics in return investment on infrastructure.”

According to the first study of bicycling’s impact on Georgia’s economy, which was released this year by Georgia Tech (https://b.gatech. edu/3whlc2g), bicycling-related industries contribute nearly $500 million annually.

SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS Christopher Sanden says he rides his bike several times a week. He’s among the residents who want connected trails in the county, which would help cyclists and others avoid traffic.