Imagine traveling on foot, bicycle or horseback through coastal Georgia, winding through arches of live oak trees on your way to tour one of many historical or recreational sites.

WOW Press

We got some more press last week as coastal Georgia’s trails leaders rode through Northeast Florida on the Savannah-Northeast Florida Workshop on Wheels (SNF-WOW). This from the Jacksonville paper on Saturday highlightsSusan Laney rides the Jax Baldwin Trail an important point we all took from the experience:  namely, that it is critical to have high level support in government for a project to be successful.

Jacksonville City Councilman Don Redman, who was riding with the Workshop on Wheels participants this week, signed on as an advocate.

“I’m an avid biker. I bike on a regular basis, and I want to promote biking in Jacksonville,” Redman said. “Workshop on Wheels is a great opportunity to do that. I feel like this will get more people involved in biking for recreation and for pleasure.”

The story also pointed out many of the potential benefits of trails, just as we have been putting forth in our message up and down Georgia’s coast.  We’ll have a full wrapup of the event later this week.

The workshop has another goal, beyond tourism: To encourage residents to get out of their cars and take on cycling as a form of transportation, physical fitness and fun.

“Young professionals more than anybody want trails. They want to be fit and healthy, and they are concerned with the environment,” Hiller said. “If you have a good trail system, you will attract and keep young professionals.”

Posted on January 19th, 2009 by Drew Wade
Filed under: Latest News | No Comments »

SNF-WOW Begins Today

A group of Coastal Georgia leaders meets later today in St. Marys for a four day, four night bike tour and workshop to learn from Northeast Florida leaders about the best and less-than-best of trails already developed and in development.  The culmination of 15 months or so of planning by Florida and coastal Georgia trails leaders, this Savannah-Norhteast Florida Workshop on Wheels promises to kick off many great events to come for the Coastal Georgia Greenway.

Chuck Mobley of the Savannah Morning News has it covered in last Sunday’s paper:

“It’s very important for Savannah’s leaders to recognize the importance of cycling and trails,” said Jo Hickson, a retired landscape architect who said she’s been training diligently to get ready for the riding portion of the workshop.

An increase in the number of trails, both on-road and off-road, and the recognition of their importance, would help encourage young professionals to settle in Savannah, Hickson said.

Other cities and counties have put up successful trails, she said, listing the Pinellas Trail, a linear park and recreation trail that extends from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, Fla., and the Silver Comet Trail, a 61-mile non-motorized route that starts in Smyrna and runs to the Georgia/Alabama state line.

Those trails are a magnet for ecotourists, Hickson said, adding that Savannah, with its historic attractions, and its boating and fishing destinations, should look for ways to lure people who enjoy touring towns on their bicycles.

Her comments were echoed by Mark Woodruff. A member of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign’s board of directors, Woodruff rides with the Savannah Wheelmen, a cycling club that leads rides each weekend and organizes the Nestor Cup racing series.

“I moved here from Alexandria, Va.,” Woodruff said. “They have hundreds of miles of trails up there.”

Vikki Graham also sees benefits in the plan.

A member of the Coastal Bicycle Touring Club, Graham said the development of a Coastal Georgia Greenway, and the resultant increase in cycle-specific roads and trails, could help young people.

“An emphasis on cycling participation could help our kids, too many of whom have developed unhealthy habits and are already suffering from obesity,” said Graham, who is a nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center.

Surely more will follow this week on the Florida side. We may post some updates from the road here.

Posted on January 14th, 2009 by Drew Wade
Filed under: Bryan County, Camden County, Chatham County, Florida News, Glynn County, Latest News, Liberty County, McIntosh County, What's Happening in My County? | No Comments »