HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20130510_BicycleWeek.docxPRESS RELEASE: Contact: Tybee Island City Hall
For immediate release (912) 786-4573
Tybee Island Celebrates Bicycle-to-Work Week, May 6-10
Tybee Island, Ga. – (May 10, 2013) As part of the National Bike Month in May, Tybee Island Mayor Jason Buelterman proclaimed the week of May 6th thru 10th to be Bicycle-to-Work Week
on Tybee Island, encouraging everyone on Tybee to ride bicycles instead of automobiles when going to work or shopping on the island.
Tybee already sees a significant amount of bicycle traffic, as many residents and tourists favor two, or sometimes three, wheel convenience when running errands, attending events on
the island, or just heading to the beach. The city has worked diligently the last several years to improve bike accessibility as well, encouraging businesses to provide more bicycle
parking areas, and creating new roads on the island-spanning bike route with improved paving and signage directing cyclists to the route. Parking spaces are at a premium much of the
year on Tybee, and these improvements help reduce demand for parking by keeping more cars off the roads.
Cyclists can see the sands on the south beach, the Atlantic, the back river and marsh, the north beach, and the Tybee Lighthouse while using the bike route on the island by using their
own bicycles or renting from one of the bike rental companies in operation on the island. The bike route includes paths through both Memorial and Jay-Cee Parks and passes near both
business areas on the island, where bike racks are plentiful.
Certified as a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America Program, the City of Tybee Island continues to encourage bicycling
activities with bike rodeos and rallies, traffic calming enhancements on the roadways, and other bicycle route improvements. Plans call for an extension of the bicycle route out of
town to the Lazaretto Creek Bridge, with the ultimate goal of providing a safe bicycle path from Tybee all the way to downtown Savannah.
About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches,
and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee
Post Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs.
Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest,
the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off
the Walter W. Parker Pier and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs,
and making sure hatchlings make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/, and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.
org/.
/
Tybee City Council biked to this week’s Council Meeting. Pictured are (left to right) City Manager Diane Schleicher, Councilman Tom Groover, Mayor Jason Buelterman, and Councilpeople
Paul Wolffe, Wanda Doyle, Bill Garbett, and Barry Brown.
/
Several City Hall employees bicycle to work year round, though warmer weather sees greater numbers! Pictured here are Chantel Morton, Sharon Shaver, Stephanie Hogan, Janice Elliott,
Diane Schleicher, Nalene Conway, Claire Price, Melissa Freeman, and Jan LeViner.
# # #