Bicyclists Form State-wide Organization

South Dakota Bicycle Coalition

Contact: Greg Boris FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 605-321-5514
e-mail: gboris@aol.com


Bicyclists Form State-wide Organization

More than 30 bicyclists from across the state met on March 1 and agreed to form a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization—the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition. As its first act, the Coalition sent a letter to the South Dakota Department of Transportation Railroad Board to encourage saving the rail bridge over the Cheyenne River for use with future rail banking.

The cyclists, along with community officials, were part of the First Annual Bicycle Summit held at Cedar Shores Resort in Oacoma.

National bicycle advocate Gary Sjoquist was the keynote speaker. He spoke on the importance of bicyclists across South Dakota working with local and state agencies to include bicycling in transportation and recreation projects.

A panel presented initiatives now underway in South Dakota. Angela Olson from the South Dakota Department of Transportation described how bicycling fits in with the state’s new Safe Routes to School project. Transportation planner Sam Trebilcock shared how Sioux Falls developed a bicycle plan. Jery Cole, Parks and Recreation director for Rapid City, noted projects in western South Dakota that enhance bicycling for recreation and transportation. Kirk Wurscher, president of Falls Area Bicyclists in Sioux Falls spoke to the activities a local group can do to promote bicycling in a community.

In the weeks ahead the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition will develop a website to share information about bicycling across South Dakota. The Coalition will focus on making bicycling safer in South Dakota, improving road conditions for cyclists, and helping people overcome perceived obstacles to cycling.

For further information, contact Greg Boris at gboris@aol.com.