National Bike Month
Help Us Celebrate National Bike Month in Columbia SC! With spring in the air, the City of Columbia and the League of American Bicyclists, the national organization of bicyclists, announce that May is National Bike Month, May 16-22 is Bike to Work Week and Friday, May 20 is Bike to Work Day.
The City urges everyone to bike to work or try cycling for fun, fitness, or transportation. We’ll be celebrating virtually via the City of Columbia’s social media platforms, and a number of community partners will host Bike Month related rides and other events in May as well.
Considering biking to work or for fun? Here are some tips:
- Have your bike checked over by your local bike shop
- Plan your route, incorporating bike lanes, greenways, and less-busy streets when possible
- Always wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of a crash
- Ride in a safe location; in South Carolina, bicyclists may ride on sidewalks, or in the street. If a dedicated bike lane is provided, bicyclists must use the bike lane (if they are riding in the roadway). Please note, the City of Columbia does not allow bicyclists on the sidewalks bounded by Assembly, Gervais, Sumter, and Elmwood by local ordinance.
- Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings
- Look before you change lanes or signal a turn; indicate your intention, then act
- Be visible and predictable at all times; wear bright clothing and signal turns
The City of Columbia has been designated as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2008; the designation is a four-year designation, and the City was most recently re-designated in December of 2020. City Council adopted Walk Bike Columbia, a bicycle and pedestrian master plan for the City, in 2015.
To learn more about how the City of Columbia is engaged in bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts, visit https://www.columbiacompass.org/walk-bike-columbia.html and https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/master-plan/ . To sign up to receive email updates from the City of Columbia on transportation planning, visit http://eepurl.com/gfIG25.
For the latest updates regarding events for Bike Month, visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay
National Historic Preservation Month
May is National Historic Preservation Month and the City’s Preservation staff has several activities planned to commemorate the event. Since its inception by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973, National Historic Preservation Month has been a way to promote historic places. The City’s Planning staff is promoting a number of activities and events throughout the month of May that focus on the history and architecture of Columbia.
Preservation Month Proclamation and Mabel Payne Award: Tuesday, May 3rd
Join Columbia City Council as they officially declare May as Historic Preservation Month! The proclamation will be followed by announcement of Preservation Month activities and the presentation of this year’s Mable Payne Award. The City of Columbia’s Mabel Payne Award is given annually by the Planning Division to an individual or group that has played a vital role in preserving the City’s architectural heritage.
Children’s Crafts & Activities (May 1 – 31)
For the young, and young at heart, Preservation staff has developed several activities that can be done from home. For more information, visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay. Be sure to share your creations by sending photographs to [email protected]. Please direct any questions to [email protected].
Virtual Historic Preservation Bike Rides (May 1 – 31)
Did you miss out on the historic preservation bike rides of years past? Preservation and planning staff pre-recorded past bike rides so you can follow along on your own or in small, socially distanced groups. Video recordings of the bike rides are accessible on the City’s YouTube channel under the Historic Preservation playlist:
- Hidden Columbia Ride
- 1960s Columbia Ride
Mid-Century Modern Walking Tour, Sunday, May 29, 2pm
Join MidMod SC for a walking tour as they discuss midcentury architecture in the heart of downtown Columbia. Check out the Facebook event and website for more information and to pre-register for this event.
More information about planning for historic preservation in the City of Columbia can be found at https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/historic-preservation/.
For the latest updates regarding events for Preservation Month, visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay