South Dakota cyclists form state-wide advocacy group

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition is the newest organization in the U.S. aimed at improving the lives of the bicycling public.

About 30 cyclists from across the state met earlier this month to create a group that will focus on making bicycling safer in South Dakota, improve road conditions for bicycle riders and help people overcome obstacles to cycling.

First order of business: sending a letter to encourage the South Dakota Department of Transportation Railroad Board to save a railroad bridge over the Cheyenne River for railbanking. Eventually it could be used in a rails-to-trails project.

Keynote speaker Gary Sjoquist (interview at Bike Radar), the full-time bicycle advocacy director for Quality Bicycle Products, told how to work with state and local agencies on bicycling related projects.

The cyclists at the first-ever South Dakota bicycle summit also heard about state plans for bicycling in the Safe Route to School project, Sioux Falls' bicycle plan, and projects in the western part of the state aimed at bicycling for recreation and transportation. Also, Falls Area Bicyclists president Kirk Wurscher spoke about how local groups can improve cycling in their communities.

The next order of business for the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition is to create a website to share statewide bicycling information.

In the meantime, check out Cycle South Dakota, or plan to ride in the 7-day, fully supported Tour de Kota that leaves Sioux Falls on June 8.

You can learn about about the group from Greg Boris at gboris@aol.com .