New group forms to speak for bicyclists in South Dakota

Posted by Seth Tupper on 1/27/2010 at 7:52 AM in General News, Outdoor Activities

The newly formed South Dakota Bicycle Coalition issued a news release this week to announce its existence:

Securing safety, education, community -

Group Speaks for South Dakota Bicyclists

(Jan. 25, 2010) -- Bicyclists now have a collective voice speaking for them in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition – official as of April 2009 – looks to 2010 as a year to speak louder for cyclists throughout the state.

At the top of its overall agenda - advocating for awareness and visibility of bicycling in South Dakota.

To start out 2010, the coalition’s board is actively watching a bill in the legislature - SB70 - to enact a 3-foot passing law. This proposed law would support safer sharing of roadways by  better communicating a minimum, safe passing distance when motorists pass bicyclists on the road.

The board also has an eye on facilitating increased bicycling education for youth and adults and on becoming a unified voice for South Dakota's existing bicycle communities.

Board members leading the newly-formed organization represent all sides of South Dakota and its bicycling communities. They are:

·    Caitlin Collier, Vermillion – President
·    Kevin Brady, Vermillion – Vice President
·    Michael Christensen, Sioux Falls – Treasurer
·    Jessica Giard, Chamberlain – Secretary
·    Jim Books, Rapid City – At Large
·    Robb Rasmussen, Brookings – At Large
·    Jeremy Smith, Spearfish – At Large

To learn more about the coalition, visit the website at www.SDBicycleCoalition.org, where you can learn about supporting the coalition’s goals as a member. The SDBC is also on Facebook (facebook.com/SDBicycleCoalition) and on email at SDBicycleCoalition@gmail.com.

For more information on bicycling in South Dakota, click here.