Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

A Livable Streets Renaissance in Savannah?

The last time we checked in with the folks down at Sustainable Savannah, it was to get an update on the jaywalking ticket blitz that the city was conducting -- not exactly evidence of a progressive attitude toward traffic safety. Today, we've got better news.

1594723787_18fc8534fa.jpgBiking in Savannah: the future is looking brighter. Photo by p medved via Flickr.

Over the long weekend, Sustainable Savannah's John Bennett shot us an e-mail alerting us to a week filled with positive developments on the livable streets front in that city:

Among those who want to make Savannah a more sustainable community,this past week may be remembered as a particularly important one. Itmarked a growing awareness of the economic, environmental, social,public safety and public health benefits to be derived from encouragingSavannah’s residents and visitors to move around the city on foot or bybicycle. Throughout the week there was evidence that local support forlivable streets is gaining momentum, as residents and governmentofficials came together to learn about how to make Savannah’s streetsmore livable.

Many of the week's highlights, according to Bennett, involved Dan Burden, one of the country's leading authorities on the develpment of walkable and bikable communities. Burden met with many different City of Savannah staff, presented a program on traffic calming, and led a workshop for the city's new Traffic Calming Committee.

Later in the week, Mayor Otis Johnson let a bike commuting convoy, and a new public service announcement on sharing the road with cyclists debuted.

These are welcome developments in a city that has been grappling with pedestrian and cyclist safety in the past several months. Bennett sounds a note of cautious optimism:

Still, in order to get more citizens out of their cars and on theirfeet and bikes, we need an environment that is safe and friendly. Othernews, this week, of a pedestrian injured and a cyclist killed

underscores how far we have to go. Progress toward more livable streetscan help reduce the frequency of these troubling and tragicoccurrences. Does this week represent the beginning of Savannah’s newera of livable streets?

More from around the network: The National Journal Expert Blog on Transportation opens a discussion on the nation's freight policy. Planning Pool reports on a new study that links walkability to higher home values. And Smart City Memphis posts on that city's upcoming transportation and land use planning process.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday’s Headlines: Habemus Knicksum Edition

It was a big day yesterday, but we're not on the sports or the religion desk, so let's get to our news.

May 9, 2025

Friday Video: Who Ruined Outdoor Dining?

We sent our own video team to find out.

May 9, 2025

Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss E-Bikes … With Joy and Concern

E-bikes are a vital tool for delivery workers and for people seeking to reduce their use of private cars. What would you do to both expand e-bike use and make streets safer? And the answers are...

Live from Albany: Hochul’s ‘Safety’ Measures Stripped from Budget

Lawmakers dropped three initiatives that Gov. Hochul said would have made roadways safer (though, as we'll see, that's very much in question). Let's review them.

May 9, 2025

Anatomy of an Operation: How Cops Target Cyclists for New Criminal Summonses

Streetsblog brings you inside what's happening on the street.

May 8, 2025
See all posts