The mission of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is to make South Carolina bicycle friendly by providing access for bicyclists on South Carolina's roads and trails, improving safety for all bicyclists, and educating South Carolinians on the value and importance of bicycling for healthy lifestyles and communities.

Long Term Goals:

Build support for and promote implementation/adoption of statewide Complete Streets initiatives, BFC's and Statewide Bike-Pedestrian Long Range Transportation Plans
Improve SC's overall transportation infrastructure for bicycling and improve bike-friendly policies and funding for bicycling
Educate the general public about the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and drivers sharing the roads
Encourage more people to use bicycles for transportation by emphasizing the health, environmental, economic and other societal benefits of bicycling

History of the PCC:

The PCC began in 1995 with a small group of volunteers. Today we have over 700 with members and are the only organization in South Carolina that advocates for cycling at the state level.

2007-Present

The PCC provided scholarships to cyclists across SC to becoming League Certified Instructors.
The PCC along with the Central Midlands Council of Governments and the City of Columbia was awarded a grant from the Active Living Resource Center of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in Summer 2007 to host the 2007 Active community Workshops. The goal of this program is to improve the health and fitness of children and in so doing, affect the health of the entire community.
In January 2007 the PCC began its two-year advocacy campaign to pass H3006, the SC Bicycle Safety Bill. In May 2008 the Bicycle Safety Bill passed the General assembly and was signed into law in June 2008 by Governor Sanford. The PCC along with Outspokin' bike shop hosted a press conference to celebrate the singing of the bill. Governor Sanford attended and spoke at the event.
The PCC ED was invited and sponsored by the President's Council on Physical Fitness to speak at its annual conference in California.
SCBIKELAW and the PCC started the Lights for Life Program. The goal of the program to distribute Planet Bike blinkie taillights to cyclists in need. To date over 450 lights have been distributed.
PCC representative was appointed to the SCDOT/SCDPS Vulnerable Roadway Users taskforce. The committee will prepare a proposal with the goal of reducing bike-ped deaths by 25% in SC by 2010.
PCC representative was reappointed to SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism Trails committee.
PCC began a partnership with Eat Smart Move More to conduct Complete Streets Workshops across SC, beginning in Fall 2008
In Spring 2008 the PCC hosted a Board workshop to educate the PCC board on the SC legislative process. The meeting concluded with a meeting with Lt. Governor Andre Bauer
In May 2008 the PCC presented Senator Danny Verdin with the Bicycling Legislator of the Year award.

2005-2006

PCC hosts Pedal with your Politician. Cyclists from across SC rode with their elected officials around the statehouse and discussed cycling related issues
The PCC was awarded Outstanding Volunteer Group Fundraiser award on National Philanthropy Day.
The PCC received a grant from the League of American Bicyclists to offer training on Complete Streets to all DOT engineering staff. Andy Clarke of the LAB and Jennifer Toole of Toole design hosted a half-day workshop at the SCDOT's bike/ped conference in Hilton Head.
The PCC received Advocacy Organization of the Year from the League of American Bicyclists
The PCC received the SC Governors Council on Physical Fitness Award Public Policy award.
The PCC Tour de Cure team was in the top ten fundraising teams in the nation
In 2006 The PCC received funding and in-kind support from WACH FOX 57 and SCDOT to produce a series of Bicycling Public Service Announcements focusing on educating motorists and bicyclists about public safety. PSAs began airing throughout the midlands of SC at the start of the 2006 school year with a focus on Safe Routes to School
To date the PCC has hosted legislative forums in the upstate, lowcountry and midlands. These forums expose key elected officials to the state of cycling in SC and efforts by local communities in regards to cycling.
PCC partnered with SC bicycle industry leaders to provide SCDOT with commuter bikes to use when considering bike facilities in regards to new projects. The goal to get more engineers on bikes more often even if just for errands from the main office.
The PCC wrote the second update to the SC driver's manual-- this time getting a "three foot minimum passing distance" recommendation added. The new language was released in May 2007.
The PCC began a Bicycle Law Officer Training Program. The program kicked off in Greenville, SC with a speaker from MASSBIKE.ORG. To date the PCC has conducted in-depth trainings in Columbia, Spartanburg and Greenville again in 2008! The PCC with SCBIKELAW will be hosting several more training throughout 2008-2009.
During National Bike Month 2006 the PCC helped organize "Complete Streets workshops in Charleston, Columbia, and Spartanburg
The PCC board in 2006 assisting communities across SC in adopting complete streets policies and bicycle friendly initiatives. Aiken, Columbia, Charleston, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Summerville are now all working to incorporate bicycling infrastructure and polices into their present and future plans.
As of 2006, the PCC distributed over 600 helmets to children across SC.

2002-2004

In 2002, the PCC hired and executive, director, its first fulltime staff position.
In June, 2002, PCC legislation was passed creating a "Share the Road" license plate with funds from plate sales coming back to the PCC to support its safety and education programs. Approximately 4,000 plates have bee sold to date.
In 2003, PCC work with the South Carolina Department of Transportation led to the SCDOT Board of Commissioners' adoption of a complete streets resolution affirming that "bicycling and walking accommodations should be a routine part of the department's planning, design, construction and operating activities, and will be included in the everyday operations of our transportation system;" and "that the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission requires South Carolina counties and municipalities to make bicycling and pedestrian improvements an integral part of their transportation planning and programming where State or Federal Highway funding is utilized."
The PCC received the "Cutting Edge" Award from SEACT - the Southeastern Association for Commuter Transportation - in recognition of its "Share the Road" campaign to promote bicycle safety in South Carolina.
In May and June, 2004, the PCC worked with Governor Mark Sanford and his staff to coordinate and support the Governor's three-day "Family Fitness Challenge" in which the Governor and his family along with over 500 participants rode 175 miles across the state from Spartanburg to Charleston to encourage all South Carolinians to become more physically active.
The PCC initiated the development of a SC General Assembly Bicycling Legislative Caucus.
With the help of the SC Bicycle Caucus and a statewide effort among cyclists, the legislature passed a Safe Routes to School bill (H#4740) and a joint resolution (S#1274) naming the bicycle/pedestrian lane on the new Cooper River Bridge in Charleston after cyclist Garrett Wonders (a potential USA Olympic team member) who was tragically killed when struck by a motorist while training in Charleston, March 10, 2004.
The PCC presented the Safe Routes to School "Bicycle Safety Curriculum" at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (SCAHPERD).