BATS 2050 Call to Action: Help shape future cycling/pedestrian projects in Glynn County

April 21, 2025

Dear BWGI supporter,

We are asking you today to help out the local cyclists, walkers, runners and rollers of tomorrow, 5 years from now, and even those in 2050. 

Every five years, the Brunswick Area Transportation Study (BATS) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) updates its Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) to outline major long-term transportation needs. This process began in 2024, and now community engagement is being sought to review the draft recommendations of the Plan.

The study can be found at:

This link will allow you to access the draft 2050 Metropolitan Master plan as well as the opportunity to make any comments you wish to make.

Your comments as a cyclist or pedestrian matter! Please share your views about specific projects or changes needed in the Plan, but always include the basic point that safe and expanded bicycle and pedestrian transportation must be prioritized by our local officials, both now and in the future! 

If you don’t have time to read through the 117-page report, here are specific changes that BWGI would like to recommend:

• Page 26 – Parks should be included in the Figure 18 list of Points of Interest
• Page 28 – Inclusion of FEMA Designated Flood Zones in the Figure 20 map make it difficult to discern what is being presented. Incorporate different colors for parks and recreation facilities versus conservation areas.
• Page 31 (second goal, first objective) should be modified to read, “Support enhancement of facilities, as well as new facilities and corridors, that provide for interconnected bike/ped transportation options.” Such a statement calls on the plan to expand on opportunities for multimodal travel beyond what is currently available, and not just improve what is in existence today.
• Page 64 – The second paragraph describes the multi-use path on the Torras Causeway as being in “good” condition. This is not an accurate description, particularly in regard to the condition of the bike lanes on the bridges. Almost all of the bridges have a great deal of trash and other obstacles on them, making them difficult to navigate. The vertical plastic pipes that are supposed to protect the bike lanes are mostly gone and provide no protection. The report should reflect that.
• Page 66, Pedestrian Facilities- Under current Glynn County ordinances all sidewalks on St. Simons Island are considered multi-use paths on which bike traffic is allowed. The only exception to this allowance is the sidewalk on Mallery Street from Magnolia Avenue to the Pier. Given that situation, this discussion of the sidewalks on SSI more properly needs to be included on Page 64 with the other Bicycle Facilities discussion. A more detailed report of these paths outlining their condition should be included. Through the Universe of Projects list, it appears that several paths on SSI are targeted for repairs, replacement and improvements. One glaring omission is the path on Demere Road from Main Street at Plantation Village to Brockinton Drive.

BWGI as an organization is cautiously excited to see that a number of bike/pedestrian improvements are included on the Table 11, Universe of Projects list. That being said, more details in the description would bring about a clearer understanding of the scope of each project. BWGI’s leadership also believes that incorporating the findings of the proposed Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which has recently been funded through a GAMPO grant, will be accomplished as soon as that report is finished.

For example, Page 77, Table 11, Universe of Projects, does not include an obvious opportunity to create an excellent bike route utilizing Bay Street and Highway 341, from Prince Street north to Ross Road or even the Norwich Road exit. Such a route could be created by converting the existing breakdown lane resulting in several miles of bike friendly travel opportunities in an area that currently has no bike facilities. Hopefully the master plan can help identify additional opportunities such as this, allowing them to be included in the Universe of Projects.

If pedestrian and cycling concerns are minimized or excluded from this five-year plan, future projects and improvements will not include multi-use paths, pedestrian crossings, enhanced lighting, sidewalk repair, and bike corridors. This update is required by the federal government to qualify the region to receive and distribute federal transportation funds; if these projects aren’t included in the Plan, they will NOT be eligible for funding!

Please take a minute to remind local officials that cyclists, walkers, runners, and rollers, who are residents and taxpayers, MUST be considered when adopting the 5-year plan.

Again, to submit your comments go to:

Additionally, stop by the BATS pop-up tables on Friday, May 2, to learn about the draft plan and recommendations:

*11:00 am-1:00 pm – St. Simons Island, 530 Beachview Drive

*5:00-8:00 pm – Brunswick’s First Friday, Gloucester Street, near Brunswick Library

Bike Walk Golden Isles’ main mission is working toward safer and more accessible conditions for cyclists and pedestrians in our community, and we thank you for joining us in this journey! By speaking out today, we can help the bikers, walkers, runners, and rollers of tomorrow.

Sincerely, 

Murray Pounds, BWGI Board Chair

bikewalkgoldenisles@gmail.com