Bee Sustainable: How to (safely) bike around Savannah
Written by Julia Gralki. Photo Courtesy of Pexels.
I bought a bike the week I arrived in Savannah. It was the first week in a new city––and for me, also in a new country. And for some reason, I thought it was a good idea to ride to the beach, even though Google Maps kept leading me back on the highway. It took me a few attempts to understand that the highway wasn’t really bikeable.
So I didn’t make it to the beach that day. Instead, it would take a few weeks to learn the ropes at navigating Savannah by bike, but by the end of the month, I safely found my way to the beach.
Whether it’s the beach, a coffee shop or class, taking the bike to go places in Savannah isn’t as difficult as it seems––if you know where to go. And then, you’ll also find that (over short distances) biking is much faster than taking the car.
So, get a bike (or use the one you have) and take this guide as a help to go places faster.
Hive/Turner to Arnold
Most of my bike trips during freshman year went to Arnold Hall. Apart from one hill, this route doesn’t bring many challenges with it.
Starting at the Hive, take a right at the traffic lights and go past the mail center. At the next traffic lights, take a left turn to ride up the hill. Cross Montgomery Street and follow Liberty Street up to Barnard Street. Then, turn right and take Barnard Street up to 34th Street, where you turn left. Go past Whitaker and cross Bull Street, then Arnold Hall should be to your left.
Hive/Turner/Oglethorpe House to Victory/Barnard Village/Montgomery Hall/Gulfstream/The Shed
If you live at the Hive, Monty and Gulfstream can seem like they’re a hundred miles away–––especially if your main mode of transportation are SCAD busses. Biking, however, is a viable alternative to the bus as it takes you to the other side of town in a fraction of the time the bus would take.
If your starting point is the Hive, take a right turn and then a left on to Louisville Road. Go straight until you get to Barnard Street. If your starting point is Oglethorpe House, take a right turn on to Barnard Street. From there, it’s pretty much a straight ride up until Victory or Barnard Village. In case your destination is Montgomery or the Shed, keep going on Barnard Street until W 50th Street. There, turn right and your destination should be straight ahead.
To get to Gulfstream, I’d recommend turning right on W 45th Street and taking the sidewalk to the entrance to Gulfstream.
Victory/Monty/Barnard to Oglethorpe House/Downtown
Now, this is pretty much the reverse of the previous. Simply get on Barnard Street and follow it until you reach O-House (or downtown Broughton Street).
Hive to Jen Library
In freshman year, the library was my favorite place to study as it was a quieter alternative to the dorms – so the bike route between the Hive and the library was one of my staples.
Starting at the Hive, take a right turn and follow Boundary Street until the intersection. There, turn left on to Louisville Road. (I know, the hill is tough, but it’s worth it.) After crossing Montgomery Street, stay on Liberty Street because it has a bike lane. Then, turn left on Habersham Street. On Broughton Street, turn left again, and you should see Jen library to your left.
