Function

BPAC adopted the following goals as part of their by-laws:

to advise the City of Columbia Transportation Planning team, City Council Members, the Mayor and community organizations and partners on bicycling and pedestrian issues facing the city and to work toward the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan: Walk Bike Columbia and any subsequently adopted bicycle and pedestrian plans or policies;
to represent community and constituent interests in transportation planning decisions faced by City Council;
to provide feedback to staff on projects relating to walking and bicycling. City of Columbia staff will consider recommendations from the BPAC along with input from other members of the public during decision making; and
to develop and implement initiatives with Council support to improve upon the bicycle and pedestrian culture of the City of Columbia.

Meetings

The BPAC generally meets the second Monday of every month. Meetings are open to the public.

In the interest of public health, meetings of the BPAC will be held virtually until normal City operations return. Instructions on how to access the online meeting are provided within the agenda below. As this is an ever-evolving situation, please continue to monitor https://columbiasc.gov/ for additional information.

Monday, May 10, 2021 at 4:30pm - BPAC Virtual Meeting Agenda

BPAC 2021 Meeting Calendar

It is the policy of the City of Columbia that all City-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. If you need assistance in participating in this meeting or event due to a disability as defined under the ADA, please call the City’s ADA Coordinator at (803) 545-3009 or e-mail [email protected] as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.

Upcoming Local Events

Bike & Pedestrian Counts
- Saturday, May 8, 10:00am – 12:00pm, various locations - weather make up date
May is National Bike Month & National Historic Preservation Month!
- City-sponsored activities & events include:
  - Children’s Architecture Crafts (May 1-31)
  - Instagram weekly photo contest (May 1-31)
  - Virtual Historic Preservation Bike Rides (release dates – May 8th & May 22nd)
  - Historic Preservation Trivia, Thursday May 20, 6pm (via zoom, register by May 19)
- Other regional/national events include:
  - National Bike Challenge (May 1-31)
  - Eat Smart Move More SC Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities + Youth Edition, May 12-13
  - Beethoven on Bikes – SC Philharmonic’s Mountain Bike Ride, May 15, 2021
  - Midlands Ride of Silence, May 19, 2021, 7:00pm; details on Facebook
June 14, 2021, at 4:30pm - BPAC meeting, location virtual

Projects & Initiatives

Open Streets:

Helpful Links & Documents

Composition

There are seventeen (17) council appointments. Members include people with interest and expertise in bicycle and pedestrian issues as well as representatives from neighborhood and business organizations. All applicants must be reside or work within the corporate limits of the City. The term of office is three (3) years and appointees are eligible for one (1) reappointment.

Current members, with term expiration dates in parentheses, are listed below:

Cynthia Watson, Chair (March 2022)
Pamela Bynoe-Reed (December 2022)
Zach Cavanaugh (March 2024)
Derek Davis (March 2024)
Christina Galardi (October 2022)
Anna Gilbert (March 2024)
Douglas Giovanetti (March 2024)
George Kokolis (March 2022)
Carmen Latimer (March 2024)
Jennifer Leaphart (March 2024)
Betsy Newman (December 2022)
Rachel Thomason John (December 2022)
Mary Scott-Chancey Williams (March 2024)

Meeting Minutes*

*minutes from the most recent three calendar years are posted online. Older minutes may be requested by contacting the Planning Division at 803-545-3222.