Seeking out alternative transportation is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment and save a few bucks. Jen has been blogging about riding the bus and driving abstinence, and I’ve been rocking the hybrid – but are always looking for ways to go farther.

We would like to integrate cycling into our plan, but find it difficult due to inadequate infrastructure (unless you like riding down LongPoint Road inches away from cars going 50 mph). Charleston Moves was a big proponent of the pedestrian lane on the Ravenel Bridge, and is working hard to get a bike lane down Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Major Joe dedicated the East Bay Bike and Pedestrian Path last month. These are all good things, but more work needs to be done.

Enter Brian Graham, a Clemson University graduate student who is creating a “Bicycle & Pedestrian Action Plan” for Charleston. As part of his work, he is documenting all the bicycle rack locations within the city – and needs your help. If you know of a bike rack, please add a marker to the interactive Google map. You can also add a marker to request a rack be placed at a certain location. At the close of the project, a more formal map will be created and submitted to the City of Charleston.

But your involvement doesn’t need to stop there. Brian is looking for your help in identifying places that need bike lane striping, sharrows, or bike paths. He has 5 questions for Charleston residents to answer regarding local bicycle and pedestrian issues. Check them out after the jump, and either leave your feedback in the comments section, or email them directly to Brian.

1. What roads seem ideal for re-striping to create bike lanes or should have sharrows? (These roads should be wider than others and have well maintained pavement).
2. Are there specific roads, that do not have sidewalks that, in your opinion, need them??  (Especially outside of downtown.)
3. Where would you suggest that bicycle and pedestrian activity be counted to document a demand for facilities (streets and intersections)?
4. What type of bicycle/pedestrian/motorist education programs would you like to see the City of Charleston support?
5. How should the city encourage and market bicycle and pedestrian activities be encouraged?