IRMO, S.C. — A group of cyclists in the Irmo and Chapin area are pedaling for something greater than themselves: Safety. The group aims to speak with over 2,500 people about the importance of cycling safety this year.
Suiting up for a day of riding 25 miles is what Cliff Corley and the Palmetto Pedalers did Sunday.
Now that there's an extra hour of sunlight, these cyclists plan to be out biking during the week after work and on weekends for the next several months.
"I started riding and just realized that a lot of cyclists, they meet up in the parking lot, they go for a ride, they get in the car, and they leave. And so we just really had a passion to just create community and encourage people to stick around and talk and just get to know each other," said Corley.
"It's just a great group of people who look out for you. So more than just riding a bike for exercise. It became fun," Tracy Weber, group member said.
Corley started this group right before the pandemic, and for the past couple of years their mission has started to shift toward educating others on the importance of cycling safety.
"Safety's important to me as a cyclist because I've recognized the dangers first hand. I should be dead," Nicholas Charalambous, group member said.
Charalambous was in a serious accident two years ago on Memorial Day. He was biking in a group of about 30 people and a driver came up from behind wanting to pass the group.
She started to pass on the left when the group was already turning that way, hit Charalambous's back wheel and he was catapulted about 250 feet, suffering a neck injury, but by a miracle, no broken bones.
"You just can't treat us as though you know, we're not, you know, legitimately on the roads," Charalambous said.
Now, a few of the Palmetto Pedalers visit driver's education programs and companies to speak to them about cycling safety about two to three times a month.
Corley said he organized the visits by calling around to these places asking if they're interested.
The group tells News19 their goal is to make sure drivers and cyclists are informed and stay as safe on the road as possible.
The group of about 80 cyclists meets Wednesday nights at 5:45 p.m., and Saturday mornings at around 9 a.m. at Dutch Fork Middle School and is looking for more cyclists to join them, with any level of experience. If you'd like to learn more, you can email roncorley@gmail.com.
They said their next ride is Wednesday night at 5:45 p.m.
The group also shared some safety tips:
- Drivers should give cyclists more space on the road
- You should pass cyclists on the left -- at a safe distance -- to avoid collisions
- Cyclists are only allowed to bike on the road, not on sidewalks