Could Tourists Lead the Way in Demanding Bike Infrastructure in Charleston?

We came across this interesting article about the demand for bike infrastructure and green spaces in NYC – not necessarily by locals, but by tourists.  Here's an excerpt…

"While activists and community members started this kind of positive change, the tourists have jumped in and are now pushing for more of the green infrastructure that visitors to New York City find so appealing. As soon as they hop off the plane, they begin to flock to our green spaces, jump in pedicabs, have picnics in the parks, and rent bikes to go on expeditions to see community gardens."

Sound familiar?  Why, yes it does.  That's exactly what visitors to Charleston do.  They walk on King St, rent bicycles, explore the parks, ride the trolleys, take a pedicab, sit on quiet benches….and they spend a ton of money while doing it.

So given that much of Charleston's economy is tourism-based and the tourists here tend to enjoy the city by walking, biking, and meandering through the parks, wouldn't the addition of more 'green' infrastructure increase tourism, bolster the economy and put more money in the locals' pockets? 

Yes, we think it would….

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