James Island is an old island community that retains a mixture of narrow roads winding through neighborhoods, but has increasingly busier thoroughfares plagued with traffic congestion and little or no room for pedestrian traffic.

While newer subdivisions often are being built with sidewalks, many of the older neighborhoods exist in typical beach-like fashion. Grassy front yards roll right into the street, leaving minimal options for people who want to get outside and bike, walk or jog, unless they venture into the streets.

This is an option for some, but it may not be a safe idea.

Bicycle lanes were installed during the mid-1990s along a section of Folly Road, from Folly Beach to roughly Battery Island Drive, and along a strip of Harborview Road from Fort Johnson Road to Northshore Drive. The town wants to expand on this idea, adding bicycle and pedestrian lanes to portions of several main roads -- Maybank Highway, Camp and Fort Johnson roads -- and along less-traveled portions of the island such as Grimball and Oceanview roads.

The island retains much of its natural beauty and a number of historical sites that the planned paths would come near. The Kings Highway path, beginning at the intersection of Maybank Highway and Riverland Road, winds past James Island County Park before ending at the terminus of Fort Johnson Road. Other paths would lead runners and cyclists near historic homes, such as McLeod Plantation, Stiles-Hinson House and Cuthbert House.

Certain roads were chosen for the paths to allow islanders to see this beauty. But there are two other reasons the paths are needed, said Mayor Mary Clark.

"Traffic on James Island is so horrific that we need to have another option for people to get around," she said. "It's a good plan to reduce traffic congestion and to get people out exercising to improve their health."

Clark recently requested funding from the Charleston County Transportation Committee to build a portion of the path on Grimball Road near the new James Island Elementary School. The town also will apply for an enhancement grant from the state Department of Transportation to add about another mile to the existing path on Harbor View Road, extending that path to Fort Johnson Road.

The paths will not appear overnight, and most likely it could be years before all the paths are completed, but it is a good idea and a good effort to add non-vehicular paths to this area. We hope the town is successful.

Copyright © 2004, The Post and Courier, All Rights Reserved