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Chatham County is located on the coast of Georgia. There are eight municipalities within the County: Savannah (county seat), Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, Tybee Island and Vernonburg.

Population of Chatham County (2000 Census)

Chatham County (entire county) - 232,048
Unincorporated Chatham County - 71,199
Savannah - 131,510
Garden City - 11,269
Pooler - 6,239
Tybee Island - 3,392
Port Wentworth - 3,276
Bloomingdale - 2,665
Thunderbolt - 2,340
Vernonburg - 138

June 18 - A Special Race for "Dump the Pump" Day

The Race: A bicyclist, a bus rider, and the driver of a car - From 12 Oaks to City Hall

At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18, the City and its partners put on the first ever "Dump the Pump Challenge" to mark National Dump the Pump Day. Chatham Area Transit (CAT) offered free fares all day that day on any of its regularly scheduled bus routes.

The rules of the "Dump the Pump Challenge" were as follows: The contestants will leave the Twelve Oaks Shopping Center on Abercorn Street at roughly 8:30 a.m., when the 14 Abercorn bus arrive at the stop located there. The contestants will follow all traffic laws and speed limits, and the bus will run a regular route, picking up and dropping off passengers as normal. The bus riding contestant must get off at a CAT bus stop, the bicyclist must rack his bike at a bike rack, and the driver must park his car in a parking garage. City leaders will award winner the contestant who first walks across the finish line, which will be located on the west side of City Hall, next to the Hyatt.

National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to leave their cars at home and consider alternative commuting options in an effort to improve air quality and conserve fuel. It is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association to support public transportation as a viable commuting option that is economical and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. CAT's decision to offer a fare-free day is an excellent opportunity for residents who have never ridden a bus to try out Chatham County's convenient public transportation system.

The "Dump the Pump Challenge" is part of Savannah's ongoing Dump the Pump series, which includes bicycle commutes and other actions. It is sponsored by the City of Savannah, Savannah Bicycle Campaign, the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, Coastal Commuters, Chatham Area Transit, and the Pedestrian Advocates of the Coastal Empire.

Learn more about local transportation options:
www.savannahtransit.com
www.catchacat.org
www.bicyclecampaign.org
www.coastalcommuters.org

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 651-6410.

So who won? The bicyclist! No surprise there; however, the bus rider beat the car driver!
Savannah Alderman Tony Thomas hung a special Dump the Pump gold medal around cyclist Frank McIntosh's neck after McIntosh crossed the finish line first at 8:53 a.m. It took McIntosh about 23 minutes to complete the distance. The bus took second place 3 minutes after Frank, followed by the car driver who arrived at 8:59 a.m.

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The marina located at the end of Coffee Bluff Road, which is an extension of White Bluff Road, is now OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

The City of Savannah bought the 3-acre marina in December for $1.5 million after years of wrangling with the former owners, Rochell and Harold Javetz, who wanted to shut off public access to the land and build six townhomes on the location.

Thanks to the dedicated work of the City officials, this land at the end of the road will now remain available to the public as it has always been. The Coffee Bluff Marina is the only public marina within the city limits.

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