Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A morning trip

I had an early event at the Carter Center recently. It was a beautiful morning to ride over, even if it reinforced my dislike of shared paths (seriously, a jogger changed direction RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME). I think I need new brake shoes. I also learned that the center has a grand total of 4 bicycle parking spaces for the entire place, located in the most inconvenient spot possible (if you don't work there). If visitors stop by from the adjacent path, do they violate one of the scenic benches, or just give up?

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Heels (only) on wheels

Having a baby now, and not yet having a good way to carry him on the bike, I find myself mostly commuting by train. Weekends are by foot, transit, or (alas) car. Until baby can sit well in a seat - or I can afford a bakfiets - I have few chances to bicycle anywhere. Running errands on my office bike, pictured, is the majority of it. And I get a bicycle commute a couple of times a month on my husband's days off. I know riding in high heels still seems far-fetched to some, but it's my favorite way to roll!



Friday, November 9, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mayor on wheels

Have you seen this great photo on Flickr of Mayor Reed bicycling along the BeltLine? Cycle chic indeed! And kudos to Cameron Adams for capturing the moment.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

WANT

Baby is six months old now, and I am drooling over family bicycle options. I think it's between this Christiania trike, the Christiania 2 wheel bakfiets, or a classic bakfiets from Workcyclesor American-made CETMA. The trike is for sale over at Houndstooth Road in Decatur... Anyone know where I can test ride a 2 wheel bakfiets?


Friday, October 12, 2012

Atlanta's first, um, contra-track-path thingy

The Fifth Street bicycle lane has been a valuable low-traffic connection between Midtown West/ Georgia Tech and Midtown East/ Virginia Highland/ Old Fourth Ward (and now the BeltLine). But there was always the tricky spot at one-way W. Peachtree St where Fifth jogged and you couldn't travel eastbound on it without going the wrong way or on the sidewalk for half a block. At one point, Tech had a driveway that made the connection, but they replaced it with a plaza...

Now, there is a new facility to address this problem. Cyclists continuing east on Fifth follow a ramp that takes them upstream so they are aligned with the next segment of the Fifth Street bike lane using a reallocated portion of the sidewalk. It is being referred to as a cycle track, although it is different from tracks I have seen - it is marked with paint rather than separated by curbing or pavement surface, and it is along the back of the sidewalk. But it does get you where you need to go.

For westbound traffic, I'm told there is now a "Copenhagen left turn" in which you stop beside the bike lane and wait for the green light on the cross street. I'm afraid I didn't see it as I had merged over to the left lane before my turn, as usual. Lanes are marked with green paint and directional arrows through the intersection. It is a pilot project, so city and state transportation departments will try to learn from its performance.