Georgia to accommodate bicycles on all state roads

Georgia has reached a neww milestone today with the Department of Transportation's adoption of a routine accommodation policy. Similar to "complete streets" laws, this policy ensures that road project planners and engineers will consider motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic requirements.

The policy is a much needed shift from recent decades, which have left the state with an inventory of public infrastructure that cannot safely or efficiently handle pedestrian and bicycle traffic. As a result, we have been unprepared for the travel demands of aging baby boomers who can no longer drive, or post-suburban Gen Y households seeking traditional walkable neighborhoods. Not to mention, of course, the extra costs, the added safety risks, the lost mobility for Georgia residents due to a lack of alternatives to driving.

After today, our roads can be appropriately configured for actual traffic conditions, not an imaginary world in which every person gets behind the wheel for every single trip. I expect to see vast improvements in mobility, safety, health, and productivity as these guidelines get implemented.

Of course, it will still be important for community members and representatives to show up at planning meetings and project hearings. This policy doesn't mean putting bike lanes on every road, willy nilly. There are many types of bicycle amenities and they are appropriate in different settings depending on car, truck, and bicycle traffic volume, speed limit, etc. - including shared lanes, bike lanes, buffered lanes, side paths, cycletracks, and more. Plus, GDOT really doesn't have any data about bicycle usage, nor do they have any estimates of the number of people who need to bicycle along a particular route but are prevented by the current road design.

To learn more about the new policy and all of the great work that went into it, please visit the Georgia Bikes website!

Newsflash! Lack of controversy swirls around new bicycle facility

WSB-TV has done a feature on the new sharrows installed on Ponce de Leon Ave by the city of Decatur. Comments from local planners, residents, and businesses show widespread endorsement of the markings. The TV crew is determined to bring a dose of hardened skepticism, but comes up short in bike handling skills and knowledge of cycling traffic safety. I might suggest a Confident City Cycling class before their next story!

Click here to view the clip.

Better Bicycling Bill Becomes Law!

Today Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed HB101, the “Better Bicycling Bill,” into law modernizing outdated laws and implementing safety improvements for motorists and bicyclists.

Georgia joins 19 other states with the implementation of a passing law. Overtaking vehicles have always been legally required to provide a safe passing distance, but the new law defines 3 feet as a safe passing distance.

Other changes included in HB101:
• Bicyclists right-of-way in dedicated bike lanes is now recognized
• Minimum design guidelines are established for bicycle lanes
• Circumstances in which a cyclist may take the full travel lane have been clarified (sect 40-62-294)
• Recumbent and clipless pedals can now legally be sold and used in GA
• Taillights can legally be substituted for a rear reflector
• Cyclists can signal right turns with his or her right arm and hand extended horizontally or with his or her left hand and arm extended upward.

Click here to read the news article, which the AJC seems to have researched entirely in Roswell.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

Clean Energy is Everywhere

There has been a lot of commentary in the 'transportation choices' world about President Obama's speech on energy policy and independence from foreign oil. Basically, the president spoke for, oh, 30 minutes or so last week about energy security. After worrying about the economic and political implications of oil dependence, he went on to endorse oil exploration, more oil drilling, biofuels, natural gas vehicles, and electric cars. There was one brief mention of transit. And there was not a single mention of the millions of Americans who have already cut their oil consumption by a third, or perhaps much more, by walking and bicycling instead of driving.

The best article I have seen, which really sums up the discussion, was on Grist. This will give you a feel for the spectrum of debate, which ranges from "hey, you forgot something" to "oh no, we're all doomed".

We have plenty of oil-independent folks in Atlanta, and there seem to be more every day.

The Cycling Constituency

How many bicyclists does it take to get the attention of state legislators? 2,500 seemed to be the winning number this year. Thousands of people showed up at the capitol building for the annual "Georgia Rides to the Capitol" event. There were folks from all over the Atlanta region, kids from Safe Routes to School programs, competitive cycling clubs, and everyday commuters. And a whole lot of spandex. Some people had ridden 30 miles or more by the time they reached the gold dome, others (like me) just popped over from work. The diversity of ages and racial backgrounds was inspiring. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, and a number of other elected officials and advocates addressed the crowd.

Cycling Research Recap

I would like to direct everyone's attention across the pond to Munich, Germany. A great little blog there, Münchenierung, is offering a summary of some of the best research on urban cycling. He highlights half a dozen or so scientific articles about the benefits that bicycle transport brings to health, safety, and quality of life in cities. Check out the post!

The IKEA Bicycle Fuss

All of the business papers have been spreading the news of IKEA's holiday generosity to their employees: a new bicycle for all 12,400 of them. The press release contains tons of commentary about the health benefits of riding a bicycle, and also points out that bicycling is good for cities, and the environment, and achieving sustainability. So it's too bad that they chose such an odd bicycle. This is not my idea of a suitable bike for riding to work in the city. Awkward riding position, excessive gearing, no fenders, no lights, aluminum. It's not quite a mountain bike, although it is styled like one, but are those knobby tires?

Source: cyclelicio.us

Nonetheless, it is an admirable effort on their part, and I hope a significant number of their employees take the hint. Perhaps they will trade this bike for something more comfortable. There's already one listed for sale on Ebay. And if IKEA ever wants to think about a better design - you know, for next year - they don't have to look far. Check out the awesome cargo bikes IKEA Denmark provides for customers who arrive by bicycle and buy more than they can carry back home...

Source: inhabitat.com

Be Part of Atlanta Streets Alive - This Sunday

Come out, come out for a bigger, better Streets Alive in downtown Atlanta! This ciclovia-style event will designate several miles of city streets for the exclusive use of people, rather than cars. The route will be open to any form of non-motorized movement - walking, running, bicycling, cartwheeling, skateboarding, and so on.

There will be some booths along the way, offering bicycle repairs or information about bike-share programs, and some food and entertainment. But most of the people who come will just be there to experience Atlanta without cars. It's hard to describe what that feels like - you just have to come and see for yourself. The pictures from the May event offer a hint.

If you think this is a great idea, get involved. Check out the volunteer calendar on the home page - there is an orientation session tonight and some sign-making sessions. You can also pick up some posters from the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign office and post them around work and your usual hangouts. There are also graphics that you can use on your blog, Facebook page, and email signature.

How Fast Can You Change?

I wanted to share this video about New York City's innovations in the bicycle, pedestrian, and transit environment. As they point out, it took NYC only 3 years to build 200 miles of bicycle lanes and to reclaim significant pedestrian areas like Times Square. In that 3 years, they also increased the average life expectancy by more than a year.

Everyday Bicycle Dates

The Beau and I have had many opportunities to ride around town together, lately. Cycling with someone creates an interesting conversation pattern, as you pause for a moment to negotiate traffic, or punctuate your thoughts with "oh, look at that". Serious points are made at traffic lights, one-word comments are tossed out as you catch up and then zoom past each other. Talk slows on steep hills and becomes intermittent on the path where we constantly ring bells and dodge dog leashes.

On Thursday, The Beau was making a trip over to A Capella Books, in Little Five Points, to pick up the newly-released, much-anticipated Southern Foodways Alliance cookbook. This was a perfect excuse to ride there together after work. We picked up the book and then wandered over to The Porter for a beer or two. We ran into several people we knew there, all cyclists. What I would call "avid" cyclists, people who put on special cycling clothes and go on organized rides and buy special bicycles just to use on those rides. There were clearly other people who had arrived there by bicycle as well - it's funny how you notice these things if you are aware of them - they guy in a button-down shirt and jeans with a reflective ankle strap on his right leg, the couple with a helmet resting on their table.

Anyway, we had a great time hanging out and socializing with folks. Afterwards, we made a stop into Sevananda for some groceries and headed off into the evening. On the way home, I discovered a gang of folks making temporary crosswalk and bike lane markings for FLUX 2010, a "one-night public art celebration in the streets and empty spaces of the Castleberry Hill Art District" that takes place tonight - October 1st.

Proof - More People are Cycling

We won, we won!

OK, no, we didn't really win anything. But according to the latest figures from the League of American Bicyclists, Atlanta has increased its bicycle commuter share by 111%! From 2008 to 2009, ridership increased from 0.51% to 1.08%, more than doubling the presence of bicycle commuters on the road.

It's still a pretty small number, but it feels great to be out of the zeros... You can also think of it this way - on average, one cyclist will ride past for about every hundred cars that you see. That's enough to start making an impression on people, to make them think that cycling really is a legitimate way to get to work. And these are still 2009 numbers; based on my experience, I would guess that we have continued to increase mode share from 2009 to 2010.

There are some surprises, too. Portland, OR, and Minneapolis both saw a slight decrease in ridership, as did many other cities, including New York City. Atlanta's rate is slightly higher than the average for all 70 cities surveyed.

Atlanta is now ranked 22nd in the U.S. for bicycle commuting. The figures just refer to the City of Atlanta, not the metropolitan region. Data was taken from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the press release for more information about this data.

An Evening of Bicycles, Delights, and Good Causes

The fundraiser for Atlanta Streets Alive was last night. It was amazing! There were highly-coveted silent auction items, largely bicycle themed. Tons of people turned out and a fair bit of money was raised. Some market vendors stayed open late, tempting us with delicious pastries and the famous Grindhouse Burgers. There was also a line of food trucks (some of Atlanta's first!) parked outside. I had Asian beef tacos with sesame salad. Bicycles were strewn everywhere.

There were bands, a DJ, and a group of drummers arranged around a dance floor where a woman was teaching dance steps to children. The event was at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, which is large enough to have multiple bands playing at once without interference. The fun continued outside, where a Capoeira team performed their moves in front of the bike valet area.

If you couldn't make it to the event, don't worry - just pop on over to their website to make a donation. And mark your calendar for the main event on October 17th!

How to Make Your City Bikeable

I have just discovered that my bicycle planning hero, Jan Gehl, is the influence behind New York City's vast expansion of bicycle infrastructure. I first heard Mr. Gehl speak at a Rail~Volution conference in about 2006, and was instantly inspired.

He described how Copenhagen had changed, one street at a time, from a lifeless, car choked place to a vibrant city with thriving businesses, healthy and happy people, and some of the best bicycle infrastructure in the world. Of course, the Dutch like to say theirs is the best, but it's really too close to call. Copenhagen never did studies or official bicycle plans. They just added a bike lane on this major street and then another one, replaced a few parking spaces with some café seating, added medians, built plazas.

There's been some debate over the left-side bike lanes in New York. From the perspective of using the West Peachtree Street bicycle lane - and the constant dodging of MARTA and XPress buses that it entails - I am all in favor of finding some way to separate the two. In much of Europe, they construct bus stop islands and route the bike lane behind them. This is ideal, it seems, but probably more costly.

What do you suppose he would suggest for metro Atlanta?

This Friday, Support Atlanta Streets Alive!

A very special event is taking place on Friday, September 24th - the "Evening at the Curb Market" fundraising event to support Atlanta Streets Alive. If you attended the May event and loved it, or if you were inspired by my post about it, or just think ciclovias are a good idea, then come join us on Friday! You can donate, bid on a groovy auction item, or volunteer.

More about the event, totally plagiarized from AtlantaStreetsAlive.com... Turn down your speaker volume before you click on the links, though.

In celebration of the upcoming Fall 2010 Atlanta Streets Alive! (mark your calendars: it’s happening Sunday, Oct 17th from 1-6pm!) the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, in partnership with City Councilman Kwanza Hall and the Atlanta Street Food Coalition will be hosting an evening of music, dance, drinks, food & shopping at the historic Sweet Auburn Curb Market on Friday, Sept 24th from 6:30-9:00pm.

You’ll be treated to a sneak preview of our fall event with performances from select ASA activities partners (dancing, hooping, martial arts & other surprises), live bluegrass, jazz & DJ, free drinks (beer/wine/etc), a wealth of dinner options from favorite Curb Market restaurants (open late to serve) and some of the city’s best street food vendors. We’ll also have ciclovia film & photography on display, as well as a silent auction benefiting the Oct 17th Atlanta Streets Alive! The event is free to attend, however donations are always welcome.

Come celebrate with us, show your support for the neighborhood, and learn more about one of the most exciting new projects happening within the city of Atlanta & the livable streets movement taking place across the US.

For more information, including participating market vendors, food trucks, auction items, and more, see http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/curbmarketparty/.

Addendum to Society, Image, and Change

In yesterday's post, I failed to mention the most outrageous anti-bicycle sentiment of all - the Colorado gubernatorial candidate who claims that bike share programs are an international conspiracy to deprive Americans of their "personal freedoms"! At least this guy's wackiness is obvious to the average American.

I also came across a thought-provoking post on Bikehugger, asking if there are fundamental differences between the U.S. and countries with better bicycling policies, like Denmark and the Netherlands. I would say that yes, there are fundamental differences. But that they don't stop us from adopting bicycling, they just mean that we will go about it differently.

Bikehugger also captures a perfect example of the "how dare you interfere with my reckless driving privilege?" attitude. This really supports my belief that motorist anger toward bicycles actually stems from fears about their own ability to share the road.

Craziness abounds, but here in Atlanta we're doing just fine.

Society, Image, and Change

Transportation becomes a public forum for society. Social norms, technology, interpersonal interaction take place in that public space reserved for travel (and very little else these days). And so this is where conflicts, misconduct, and systemic change (or systemic failure) first become visible. At least, that's my theory.

Recent media coverage on bicycling - particularly about sharing the road - indicates a civilization in flux. While bicycles have been around slightly longer than cars, and while this debate has bubbled on for decades, it seems to take on a new urgency. Motorists act like they are being threatened. Governments waiver between restricting the rights of pedestrians and cyclists, and investing in new bicycle-friendly, walkable infrastructure. Bicycle riders respond with everything from Critical Mass-style protest rides to Cycle Chic parties.

I started thinking about this after reading some recent articles from the Charlotte Observer. They started with an article explaining traffic laws and talking about conflicts between cars and bicycles. This item was actually in response to an earlier feature in the Charlotte Creative Loafing, which combined the worst of fear-mongering journalism with rampant misuse of statistics and motorist entitlement. If you click through to the article, please don't believe any of it! Anyway, these articles generated intense debate among the 'traveling public' and the discussion became so acrimonious that the newspaper had to disable, and even delete, the comments section. The debate raged on through another article and an editorial.

Is this representative of Charlotte's citizenry? Is it even representative of the newspaper's viewpoint, or just a single reporter? Probably not. It's just another part of the public discourse about social norms. And to me, it sounds very self-conscious. I think people know that they sometimes drive with distractions, after drinking too much, or that they take risks behind the wheel. We comfort ourselves with the (erroneous) belief that airbags, seatbelts, and anti-lock brakes will prevent something terrible from happening as a result. Acknowledging the legitimacy of bicycle traffic means taking responsibility for one's actions on the road, and giving up all of the excuses that people use to justify reckless driving.


I do not think that confrontation is the antidote to the situation. I believe the best response is to continue portraying the "citizen cyclist", the ordinary person on a bike, who could be your neighbor, your friend, your future spouse. The Charlotte Observer published this cute human interest piece a few days later, although it still caught the end of the rules-of-the-road firestorm. In addition, the Elle Magazine website did an entire bicycle feature in their street chic section, and a group of women in Seattle got inspired by Atlanta's Heels on Wheels events!

Across the pond, the Guardian (London) has been following debates over bicycle lanes, traffic laws, and some high-profile collisions. The article that caught my attention the most, however, was this one about one woman's strategy for dealing with sexist remarks while she bikes through the city. (You can link to their other cycling articles along the right side of the page).

Fun in Atlanta - New Blogs and a Seersucker Social

If you haven't heard, we have a few new bloggers amongst us. T at Just Like Riding a Bike is chronicling her urban explorations by bicycle.  And the new Atlanta Street Fashion blog will include regular cycle chic entries - the very first entry was already featured on Copenhagen Cycle Chic!

Finally, a local gal has set in motion Atlanta's first "Seersucker Social". This is a stylish summer picnic and bicycle ride, more appropriate for a Southern city, culturally and climatically, than a 'tweed ride'. In fact, you can read about the summer socials that used to be held in Atlanta's parks in the 1890's and the early part of the 20th century, typically attended by bicycle. Or by 'wheel' as they used to say. If you are on Facebook, you should be able to view the invitation here. The Seersucker Social will take place on September 4th from 4 pm to 11 pm, at the northern end of Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta.

Bicycles, Beer, and Politicians

As previously reported, yesterday was the date of the "Open House with Elected Officials" event, sponsored by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. Some of us were a bit grumpy about trekking all the way up to Buckhead for the event. Using MARTA, it was very easy to reach by bicycle, even at rush hour. Not so much for the folks who drove there - one woman spent over an hour and a half to drive about 6 miles.

The Beau and I took our bikes on the train to Buckhead station. From the station, we only had to ride a 1/4 mile or so along Peachtree in a decent bicycle lane. Car traffic was nearly at a standstill, and we delighted in passing the long line of stopped cars. The only issue was from cars trying to enter the road from cross-streets and driveways, who tended to pull into the bike lane while waiting for a break in traffic. I was glad the Raleigh had a loud bell! The cyclist ahead of me was not so lucky; he simply had to stop and wait several times.

We arrived at the restaurant, which was in a new mixed-use development. They had made some good attempts at pedestrian-friendly urban design, but the bicycle parking was hard to find. I saw a number of curbside bicycle racks along Peachtree Street, but none near this particular building.


The event was attended by cyclists of all sort, from beginning to fervent. Most of the officials who attended were from the north and east of Atlanta, so maybe the location made sense - except that they all drove, and spent a long time in traffic anyway. Oh, well.

Mayor Jere Wood of Roswell talked about the infrastructure they have built, including some riverside paths and the region's first bike box, and Fred Boykin of the Decatur city commission discussed their bicycle plan and gave an inspiring commentary on the impact it could have on the health of city residents. Dianne Fries of Sandy Springs and Dan Thompson from Dunwoody also spoke briefly. Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts arrived at the beginning of the event, but had to leave before the main program started. There were also some staffers representing Atlanta city council members. I had personally emailed my city council representative, Cleta Winslow, but did not receive a response nor did she attend the event.

Hopefully this is just one more small step in creating a bicycle-friendly Atlanta region. I would love to be able to travel out to Roswell or Sandy Springs by bicycle. I would probably go there a lot more often! I always hate the idea of having to go home, fire up the car, sit in traffic, and then lugging the car around with me from parking lot to parking lot with each stop I make. I would much rather cruise out to nearby towns by train and bicycle whenever I want. I'm sure there are fantastic restaurants and stores I need to try.

Buckhead itself is becoming quite accessible. After the event was over, I rode home with The Beau and Rebecca Serna, our fearless leader of bicycle advocacy and creator of this event. We had a spectacular sunset ride down Peachtree Street and through the heart of Atlanta. This four to six lane thoroughfare becomes quite calm after rush hour is over. You pass so many Atlanta landmarks, from historic churches to the Amtrak station and the Fox Theater. The 9 mile trip took me just under an hour, and the Raleigh performed admirably on the rolling hills. Regrettably, I forgot to get a picture of myself with the Raleigh...next time!

Don't Forget! Elected Officials Event 7/15

Connect with your elected officials this Thursday!

Mayor Sam Massell and Amir Farokhi are excited to invite you to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's Open House for Elected Officials on Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. A brief program will start around 6:30pm. The event will be at Cantina Restaurant in Buckhead (3280 Peachtree Road).

This Open House is a terrific opportunity to learn about the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s work making metro Atlanta a safer place to bike, as well as what your neighbor governments are doing to make it easier and more pleasant to bicycle. Click here to view the event page and to RSVP.

ABC will provide the opportunity for you to be inspired and challenged by fellow elected officials.

Appetizers will be provided by Cantina, and it’s just two blocks from the Buckhead MARTA station (on a bicycle lane).

Updates - Infrastructure and Events

Just a few news items from around Atlanta...

I haven't checked it out myself, but major sections of the BeltLine are apparently bikeable. This blog post from Atlanta Unsheltered proclaims that the entire section from Glenwood Park to Piedmont Park is open and rideable. I don't know if it's actually paved or more of a gravel road situation, but I plan to visit it in the near future.

For some strange reason, the BeltLine does not appear in the City of Atlanta's transportation plan. But about 16 miles of new bicycle facilities are planned for city streets. Check out the list from Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, and feel free to contact your city council rep to say thanks, or ask when construction will begin! You can also read this week's article about cycling infrastructure from Creative Loafing.

Last of all, mark your calendars for the Heels on Wheels ride on July 10th, and an event for elected officials to meet local bicyclists and learn about cycling needs in the Atlanta region on the 15th.