City Counsel Approved 2.5 Million Bike Infrastructure Package (Atlanta, Decatur: activity, cars)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

On a related note, I noticed this morning how many dedicated bike paths there are in N. Fulton, S. Forsyth and adjacent Gwinnett. Cycling is much safer and convenient in the 'burbs than in town.

Paths are nice, but if you have to use the roadway, the city is much safer and more convenient. In the suburbs, vehicle speeds tend to be a lot faster and distances between destinations are much farther. Suburban roads often have no sidewalks and sometimes not even a shoulder, so you can find yourself in a situation where there is nowhere for you to go if you need to get off the roadway and fix a flat tire or take a rest.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

For those that don't think a lot of people commute via biking, go look at all the bikes on Edgewood/Auburn ave or Hosea L. Williams Drive during rush hour.

cq, I gotta tell you, I have been actively looking for bikers lately, and that includes Edgewood/Auburn Avenue. I have seen very few and only a literal handful that are likely commuters. I'll look again.

[AnsleyPark]

I saw the results of my sister-in-law's biking encounter with an automobile. Looking at her condition, I can only conclude that bicycles should stay off the streets unless there is a grade separated lane. Sorry. Please don't yell.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

cq, I gotta tell you, I have been actively looking for bikers lately, and that includes Edgewood/Auburn Avenue. I have seen very few and only a literal handful that are likely commuters. I'll look again.

Look at any bike rack in downtown. They're all overflowing, everyday, to the point that street signs and planters are used as overflow racks. There are a lot of cyclists out there whether you see them or not.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

Look at any bike rack in downtown. They're all overflowing, everyday, to the point that street signs and planters are used as overflow racks. There are a lot of cyclists out there whether you see them or not.

They may well be there and I just didn't see them. I drove around downtown for an hour (4:30 to 5:30) and did see some bike racks but only saw 1 actual cyclist. The others were apparently coming and going at other times.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by arjay57

They may well be there and I just didn't see them. I drove around downtown for an hour (4:30 to 5:30) and did see some bike racks but only saw 1 actual cyclist. The others were apparently coming and going at other times.

I always see at least four or five during the 5pm rush heading down Decatur Street away from Downtown. I'm hoping to start riding my bike to work soon, but the streetcar construction has made the roads pretty treacherous. My preferred route from when I used to ride last year is closed in at least two areas, so I don't know which way I'd go.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I saw the results of my sister-in-law's biking encounter with an automobile. Looking at her condition, I can only conclude that bicycles should stay off the streets unless there is a grade separated lane. Sorry. Please don't yell.

How many people do you know that have been involved in auto accidents? Shouldn't automobiles stay off the streets then? They are responsible for a lot more injuries and deaths than bicycles. And bicycles accidents often involve automobiles. If safety is your concern, the problem is not bikes, it is cars. But yes, I agree we need more grade separated lanes for bikes.

[Nodpete]

As an out-of-Stater, I'd just like to say that I'm all for having as many Atlanta folks as possible riding a bicycle! I have to stop and change my underwear every time I drive through or around Atlanta. The last time I was there I wanted to exit and just as I started to move over, a truck decides the same thing so it was either abort the exit or do it from under a semi trailer. I'm not saying you guys drive reckless but you all are sure in a hurry to get somewhere.

[cqholt]

They may well be there and I just didn't see them. I drove around downtown for an hour (4:30 to 5:30) and did see some bike racks but only saw 1 actual cyclist. The others were apparently coming and going at other times.

You need to get out of your car and walk the streets.

'm hoping to start riding my bike to work soon, but the streetcar construction has made the roads pretty treacherous. My preferred route from when I used to ride last year is closed in at least two areas, so I don't know which way I'd go.

New bike lanes are part of the construction. They will be in the opposite direction of the streetcar and on the opposite side of the street. Eg: Edgewood Ave will be westbound bike lanes and eastbound streetcar, while Auburn Ave will be eastbound bike lanes and westbound streetcar.
You could use Baker Street as an alternative, which leads directly into the Freedeom Pkwy trails or use Decatur/DeKalb.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by cqholt

New bike lanes are part of the construction. They will be in the opposite direction of the streetcar and on the opposite side of the street. Eg: Edgewood Ave will be westbound bike lanes and eastbound streetcar, while Auburn Ave will be eastbound bike lanes and westbound streetcar.
You could use Baker Street as an alternative, which leads directly into the Freedeom Pkwy trails or use Decatur/DeKalb.

That'll be good, but for the next eight months it's going to be all messed up.

I will not use Dekalb Ave under any circumstances, except maybe just to get from Krog to Airline St., which I can use to access Edgewood. My best route will probably be Krog --> Irwin (or maybe Dekalb to Airline) --> a combination of Auburn and Edgewood, with Auburn bringing me pretty close to the front door of my office.