Moving visitors by bike to SunTrust Field. (Atlanta: vs., friendly)

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Yeah, the one between Cumberland Mall and Cobb Galleria is pretty nice. I could see adding one between Akers Mill and Cumberland Blvd.

I thought the plan was to add a pedestrian bridge from the Galleria over 285.

I think if they add another one with the intent of safely crossing 41 to get to the stadium, it would either have to be just outside of 285 where Spring Rd turns to Circle 75 (hilly and curvy once your cross) or a better choice would be where Cumberland Blvd meets 41. I cannot remember the street name change when you cross because I think it has already changed. The street is flat enough that you shouldn't get a charley horse after walking or biking it.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I walk all over in that area since I work in the area. It isn't that bad unless you want to cross Cobb Parkway. Which would be the point of adding another pedestrian bridge to the area. I actually see a need, though others seemingly disagree. I get along fine without one now, but there isn't a stadium in the area yet.

Sounds like you think a walking deck above the entire area would be a good idea.

No, I just don't believe calling an area dominated by large roadways and hundreds of acres of surface parking is walkable.

[UrbanConquistador]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Having buildings separated from the street and sidewalk by massive parking lots is not walkable. Parking lots present a huge hazard for pedestrians.

Exactly. Just because a street has stores, it doesn't necessarily make it a welcoming experience for pedestrians. Placement of those stores is very important.

In addition to safety reasons, walking on a sidewalk where you have a busy street on one side and a sea of parking on the other, just provides for an aesthetically unappealing experience...imho.

[UrbanConquistador]

Maybe this product will help people get over the "sweat factor" of bike commuting. This article is a long read, but the product is summarized pretty well in the first few paragraphs.

If an Electric Bike Is Ever Going to Hit It Big in the U.S., It's This One - CityLab

On a sunny but brisk spring morning near the Charles River in Cambridge, I took a test ride on the bicycle of the future. No rockets or lasers (alas), the bicycle of the future looks pretty much like the bicycle of the present. But with the first pumps of my feet on the pedals, I felt the difference. The bike wasn't just moving, it was pushing, adding extra propulsion to my own pedaling, giving me a boost with every revolution of the pedals. Faster than expected, I reached the end of a quiet block leaning into a corner. I took a straightaway for a few blocks and pushed 20 miles an hour without hardly trying. My feet were putting out a solid paper-route effort, but the bike had me racing in the Tour de France.

Edit: Here's a great video of the Copenhagen Bike Wheel

https://superpedestrian.com/

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by cqholt

No, I just don't believe calling an area dominated by large roadways and hundreds of acres of surface parking is walkable.

I work in the area. I walk in the area. I qualified my description by stating it was "fairly walkable".

Maybe I'm more able to walk around than some?

Debating terms isn't the discussion here. I think the addition of a bridge across 285 would be nice, but I can see value in at least one more in other locations in that immediate area. That doesn't mean I recommend building one, but it one were to be placed there, I think it would improve things and be used.

[Tarzanman]

Originally Posted by TripTychTwo

I think you might want to do a little more careful reading, and a little less evangelizing.

When I don't bike in because it's raining, or too cold (yes I'm not hardcore). I still see at least 2-3 commuters on the road. On a normal day, there are at least 2-3 at a single stop light waiting with me.

Wow. 2 or 3 entire people out of how many cars and pedestrians?

So who knows how many total, I've never sat on a corner with a counter, but it certainly is not laughable.

It is laughable and bordering on statistically insignificant

1. I've been biking for 2 years, never even had a close call.

Then you either have a very very short commute, or you aren't paying attention. You're not the only avid bicyclist on the forum, but you're the only one I've ever heard of that claimed to not have had any close calls in years of bicycling. Especially around this city. I'm calling foul on that statement.

2. I take a change of clothes, and there are showers at the gym in my office if absolutely necessary.

Definitely not the norm for most office environments.

[UrbanConquistador]

What exactly are we arguing about at this point? That there are/not bike commuters in Midtown or Downtown? That Atlanta has a lot of drivers that are jerks? Maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle?

IMHO, for as hostile of a biking environment that Atlanta has created over the years, there's still an inspiring and growing amount of people commuting on bikes, all over the city.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

It is laughable and bordering on statistically insignificant

Let's talk about the statistics for a moment.

Originally Posted by US Census;

Nationally, 0.6 percent of workers commute by bike. Since 2000, the percent of people who biked to work in Boston increased from 1 percent to 1.7 percent, according to 2008-2012 statistics from the American Community Survey.

1.7 percent of Workers Commute by Bike in Boston

Relatively speaking, that was a pretty large jump for Boston; a city known as leading the curve in the U.S. when it comes to biking. Also, it's important to note that much of this boost occurred after their bike share program opened and after their biking infrastructure was greatly increased. Atlanta is focused on accomplishing both this year.

Now let's take a look at Atlanta.

Originally Posted by CityLab;

Cycling in Atlanta has grown in popularity in recent years, from 0.33% of commutes in 2000 to 1.1% in 2009

Is Bicycle Commuting Really Catching On? And if So, Where? - CityLab

Not too shabby, especially considering Chicago, with its already established bike share program, still hovers at around 1.3% (See the Census link). It's also important to note that Atlanta had the largest percentage increase in the whole U.S. during this time period.

So we are hovering around 1.1% (assuming we have stayed flat since 2009), and we have yet to launch our bike share program or double our total miles of bike lanes (supposedly by 2016). Now let's also add the fact that we currently have the largest ongoing urban renewal project in the U.S. with the Atlanta Beltline, plus the general resurgence of in-town living. All in all, I'd say Atlanta's biking future looks pretty bright.

[TripTychTwo]

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Wow. 2 or 3 entire people out of how many cars and pedestrians?

Again, if you would read the thread, and see what I was responding to, you would realize it was arjay's comment about never seeing any bike commuters. I said I see at least 2 or 3 on the even the worst days for cycling. I'm not sure how your statement about "how many cars and pedestrians" is relevant to my statement.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

It is laughable and bordering on statistically insignificant

Again, if you would read, I'm not sure I made a comment in which you could refute with "It is laughable" because I did not provide any hard numbers, just my opinion.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

or you aren't paying attention.

What? Maybe I am paying attention, which is why I have not had any close calls.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Definitely not the norm for most office environments.

I'm not sure I care what the 'norm' is, but whatever it is, it is not affecting my career.

I'm strangely intrigued, albeit confused, as to why you are spewing so much vitriol to my mode of transportation to place of employment. Are you just anti-bike? Are you anti-urban? Are you just a small-minded jealous OTPer incapable of basic reading comprehension who has an inferiority complex to anything progressive? Just curious.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by TripTychTwo

Again, if you would read the thread, and see what I was responding to, you would realize it was arjay's comment about never seeing any bike commuters. I said I see at least 2 or 3 on the even the worst days for cycling. I'm not sure how your statement about "how many cars and pedestrians" is relevant to my statement.

Just for the record, I didn't say I "never see any bike commuters."

I said I rarely see them, and that's the truth. Of course we have some hardy souls who commute via bicycle and I applaud them for that. As I said earlier, they deserve to be treated with respect and provided with reasonable facilities. I have personally ridden my bike to work on occasion. However, to me bike commuters appear to be a very tiny drop in the bucket.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Just for the record, I didn't say I "never see any bike commuters."

I said I rarely see them, and that's the truth. Of course we have some hardy souls who commute via bicycle and I applaud them for that. As I said earlier, they deserve to be treated with respect and provided with reasonable facilities. I have personally ridden my bike to work on occasion. However, to me bike commuters appear to be a very tiny drop in the bucket.

But with investment in infrastructure, that drop will grow to leak.