SPLOST projects submission workshops TODAY

Late notice, but heads up!

The SPLOST presents a great opportunity to propose bike, ped, and transit oriented projects, which will be funded by a 1 cent sales tax. The Multi-Modal Transit Center was funded by SPLOST!

Stay tuned for news on a BikeAthens-led brainstorming session. You can help us determine what projects we will submit for consideration. If you already have an idea, comment on this post or send us an email.

Vote on the cover for the new Bike Map of Athens!

VOTING CONCLUDED.

Pic # 2 won with 50% of the vote.

Your candidates:

Do you work at UGA? Do you like what we do?

Attention, UGA employees!

The 2009-2010 Campaign for Charities is now underway.

As a member of Georgia Shares, BikeAthens is eligible to receive contributions through this workplace giving program.

To choose BikeAthens as a recipient organization, just enter our ID number, 194064, on your donation form.

You may also designate your charitable contributions online at https://webapps.ais.uga.edu/PBCC/home.seam
First, log in with your UGA MyID and password.
Choose "Federated Charitable Organizations," then select
"194000-Georgia Shares," and then
"194064-BikeAthens"

Donating to your favorite local transportation advocates couldn't be easier!

For more about the annual Campaign for Charities, visit http://www.busfin.uga.edu/charities/

All donations support our outreach programs, advocacy, and educational efforts. Thank you for your continuing support of transportation choices in Athens!

Walking to school

A video from streetfilms on the recent International Walk to School Day:

Comment on MACORTS Transportation Improvement Program

The Madison Athens Clarke Occonee Regional Transportation committee is now seeking comments on the Transportation Improvement Program, the short list of local projects to be funded by federal, state and county budgets. Comments will be accepted through Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

Use our convenient webform to send your comments to MACORTS!

See this earlier post for more information.

BikeAthens Receives Grant

Thanks to the Athens Area Community Foundation, BikeAthens has received $1,560!

The funds will buy helmets, lights and locks for the refurbished bicycles we redistribute in the community through our Bike Recycling Program's "Ride Home" Initiative.

Many thanks to the AACF!

Downtown parking deck

Parking costs downtown may increase dramatically due to the proposed parking deck & mixed use development near the Georgia Theatre.

Bus plans & greenway meetings

ABH Sunday reading:

A plan exists for improving transit, but will there be money to implement it?

Also, "the Athens-Clarke Leisure Services Department will hold two public meetings this week about its plans to build a greenway along the Middle Oconee River."

Timothy Rd Elementary observes Int'l Walk to School Day

From the ABH:

Each year schools across the country organize a Walk to School Day to promote physical activity, identify areas in the community that need safety improvements and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

As a youngster, Okech walked five miles each way to get to his school in Kenya. Before Wednesday, Okech's daughters didn't walk to school often, though they live less than a mile from Timothy Road Elementary.

"Walking's good, but I find we're becoming more Americanized now because we're like, 'Oh, it's a short distance. well, let's jump in the car and drive,' " Okech said. "It's not good."

This year, the Timothy PTA - led by Heesacker - created a Safe Routes to School committee to organize monthly walks to school to ease more students and parents into the practice, while advocating for more crosswalks and crosswalk lights to make the trip safer. The first came Wednesday, but others are scheduled every month through April.

And tonight, the Clarke County Board of Education plans to approve a seven-school Safe Routes to School plan that asks the Athens-Clarke government for more crosswalks and signs, caution lights and sidewalks.

The county received $110,000 from the state Department of Education to fund part of one project envisioned in the school district plan - improving the Five Points intersection to benefit Barrow Elementary School students.

The intersection work - including raised crosswalks, countdown pedestrian lights and flashing signs that display cars' speeds - won't get started for another 15 months, according to David Clark, county transportation and public works director.