Google maps for bikes!

If you haven't heard by now, Google Maps has created a bicycle-focused mapping program.

Here's a video introducing the system:

It looks like Athens has been programmed for the most part, but if you see any errors, omissions, or other issues, send them to Google using the report feature in the yellow box to the left of your map.

Stay tuned for some suggested riding routes from BikeAthens. In the meantime, check out our existing Google Map of Athens, and watch for our 2010 update of the popular Bike Map of Athens!

Share your commute

Inspired by this bike commuter diary, we're looking for some show-and-tell from Athens' bike, transit, and pedestrian commuters.

Send us a narrative, photographic, and/or mapped description of your commuting route in Athens, and we'll share it here on the blog and on our website. We encourage you to share your thoughts on the route, including ways it could be improved, what you like about it, interesting experiences, etc.

Please submit to chair[at]bikeathens.com

We look forward to hearing your story!

UPDATE
We have one submission in the comments below! And, here's a short video of my walking commute from New Town to campus. The intro has a 3-4 second delay for some reason. Enjoy!

Map of campus bike racks

UGA has a campus map indicating the locations of bike racks (pdf).

Thanks, Nina, for the heads up!

Bicycle tour of Athens

After speaking with a writer from Bicycling magazine yesterday (our cycling scene will be profiled in the March issue!), I realized there is no digital resource for visitors who'd like to tour Athens' many sights and destinations by bike.

Take a look at this first stab and let us know what you think. Suggestions most welcome!



View Bicycle Tour of Athens, GA in a larger map

Also, here's a map of a possible ride route.
P.S. this online map would work very well with our soon-to-print 2010 Bike Map. Stay tuned!

Welcome to Athens

Welcome to Athens, new UGA students! And welcome back, all who summered elsewhere.

Check out bikeathens.com or this blog for everything you need to know about transit, walking, and cycling in Athens. If you like to volunteer, we have plenty of opportunities! You can always check out the great local weekly, Flagpole, for transportation news and event announcements as well.

In its orientation-to-Athens issue, Flagpole generously mentions BikeAthens quite a few times...

* BikeAthens Co-Chair Amy Johnson is quoted in a story on the Long Range Transportation Plan.

Don't forget to come by Trappeze at 7 pm tonight! We'll be discussing the LRTP and finalizing BikeAthens' formal comment on the plan. If you can't make it, be sure to submit comment on the plan. If you haven't read it, don't worry! While we strongly advise you to read the plan, you can submit any comment you like on the future of transportation in Athens. It will all be considered. You can email comments to macorts@co.clarke.ga.us until August 18th. Or, stay tuned for our soon-to-be-live online comment form, where you can tailor your comments on the LRTP and submit them from a single web page.

* Also, City Dope talks sidewalks, Athens Rising covers downtown and parking decks, and a feature for new arrivals points folks to our free Bike Map.

* Finally, the events calendar reminds the volunteer-minded to consider our ongoing Bike Recycling Program.

BikeAthens encourages you to walk, ride a bike, or take transit whenever possible. It's easier than you think to get around without a car! It will save you money, keep you healthier, and reduce traffic all around.

When you do drive, watch for pedestrians and cyclists, and give them the right-of-way. It's not just neighborly, it's the law!

And when you bike or walk, just remember:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Be visible
• Ride legally & predictably
• Wear a helmet
• Share the road with all users

Enjoy yourself, and take advantage of all that Athens offers. We hope you'll get involved with BikeAthens!

Bikewise: hazard maps for cyclists

Check out Bikewise, a Google map where you can report bike-related hazards, thefts, accidents, etc.

Local trans planning: get involved & be heard

MACORTS, the regional transportation coordination body, is currently updating its Long Range Transportation Plan.

It's a little difficult to find on the MACORTS main page, but the presentation given by the consultants who are handling the model for the LRTP is now online. The model is a representation, based on traffic conditions and socio-economic data, of the geographic distribution of traffic in the Athens region.

Here's the direct link to the model.

On the plus side, they've included public transit for the first time ever, so we may get a more accurate picture when we look at Athens Transit and UGA Campus Transit as part of the network. However, the 2035 projection was based on current ridership - today's raw numbers, not percentages - so with the projected 50% MACORTS-wide population growth and 47% UGA enrollment jump, this obviously needs some adjusting.

Stay tuned for information on how you can submit formal comments on the LRTP.

Map my Ride

Here's a nice online service, MapMyRide.com, which lets you "Draw your rides, calculate mileage, count calories, share with friends, and much more!"

Thanks to Charlie for the heads up.