tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45150047117332935252024-03-12T19:06:57.268-04:00BikeAthens Blog<i>News, updates, commentary and more from BikeAthens.
BikeAthens is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Athens, GA.
BikeAthens promotes transportation and land-use policies that improve alternative modes of transportation, including pedestrian, cycling, and public transit options. The mission of our organization is to make alternative transportation a practical, convenient, and safe option for all citizens of Athens-Clarke County.</i>amy johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994837893025264536noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-43841372615389659362011-05-17T15:25:00.001-04:002011-05-31T09:56:54.090-04:00new look and locationmay 2011<br />
readers and rss feeders, we are migrating to wordpress and have combined our new BikeAthens website and blog. Find us there now and follow our fresh new roll. <a href="http://bikeathens.com/wp/">http://bikeathens.com/</a>Of course we are still on facebook and twitter too, if that's how you roll. Either way we don't want to lose you, so jump on over.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-1285326001057437402011-02-09T16:12:00.001-05:002011-02-09T16:15:40.501-05:00Better Biking Billyes! there is such a thing and it's known at HB 101 and it just passed the House public safety committee unanimously! Now is the time to contact your state Rep to support the bill. Find yor official <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/">here</a>.<br />
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House Bills 101 and 71 go before the GA General Assembly Public Safety committee Feb 9 2011. <br />
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HB 101, or the <b>Better Biking cleanup bill</b>, looks pretty good: <a href="http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/sum/hb101.htm">details here</a><br />
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HB 71 would allow local governments to let bicyclists of any age <b>ride on sidewalks </b>(currently it's just children under 12), which raises important safety concerns for both bicyclists and pedestrians. <a href="http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/sum/hb71.htm">details here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-68560894214135251332011-01-17T16:00:00.002-05:002011-01-18T14:12:10.296-05:00Serve and March with us on MLK day Jan 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG4cBsHST2lh2SDlRy3YMwdRozBgvENKmEWiYS1WIo5IY_SyWib3pdaRbUgMLjZNpshRGhl3OwmzJMMRn0E3Hp1Q51W-DmZtKngDk6xMzaBDTg2Evc0In_ztGi8jJgyAjxvZVhe3U2qs/s1600/handsonhorizontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG4cBsHST2lh2SDlRy3YMwdRozBgvENKmEWiYS1WIo5IY_SyWib3pdaRbUgMLjZNpshRGhl3OwmzJMMRn0E3Hp1Q51W-DmZtKngDk6xMzaBDTg2Evc0In_ztGi8jJgyAjxvZVhe3U2qs/s200/handsonhorizontal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The HandsOn Northeast Georgia MLK Volunteer Day is Monday January 17! This is a great opportunity to make your day off a Day of Service. You can volunteer at BIkeAthens or at several other organizations that also have great projects for the day. For volunteers, your day will start out with <b>complimentary entertainment, coffee, and breakfast snacks </b>at the Morton Theatre followed by a symbolic march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after which you will head to your project of choice from 10-1. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3_NZWLgiz1rxHqAaJEO2Ox6KRT5PTfLkzZKHuRfgV_bTnugQcR1ikmQ6KSu5FqMQoWz9eslUQ-sDQWkGRiqvxgl2PvS2lHvy_n49OcffYapzXcv7HFhNZxUO-_qAipsUQ0CXXDiyTuc/s1600/brp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="134" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3_NZWLgiz1rxHqAaJEO2Ox6KRT5PTfLkzZKHuRfgV_bTnugQcR1ikmQ6KSu5FqMQoWz9eslUQ-sDQWkGRiqvxgl2PvS2lHvy_n49OcffYapzXcv7HFhNZxUO-_qAipsUQ0CXXDiyTuc/s200/brp1.jpg" /></a><br />
BikeAthens will be cleaning the shop and salvaging bikes to make the workspace cleaner, less cluttered, and more effective. For more information and to sign up for a project, go to the 2011 <a href="https://volunteer.truist.com/hng/user/events/one.tcl?event_id=10435863538">MLK Day page.</a><br />
Check out pix of all the volunteers, the super organized clean shop, and all the bikes salvaged...on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/the.maplover#!/album.php?fbid=487403093567&id=126325948567&aid=263658">our facebook page</a>. Thanks to everyone and see you in March!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-1292971556219059922011-01-12T11:15:00.004-05:002011-01-13T11:30:52.791-05:00Bike Friendly Community - public mtg Jan 13Friends, join us in working towards the designation of a bike friendly community. Learn more about this concept at a public meeting Jan 13 @6pm at 233 Aderhold, UGA's campus. 6 p.m. tonight!. First off, we'll need help counting bike racks in ACC.<br />
We'll also be aiming for a complete streets policy in the future. Read about both here:<br />
<a href="http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/">1. Bike Friendly Communities</a> and <a href="http://saportareport.com/blog/2011/01/making-atlantas-roads-more-bicycle-friendly-will-give-us-complete-streetscomplete-streets-in/">2. Complete Streets</a><br />
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Know that we definitely need your help! BikeAthens will be assisting the Athens-Clarke County government in applying for the coveted Bicycle Friendly Community designation through the League of American Bicyclists in early 2011. BikeAthens is supportive of this application because of the many positive benefits it could bring: promotion of our community on a national level, benchmarking and technical assistance for the local government, and feedback on what we can do to enhance the cycling environment. <br />
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SO, join us at a volunteer meeting TOMORROW, January 13 at 6 PM at 233 Aderhold, UGA's campus. 6 p.m. tonight! to discuss volunteer opportunities - in the meantime (or if you can't come with such short notice!) email chair@bikeathens.com if you'd like to be involved!<br />
-- <br />
Cara Sipprelle<br />
Administrator<br />
BikeAthensUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-25728832790110456572010-12-22T17:39:00.002-05:002010-12-22T17:39:35.574-05:00holiday bikes for 66 kids in athens!Thanks to our great volunteers we turned out 66 kids' bikes for the holidays this year, only two of which remain to deliver. The BRP is taking an official hiatus through February, except for a big project during the MLK Jr. Day of Service.<br />
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We call that a big success and wish you all merry christmas and happy holidays.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-63290346303846168482010-12-01T09:14:00.005-05:002010-12-01T09:21:25.785-05:00ukelele by bicycle tour a success<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgNxjwWKPEF02MZ5mmtwPq9rRqsHqTCf6NddetZ-vxBeIuXjVVBybNKK6ao79jF7foTPoMUX5SPXyFvinvG8MFR6iHxEfO8lLS0aCe15gHzUfHZryUP4zpwGkN1Q6eL9Ie4xDZksLykw/s1600/ukelele+by+bicycle.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgNxjwWKPEF02MZ5mmtwPq9rRqsHqTCf6NddetZ-vxBeIuXjVVBybNKK6ao79jF7foTPoMUX5SPXyFvinvG8MFR6iHxEfO8lLS0aCe15gHzUfHZryUP4zpwGkN1Q6eL9Ie4xDZksLykw/s200/ukelele+by+bicycle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545717869209183218" /></a>aaron lee hit Athens for a show upstairs at the Globe on November 18 and kept rolling toward Atlanta the next day for 3 shows and finished up the east coast tour in Americus, Georgia at cafe campesino. read all about it in his <a href="http://ukulelebybicycle.blogspot.com/p/about.html">ukelele by bicycle </a>blog. and yes, he biked all the way from Maine to Georgia, and all his songs contain the word ukelele...one way or another. its quite a clever and fun show.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-21646845199849775412010-11-17T17:29:00.001-05:002010-11-17T17:30:39.368-05:00State of the stateWanna know where Georgia stands on bike/ped projects? Check out these slides from the inaugural bike summit for a snapshot of new policy, routes, maps, etc.<br /><a href="http://georgiabikes.org/images/stories/docs/summit/2010/gdot.pdf">http://georgiabikes.org/images/stories/docs/summit/2010/gdot.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-79860641136283801842010-11-11T17:13:00.004-05:002010-11-11T17:23:25.485-05:00Holiday Bikes for Kids<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJeeXLPxlWarjGVamqPptH2DpT633eep3yd9jgwDrZSdhLeA-7s5pjX2RQtBPN4hDEs3z3q_GG7FGLTGUIneRDuN-Z1d0BPEghyphenhyphenEXzx9XENYu6vk93fIFlAeJbrTOJtDYkgt9Okjb8YY/s1600/loads+of+bikes.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJeeXLPxlWarjGVamqPptH2DpT633eep3yd9jgwDrZSdhLeA-7s5pjX2RQtBPN4hDEs3z3q_GG7FGLTGUIneRDuN-Z1d0BPEghyphenhyphenEXzx9XENYu6vk93fIFlAeJbrTOJtDYkgt9Okjb8YY/s200/loads+of+bikes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538420708819287954" border="0" /></a>We're gearing up at the shop to recycle, repair, clean and put a general shine on kid-sized bike donations in order to get them ready for our holiday delivery. Check in the shed and the garage and send any small unused bikes our way, we'll make sure the refurbished bikes are then donated to local agencies and schools for distribution. Last year, the trucks were loaded up with over 60 bicycles which were presented to children in the Athens community! More info on the <a href="http://www.bikeathens.com/activities/bike_recycling/hb4k.html">website</a>.<br /><br />Find the BikeAthens Bike Recycling Program repair shop in <a href="http://www.bikeathens.com/activities/bike_recycling/chase_st_warehouse.html">studio 6 of the Chase Street Warehouse (149 Oneta Street). </a>The shop is open Sundays 2-4 PM and Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 PM.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-69528294301686361792010-11-05T18:52:00.000-04:002010-11-05T18:53:38.885-04:00Campaign for Charities<span id="profile_status"><span id="status_text">Remember us when you fill out your Campaign for Charities form this Fall and select #<span style="font-size:180%;">194064 </span>for BikeAthens so we can better support transportation choices. We appreciate the community support and all our volunteers.<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-75350347214288661412010-11-04T09:18:00.006-04:002010-11-04T09:32:39.000-04:00REcycle from clunker to classyCome join us out at the Chase Street warehouses. BRP meets 3 times weekly to recycle bikes. It's fun, rewarding, and even fulfills some folks lifelong dreams. Check it out Mon 6-830p, Wed 6-830p, or Sun 2-430p. Full details on the program located on the <a href="http://www.bikeathens.com/activities/bike_recycling/index.html">BikeAthens </a>website. And read all about it in today's <a href="http://www.redandblack.com/2010/11/04/recycle-from-clunker-to-classy/">Red & Black </a>campus newspaper.<br />If you want to sign up to volunteer, you'll find us listed on the HandsOn <a href="http://volunteer.truist.com/hng/volunteer/calendar/">Volunteer </a>Calendar every month!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-50574433595419395762010-11-01T22:07:00.002-04:002010-11-04T09:36:06.402-04:00SPOOKY SPOKES8 brave souls came out for courteous mass on Halloween eve and toured downtown and normaltown and 1 even rode in the parade. <br />Coming up: <br />Ride with us in the Athens Holiday parade and starting monthly again in the spring. If you are just looking to get comfy riding about town, we take it easy and safe and hope to see more of you out there soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-16762603979934203632010-10-23T22:12:00.004-04:002010-11-04T09:45:20.536-04:00Georgia Intermodal Leadership SummitOn October 22, BikeAthens Board members Anna Gore, Tracie Sanchez, and Amy Johnson attended the Georgia Intermodal Leadership Summit in Macon on a Friday. This Summit was coordinated by the Georgians for Passenger Rail, a statewide group focused on implementing and further developing existing passenger rail plans for our entire state. Topics of special note were:<br /><br />FUNDING<ul><li>US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood emphasized in his speech to a room full of state legislators "Georgia better get its act together" (feds won't give funding without local matched commitments)</li><li>HB277 (T-SPLOST) will likely generate $714 Million its first year</li><li>T-SPLOST is necessary to fulfill funding losses from people driving less and paying less in gas tax, and it's multi-modal!!</li><li>Focus is on alternate funding ideas and HB277 is a certainly a start; Dubose Porter insisted the 4th penny sales tax is the way to take existing money and reallocate it to transportation funding and to show the feds we have a plan!</li></ul>BIKE/PED<br /><ul><li>Richard Mendoza, Atlanta Public Works Commissioner (like our David Clark) said priorities should be on fixing existing infrastructure and diversifying mode investment (yeah to bike/ped!!) He referenced bikes and the recent Streets Alive event in Atlanta that attracted over 5,000 folks for cicolovia afternoon festival.</li></ul>RAIL<ul><li>Athens Multi-Modal Transportation Center (future passenger rail terminal) got a shout out from Dubose Porter for being ready to go!</li><li>GA road systems are excellent, but we've passed up huge federal funding for passenger rail and other modalities</li><li>If we get passenger rail, the Macon - Atlanta line will likely be first recipient and is a perfect first project because the Ford plant closure has left the line much freer from former heavy freight use so its a perfect time to put passengers on the line.</li><li>NC passenger rail story is a huge success and the result of decades of vision</li><li>Major economic development benefits from passenger rail investment referenced</li><li>Kudos to existing infrastructure which positions us best when applying for federal funding (including Athens Multi-Modal Center)</li></ul>SEA<ul><li>The intermodal family of Georgia also includes sea & air and referenced the support for the plan to deepen Savannah's port 47 feet to accommodate freight once the Panama Canal opens and is deemed as a huge coup for the state if Georgia is ready; also of note is 90% of Georgians are now 2 hours from an airport according to Carol Comer, DOT Aviation Program Mgr<br /></li></ul>TAKEAWAYS<br /><ul><li>Regional commissions will need to collaborate with other regions along rail corridors</li><li>Strategies for making it happen: POLITICAL WILL, LEADERSHIP, and COLLABORATION</li></ul><br />Let us know your thoughts on the Discussion listserv (discussion-l@bikeathens.com), and we'll pass that on to these state leaders. We will be meeting with the Board of Georgians for Passenger Rail again soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-50077181132753610612010-10-11T20:08:00.002-04:002010-11-04T20:09:56.647-04:00Sipprelle supporting BikeAthens nonprofit<p class="firstParagraph">BikeAthens recently named Cara Sipprelle as its administrator. Sipprelle will be responsible for general administration, membership coordination, event planning, bike map distribution and other activities.</p> <p>Sipprelle recently earned her master's degree in anthropology from the University of Georgia, and served for two years as coordinator for the Southern Seed Legacy, a local organization dedicated to preserving the cultural and biological diversity of Southern agriculture. In this capacity, she was responsible for managing membership; recruiting and supervising volunteers; planning events; and coordinating communications for the organization.</p><p>Original story here: http://onlineathens.com/stories/101710/bus_721455087.shtml<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-79337048155433348552010-10-10T22:00:00.003-04:002010-11-04T09:42:57.478-04:00Georgia Bikes! Inaugural SummitGeorgia Bikes Summit 2010<br />On October 9 BikeAthens members Tracie, Amy, Mike, and Jeff attended the inaugural bike summit in Savannah over the weekend. The keynote speaker was League of American Bicyclists President Andy Clarke who gave a super pep talk about how advocacy isn't rocket science and we are doing it right...and to keep on keeping on. USDOT Sec Ray Lahood made a surprise video appearance and spoke directly to Georgia. A few of the dozen topics covered were:<br /><br /><ul><li> Connecting the DOTs - Working with transportation agencies and planners</li><li> Broadening the Community of Cyclists</li><li> State of GDOT update</li><li> Effecting Public Policy with Multi-Use Trails</li><li> Building a Bicycle-Friendly Community, The Case for Complete Streets</li><li> Designing and building All-Weather Mountain Bike Trails</li></ul><br />Attendees enjoyed a meet and greet at 2 local, bikeable establishments and a Sunday morning 10-mile bike ride/tour around downtown Savannah.<br />Please visit <a href="http://www.georgiabikes.org%20/">http://www.georgiabikes.org </a>for a full recap of the event, plus powerpoint slides for most of the breakout sessions, and a photo slideshow.<br /><br />FYI: BikeAthens was just selected to host the 2nd Georgia Bike Summit in fall 2011! We'll keep you posted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-14743583682745541432010-09-24T08:51:00.005-04:002010-09-24T09:05:30.902-04:00cLips of Faith Beer & Film TourBikeAthens is partnering with <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/">New Belgium Brewing Co.</a> to put on the <a href="http://clipsoffaith.com/">cLips of Faith Beer & Film Tour</a> one week from today, on Friday October 1st in downtown Athens! This is a fundraiser for BikeAthens, and we'd appreciate your support! Here's the skinny:<br /><br />Time: 6:30-9:30pm<br />Place: Hot Corner (Washington & Hull area)<br />Details: Short films will begin at dark, and beer tastings will continue throughout! Folks are encouraged to bike (or walk or bus it) downtown. BikeAthens' monthly <a href="http://bikeathens.com/activities/cmass/index.html">Courteous Mass</a> ride will also be happening that evening, the route ending at the cLips of Faith location...why not do both?<br /><br />We're also looking for a few more volunteers to help make the event run smoothly...New Belgium will treat you well in exchange for your time & effort :) Check out our <a href="http://volunteer.truist.com/hng/user/events/one.tcl?event_id=10417657383">HandsOn Northeast Georgia event page</a> for info on how to volunteer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-77847265552759321232010-09-01T22:54:00.002-04:002010-09-01T22:57:18.010-04:00BikeAthens is hiring!<span style="font-size:100%;">The BikeAthens Board of Directors is currently seeking applicants for the Administrator position. If you're an organized individual who is passionate about transportation choices, visit www.bikeathens.com for a complete job description and application details!<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-77279757632491520332010-08-30T13:34:00.002-04:002010-08-30T13:37:54.836-04:00Bike Lane Presence = Increased Pedestrian Safety?Well, <a href="http://blog.tstc.org/2010/08/18/groundbreaking-nycdot-pedestrian-study-recommends-testing-20-mph-limit-for-neighborhoods/">at least in NYC it does</a> - decreasing the likelihood of a pedestrian fatality by a whopping 40%!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-25741904214014111502010-08-18T15:16:00.001-04:002010-08-21T16:33:09.246-04:00Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!<p>This Sunday, August 22nd from 1-4 pm, shop for a fully refurbished bicycle - proceeds benefit BikeAthens!</p><p>WHERE: <a href="http://www.bikeathens.com/activities/bike_recycling/chase_st_warehouse.html">BikeAthens' Bike Recycling Shop in the Chase St Warehouse</a>.<br /><br />There will be bikes for all types and all types of bikes. Prices will range from $100 to $500. Accessories and parts also available. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bikeathens.com/slideshows/BRP_4Sale_Aug2010/index.html" target="_blank">Photos of available bikes</a>. </p> Afterwards, join BikeAthens as we celebrate a year's worth of accomplishments from 5:30-8pm at <a href="http://www.athica.org/" target="_blank">ATHICA</a>. There will be light food and drink and plenty of good company.<br /><br />Hope to see you there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-60714198787725779582010-07-23T10:40:00.002-04:002010-07-23T10:57:42.957-04:00David Mack's comicsLocal artist David Mack makes comics about Athens, published weekly in <a href="http://flagpole.com/Weekly/ARoundTown"><span style="font-style: italic;">Flagpole</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.monkeyfingers.net/">Check out his site here</a>.<br /><br />A few of his bike-related pieces are below. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.monkeyfingers.net/comics/athens%20ga/ath9.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 563px;" src="http://www.monkeyfingers.net/comics/athens%20ga/ath9.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flagpole.com/images/jpgs/2010/07/14/ARoundTown-Fireworks.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 660px;" src="http://flagpole.com/images/jpgs/2010/07/14/ARoundTown-Fireworks.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flagpole.com/images/jpgs/2010/07/21/ARoundTown-BikersBeware.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 651px;" src="http://flagpole.com/images/jpgs/2010/07/21/ARoundTown-BikersBeware.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-58761326396553402912010-07-16T08:57:00.003-04:002010-07-16T09:11:20.847-04:00Large study on transit use in metro Atlanta<a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/transit-beckons-in-far-571625.html">From the <span style="font-style: italic;">AJC</span></a>:<br /><blockquote>After a major study, the <a href="http://www.atlantaregional.com/">Atlanta Regional Commission</a> knows a lot more about who takes transit in the area and why. But the numbers, released Thursday, also beg the question: As the Atlanta region prepares for a <a href="http://bikeathens.blogspot.com/search/label/TSPLOST">referendum on funding regional transportation projects</a>, is there really demand for regional mass transit?</blockquote><br />While the ARC does not plan for Athens-Clarke or its surrounding counties (<a href="http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/macorts/">MACORTS </a>does all that), its decisions will certainly affect us, especially as they relate to regional rail and other transit options.<br /><br />I'm with MARTA CEO Beverly Scott on the crux of the issue:<br /><blockquote>"Part of the problem you’re looking at now is chicken and an egg," she said. With service that is <span style="font-weight: bold;">more frequent, faster, more integrated and more convenient</span>, "[transit ridership] numbers absolutely would go up." </blockquote>In cities that have well-planned networks of user-friendly inter-city rail, intra-city light rail, subways, buses, trolleys, and shuttles, <span style="font-style: italic;">people absolutely use them</span>.<br /><br />Connect these transit options to walkable, bikeable, and otherwise transit-oriented communities, and you've got yourself a sustainable place worth living in and visiting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-43878515429262506142010-07-16T08:29:00.002-04:002010-07-16T08:34:50.073-04:001st annual Georgia Bike SummitPlease mark your calendar -- <a href="http://www.georgiabikes.org/DesktopDefault.aspx">Georgia Bikes!</a> will host the first ever <span style="font-weight: bold;">Georgia Bike Summit</span> in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Savannah on Saturday, Oct 9, 2010</span>!<br /><br />This gathering will set the stage for new statewide gains in bicycling by<br /><ol><li>networking cycling advocacy leaders from across the state</li><li>educating and empowering cycling advocates</li><li>identifying common cycling/transportation issues facing our local communities, and<br /></li><li>setting the priorities for Georgia Bikes' efforts in 2011. </li></ol><br />We look forward to seeing you there!<br /><br />More details will be forthcoming on this event soon, but please pass this along your networks and look for details soon on how to register.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-34884893157033315442010-06-11T10:02:00.003-04:002010-06-11T10:18:37.389-04:00Leaving all that oil behindFrom <a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-02-10-smart-ways-cities-and-towns-can-get-us-off-oil"><span style="font-style: italic;">Grist </span></a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-02-10-smart-ways-cities-and-towns-can-get-us-off-oil">10 ways cities and towns can kick the offshore-oil habit</a><br /><br />No suprises here - these <a href="http://www.newurbanism.org/">solutions </a>have been known for quite a while. Build densely and in ways that fully accomodate a wide range of transportation choices. In other words, build <a href="http://www.countryinns.com/chi/images/hotels/MNBROOK/loc3_450.jpg">places </a>that are walkable, bikeable, and transit oriented.<br /><br />When we create places that can only be accessed and traversed by private automobile, surprise! - we become desperately car (and thus <a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/06/07/alg_oil_boots.jpg">oil</a>)-<a href="http://rizkibeo.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/29sprawl2spancalifornia.jpg">dependent</a>.<br /><br />Demand a more livable future, not only for your own neighborhood, but for the thousands of people, and other creatures, that your daily <a href="http://in.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/8560-a-sign-displays-prices-at-a-gas-station-in-washington-in-this-july-2006-file-photo-energy-giant-exx.jpg">decisions and errands</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjBhxxIKoASokw4KBFTQp975KoYr0TObK4ZKqukVjE9RPlBRfBfV-XOGKsB0T9-hC0KAQ9u8rmftvf4hwatVA_eY6eWDuSaqQWa6emKHg-Uc8Z45WbPTdU1NYH6sG6FwBMREUcrCAWhY/s400/oil_spill.jpg">impact</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-38644045028670875632010-06-03T16:32:00.000-04:002010-06-03T16:33:27.263-04:00Perdue signs T-=SPLOST bill<a href="http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/060310/new_647992006.shtml">Full story</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-90214248453304393102010-05-28T16:09:00.004-04:002010-05-28T16:12:19.321-04:00Tour de Farm on CNNCheck out this great video coverage of the recent <a href="http://localplace.org/index.php?Itemid=50&id=32&option=com_content&sectionid=4&task=category">Tour de Farm</a>, which several BikeAthens members helped coordinate:<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep" width="416" height="374"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2010/05/26/natpkg.tour.de.farms.cnn"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2010/05/26/natpkg.tour.de.farms.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="416" height="374"></embed></object><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: -374px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus" class="nqcrrvvmvodkvkbmlvsf visible ontop" href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2010/05/26/natpkg.tour.de.farms.cnn"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515004711733293525.post-2229054523151885972010-05-24T09:34:00.003-04:002010-05-24T09:38:57.867-04:00Fixing southern sprawlThis video is part of an award-winning, six-part series called <em><a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/freshloaf-outgoing/www.americanmakeover.tv/');" href="http://www.americanmakeover.tv/">American Makeover</a></em> and features many of the local thinkers, developers, and researchers who participated in this month’s <a href="http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2010/01/11/david-byrne-to-help-kickoff-atlanta-new-urbanism-conference/">Congress for New Urbanism’s conference in Atlanta</a>. One of the participants was <a href="http://www.davidbyrne.com/">David Byrne</a>, who was <a href="http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2010/05/18/david-byrne-on-bicycles-atlantas-sprawl-and-burying-highways/#">interviewed by <span style="font-style: italic;">Creative Loafing</span> about bicycles, cities, and Atlanta</a>.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XoVXoB6x3vM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XoVXoB6x3vM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: -385px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus" class="ovwfsyglucnnemxllcss visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XoVXoB6x3vM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1