Twilight pics

We hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!

In the U.S., stats show less driving, more transit use

Reuters discusses the decline in American automobile dependence and the concurrent rise in public transportation ridership.

"[It's] as if people... started a new travel behavior, a new habit. And they have stuck with their habit."

Bike to Work Day

Pictures from this morning's Bike to Work Day event here.

Thanks to all the sponsors, organizers & participants!

UPDATE: See the Banner-Herald's coverage of the event.

Bike auction: sweet 70's Jeunet

BikeAthens is auctioning this bicycle during Twilight weekend. It's a 70's Jeunet (Franche-Compte). This is the 630 model which is reynolds double butted steel. The frame is 60cm (center of BB to top of seat tube).

Stop by our tent on College Ave, in front of Walker's Pub, to see the bike and make your bid. You may also bid by emailing your full name, telephone, email, and bid amount, to bicyclerecycling[at]bikeathens.com

Minimum bid is $200.

We will stop taking bids at 3 pm on Sunday, 4/26.

Twilight, intra-city light rail

Flagpole features an edifying history of the Twilight Criterium - this weekend's race is the 30th for this annual event!

Full event details & schedule here.

Be sure to visit our tent in the College Ave expo area!


Also in this week's issue, columnist Kevan Williams explores the viability of intra-city rail for Athens, as opposed to the long-postponed inter-city "Brain Train" from Athens to Atlanta. Definitely an intriguing idea!

Public meeting: Oak Street/Oconee Street and the Prince Avenue Corridor

A community-wide public meeting regarding the Oak Street/Oconee Street and the Prince
Avenue Corridor Studies will take place on Thursday, April 30 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the
Planning Department Auditorium:

View Larger Map

The Mayor and Commission of Athens-Clarke County have requested that the Planning
Department evaluate the existing conditions along Prince Avenue and Oak Street/Oconee
Street. Based on what is discovered, recommendations will be prepared regarding the future
of these corridors. These recommendations can include changes or additions to public
policies and development regulations designed to improve, enhance, alter and/or conserve
the future quality of these corridors.

The primary focus of this project is on land use and design outside of the right-of-way, with a
secondary focus on right-of-way improvements as they relate to the land use and design
goals.

Planning Staff will give a short presentation at the beginning of the meeting and then again
at 6:30. Public comment on the future of these corridors will be welcomed and is
encouraged.

The Oak/Oconee Street study area boundary includes an area on either side of the corridor
from the intersection with Broad Street, east to the intersection with the Athens Perimeter.

The Prince Avenue study area includes an area on either side of the corridor from the
intersection of West Dougherty Street with North Hull Street, west to the intersection of Prince
Avenue with the Athens Perimeter.

For more information, contact the Planning Department at 706-613-3515, or visit our website
www.accplanning.com.

MACORTS surveying interest in rural bus routes

MACORTS, our regional transportation planning body, is conducting a survey to measure interest in running public transit to Madison & Oconee counties.

Officials said any rural transit system likely would consist of smaller vans that would, for example, ferry elderly residents from home to the doctor and back.

There are no plans to expand Athens-Clarke bus service into outlying counties, Athens Transit Director Butch McDuffie said, but he does get requests from carless commuters in small towns like Winder, Danielsville, Watkinsville and Lexington for some form of public transit.

This Friday: Bike to Work Day

Join other riders from your neighborhood to try out or show support for bike commuting.

Group rides will converge on College Square (College Ave. between Clayton and Broad) at 8:00 am for refreshments and speakers.

UGA Bike Planning Workshop

If you cycle to, on, or around the UGA campus, you are invited to a ...

UGA Bike Planning Workshop

When: Monday 27, 2009, drop in between 4:00 - 5:30 PM

Where: Jittery Joe's Roasting Co. (780 E. Broad St. Athens, GA)

Why: The Office of University Architects is working with a graduate student in Community and Regional Planning to develop a Bicycle Plan for UGA. The intent of this workshop is to verify existing conditions; identify areas of concern for cyclists; and document ideas for improving bike facilities to, from and within the UGA campus. Feedback from the workshop will provide a basis for planning and design. The result of this study will be a refined bicycle plan for campus with recommended steps toward implementation.

Multi-Modal Madness a huge success!

Many thanks to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and participants for making this inaugural event a great success! We will definitely be doing this one again.

See the Banner-Herald's recap, and view some pics from the event below: