Legislative update: The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, supporting Georgia Bikes, recently testified on behalf of a vehicular homicide bill sponsored by Senator Curt Thompson (District 5). 

This bill would give law enforcement the option to impose stiffer fines and sentencing in cases of accidental death with a vehicle. Currently, they can only charge as a misdemeanor unless the vehicle hits and kills someone while overtaking a school bus, or involves a hit and run, reckless driving, DUI or fleeing an officer incident -- those carry felony charges. 

SB 116: A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-393 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to homicide by vehicle, so as to increase the penalty for homicide by vehicle in the second degree from a misdemeanor to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

While nothing can bring back a loved one in the case of a fatal crash, this bill would allow prosecutors more flexibility in bringing charges in cases, and show that the state values human life more highly than a $1,000 fine. 

Status: The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee unanimously, then was "held" (no action taken) by the Ramsey Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. 

We hope this bill will make it to the floor for a vote. Please contact your representative to ask for their support (visit votesmart.org if you're not sure who is yours). 

Here's the basic message: "We need to give law enforcement tools to be able to charge people who are responsible for vehicular homicide with something stronger than a misdemeanor. Support SB 116." 

Atlanta Streets Alive is just around the corner! With Mayor Reed's support, our ambitious goal is to hold three events in 2013! We still have room for additional sponsors. To become an Atlanta Streets Alive sponsor, contact rebecca@atlantabike.org. To appear on posters and flyers, the sponsor deadline is March 15. For print ads and inserts, April 1.

To volunteer or organize an activity, visit www.atlantastreetsalive.com. 

Message from ABC: 

Thank you to everyone who took action to bring bike lanes to Auburn Avenue as part of the Streetcar project! Your voices were heard, and a partial victory is the result. The mayor's transportation advisory sent the message below detailing the thought process behind the decision. Over time, we see more projects including bicycle facilities from the get-go, in no small part due to the outpouring of support generated by this initiative. Stay tuned for the next opportunity to get involved. 

Response from City of Atlanta -- Tom Weyandt, Senior Policy Advisor for Transportation, Office of the Mayor

"After receiving over 230 emails from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, I requested our staff to thoroughly review the current proposed bike facilities.  We heard your concerns and we are taking action. 

A key finding of our review of the current design is that we will investigate the possibility of an eastbound bicycle lane between Park Place and Peachtree Center Avenue section and will commit to a separate eastbound raised cycle track on the Fort Street to Hilliard Street section of Auburn Avenue as part of our bicycle facilities expansion efforts.

There are other sections along Auburn where we will not be able to install dedicated bike lanes and I would like to explain the rationale behind this decision.  

The Atlanta Streetcar project will transform the look and feel of the whole corridor.  Improvements include the transit facility itself, enhancements to the entire project area for pedestrians, support for bike facilities and support to the merchants and other new activities along the whole route.  Given these multiple factors, trade-offs are inevitable." 

Summary

"The City of Atlanta fully appreciates the thought and passion you and others bring to the support of bicycle facilities in the City of Atlanta.  We have carefully reviewed your concerns and are working diligently to accommodate some of your requests.  I believe with some certainty that we can add a dedicated bike lane in the first critical uphill block as mentioned above (between Fort and Hilliard) and we will incorporate this into our own bicycle priorities.  Additionally, we will review the possibility of adding a bike lane on Auburn (between Park Pl and Peachtree Center Ave).

For the three-block section of Auburn Avenue with sharrows, the loss of up to 39 planned parking spaces is an unacceptable burden on the corridor and its businesses.  Equally, the loss of more than two dozen trees and various other street furniture – monuments and benches, etc – is also inconsistent with a friendly and safe pedestrian environment we hope to create.  Such changes would require a re-visit of the environmental work already accomplished, documented and approved.  The net impact on the corridor would not, we believe, be an overall benefit to the project and community it serves.

I hope this puts some context to the bike facilities issues and will give you some comfort that we consider this one of many important elements of the Atlanta Streetcar project and will act accordingly in our own bicycle facility implementation."

Please read more for a detailed section analysis. 

Midtown Alliance and the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development invite you to an Open House on January 30, 2013 from 5-7 p.m. at 999 Peachtree Street, Suite 500 to get feedback on plans for a new sidewalk and bicycle project on Juniper which will transform this corridor into one of Atlanta’s greenest streets. Plans for new, high quality bicycle facilities in Midtown on 10th Street, and Piedmont Avenue will also be discussed. Midtown Alliance and City of Atlanta representatives will kick off the meeting with a brief presentation of each project and how they fit in to the City’s Connect Atlanta Plan between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm. Staff and consultants will be available for the remainder of the meeting to answer specific questions. These are exciting projects with tremendous potential and we encourage you to attend! Details from Midtown Alliance below and attached. Please RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5154164244.    

File upload: 

MidtownOpenHouse_JuniperandBikeRoutes.pdf