Reclaiming Atlanta’s streets for people to walk, ride, and roll doesn’t happen overnight — that’s why growing inclusively and sustainably is one of the key goals we set in our 2020 strategic plan. Over the last six months, we’ve expanded our organizational capacity by building up our staff from a team of four to a team of seven. We’re thrilled to welcome our newly hired and recently promoted staff members: Rachel Stanley, Sagirah Jones, Rolanda Powell, and Margaret Mullins. Help us celebrate our new team; keep reading to learn about their journey to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and what motivates them to spend their days working toward an Atlanta where everyone moves safely, easily, and sustainably.

Congratulations to Senators-elect Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on their election to the United States Senate! We eagerly look forward to working with both of our new Georgia senators to adopt equitable federal policies that support people's transportation needs in ways that are sustainable, affordable, and healthy.

The City of Atlanta has two main transportation funding initiatives: the Renew Atlanta bond approved by voters in 2015 and the transportation sales tax (TSPLOST) voted in during 2016. By 2019, the City announced it had less money and higher project costs than anticipated. As a result, the original project lists would have to be reprioritized. Public participation in this process resulted in a clear mandate for the City to focus on building “complete street” projects; however, not all of those projects made the final list. 

As a result, we focused our 2019-2020 street campaigns on two complete street projects with strong community support that were not fully funded: Cascade Avenue in SW Atlanta and DeKalb Avenue in the southeast. We worked with community members in neighborhoods along both corridors to organize street actions and engage residents and businesses to advocate for safety improvements through the resurfacing projects that were funded for each.

As a result, we were able to get some of the changes we wanted. Read more for the current status of the projects and what your support and advocacy have helped accomplish so far! We'll also share what we're working on next when it comes to street campaigns and our goal of holding the City accountable to build the projects in its plans. 

In August, we blogged about the City’s anticipated tactical urbanism permit program with examples of tactical urbanism (also known as popup or demonstration projects) and opportunities for community groups to design and implement low-cost improvements to roadways and other public spaces. We’ve pushed for an expedited approval process to allow neighborhoods to safely, efficiently, and legally implement these projects for years, most recently through our 2020 Legislative Policy Agenda. 

In October, the Atlanta Departments of City Planning and Transportation released the Atlanta Tactical Urbanism Guide, which includes a list of eligible projects, design standards, and materials palette. The guide also describes the process for approval, with a list of required documents.

We’re excited to see the City support local efforts to make small but incremental changes in Atlanta neighborhoods, and we believe these temporary projects can harness our community’s creative talent to make a lasting impact on the safety and vibrancy of our streets!

What follows here is a brief review of the Tactical Urbanism guide and the submission process: what we like, what we would like to see added, and key changes to make the process smooth and accessible for all residents. These suggestions will be sent to the City, and we will keep you updated. We are also planning to participate in a small tactical project with a neighborhood to provide additional feedback.

Across the United States, some 40,000 people are killed each year in crashes with cars. Here in the City of Atlanta, 73 people were killed in traffic in 2019. That's 73 families who will never be the same after the loss of their loved one. People driving too fast is the primary cause of deadly crashes in our city.

Street racing has gained popularity throughout the U.S. during the pandemic as people look for outdoor entertainment, but it can be dangerous for drivers, observers, and people who simply happen to be nearby. Atlanta residents’ concerns about the high speeds led the Atlanta City Council to set a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to 6 months jail time in August. Now, legislation being considered by Atlanta City Council would require anyone arrested for street racing to go before a judge before they could be released from jail. 

2020’s protests for racial justice have elevated the recognition that the use of armed police force is not a good solution to societal problems-- including traffic safety. We opposed the use of armed police as a tool to achieve zero traffic deaths because it endangers the very lives this policy seeks to preserve--disproportionately putting Black and Brown people at risk--while wasting public resources on ineffective approaches. 

Street racing and other forms of speeding are a major barrier to safe streets. That's why we recommend the following more effective ways to address it: 

The ongoing pandemic exposed just how critical safe, convenient, and affordable transportation options are for people, especially those whose jobs can’t be done remotely or who need to access essential services. 

As infection rates fluctuate, more people are biking, walking, and scooting to get where they need to go. That means demand for safe streets with decent options for all kinds of movement is on the rise.

Through our 2020 policy agenda and recent essential transportation campaign, we called on the City of Atlanta to empower communities to creatively improve safety on their streets through small, interim projects by establishing a city approval process--or tactical urbanism permit. 

This post is meant to explain the concept of tactical urbanism, provide an update on advocacy for a tactical urbanism permit for Atlanta, and ask for your continued support for equitable transportation options.

Biking in Atlanta is getting better, and the best way to enjoy it is confidently!! This instructional ride will help you improve your experience and safety so you can pedal our city’s streets.

RSVP for classes below.

Attendance at this or any class conducted by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition indicates your agreement to the following liability waiver: Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Liability Waiver.

[This post has been updated with outcomes from our campaign to improve the design of the DeKalb Avenue resurfacing by adding some elements of the defunded Complete Street project. For status updates on the DeKalb Ave project, visit the Renew Atlanta / TSPLOST webpage. Construction was initially scheduled to start in December 2020 but as of January 2021, it has been postponed to summer 2021.]

On Thursday, February 27th, 2020, the Atlanta Department of Transportation showed the most recent concept for DeKalb Ave. The project is described as “DeKalb Ave Safety Improvements,” and while it’s true that removing the reversible lane is an important safety improvement, the overall design would not fulfill the City’s commitment to improving safety for everyone on this key corridor.

Our vision for DeKalb Ave is of a greenway similar to the BeltLine alongside a safe street for all. In our vision, DeKalb Ave facilitates easy access to transit, prioritizes the safety of the most vulnerable people first, and provides transportation options that go beyond cars for the growing number of businesses and residents along the corridor. 

February 13th, 2020 marked the 13th annual Blinkie Awards & Member Party. The Blinkie Awards honor the people, projects, and plans making Atlanta safer and more accessible by sustainable transportation modes. Some 240 people attended the event, sponsored by Bike Law Georgia, The Trolley Barn, and Georgia Bikes. Participants enjoyed ABC Bike Valet service and music by DJ Zegi along with food and drinks donated by Eventide Brewing, Six Feet Under, and Homegrown Restaurants -- Doc Chey’s and Osteria 832.

Following a welcome by our Deputy Director, Haydée Santana, Rebecca Serna shared updates on the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s new strategic direction, mission, and 2020 priorities. She also shared plans for the 10th anniversary of Atlanta Streets Alive, which we'll start celebrating with a block party in South Downtown on Sunday, May 17th (details coming soon!)

Next, Cassius and Marley Alabanza drew cheers as they issued an invitation to the 2020 Youth Bike Summit coming to Atlanta in March from the Youth Advisory Council. Finally, our Community Engagement Coordinator Sagirah Jones emceed the Blinkie Awards.

Read more to see who was recognized!

Peachtree Street for people: sign the letter
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A Vote for Funding: Expectations, Past Realities, Future Need
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Peachtree Street for people
Posted by Propel ATL · March 14, 2022 10:08 AM

Last month, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a plan to build a safer and more equitable transportation network for people who walk, bike, and use other human-powered or light individual transportation (LIT) devices. To kick off this project, the City’s Office of Mobility Planning and Midtown Alliance used temporary materials and volunteers to build a “pop-up” protected bike lane on 10th Street in Midtown. The temporary lane connected the existing cycle track from Piedmont Park at Myrtle Street two additional blocks up to Juniper Street. 

It’s frustrating when there are years of statistical data proving that specific streets are more dangerous than others. 

It’s even more disturbing that people living in communities surrounded by dangerous streets have memories of severe and fatal traffic collisions etched in their minds. This “High-Injury Network” was researched by Georgia Tech graduate student John Saxton.

Last year's Music Midtown brought heartburn to Atlantans who use bikes and scooters for transportation. The bike lanes on 10th Street were inaccessible for two-weeks during the previous year's festival even though they are the most heavily-used bike lanes in the city. This year, to create a safer environment for mobility, the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition worked with Music Midtown to address concerns and forge a better path forward.

The City of Atlanta announced a temporary nighttime ban on permitted e-bikes & e-scooters as of Friday, August 9th. A citywide No Ride Zone will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily, in response to the recent fatal scooter/motor vehicle crashes. The announcement noted that all four crashes occurred "after sunset."

But the sun doesn't set on people's mobility needs, and last-mile connectivity isn't limited to daytime hours. 

Converting Baker Street back into two-way street reached a roadblock on Wednesday when Mayor Bottoms unexpectedly vetoed City Council’s 11-4 vote in favor of the project. The opposition for this project conflicts with Atlanta's Transportation Plan, adopted by the city in 2018, and elevates property interests over the safety of people.

Our last plan, adopted in 2017, led with this mission: to transform Atlanta into a more livable, accessible city by making biking equitable, safe, and appealing. We intentionally placed the emphasis on the outcome we wanted to achieve -- a more livable, accessible city -- with equitable, safe, and appealing biking being our tool to achieve that goal. At the same time, we made a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

As we near the midpoint in the final year of that plan and embark on the path to determine the most effective direction for the next three years, we are considering expanding our mission. If you attended the annual Blinkie Awards & Member Party, you already know this! 

Specifically, we are contemplating a direction that would put biking on equal ground with other transportation options, generate equitable and inclusive mobility outcomes, and, ultimately, propel biking further, faster. Read more to find out what progress we've made on this journey so far! We hope you'll join us on the path to the future.

When cars and trucks park illegally in bike lanes, it's not just an inconvenience - it makes biking unpredictable and less safe. Last year, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition members and supporters helped crowd-source data on which bike lanes in Atlanta were blocked most often.

The subsequent report we released, titled Unblock the Lane, identified problem spots and recommended solutions.

District 1 Councilmember Carla Smith read the report, saw the news coverage, and wanted to do something about the problem.

When the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition launched Atlanta Streets Alive in 2010, we set out to shift Atlanta’s culture. We wanted to inspire Atlantans to re-envision and reclaim our city streets as spaces for people. Now, eight years, 25 street activations, and almost 70 miles of open streets later -- energized by deepening community support, Atlanta Streets Alive has evolved. A modest, interactive tactical urbanism demonstration that attracted 5,000 participants for its debut on Edgewood Avenue has become an award-winning initiative that can draw over 130,000 people at a time onto some of Atlanta’s most familiar streets. Atlanta Streets Alive has been embraced by Atlantans as part of our city's cultural signature.

Here’s how -- with your support -- we’ll harness that energy and momentum to transform Atlanta streets into healthy, safe places that foster civic pride and community in 2019.