The Newcomer

By taylor

May 1, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

The GARTA Xpress transit customer service promised to have bike racks on all busses within 9 months, That was 3 years ago and they still havent came through on their promise.

You can help by calling 404-463-4782 tell them you want bike racks now!

By West Cobb Dad

May 1, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

You have to be kidding me. Do you know how bad these pedal pushers slow up traffic? They have NO business on the road at 5:20 in the afternoon. Most of them ride 2 abreast and do not adhere to standard traffic rules such as stop signs. I have had to slam on my breaks just not to hit some tour-de-pansy wanna-be for running a stop sign. Trails like the Silver Comet is where they need to be. Of course, I don’t walk that trail anymore because of being cursed at by these idiots because I am walking side by side with my wife holding hands and they have to single file up.

By Jonny

May 1, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

I live intown and bike as much as I can on those little trips to the store or to GSU. It helps me keep in shape and it’s kinda fun to put a backpack on and go to the Kroger and grab a six pack and a few other supplies. The one thing I don’t like about biking is the hazard. Going to GSU via Dekalb Ave, I stay on the sidewalk and still feel uneasy with the traffic. Our infrastructure is very much grounded in auto travel, which makes sense: most people drive. But I wonder if we steadily improve the infrastructure to becoming more pedestrian and biker friendly, whether more will explore the option of traveling without auto. I know I enjoy the exercise and being outside. If I didn’t bike to these things, I’d be stuck inside most of the time and totally out of shape instead of half out of shape.

By Mack_the_Knife

May 1, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Yeah. Riding a bike in Gwinnett, the home of no bike lanes and the worlds most idiotic drivers.

I really would do it if there were EVEN sidewalks in this county.

But there aren’t, and there are no bike lanes where people need to ride.

So I sit in traffic in my car, like every other good Gwinnettian, and suffer.

This whole metro area is a joke. It’s the butt of jokes nationwide.

“Hey, at least you got rappers!”

Embarrassing to live in Atlanta.

By Meg

May 1, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

I would love to use a bike to go places. I would love to let my kids ride their bikes like I did when I was a kid. My husband could ride his bike to work. But not until gas is so high these people who don’t know how to drive and most likely don’t even have licenses stop going up and down our residential street at 60+ MPH. If traffic and license laws were enforced (as in cardboard temp tags usually equal no license either) and speeders were actually fined, we would ride our bikes a lot. I’m hoping gas goes up to $20 a gallon, so the streets will be safe for biking and walking. Why do they think they’re so important they have to risk the lives of everyone on the road and keep children from being able to play outoors like they used to, to get where they’re going a minute or two sooner? People who don’t obey traffic laws don’t deserve to drive, if the police won’t stop them maybe gas prices will.

By Steve

May 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

I am tolerant of bikers, but would support them more if they would obey traffic laws. My understanding is that a bicycle on a public right-of-way must obey the same traffic laws as everyone else. If I were to collide with biker who ran a red light, as I almost have, I wonder who would win the lawsuit?

By me

May 1, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

MacktheKnife, Gwinnett Co. is not Atlanta. I live in work in Atlanta and get around with no problem.

By Kev

May 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

I’m surprised Dekalb Ave. hasn’t gotten bike lanes yet. Talk about a route where it would really work.

By JustMe

May 1, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

If you choose to bike, great. But, at least follow the rules of the road.

This means that you STOP for traffic lights. You ride in the bike lane, if provided and not in the middle of the car lane. You don’t ride between cars stopped at a light.

And, if you are nice at all, when you realize that there are 5 or more cars backed up behind you, consider pulling over to let them pass.

Bikes need to follow the laws like ALL vehicles on the road. Otherwise, GA will certainly pass a law that will make it illegal to ride un-motorized bikes on roads for safety reasons if for no other.

By taylor

May 1, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

The only people you will hear say anything negative about bicyclist are the people that are too lazy to get out and ride them theirselves. If they cant drive it with a cell phone in one hand and a donut in the other they have no use for it and then fuss like a big baby that they had to slow down for 15seconds to pass a bike. With Gas prices the way they are we are just trying to make the best of a bad situation. I think they are just jealous that they are slaves to the oil companies having to spend $100+ a week on gas and we arent. I ride every chance I get and will continue too, if you dont like me on the road…find another route!

By Chris

May 1, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

People complain that cyclists are not following the law. I agree that this happens. Guilty as charged as I was riding the sidewalk this morning to the Marta. However, next time you see a cyclist run a stop sign and you have to slam on your brakes, take a look at your speedometer. Were you going 35? Or was is 55? What’s the speed limit on the road? Most likely you were speeding otherwise you would not be “slamming” your brakes to stop.

So quit complaining about cyclists breaking the law unless you are obeying all traffic laws: speed limit, full stop when making a right on red, lights on in the rain, using turn signals when changing lanes, not tailgating, etc.

The worst traffic I’ve seen around the metro is on the highways at rush hour - where there are no bicycles. Motor vehicles cause traffic, bicycles reduce traffic. While on the sidewalk today I passed numerous cars that were idling. I think I may have arrived at the Marta quicker on bike than I could have by car.

I am not condoning riding on the sidewalk, but with no bike lane and a steep hill in front of me, it seemed like the safest and most courteous thing to do and I encountered zero pedestrians.

Quit complaining about a cyclist holding you up. Call your county officials and request bike lanes and enforcement of the laws. Don’t complain though when you are the one that gets pulled over for speeding or tailgating.

By CyclistGuy

May 1, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

ATTN: “West Cobb Dad”

May I never meet you on the road!

By Alan

May 1, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

West Cobb Dad… Try to remember everybody isnt in as big of a hurry as you are. Maybe you should slow down and enjoy your drive a little more. A bicycle would probably help get rid of a lot of that stress too, just ask your heart doctor when you go in for that triple bypass!

By west cobb biker

May 1, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Dear West Cobb Dad, You are the idiot. There is not one single viable point in your post, just blatant exaggerations. Keep your eyes on the road and get off your cell phone and you wont have to slam on the brakes. You don’t own the road any more than you own the silver comet.

By Rob

May 1, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

We are heading toward or past $4 / gallon gas. It is time to dust off the old bike and use it for those short easy trips. Who knows, you might end up more fit and have a few extra bucks to show for it.

By bob

May 1, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

I wish I were as perfect as West Cobb Dad and never broke any traffic laws myself… I wonder if Jesus could have even been that perfect if he had driven a car. I guess we all need bracelts that say “What Would West Cobb Dad Do?

WWWCDD

By bob

May 1, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

I wish I were as perfect as West Cobb Dad and never broke any traffic laws myself… I wonder if Jesus could have even been that perfect if he had driven a car. I guess we all need bracelets that say “What Would West Cobb Dad Do?

WWWCDD

By Rachael Spiewak, MSW, Executive Director, Sopo Bicycle Cooperative

May 1, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the glowing review, Jamie! For anyone looking for help learning how to cycle confidently in the road where bicycles belong, check out the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign’s Confident City Cycling class! I learned a great deal even though I took it two years after getting into cycling. I’ve been carfree and loving it in Atlanta for 3.5 years!

By Suzzy

May 1, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

I’d love to be able to ride my bike to work, it’s less than three miles from home. Unfortunately, neither route I could take is exactly safe for a bike - a bike lane for only 1/4 mile, not even a sidewalk for much of the rest, and virtually no shoulder. Both roads also have heavy car traffic and plenty of speeders.

By polly graph

May 1, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

West cobb Snob said ” I don’t walk that trail anymore because of being cursed at by these idiots because I am walking side by side with my wife holding hands and they have to single file up”

Sorry but I’m going to have to call BS on this one!

By Tamika

May 1, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

I am so sickin tired of traffic in this city. Cars parked everwhere everyday!!

By Jason

May 1, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

I agree with West Cobb Dad. And it’s not that I drive too fast, it’s that most cyclists can’t bike anywhere near the speed limit. One had rush-hour traffic on Peachtree Rd. through Buckhead—which is already under construction—backed up even more than usual yesterday. Why is it illegal for them to use the sidewalks? Surely it’s not a safety isssue, as fifty collisions between cyclists and pedestrians is still preferable to one collision between a car and a cyclist.

By Harold

May 1, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

West Cobb Dad doesnt “walk the trail anymore” because he’s too fat to get out his door and can’t afford to have the wall removed or the crane to lift him out of bed either! What a stupid relic. Move to Mississippi, pal. They’re still in the 1970s like you.

By anonymouscoward

May 1, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

It’s funny — there’s an article about the folks going to Denver to assess what that city has done to meet challenges, and at the end of the article are glowing comments about the number of parks, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, etc. that Denver provides. Then you read the comments here and the amount of anger expressed at cyclists is amazing. Two very different cultures, to be sure, and I’m getting out of this one just as soon as I can… just 2 more years.

By The Truth

May 1, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

How in the hell is someone going to bike from Newton County to the A-T-L?

By West Cobb Dad = Moron

May 1, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

West Cobb Dad = A-hole

Your self-centeredness is amzing and mind numbing.

By Harold

May 1, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

Oh please, rush hour traffic on Peachtree is gridlock. The bicyclers split the lanes and pass all a you suckas stucked in your cars

By geo

May 1, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

there’s an article about the folks going to Denver to assess what that city has done to meet challenges, and at the end of the article are glowing comments about the number of parks, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, etc. that Denver provides. Then you read the comments here and the amount of anger expressed at cyclists is amazing. Two very different cultures

Denver is one of the fittest and most educated metro areas in the US … and as for metro Atlanta (as another poster wrote) “Hey, at least you got rappers!”

By Crazy Guy on Bike

May 1, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

As an avid rider and motorist with a 40 mile cummute every day, I love to see riders on the road. To answer a couple of points raised about riding:

Cyclists who try and accomodate motorists many times put themselves at greater risk. Moving over to the road edge may give drivers more room to pass, but you risk having vehicles think they can squeeze by - and eventually you’ll be hit. You’re best off to stay in the traffic lane where you’ll be seen.

Not stopping at lights is a common complaint, yet it the cyclist dismounted and walked across, it would be perfectly legal. While it may be a technical violation, crossing when it is proper for pedestrians to cross just makes sense. Believe me, anyone who rides long learns to be careful. The rider who crosses an intersection under a red light is trying to avoid holding you up when traffic starts to move.

Finally, whenever cyclists ride together on streets, they should ALWAYS be single-file when traffic is present. When I ride with groups we do all we can to keep from holding back traffic, if a car comes up we quickly fall to the side to allow them to pass.

There’s many people discovering the fun and usefulness of cycling again, so there’s a learning curve for all of us.

By Constance

May 1, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

Hey guys - I really wanna take up riding here, but the truth is I’m terrified. I biked pretty much everywhere I went when I lived in Chicago (during the warm months at least), but they had bike lanes there and there were so many bikers on the road that drivers knew to watch out for them and knew how to navigate around them. My fear was futher solidified when I read the comments on this morning’s [Opinion Talk] (http://www.ajc.com/search/content/shared-blogs/ajc/opiniontalk/entries/2008/05/01/should_cyclists.html)

“Crazy Guy on Bike” had some really insightful points - especially about responsible cyclists safely crossing during red lights to avoid holding up traffic when the light turns green. That’s something people don’t realize unless they are cyclists. So “Crazy Guy,” and other ATL folks on bikes, do you have any more tips for biking around here without ending up like a love bug squashed against the front of somebody’s Grand Prix? Thanks!

Oh, and does anybody know where to get a good helmet that doesn’t look dumb? Maybe one that actually breathes? I totally hate mine.

By A Racer and Commuter

May 1, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this

Constance: Check out http://bicyclesafe.com/ for a lot of great tips for riding in traffic safely.

To find a new helmet check out your local bike shop. There are tons of great shops in the local ATL area. Expect to spend $50-$150. The more expensive the better fit, more vents, and lighter the helmet will be.

The average road width is 10 feet. The average car is 6 feet. The average cyclist riding by the white line sticks into the road 18”. Yes that leaves over 2 1/2 feet of space. Passing a cyclist is easy. Know how wide your car is. Slow down, move over to the left as far as possible (usually not even crossing the center line) and pass.

Most drivers get frustrated because they don’t know the rules and don’t know how to drive their cars.

Under GA law bicycles are vehicles, just like cars with a few exceptions. They have every right to the road as a car does. They do not have to get off the road or yield to other traffic. A bicycle must ride as far to the right of the road as safely possible. Bicycle are allowed to ride two abreast when they are not holding up traffic. A bicycle can pass a car on the right when there is room enough for both the car and the bicycle. Bicycles are prohibited from riding on most sidewalks and shouldn’t for safety of pedestrians.

Most drivers like to bicycles in the category that fits their argument best. When they are being held up for 15 nanoseconds driving a bicycle is a pedestrian and should “ride on the sidewalk”. When they are being passed on the right they should be vehicles and “obey the rules of the road”.

Give me a break and give the cyclist a break who is riding. Just because you have to sit in traffic in your air conditioned ride don’t vent on the guy getting fresh air and exercise when he passes you on the right. You had no problem passing him when he was going slower than you.

ATL has tons of great roads for cyclists and the more bicycles on the roads the more this town will be come “bike friendly”. Drivers need to respect cyclists and cyclists need to respect drivers.

Turn off the cell phone, put down the book and pay attention when you drive.

Rubber side down.

By Emil

May 1, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this

I commute, but on my mountain bike so I can get off the road when I run out of shoulder. For the real fun stuff, I can recommend the RAMBO (Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Org) www.RAMBO-MTB.org for lining up all things Bike, trails, events, meetups, and gear for the real fun stuff.

By John Drummond

May 2, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Who needs two wheels when one will do?! Unicycle.com, a world-wide distributor and retailer of unicycles, is headquartered in Marietta, Georgia. We have commuter models that can easily reach speeds of 15 mph.

By Constance

May 2, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the awesome tips, “A Racer and Commuter.” That’s an excellent point about drivers wanting to treat you as a vehicle when it’s convenient and a pedestrian when it’s convenient. So true!

You’re right, more brave cyclists need to get out there so that bicycle culture will become more accepted in Atlanta. The weather is just so perfect for it. I’m surprised it’s not more of a bike city already.

By dd

May 2, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

To Mr. Denver - and Denver doesn’t have the humidity that Atl has either. Nothing like having to shower after your ride to work as your wringing with sweat.

The author forgets to mention option # 2 - get out of Atl. You will be amazed how many cities don’t have traffic problems like Atl - why bother. Choose to improve your quality of life, you don’t have to stay. My entire family left after spending most of our lives there, and once again don’t dread having to go anywhere in a car.

By Leebo

May 5, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

These losers complain about cyclists every summer, we are used to it.

By clbg

May 20, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

I’m from Florida but have lived in Atlanta for most of my adult life. The traffic is horrible here and riding a bicycle is probably going to become necessary as gas prices continue to rise but I’m terrified by the thought of the absolutely crazy drivers here. I wish the police were able to enforce the traffic laws but the violators are so vast in number that I don’t see how that would be possible. Atlanta drivers are some of the worst I’ve ever seen. I don’t hold out much hope because people don’t seem to think of others anymore. We’re largely a very selfish society.