The Newcomer

By Garden Hills Native

September 2, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this

“Streetscape Improvement” projects have been implemented in a few Buckhead residential areas aimed at improving pedestrian safety and slowing traffic. Intersections were considerable narrowed by the use of “bulb-out’s” This device forces a pedestrian into an actual lane of traffic when making any kind of 90 degree turn from or on to a sidewalk or when crossing a street a street. The City of Atlanta will not admit that there is anything wrong with this design, and I’ve received a deaf ear from everyone else that I have contacted regarding this. And oh yeah, traffic has not been slowed down one iota.

By atlmom

September 2, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

We live in Morningside, one large reason is because it is walkable. In fact, my husband is walking my son to school right now. Having walkable streets is what creates a neighborhood - as we are out walking, we see and talk with our neighbors, have impromptu get togethers, and create a better environment.
Personally, I hate my car, so I like that the neighborhood is walkable. I find it a shame when so many neighborhoods are created around the car - and no one seems to think that there’s anything wrong with it.
I wish we could reasonably walk to a MARTA station, but we really can’t.
I like that much of the new building going up in Atlanta is right on the sidewalk, with the parking hidden behind (sigh can’t we just ban new parking in the city??) - that makes for a much more walkable area. Walking a far distance somewhere that wasn’t built around a car (like NYC/Boston/Chicago), is much more pleasant than walking some places in Atlanta, and seems to take a much shorter time. If the walk is enjoyable, you hardly notice it at all.

By Native

September 2, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

PEDS agenda seems to be to encourage pedestrians to force cars to stop at crosswalks because “it’s the law”. I have never PEDS doing anything to educate pedestrians as to what those illuminated signs and that little orange colored hand means at crosswalks.

By lyrazel

September 2, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

It is not a walkable city. Sidewalks are more often torn up and dangerous. Traffic does not see pedestrians even in crosswalks and people must drive to places to walk—those little neighborhoods so quaint have problems with people trying to park before restauranting.

By Bronco

September 2, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

You’ve got to be kidding.

By Edward

September 2, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Midtown can be very walkable. Living on the Myrtle/Penn/Argonne streets you can walk to so many things, including groceries, dozens of restaurants, interesting shops, and Piedmont Park. It is a shame that late night walks can’t go through the park for fear of being arrested by zealous police “enforcing” an ill-conceived ordinance. While living in this neighborhood, I averaged less than 3000 miles per YEAR on my car simply because I could walk to most everything I needed, including the midtown MARTA station.

By zeke

September 2, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Between the criminals, prostitues, thugs, panhandlers and others, WHO WOULD WANT TO WALK IN ATLANTA?????????

By Maria

September 2, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

My husband and I moved into our current condo expressly because it is in such a walkable area. Granted, much of Buckhead is more muddy and torn-up than it is walkable right now, but you will find little pockets of pedestrian-friendly areas there. We can walk to two supermarkets, a Walgreen’s, the library, a bookstore, a number of restaurants, the Saturday farmers market, etc. It’s nice to be able to park my car on Friday afternoon and not have to come back to it until Monday morning (and, theoretically, I could walk to work, but there aren’t usable sidewalks for much of the route right now).

What’s frustrating is how attached to their cars some of our neighbors are. There’s this one guy who drives his SUV to Publix every time he’s in the mood for a sub. It’s right across the street! He’s doing little more than driving through a parking lot. I mean, I guess if you haven’t walked many places in your life, it can be a little intimidating to wait for the walk signal at the corner of Peachtree Rd. while all the cars whip by, but it’s nothing a person can’t get used to.

By Ben

September 2, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

zeke: You must be confusing upscale midtown neighborhoods with Gwinnett County - the land of drug lords.

By MARTA Evangelist

September 2, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

I second Edward’s comments, Midtown is a very walkable area. Most of my “after hours” destinations including bars, restaurants, the park, grocery store, and drug store are a 10 minute walk (or less) from me. Obviously you will get a very different answer from someone who lives in outlying areas, like I did growing up.

By Mike

September 2, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

I was at Atlantic Station yesterday afternoon and it was VERY walkable. The people walking around seemed to think that EVERY street was closed to traffic, so circling around waiting for someone to run an errand involved dozens of people not looking where they were going and just wandering around.

There are large portions of Atlanta that aren’t walkable at all, but part of it is because we’ve become used to driving even short distances. If we go to Target and then want to go to Old Navy at the other end of the strip mall we move the car.

By stu

September 2, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Outside of Atlantic Station and Little 5, the city is not walkable, at least when compared to other metropolitan areas of a similar size. The sidewalks of the highlands, morningside and inman park are attrocious; pedestrians are often viewed with antipathy and even anger by Atlanta drivers and the city consistently makes sweetheart deals with developers to permit developments that place tremendous stress on the infrastructure of the city without requiring any improvements in terms sidewalks, green space and the like. Sadly, Target developments with parking lot oceans seems to be the model for the future in this city, and unless something is done soon (improved sidewalks, a bike belt around the city, the beltway, and even good-old enforcement of driver safety laws), many of the charms of Atlanta’s great neigborhoods will be lost to those on foot.

By Heather

September 2, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

How can Atlanta be walkable? The sidewalks end out of nowhere for construction that lasts forever. The smell of exhaust permeates the air. The sounds of semis and dump trucks driving take away any pleasure you could have. I hear the trucks and buses from my window at work right now…5 floors up over Ponce. Just walking down the street to Whole Foods you will encounter- homeless begging, prostitutes followed a few feet by their pimps, day laborers who stare and cat call, dump truck exhaust, semi exhaust, sewer smell from the nearby manhole, urine and feces smell from the homeless encampment at City Hall East. I guess I could drive to the Highlands or Little Five for a nice walk.

By Ike

September 2, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

Due to all the ULTRA-aggressive panhandlers, Atlanta is NOT walkable at all.

The most comfortable walking shoes in the world wouldn’t make Downtown Atlanta “walkable” due to the odors, the rudeness and the panhandlers.

By Staceye

September 2, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Um this city is so NOT walkable! I am from NYC where I walked everywhere. I love to to walk…but I am not able to do that here. As someone stated earlier..the sidewalks are torn up and dangerous. I found that out the hard way this weekend when my foot met with one of the many large holes in the sidewalk and torn ligaments in my foot. I am now on crutches for the next week.

By HCR

September 2, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Midotwn is walkable in pockets. If you get a side street with sidewalks in disrepair it’s easy to trip and fall. A perfect example is 12th street between Piedmont and Juniper. A lovely tree lined street. To walk it you must keep complete focus of the broken, buckled, ten thousand year old sidewalk. What a shame because the neighborhood is coming into it’s own.

By BPJ

September 2, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

One might as well ask: how “walkable” is America? It depends on which part. We live in Ansley Park, and walk to MARTA, restaurants, and the Woodruff Arts Center. We walk with our child to the Botanical Gardens, Piedmont Park, and two smaller parks nearby. The experience of the neighborhood is different this way. When we’re driving, we may wave at a neighbor, but it usually isn’t practical to stop and talk. When we’re walking, we usually stop and talk with neighbors we know, and often meet new ones.

I work Downtown, and like Ms. Gumbrecht, I walk to a lot of places from my office. I give a polite “no” to the panhandlers (I give to charities that actually help people in need), and in 20 years working Downtown I have encountered perhaps 3 aggressive panhandlers.

I don’t agree with the suggestion that we should ban new parking in the city. The automobile in some form is going to be around for a long time, and we need to accommodate it. The key is to tame the parking, storing autos out of sight (below ground for instance). The problem over the past 60 years has been entire city blocks, covered with asphalt, devoted to the sole purpose of automobile storage; that is hostile to walkable city life.

By Blkshepherd

September 2, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

As a native new yorker I am used to walking several city blocks without a momemts thought of the distance..Here I still walk but I am very leery when crossing the streets..whenever I walk two of my four dogs..I have to be on the extreme look-out for turning cars. These Morons and thats exactly what they are(I have a more discriptive name but I shall be cordial this morning) are the most Non friendly stupid dangerous drivers I have ever had the displeasure of coming cross. They will HIT you regardless of whether your in a cross walk, have the right away(which pedestrians always have the right away(read your drivers manuel) They are rude nasty and self absorbed. Chatting away on cell phones looking only in one direction when traffic goes both ways. I used to ride a 10 speed when I lived in NC and NYC. I refuse to purchase one and get run over by one of these idoits driving like a bat out of hell looking everywhere but whats infront or side of them. I do walk downtown on fridays during my lunch break. But with extreme caution while crossing the streets. These fools will not look out for you. Just as Margret Mitchell, oh I forgot she was struck and killed by a cabbie/motorist on Peachtree Street! I dont trust these fools while driving my car, much less on foot.

By Intown Fan

September 2, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

The Grant Park neighborhood is VERY walk-friendly, lots of moms and baby strollers, dog walkers, joggers, casual strollers, you name it. Park, tennis, swimming pool, many cafes and restaurants are walking distance in GP too.

By BPJ

September 2, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

I think Atlanta has plenty to learn from New York (and Boston, San Francisco, London & Paris) about being pedestrian-friendly, but please don’t try to tell us that drivers in NY are a model of respect for pedestrians! I go there a couple of times a year, and I have seen some crazy, anti-pedestrian behavior by drivers in Manhattan, including the cab drivers.

And Atlanta is improving in its pedestrian-friendliness. A big factor has been the new sidewalks in many parts of Midtown. I could point to places where for years there was no sidewalk at all, just a muddy rut; now there is a nice sidewalk with lamps and shade trees. More and more, the new buildings are close to, and facing, the sidewalk. The progress is slow, but it’s real.

By Jen

September 2, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

I live in Candler Park (which is next to Little 5 and Inman Park) and we walk everywhere…to MARTA, to Little 5, even to the Edgewood Shopping center, and to Whole Foods across from City Hall East. We walk or bike our son to school (Mary Lin). It’s not uncommon for us to not even start the car on the weekends.

Yes, in the city there are homeless people. But, they’re just people…

By nono

September 2, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

We don’t need more sidewalks in downtown Atlanta—pedestrians need better manners and more common sense. My comment is directed solely to those pedestrians in downtown Atlanta (so don’t everyone freak out with indignation) who consistently disobey traffic signals, walk out into the street against the crosswalk, jaywalk, and think they own the road in general. Hello! If I have a green light and you step in front of my car when you see me coming and I hit you because I can’t stop in time, it’s YOUR fault, not mine. Do you honestly think where you’re going is more important than where I’m going? WAIT YOUR TURN and we’ll all get along just fine. That’s why crosswalks and crosswalk lights were invented—so everyone gets their turn at the appropriate time. Grow a brain, get some manners and share the road or you might end up on my windshield. Don’t even get me started on people who walk down the street to try to act cool and rebellious when there are perfectly good sidewalks available…

By gigi

September 2, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

I tried walking in Atlanta a few times. Between the nonexistent or broken sidewalks, wild drivers, aggressive panhandlers, and just plain scary folks, it felt like I’d suddenly been dropped in the middle of a Quentin Tarantino flick. Walk? Are you kidding me?

By steve

September 2, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Atlanta isn’t a walkable city, it’s a giant parking lot. The city needs to ban parking lots between buildings and streets!

By CrazyLadywithDog

September 2, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I live in Midtown and try to walk to work often. So that makes me a driver and pedestrain, and I’m sorry nono, drivers are much worse than pedestrains. Atlanta needs to outlaw right on red in the downtown area. I can’t tell you how many times a day I could get hit if I weren’t paying attention to people on their cell phone, looking to see if cars are coming. I will never step in front of a car, even when I have the right of way, until I can make eye contact with the driver.And to blksheppard, I recently was out walking my sheppard when we were almost creamed crossing Courtland at North Ave. I had the signal and was in the crosswalk, when some jerk trying to beat the traffic coming in the opposite direction actually sped up to make a left hand turn. I had to jerk my dog to a stop, or no doubt we both would be dead. In a fit of anger, I accidently flung a nice bag of doggy waste his way. I realized that when he put his brakes on that it might not have been such a good idea, so we ran all the way home. But it hopefully taught the him a lesson.

By CJ

September 2, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

I live in the Capitol View area of Atlanta and the sidewalks here are in horrible shape. In fact, in some places they are no more than rubble and weeds. I’m betting these sidewalks have not received attention since their construction.

It is safer to dodge potholes and walk in the middle of the street!

By Sugar

September 2, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I don’t know about Atlanta, since I live in the burbs, but my area is walkable. My only problem is the cars whizzing by so fast, a mere two feet from me.

I walk my dogs every day on the sidewalk, which is no more than 2 feet away from the road, which is a main artery to Lake Lanier. People fly up and down that road, even at 7:00 a.m. on the weekends. More than once I have had to jump for fear of a fast moving vehicle.

Slow down people!!!!

By JATL

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

I agree with others that some areas and neighborhoods are walkable, but the city as a whole is largely not. I live in Grant Park, and it’s fantastic for walking! Plenty to walk to and lots of great areas with semi-decent sidewalks. The city REALLY needs to focus on maintaining and repairing sidewalks all over the place. I’m not going to hold my breath on that one though…

For those of you who seem to think all of intown Atlanta is one giant pan-handling, drug-addict free for all, I invite you to visit some of the intown neighborhoods since you obviously haven’t been inside the perimeter since the early 80s.

By hardendorf

September 2, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

I walk a lot but Atlanta is not a walkable city. I live in Lake Claire and walk to some stores and restaurants but the layout of the city makes walking difficult. Too many parking lots, fast cars, bad sidewalks and zoning that creates distant enclaves of commerce instead of stores near neighborhoods. I wish Marta would improve service to the extent that we could become a one car household. The turning right on red light cellphones users are very dangerous. Also people drive way too fast on residential streets.

By Jennifer

September 2, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

I live near the Ponce/Myrtle area of Midtown and walk every where. I walk to Publix, Walgreens, the bank, the cleaners, and many restaurants either near me or on Peachtree. I love walking through Midtown. Are there improvements that could be made to make it better? Sure. But it is also certainly better than it used to be. People asking me for money don’t bother me anymore. You can’t look as if you are wandering around aimlessly. You can’t look wide-eyed like a tourist. Stand straight, look assertive, act like you have a destination, tell them no, and move on. It’s that easy. Will there be a few who continue to ask? Yep. Just keep walking.

I do think both drivers and pedestrians need to be more mindful of each other. I’ve read about PEDS and what they do. I think some of what they do is good but it also seems they need to not only educate drivers but pedestrians, too. Many times I have been in my car and a pedestrian has walked directly out in front of me (especially on Peachtree), grabbed the little yellow sign that is now placed in the middle of crosswalks these days, and screamed at me (literally) about how they are a pedestrian and I need to stop for them. That is complete BS. It’s no wonder why those of us who actually obey the pedestrian laws are still almost ran over while in crosswalks. Most folks seem to view pedestrians in a negative light because of the jackasses who do things like dart out in front of cars.

By Yeah Right

September 2, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

It seems Atlanta is only walkable in some parts of the city. In other parts there are no sidewalks, even on major thoroughfares. So its probably on who you ask, but if you live on the southside you’ll get hit.

By Jamie Gumbrecht

September 2, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

I wonder, do you think the little yellow signs in the middle of roads help anything in your neighborhoods? A stretch of road near my apartment has one at every intersection, and while the idea of slower traffic is nice, I don’t sense that they work very well there. I see waaaay too many of them flattened in the road to feel safer. I bike, too, and from that perspective, they seem to crowd the road and breed contempt, but not much to slow drivers when they’re squeezing past me.

By dunwoody in denver

September 2, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

I moved to Denver 5 years ago (tied for 10th with Portland), and the difference compared with ATL is striking. Not only are the neighborhoods walkable, but there are bike/jogging trails literally all over the metro area.

The coolest part, though, is that it’s a state law that pedestrians have the right of way. We actually have crosswalks that flash when there’s a pedestrian in them, and by law cars have to stop to let them cross. In Atlanta you’re taking your life into your hands when you dare to cross a street, even if it’s at a crosswalk.

It helps that it’s warm and sunny (with no humidity) 80% of the year, too…

By Nan

September 2, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Short answer? Not very. Sidewalks are close to nonexistent, so are marked pedestrian crossings in my neighborhood. Anyone not in a car (walkers, cyclists, handicapped folks in wheelchairs) all seem to be considered fair game for being run over by motorists.

By atlin83

September 2, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is very walkable in many respects, but not universally. Sidewalks are not available in all areas of the city, or even on all major thoroughfares. Additional problems include:

• Bad sidewalk maintenance - some sidewalks are so broken up that it’s better to walk in the street rather than sprain an ankle on the unstable chunks of concrete.
• Bad crosswalk maintenance - in many cases, the stripes on the road have worn off and the city hasn’t repainted them; crosswalk buttons don’t work, or don’t give pedestrians enough time to cross the street.
• Driver attitudes - when sidewalks aren’t available, drivers don’t hesitate to pass to closely to walkers. When a crosswalk exists, even when it does work, drivers still often make close calls, honk, or yell.
• Bad enforcement - sorry, but as a pedestrian, the APD has never done anything for me. In one notable case, I was yelled at by an APD officer for crossing even though I followed the signal and had the right-of-way.

By Dan

September 2, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Living on Peachtree in Midtown has gotten so much better with the Midtown Alliances improvements….Id say on a scale of ten Atlanta is around 8 since I walk around Midtown. DRIVING around SUCKS…walking WORKS

By Garden Hills Native

September 2, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Passive devices do not work when it comes to slowing traffic. The only thing that works is regular enforcement by the police department.

By Monique

September 2, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

ARE YOU KIDDING?

By pardon me

September 2, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this

Like most of metro Atlanta’s infrastructure, sidewalks are in dire need of maintenance where they exist at all. Some are like obstacle courses: telephone poles stuck right in the middle, low overhanging shrubbery, some peices missing altogher…

But I guess its more important for the state to build developmental highways (that happened to be lined with no development) than it is to upkeep the infrastructure in the one part of Georgia that matters.

By David Turkheimer

September 3, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

I did a similar blog in the 2004-2005 timeframe.

Back then, there were no sidewalks on the major east-west corridor (Lindbergh from Claremont to Peachtree)

I think things have improved since then, but Atlanta’s never going to be Barcelona.

Good luck!

David Turkheimer