AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2006 > January > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIs Sandy Springs more for cars than cardio exercise?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was talking with a friend years ago about the personality of Sandy Springs and he said something that’s stuck with me.
“This is a car town,â€? he said. “It’s how we define ourselves. It’s how we get around.â€?
That conversation had more to do with style, but through the years it’s become painfully apparent that, even if you would disagree with that opinion, you’d have to say that this is most definitely not a great place for walking, running or cycling.
[Note: I have no idea where jogging stops and running begins, so I’m using the term running to describe anything more than a fast walk. For those of you running snobs who are offended, submit your protest at feedback@jimcouldcareless.com - J.O.]
I have walked, run and biked through Sandy Springs and I can tell you this is no place to undertake such activities if you have a wandering attention span.
Drivers are too busy speeding to their next cup of decaf, mocha-chocolate espresso latte to note the presence on the roads of anything not on four wheels.
And, for the sake of balance, the pedestrian and cycling manners of many leaves much to be desired. This includes jaywalkers, runners who insist on running with their backs to oncoming traffic while trotting three feet from the curb into the thoroughfare, and cyclists who ride in clumps that would make Lance Armstrong hail a cab.
I’m guilty on occasion. If I think I can cross a street, I’ll make a break for it, even if I’m totally in the wrong. My cycling technique does not always include proper turn signals and I do not have a rear-view mirror to let me know what’s behind me.
At the same time, much of this community is not a great place for outdoor cardio. The roads are too narrow to allow for cycling/running lanes and a many of the major intersections have stoplights that appear to be more programmed to start a drag race, than let people cross safely.
Half this problem is easy solved, and that has to do with the participants. There have to be scores of Web sites that have the rules of the road posted. We’re taught in first grade to walk against traffic, to look both ways, etc.
The other half of the solution is going to take some planning and money if the city wants to make this little village walker-, runner- and cycler-friendly.
The question is, is this what we want? Speak up, campers.
[And a personal pet peeve - for all you moms who get out and run while pushing a jogger’s stroller with your little ones, I salute your commitment to fitness. Unless you’re one of those running with your back to traffic, with a set of earphones wrapped around your head. If so:
o You can’t see trouble coming from behind. o You can’t hear trouble coming from behind. o You’re risking your own life, which is fine by me. But your kid shouldn’t have to suffer because of your stupidity.
Whew! Glad to get that off my chest.]
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Carroll
January 9, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this
Give us sidewalks! Not just down Roswell Road. Who walks to walk with all that exhaust blowing around? Put sidewalks on the side strees and the subdivisions - I’ll walk.
By J.T.
January 9, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this
It’s not just Sandy Springs…it’s all of the metro Atlanta area. This is a car “town”. Atlanta’s early infrastructure planning obviously consisted of simply paving over old wagon and goat paths; and that mentality has continued all these years. There has never been any concern given for quality of life improvements when infrastruture improvements were subsequently designed and laid out. The only area in this entire city that has a modern world-class city feel to its streets is Atlantic Station. The sidewalks are wide, but there is also adequate roadway and greenbelt. Any future improvements in Sandy Springs and Atlanta would do well to include this sort of planning.
By D
January 9, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this
Sandy Springs is definitely for cars and not for walkers. But if it gets too bad you guys are welcome to come on down to the wonderful Southside of town. We have the new 200 acre Lionel Hampton Park and the wonderful 125 acre Cascade Springs along with a ton of wonderful parks, sidewalks and streetscapes. That is if you are not too afraid…BOOOOO!!!
By Alan
January 9, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
Lot’s of comments and hoo haw lately about traffic, inadequate roads, timing of traffic-signals, poor design, etc. etc.
Quite frankly, I see no issue. Sandy Springs shouldn’t be responsible for widening roads or bridges for the convenience of East Cobb, Forsyth Co. or any other pick of exurban settlements you can name. With a metropolitan population over 4 million, expecting a timely and convenient commute is out-of-touch with reality. As for timing the traffic-signals on Roswell Road, I don’t see how any traffic-signal could be timed for what seems to be an endless supply of traffic in either direction (north or south) or either cross-street (east or west). Limited cross-access should be considered. YES, those big concrete barriers down the middle that limit cross-turns. As for poor design, one improvement that was HUGELY applauded was the removal of eye pollution between Hilderbrand and Hammond by the removal of signage, wires, poles, etc. What’s the deal with all the new signage? How does that help? And, although GA400 is not a Sandy Springs ‘street’ but, rather a state highway - what is the deal with all the new signage every 1/2 mile to inform drivers of an exit they may or MAY NOT see because there is no street LIGHTING? Wouldn’t a better design be to include lighting so that a driver could see the lawn chair, the mattress, the jaywalker, the idle-car, the unsupervised child playing at dark along these speedways we’re trying to improve?
By TLW
January 9, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this
My office building sits behind a lake on Abernathy Road and Glenridge. I’m on the 5th floor and can still hear the boom boxes from youngsters’ cars cruising down Abernathy. It is so annoying! Let’s beef up noise ordinances - how else will they hear service vehicles!
By tim
January 9, 2006 09:57 PM | Link to this
I’m afraid Sandy Springs (and the rest of suburban, northside Atlanta for that matter) are too far gone now to start implementing more pedestrian friendly features. I moved to Dunwoody from Brookhaven just over a year ago and was amazed to see the total lack of park space. I left a neighborhood with four parks in walking distance to a place where the nearest park is a significant hike on busy streets with spotty sidewalk availability. Riding my bicycle is possible, but not very enjoyable - every minute feels like it could be my last.
Where would we put more parks in Sandy Springs/Dunwoody? Where would we add bicycle paths or even lanes? How would we incorporate “walking communities” like an Atlantic Station?
By Melinda
January 10, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this
I just recently graduated from ga tech and moved to Sandy Springs. Since W.Weiuca Rd is only a little more than a mile down roswell rd from my apartment, I decided to walk to Chastain Park. The entire walk down Roswell rd., I was regretting that decision. There were sidewalks in some places but not in others, and I constantly felt like I was about to be killed by some car going 70 mph down roswell!! I will def. be driving to Chastain from now on!
By Patti
January 10, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this
Bicyclists: must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it. must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical— not on the sidewalk. must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes. may legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, another bicycle, an animal, or to make a turn, avoid debris, or other hazards. may choose to ride near the left curb or edge of one-way street. may use a left turn lane. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns. are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways, when signs are posted. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway. Drivers must: look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right. safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane. not overtake a bicyclist just before making a right turn. Merge first, then turn
By Al
January 10, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this
Having grown up in Sandy Springs, lived there until a year ago (that’s 30+ years) - best of luck for improvement. You really can’t expect that things will change significantly in the next 5+ years. The population density requires auto capacity on the roads, and surely the tax money isn’t going to be spent on real improvement to sidewalks, right-of-ways, etc. In all honesty - if you care about that aspect of your daily life (I did), you really ought to move and enjoy someplace that already has it.
By Jill
January 11, 2006 01:37 AM | Link to this
I live in a neighborhood called Dunwoody Springs, which is off Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, and I am fortunate that I can easily walk to a Publix shopping center, the King and Queen buildings, a local bar, and Perimeter Mall! The “border” between Sandy Springs and Dunwoody has plenty of sidewalks and I feel very safe walking in those areas.
By Joe
January 11, 2006 08:18 AM | Link to this
Jim, I think you got it the wrong way around. Getting the money to make physical improvements would be far easier than changing the behavior of people. With the right design, the physical improvements would do more to change drivers’ behavior than any public awareness campaign.
By John
January 11, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
Sandy Springs more for cars or exercise? You’ve gotta be out of your mind with such a question…S.Springs, and much of the rest of Atlanta, are some of THE most exercise UNfriendly cities in the entire world. That’s no lie.
By John
January 11, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
Oh, I just scanned your article, and see that you agree that S.S. is a most exercise UNfriendly place. Also to answer your question as to when jogging becomes running. Your locomotion becomes running (from joggin) when you get it to under 9 minutes per mile pace. 9-12 minute pace is jogging; anything over is walking.
By Ed
January 11, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this
Let’s ask the new government to help develop a network of walking and biking trails. For example, I live within a mile of the Chattahoochee NRA which happens to have very nice trails, but I would be risking my life if I tried to walk down Johnson Ferry Road to get there.
I am more hopeful that others posting here. I truly believe with a little planning, money, and will power we can build a network of trails and parks that raise our quality of life. After all we have some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city.
By Scott
January 11, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this
I don’t disagree. But, where is SS gonna get the $$ to pave and maintain lanes for these folks when they still have to buy insurance police, fire, sanitation etc.
By Mad as Zell
January 11, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this
No way on God’s green earth I would ever even think about walking, jogging or cycling to get in shape on a busy street in Metro Atlanta unless I suddenly feel the need to have fun running for my life from highly distracted, crazed and psychotic Atlanta motorists. So in a way I guess that Sandy Springs is for cardio while running for ones life from speeding cars if one must cross Roswell Road wearing any less than a two ton automobile accessory (remember, no white paint jobs and diamond-studded platinum 26-inch spinning rims after Labor Day, only candy paint and gold 22’s people!).
By Al
January 12, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this
Here’s the true problem - there are pockets of “community” in Sandy Springs, but there’s no one community, which is needed to support incentives and wide-ranging projects/improvements that are needed. A bellweather of change will be when they first improve the SS library.
Even with ravamped sidewalks, trails, etc. around Sandy Springs, pls tell me who is going to walk to the store, etc. in the 80’F+ heat and humidity? It still won’t be the residential population tucked in neighborhoods located away from any amenities.
By Erik
January 12, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
As a motorist and cyclist in SS I can understand the frustration of seeing a pack of cyclist using most of the driving the lane. A single file would be more appropriate in the motorists eyes. However, this “clump” riding is done to increase visibility of the cyclist to the motorists behind.
By Andrea
January 12, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
Sandy Springs is definitely an auto-only zone. I was getting some service done on my car in Downtown Sandy Springs last fall and had a few hours to kill, so I thought I’d walk around and check things out. Big mistake. Walking around is completely unfeasible.
Sadly, that’s true of most of Atlanta. I live in the Buckhead area and it’s somewhat better for pedestrians, but it still has plenty of harrowing areas, too.