City of Atlanta releases first-ever Annual Bicycle Report
The City of Atlanta released its first Annual Bicycle Report, highlighting developments in Atlanta’s efforts to be a bike-friendly city.
The report details ridership and bike share data, key 2017 bicycle infrastructure projects and bicycle planning initiatives.
“With the ever-growing number of people embracing cycling as a means to navigate our city, building miles of new bicycle lanes and providing safer infrastructure for cyclists preserves our reputation as a city that respects and supports alternative modes of transportation,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said.
According to the report, the city implemented over 10 miles of “high-quality bikeways” last year, focused on being “comfortable and connected for people of all ages.”
Other key projects from 2017 included the resurfacing of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, which converted the “high-speed” street into one with two buffered bike lanes, along with the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail and the PATH Parkway, which was named America’s Best Bikeway of the Year by the organization PeopleforBikes.
Additionally, the mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Department of City Planning implemented the Mural Bike Rack Project, which encouraged biking through public art and creative placemaking. According to the report, the project provided 18 local artists with the opportunity to design and paint locally crafted racks, which were placed throughout the city.
The report also detailed citywide bicycle data, noting that Atlanta has over 116 total miles of bikeways built now, with 84 more currently planned. Also, the city’s Bike Share program, which allows people to rent bikes throughout the city for up to 90 minutes, saw over 25,000 users.
Throughout the coming months, the city will continue to implement the Cycle 2.0 program, based on Cycle 1.0 from 2013, which sought to add bike routes throughout the BeltLine. Cycle 2.0 will work to build a network of bikeways connecting to six MARTA stations, the report said.
“This annual Bicycle Report highlights our residents’ enthusiasm about the optimization of Atlanta as a bicycle-friendly city,” Tim Keane, Commissioner of the Department of City Planning, said. “This ensures that we are held accountable in pursuing and achieving the goals set forth by the Department of City Planning and the mayor.”
View the 2018 Annual Bicycle Report here.
