Propel ATL and Atlanta Families for Safe Streets held a press conference on Wednesday (Feb. 11) to call for a mid-block raised crossing and the funded safety project to be installed on Atlanta’s signature street, where multiple people have been killed and injured while attempting to cross. Two members of Atlanta City Council, Jason Dozier (District 4) and Matt Westmoreland (Post 2, At-Large) were present to speak and lend support. Puja Jabbour (left) addresses media representatives and supporters while her mother Deepa Sood (2nd from right) looks on. Read more

Peachtree Street is Atlanta’s most iconic corridor. It connects Downtown and Midtown. It’s home to major employers, MARTA stations, hotels, cultural landmarks, and some of the city’s busiest sidewalks. It’s also one of the hardest places to cross on foot. Every day, residents, workers, transit riders, and visitors are asked to navigate wide lanes of fast-moving traffic, often with no protection. In recent years, that danger has turned deadly.  This isn’t a mystery.And it isn’t a lack of planning. The City of Atlanta has already studied this crossing.Designs already exist.We already know what would make Peachtree safer. The real question is: why hasn’t it been built yet? Read more

ATLANTA, GEORGIA— Propel ATL is pleased to announce that it received funding from the Georgia Health Policy Center through the Georgia State Physical Activity and Nutrition (G-SPAN) initiative. G-SPAN is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (SPAN). Read more

Despite a soggy start, volunteers got right to work on building Oakland City's first walk lane. Over the MLK holiday weekend, residents, volunteers, and partners turned Merrill Avenue into a hands-on opportunity for safer streets—installing a new walk lane to better protect people walking on this frequently used neighborhood street.  “This street is just scary busy,” said Terra Washington, an Oakland City resident who volunteered for the Saturday build. “People are constantly looking over their shoulder to be sure they’re being safe. It can be dangerous.”  This quick-build project is the result of three years of community-led work through Propel ATL’s Walk ATL program, including a neighborhood walk audit, planning workshops, and the development of a community-informed pedestrian safety action plan, all supported by a $10,000 Walk ATL grant. Read more

With elections concluded and new members sworn in, there's now a new Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee. Past chair Byron Amos (District 3) remains on the committee, ceding his role as chair to Alex Wan (District 6). Newly elected member (and past MARTA board member) Thomas Worthy (District 7) also joins the committee, serving as vice chair. Alex Wan, District 6, Transportation Committee Chair Read more

In good and bad economic times, there always seems to be funding for highway expansion. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, setting forth the priorities for his final year in office, proposed $2 billion in highway spending, with the bulk of it funding express lanes on a congested section of Interstate 75 south of the city. Interstate 75 south of Atlanta. Photo: Michael Rivera/Wikimedia Commons Read more

For Atlanta’s Refugee Women’s Network, cycling classes offered by Propel ATL delivered more than just a good time. They were a lifeline to independence and self-sufficiency. “Most of us do not have a car,” said Seema, a native of Afghanistan. “It’s very good to have a bike and ride a bike." Throughout the season, which lasted from March through October, 17 women participated in our monthly classes, resulting in 10 graduates who received their own bikes from Global Spokes to take home and continue their newfound love of cycling.  During a group ride through Decatur’s Legacy Park, we met with participants and instructors to hear their perspectives and experiences. Temple Moore, right, speaks with a cycling class participant. Photo: Marjon Manitius Read more

Build Details Neighborhood: Oakland City Location: Merrill Avenue  Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026 (Monday, January 19 will be the backup weather date ) Time: 10 AM - 4 PM (there are two sign-up slots of 10 AM - 1 PM and 1 PM - 4 PM ) Project: Walk Lane Volunteer: Merrill Walk Lane Build Day Sign-up Read more

A recent story in the Economist about the rise of e-bike parents ferrying kids to school observed, “Revolutions begin with a push of the pedal.” Read more

In late 2023, as the holidays approached, Tom and Diane Duncan were entering a season of life to savor. Married 33 years, they were empty nesters, with two grown children. Tom adored his granddaughter, and there was a grandson on the way. With retirement right around the corner, the couple were eagerly anticipating travel and more time on non-work pursuits. For Tom, that meant cycling. Having gotten into it through a co-worker, Tom went “all in,” as Diane recalls. “I bet he rode 1,200 miles in the summer sometimes. He just loved to ride. He was the happiest on a bicycle.” Diane Duncan (L) and husband Tom on vacation. Photo courtesy of Diane Duncan. Read more

For a nonprofit with limited resources, it's more important than ever to invite media outlets to amplify important research—in this case, important research with life-and-death implications. Over the last two weeks, Propel ATL’s interactive story map, “The Human Cost of Mobility: 2024,” caught the attention of reporters on television, radio, and online. The notable stat—that traffic violence took more lives than homicides—led most coverage of the story map's release. Echoing the report, reporters discussed the numbers, but also took the time to highlight the human lives lost—and families forever changed—by preventable crashes on metro roadways. ouRebecca Serna, Propel ATL executive director, does an on-camera interview with Alexa Liacko of CBS Atlanta. Photo: Reid Davis for Propel ATL Read more

When Atlanta voters approved the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure program in 2022, they backed a historic investment in sidewalks, safer street crossings, protected bike and scooter lanes, trails, street repairs, recreation facilities, and public safety infrastructure. The program spans multiple departments, but the largest share—especially for mobility and safety—sits with the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT). Read more

425 Traffic Deaths, 61 Percent in Black Neighborhoods Photo: Propel ATL “The Human Cost of Mobility: 2024,” a new story map from Propel ATL, reveals that, across five core Metro Atlanta counties in 2024, traffic crashes (425*) took more lives than homicides (410+), yet homicides are often heavily covered by news outlets, while traffic fatalities are often treated as background noise, a cost of mobility we all must accept. This story map provides key geographic, demographic, and storytelling context for upward-trending Metro Atlanta traffic deaths, highlighting the human lives behind the statistics and providing recommendations for making our roads safer spaces for everyone. Read more

Each year, communities across the globe mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day dedicated to remembering those who have been killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes. It is a day of mourning, reflection, and solidarity, but also a call to action to prevent future tragedies. Traffic violence is not inevitable. It is preventable. And on this day, we come together to make that truth visible. Read more

Atlanta, you did it! You turned out to vote in November. Now let's do it again!  Two City Council districts, D7 and D11, as well as Atlanta Public School Board of Education seats, are going to a runoff on Tuesday, December 2nd!  Local government runoffs are typically very low turnout, so your vote matters more than ever! Please show up and tell your family and friends.    Read more