We’re so excited to celebrate Atlanta’s recent decision to adopt Vision Zero and safer speeds legislation! Atlanta is joining the ranks of Vision Zero cities across the world, and we couldn’t be more proud of this citywide effort by all of the organizations, neighborhood associations, and community advocates we partnered with to propel Vision Zero and safer speed limits into reality (City's press release touting the bill). This is just the first step into all the Vision Zero work ahead; but first, we have to celebrate this achievement. Since we can’t gather in person, we're asking you to submit a short video to tell us why Vision Zero and Safe Speeds matter to you!  Read more

On Monday, April 20, 2020, the Atlanta City Council adopted legislation (20-O-1239) establishing Vision Zero as the city's goal for safe transportation options and a default speed limit of 25 mph on local streets and those collectors and Downtown/Midtown arterials not on the state's list for radar enforcement. Now, we work to expand the default speed limit to cover more streets. The legislation represented a win for the "Safe Speed Limits" campaign, a coalition effort. Read more

Our lives are being challenged in many ways -- businesses are being closed and workers are left without income;  transportation decisions and options become dilemmas; spaces to practice safe, healthful activities are being reshaped. At the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, we’re doing what we can to lessen the impact of these challenges.  This week, we worked with local bike shop owners, city council members, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and ATL DOT Commissioner Josh Rowan to establish bike shops as essential businesses under the Mayor’s shelter-in-place executive order.  In our outreach to bike shop owners on Tuesday, we learned that some bike shops were closed and many were seeking clarification on the city’s stance. Today, we are pleased to relay this message from Peter Kadushin, the Director of Communications for the mayor.   Read more

The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition along with the American Heart Association, PEDS, MARTA Army, NPU-I, TransFormation Alliance, ThreadATL, Historic South Atlanta, Atlanta Families for Safe Streets, and more are lobbying the city of Atlanta government to set safe speed limits and adopt Vision Zero, an effort to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Legislation to allow the City to establish a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit on all neighborhood streets was introduced March 11th to the City Council Transportation Committee, which approved the ordinance unanimously March 25th. [Next, the legislation will likely be up for a vote by the full City Council April 20th. We'll update this post with details on how to submit your comment as we learn more.] Read more

[This post has been updated with outcomes from our campaign to improve the design of the DeKalb Avenue resurfacing by adding some elements of the defunded Complete Street project. For status updates on the DeKalb Ave project, visit the Renew Atlanta / TSPLOST webpage. Construction was initially scheduled to start in December 2020 but as of January 2021, it has been postponed to summer 2021.] On Thursday, February 27th, 2020, the Atlanta Department of Transportation showed the most recent concept for DeKalb Ave. The project is described as “DeKalb Ave Safety Improvements,” and while it’s true that removing the reversible lane is an important safety improvement, the overall design would not fulfill the City’s commitment to improving safety for everyone on this key corridor. Our vision for DeKalb Ave is of a greenway similar to the BeltLine alongside a safe street for all. In our vision, DeKalb Ave facilitates easy access to transit, prioritizes the safety of the most vulnerable people first, and provides transportation options that go beyond cars for the growing number of businesses and residents along the corridor.  Read more

Atlanta’s 2017 pedestrian fatality rate was the 23rd highest out of the 175 largest cities in the nation. In 2018, a person walking or biking was killed somewhere in this country every 73 minutes - 6,283 pedestrians and 857 cyclists - the highest figures in 30 years.  Cities across the U.S. and the world are setting safer speed limits to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. By lowering the speed limit, top outlier speeds go down.  We are joining forces with Voices for Healthy Kids/American Heart Association, PEDS, AARP Georgia, other organizations, and a growing number of Atlanta neighborhood associations and NPUs to add Atlanta to the list of cities with safer speed limits. Act now: Tell your City of Atlanta elected officials you want a safer speed limit of 25 mph on city streets. Read more

  Most people don't give traffic safety a lot of thought until it affects them personally. If you are someone who cares about having safe streets for all, join the City of Atlanta and partners for a virtual town hall on Vision Zero and transportation safety. You can take part via the Zoom meeting or by watching the livestream on Atlanta City Council's Facebook page (like in advance to be notified when they go live).    

February 13th, 2020 marked the 13th annual Blinkie Awards & Member Party. The Blinkie Awards honor the people, projects, and plans making Atlanta safer and more accessible by sustainable transportation modes. Some 240 people attended the event, sponsored by Bike Law Georgia, The Trolley Barn, and Georgia Bikes. Participants enjoyed ABC Bike Valet service and music by DJ Zegi along with food and drinks donated by Eventide Brewing, Six Feet Under, and Homegrown Restaurants -- Doc Chey’s and Osteria 832. Following a welcome by our Deputy Director, Haydée Santana, Rebecca Serna shared updates on the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s new strategic direction, mission, and 2020 priorities. She also shared plans for the 10th anniversary of Atlanta Streets Alive, which we'll start celebrating with a block party in South Downtown on Sunday, May 17th (details coming soon!) Next, Cassius and Marley Alabanza drew cheers as they issued an invitation to the 2020 Youth Bike Summit coming to Atlanta in March from the Youth Advisory Council. Finally, our Community Engagement Coordinator Sagirah Jones emceed the Blinkie Awards. Read more to see who was recognized! Read more

2020 got off to a strong start, at least when it comes to opportunities to speak up for #SafeStreetsforAll! We'll keep this blog post updated so you can stay organized. Thank you for speaking up for safe streets for all!  Read more

Since 2008, we've gathered each year to celebrate the people, projects, and policies making Atlanta better by bike. In 2020, as we expand our work to include forms of sustainable and active transportation that are good for the city, please join us for this community shindig at the Trolley Barn (how appropriate).  RSVP to the Blinkies: Thursday, February 13th This party is FREE for current members! To become a member, join via atlantabike.org/join-donate Read more

We've long envisioned a day when biking is wholly integrated into Atlanta's daily life, culture, and infrastructure, and our mission has been focused on making biking equitable, safe, and appealing. This year, our 28th in existence, we worked with partners, members, and supporters on our next strategic plan.  Our new plan responds to changes in our environment and work with an updated mission and vision, and expanded goals that include walking and transit. By banding together with advocates for other sustainable kinds of transportation we will make progress faster than if we continued to work on bicycle infrastructure alone. Our city needs a connected transportation system that serves diverse needs, and that's what we're working towards, together.  Vision: An Atlanta where everyone moves safely, easily, and sustainably throughout the city Mission: To reclaim Atlanta’s streets as safe, inclusive,  and thriving spaces for people to ride, walk, and roll. I hope you'll join us in this next phase!

(ATLANTA) The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is pleased to announce it has received a $62,883.66 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).  The grant, which will continue through September of 2020, will provide bicycle safety education, with the goal of reducing bicycle crashes and injuries.   “Thanks to the GOHS, we are able to provide quality bike safety and skills training to hundreds of Atlanteans.  Our goal is to increase the density of people biking with zero bicycle crashes in Fulton and Dekalb counties.“ said Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Education & Outreach Program Manager Stephen Spring.   The GOHS-funded education program will include 44 bike classes for a range of people, from true beginners to bike commuters, with the goal of reaching 500 Atlantans with the trainings. Class types include City Cycling rides, Hack Your Commute, College & Community Bike Safety, and a ticket diversion program for those who receive tickets for bicycle traffic violations. The ticket diversion program aims to reduce the burden of fines on low-income residents, and increase awareness of bicycle safety.    Atlanta is the 20th safest large city for biking in the U.S., as measured by bicycle fatalities per 10,000 reported bicycle commuters. In the City of Atlanta, in 2016,  there were 152 crashes involving people on bikes and 116 injuries as a result. In the state of Georgia, Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties have among the highest total number of bicycle crashes, along with the highest rates of cycling in the state. By providing bike safety education, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition aims to reduce bicycle crashes and create safer streets for everyone.   ###   Founded in 1991, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is a membership-based nonprofit. Our work includes advocacy for a safe and connected network of bikeways and better conditions for bicycling, education for bicyclists and drivers on safety, resources to overcome barriers to biking, and opportunities to experience biking in a safe setting during Atlanta Streets Alive.   For more information on the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s award, contact Kathryn Curtis at 404.657.9079 or [email protected] For more information on GOHS and its safety programs visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.    

Yesterday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Josh Rowan, General Manager of Renew Atlanta/TSPLOST, will become the City's first Transportation Commissioner charged with bringing three existing City agencies together under one leader. We applaud the mayor on her selection and the comprehensive and progressive strategic plan announced alongside the Commissioner.   Read more

Last month, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a plan to build a safer and more equitable transportation network for people who walk, bike, and use other human-powered or light individual transportation (LIT) devices. To kick off this project, the City’s Office of Mobility Planning and Midtown Alliance used temporary materials and volunteers to build a “pop-up” protected bike lane on 10th Street in Midtown. The temporary lane connected the existing cycle track from Piedmont Park at Myrtle Street two additional blocks up to Juniper Street.  Read more

It’s frustrating when there are years of statistical data proving that specific streets are more dangerous than others.  It’s even more disturbing that people living in communities surrounded by dangerous streets have memories of severe and fatal traffic collisions etched in their minds. This “High-Injury Network” was researched by Georgia Tech graduate student John Saxton. Read more