Born and raised in East Atlanta, Géoving Gérard, II has biked almost all of the area within I-285 and gained a unique view of people as he documented new connections through photography. “I think the beauty of biking, walking, and other pedestrian-oriented ways of transportation is that I see you as a person,” Geo says.
Géoving Gérard, II, at the intersection where he was hit by a driver. Photos: Justin Blaine Miller/Propel ATL
However, a ride that Geo started for exercise quickly turned into a harrowing experience.
In broad daylight, a driver making an unprotected left turn struck Geo, causing him to go flying and break his fibula.
Geo saw the person speed off. While multiple people witnessed the hit-and-run, only one stopped to help.
“I felt invisible,” Geo recounts of the traumatic afternoon that left him unable to walk for two months. “There weren't any cameras; there wasn't any documentation.”
Old Jonesboro Road and Metropolitan Parkway. Photo: Google Streetview
The intersection where Geo was hit, Old Jonesboro Road and Metropolitan Parkway, seemed inherently dangerous to him, and he offered some suggestions to Atlanta City Council about how to make it safer. “That needs to be either a three-way stop, [or] put a light there… And I think [in response] there was a lot of, like, well, that's a state-owned road. I don't know what we can do .”
The response to Geo’s concerns hits a genuine issue for those concerned about safer streets. Metropolitan Parkway, like many high-injury corridors within metro Atlanta, is officially SR 19, a state highway. This can make change more difficult than if it were a city-controlled street.
“I think that's where a lot of people become disinterested in government and [pushing] for change,” Geo observes. “Because if change doesn't happen quick enough, you choose to move on with other parts of your life that you might have more direct control over.”
Throughout all that Geo has experienced, he still sees an opportunity to weave alternative modes of transportation into the fabric of Atlanta. “Anything that brings people together more—such as biking, walking, or running— creates a higher likelihood of creating community,” he says.