We advocated for a safer Memorial Drive for years. This summer we celebrated work starting on a separated two-way bike/scoot lane. Despite the joy of seeing a highly useful new section of the network get underway, the project has had its challenges.
This week we rode the corridor with Jeremy, a new bike commuter who won an e-bike at our Blinkie Awards earlier this year, to see how it’s working–and not working–for him.
Memorial Drive (GDOT) two-way protected bike/scoot lane
An environmental permitting issue caused a construction delay on this project. Happily, work resumed in late October and should be completed in early December. The bike/scoot lane is already being used by people biking and scooting even in its incomplete state, but many people using the road aren’t used to the new street design yet. The biggest safety concerns are drivers using the bike/scoot lane illegally (including one high-profile crash involving a state representative), or turning into the path of people on bikes and scooters going through intersections.
Album with photos and video: Propel ATL
We've been using Memorial Drive to get downtown on a regular basis, so many of Jeremy's concerns were familiar ones [our asks in bold]:
- Many people behind the wheel are not looking for people on bikes and scooters, creating turning conflicts. A few bicyclists have been hit by drivers making right turns. We've requested signal timing to protect people on bikes and scooters by having an all-bike/scoot signal phase where drivers are not allowed to make turns.
- Some drivers have actually entered the bike/scoot lane to drive or park. We requested posts/bollards at every entrance to the bike/scoot lane, on both ends, to prevent this from happening.
- Near the cemetery, some corners have low visibility for drivers entering Memorial Drive. We requested convex mirrors be installed to improve visibility.
- The long driveway between Powell and Tye Street is creating conflict points between drivers and people on bikes and scooters. We asked for a raised marking of some kind to better delineate the bike/scoot lane.
- The buses now stop further away from the curb, creating accessibility challenges. We asked for "floating bus stops" so people using mobility devices can have better curb access.
- Once you reach downtown, it's confusing. The bike/scoot lane seems to end, and there's no wayfinding signage pointing to the Trinity Ave bike/scoot lane or the facility on MLK Jr Dr. The contractor is installing the last block that connects across Capital Ave to Trinity. Downtown Atlanta is working on a wayfinding project.
Other recent project progress
- Forsyth St separated bike/scoot lanes: ATLDOT posts to separate the bike/scoot lane were delayed, so they put in temporary barricades on sections of the street. Work resumed the week of 11/4 and now we're waiting on posts to separate the bike/scoot lane.
- Piedmont Ave: Midtown Alliance put this project out to bid the week of 11/4/24.
- DeKalb Ave Safety Improvements: ATLDOT installed a ramp we requested years ago at the end of the separated bike/scoot lane near Palifox, so people using the facility could access the PATH trail where the on-street lane ends.
- Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard: ATLDOT, Beltline, and GDOT upgraded the bike lanes and installed ADA ramps.
- Howell Mill: ATLDOT’s Complete Streets project, originally funded in 2016, is getting closer and closer to being completed.
In other news, residents of Southwest Atlanta protested after a $120 Million bond for World Cup projects was adopted, calling for more funding for sidewalks in communities. Read more
