PATH Extension

This is an awesome idea to extend the PATH to Centennial Park. I would be happy with an extension to Peachtree St.  Unfortunately there can’t be anything done about the uphill from where the PATH is now to Peachtree St.  From the Creative Loafing, article here…

Downtown PATH, regional tax's cycling projects, Tech Square bike lanes, and other two-wheeler news

Posted by George Weidman on Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 3:35 PM

 

Prefer riding on two wheels around Atlanta rather than sitting trapped in a car? Rebecca Serna of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition filled us in on several developments you and other cyclists can look forward to over the coming years.

First up is the PATH Foundation's extension of the existing Freedom Park trail which would run along Harris Street — excuse us, John Portman Boulevard at Historic Harris Street — through downtown Atlanta and end at Centennial Park. Two lanes of traffic along Harris Street would be removed to transform the road into a more pedestrian friendly thoroughfare with a 10-foot-wide bike path, a tree-lined buffer and new crosswalks. The ambitious trail — the first we've heard of in Atlanta — would increase access to the hotel district and provide a link to the Atlanta Beltline. The project, which would cost $2 million and be funded by PATH, has been in development for several months but hit some snags after nearby businesses expressed concerns over how the trail might affect delivery trucks and taxis. According to Serna, PATH is working with nearby businesses to work out the proposal's kinks. Neighborhood groups have already voiced support.

More here.

Best bike lanes for aiding traffic flow

Decatur’s new bike lanes received a Staff Pick from Creative Loafing’s Best of 2011 awards.  You can read more here.

Cityscape

Best bike lanes for aiding traffic flow

Staff Pick

Though far from being the two-wheelers' playground it could be, Atlanta's made some inroads when it comes to cycling. The most welcome addition to the metro region's disparate bicycle network: Decatur’s new bike lanes along West Ponce de Leon Avenue and West Trinity Place.

Bike lanes are great, protected bike lanes are even better.  Ponce could have benefitted from protected bike lanes.  It’s a great place to put bike lanes in because it leads into the City of Decatur.  It’s a great place to take away a lane because there are less cars speeding on the road.  It’s like an unannounced drag race.  The protected lanes would help because it discourages other drivers from passing when a car is turning.  And cars still go pretty fast and having one fly by you is needless to say scary.

Yay for the award, maybe the new bikes lanes will be protected.

Bike Safety Tips for Car Free Day

It’s Car Free Day in Decatur and Be Active Decatur has some bike safety tips…

Decatur is celebrating Car Free Day this Wednesday, September 21 and the Active Living Division will have a table at the Blue Sky Concert giving away stickers and tattoos to those who walk or bike to the Square. To make sure everyone arrives safely, we want to remind everyone of some safety tips.

Safety Tips for Bicyclists

·       Always ride with traffic and follow the rules of the road. Forget what you might have heard in the past, you should ride with the flow of traffic. This makes you more predictable and visible to motorists, especially at intersections and driveways. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars, and use hand signals when turning and stopping. Obey traffic signs, signals and lane markings and yield to traffic when appropriate, including pedestrians.

·       Don’t ride on the sidewalk, unless you are 12 or under. Although you might think it is safer, motorists are simple not looking for bicyclists on the sidewalk, especially those riding against traffic.

·       Ride on the trail, paved shoulder, bike lane or bike route when possible.

·       Be predictable and visible. Try not to be hesitant or do things that motorists and other travelers may not be expecting. Make sure everyone can see you and knows where you are and where you are going. If riding in the dark, use headlights, taillights and reflectors and wear reflective materials and brightly colored clothing. Do not wear headphones or talk on a cell phone.

·       Watch for stuff on the road or trail that might make you fall or swerve. Also watch for parked cars, doors opening, and cars pulling out of driveways.

·       Watch for turning traffic. Most car/bike collisions happen at intersections and driveways when motorists or bicyclists are turning.

Read on here.

2015 Road World Championships Goes to Richmond, Virginia

Awesome! From Cycling News online…

2015 Road World Championships Goes to Richmond, Virginia

By: Cycling News

Published: September 21, 14:34, Updated: September 21, 14:56

Oman withdraws bid

The 2015 UCI Road World Championships will go to Richmond, Virginia, after Oman, the only other bidder, withdrew its application just prior to a final scheduled vote on Wednesday. The UCI will announce its selection officially at approximately 11:15 am local time (EDT).

Read on here.

Ragdoll

I never knew what the term 'Ragdoll' meant until I saw this video. I picked it up originally from Bike Hugger.

Cyclocross Knowledge

I found this little tidbit from the bonedeth tumblr site which is Dan Chabanov of the RGM Watches/Richard Sachs Bikes CX team...


elartiste asked: How do you feel about a single chainring option for CX? I'm currently running a 50/34 and would like to switch to one 44. I know it's mostly personal preference but I was just wondering what your thoughts are.
Get the 44 and keep the 34. Why limit your self? The little ring has its uses. For instance when its peanut butter mud you’re riding though the little ring lets you keep your chain mid cassette and your derailer away from your spokes. Being able to do that could save your derailer from an untimely death. There are other benefits like being able to ride some technical run ups and honestly I don’t think anyone has ever lost a race because their gear range was too wide. I’m all for double chain rings. Currently I am running 44/38 with a 12/28 in the back.

The things I have to learn to keep mud and other grime out of my derailer.

Premium Rush

Teammates

I always like to hear a good cycling quote. From a VeloNews article about Andreas Klier. Read the article here.

“I have done the Vuelta nine or 10 times, this was the hardest Vuelta I have done,” he said. “I was not much help to my teammate Dan Martin. The best thing I could do for him was pack his suitcase in the morning or carry his suitcase to the lobby.”

BikeDecatur Friday Social - Join Us 7:30 pm MARTA Church Street

Fellow Cyclists -

This is to announce a test run of the BikeDecatur Friday Social, a ride with the purpose of getting together and talking while riding.  

Meet at the Church Street MARTA Plaza opposite Sycamore at 7:30 and ride around Decatur, an 8 mile route is mapped out.  This is a "No Drop" ride – we stick together, riding at the pace of the slowest rider.  Then after the ride we go to a bar and relax a little longer.  

If this is successful, we will try it again in October, the 3rd Friday.

So please join us if you want to talk about biking or Decatur or anything else!

BikeDecatur

Tools

If there was a commute where things went wrong, today was it. I broke a link. I had chain links but they were the wrong size. But having extra links doesn't matter if there is no chain breaker.

I asked several other bike commuters and finally someone had a chain breaker. After fixing the broken link, my stem came loose. The chances of anyone having a 12mm wrench was even lower than a chain breaker. I had to start finding other options of getting home. There's always tomorrow.

Tree Down

A tree was down on the Path along DeKalb Av. Got some cyclocross practice going up the off camber uphill.

Chrome Metropolis

I finally joined the masses of Chrome bag users.

Tomatillos EAV

Watch For Cyclists