Friday, November 25, 2011
Transit PATH continues push for network of bike trails connecting metro Atlanta
Posted by George Weidman on Fri, Nov 25, 2011 at 2:20 PM
The grand plan — a nifty conceptual map of which can be viewed here — would turn Centennial Olympic Park into the hub for a regional network of off-street bike trails that would, after connecting to the Beltline, stretch outside the perimeter in six different directions.
"If we can truly do this, I think we would be the most connected city in the United States," McBrayer said.
The proposed network would provide carless Atlantans with a contiguous web of bike trails that would give access to destinations far and wide, including Lakewood Amphitheater, Piedmont Hospital and Lenox Mall.
According to McBrayer, a plan to build a bike path between Loridans Drive and Peachtree Creek in the shadow of Ga. 400 has "taken off like a bullet." The group has already raised two-thirds of the funding needed to build the six-mile stretch of trail. PATH is scheduled to construct the project within three years.
One other useful (and far cheaper) development: PATH is also planning to build a connection to CL's favorite grocery, Your DeKalb Farmers Market, via the Stone Mountain Trail.
Comments (7)
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"If we can truly do this, I think we would be the most connected city in the United States," McBrayer said.
Atlanta boosterism at its finest. I used to race and have been all over the country, even if you make these connections Atlanta will still be bottom tier. PATH does an excellent job considering the political climate which for the most part has been mocking of the concept of bike paths. Most of the existing paths around Atlanta are a joke with a few exceptions. This "new Amsterdam" and "most connected" talk is waaay to premature. Can we at least shed "most dangerous" first. I applaud the effort but...
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Can someone explain to me the history behind much of the dislike for PATH? Over the years I've seen many projects criticized for being built by PATH. Is there actually something to this or just the people in those particular neighborhoods having a fortess attitude? I've never seen good reasons for the PATH hate but that hate does seem to actually exist. It's really weird.
As far as Atlanta being the in the top tier, it's a great goal and I hope we make it but keep in mind that by the time we build out the trails that would make us top notch if they existed today, all of these other cities are going to be building upon their already extensive networks.
I used to race all over the country too, and I completely disagree with the first comment. By developing a network of interconnected PATH trails, consider the awareness that's raised around cycling in general and how accessible the sport becomes to the novice. PATH also marks on-road trails as well as off. So if you want to advocate for dedicated bike lanes, you have a cause to take up with the "sharrows" that are popping up everywhere. But as far as PATH is concerned, remember that racers like you and I are the exception, amateurs are the rule. If you want top tier, move to Colorado, where cycling/multi-use path culture has been embraced for decades. It's taken PATH years of work to get the kind of momentum and political support that they have now. Atlanta is just beginning to realize its potential of truly becoming an active living city, and that's something to celebrate.
Machete, I only pointed out that Atlanta is NOT top tier and won't be close to being the "most connected" when the proposed paths are completed 20 years from now. Even as you pointed out " If you want top tier, move to Colorado,..." (Or anywhere in California.)
The "most connected" was a ridiculous statement. So was the "new Amsterdam" quote from 2 weeks ago. They are making things up.
I rode on the Arabia Mtn trail this weekend and it was great. I would have really enjoyed biking on a trail from my home in intown Atlanta out to Mt Arabia instead of using my bike rack and having to travel on I-20.
As a cyclist, I don't hate PATH. The system was for years the only system - and it has raised awareness of both pedestrian and cycling facilities in the city. But the system focuses on separation of cyclists from roads, which limits the system's utility for many - except recreational cyclists (note - many, not all). The largely un-used (and probably expensive) path along Baker/Highland from Piedmont to Jackson is a great example, and required the removal of a perfectly good, utilized bike lane from the road.
It is worrisome when the city gives funding to the organization and doesn't develop a good network of streets for cyclists. However, we have come a long way since my former neighborhood installed the awful bulb-outs along McClendon, hopefully.
@bikethom: I'm glad you mentioned the Baker/Highland path as one that hasn't quite lived up to expectations. I have need of that route occasionally, and I actually find the separated route to be more inconvenient than the bike lanes were before it replaced them.
This is an especially important point in light of Creative Loafing's recent article describing improvements in bicycle infrastructure and raising a comparison between Atlanta and Amsterdam ( http://clatl.com/atlanta/atlanta-becoming-… ).
The thrust of the article, and the comments, seemed to be that Amsterdam is the shining example to which we should aspire -- based largely on two factors: (1) the large number of people who ride bicycles there, and (2) their system of separating the bike lanes from the roadways.
But I would offer that these are different issues and can be achieved (or rejected) independently. And the Baker/Highland path is my prime example of why we should not go overboard with spending money on separated bikeways. Based on my own experience using the system in Amsterdam, the Baker/Highland connection is pretty similar to theirs in all respects -- right down to the awkward connections to cross streets.
Dutch success is built on a commitment toward always looking for the "third way" -- the compromise or alternative that bridges the needs of all stakeholders, even though it may never have been tried before.
I think we have more to learn from the Dutch people's philosophical example than by their physical example. It may well be that their separated bike lanes don't work as well here: Our streets are much wider than theirs on average; our terrain is vastly different; our cities occupy a larger footprint and distances between towns are much, much longer.
There is room for argument as to whether the Dutch bicycle infrastructure is even the best solution for the Dutch. There is even more room for argument as to whether it is the best solution for us.
After a late start, we're on our way to having a great infrastructure and dramatically increased bicycle ridership. But separated bikeways like the Baker/Highland route don't necessarily have to be part of that. And as a bicycle commuter, my personal hope is that we'll do a few of those trails where they make the most sense, but that we'll really focus our efforts on bike lanes next to regular roads.
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