About BikeAthens

BikeAthens 2006 Annual Letter

Dear Friend,

It’s been an exciting year for BikeAthens.

In 2005 and early 2006, for example, we distributed 65 refurbished bikes to adults and children underserved by public transportation; helped craft the Clarke County School District’s new wellness policy; assisted Athens-Clarke County in undertaking its comprehensive sidewalk mapping project; successfully advocated for the first true bike-ped projects ever included in the MACORTS regional transportation plan; lobbied at the state level for increased transit funding; and continued our work with the ACC Rail-Trail Committee and UGA Parking Services.

A more thorough list of recent accomplishments below - accomplishments which earned BikeAthens several profile pieces in local and state media, and which contributed to our selection as a 2006 Alec Little Environmental Award winner.

Among the victories, however, there were setbacks. Perhaps most significantly, the Athens-Clarke County Commission narrowly defeated two proposals to make Prince and Milledge Avenues safer for citizens who want or need to travel our streets without the use of a private automobile - ignoring years of public entreaties, and in contradiction to our Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Bike Master Plan and Long Range Transportation Plan.

In order to overcome such obstacles, and to keep working toward the day when each and every Athenian - regardless of age, income or physical ability - can safely and conveniently travel our streets on foot, by bus and by bike, we need you as a member.

I know that’s all you need to hear, but we have another incentive for you. By joining or rejoining now, you will receive a BikeAthens membership card good for discounts from a dozen local businesses. Please see details here, then join or rejoin by mail or online. When joining via our web site, please be sure to give us your mailing address.

However you choose to join or renew your membership, please come to our annual meeting on Thursday, May 4 at Little King’s Shuffle Club, downtown at the corner of Hancock and Hull, where we’ll have appetizers and a cash bar, starting at 7 p.m.

Hope to see you the 4th. Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,
Brent Buice
Chair-elect