About BikeAthens

BikeAthens 2003 Annual Report

This year was a productive year for BikeAthens and the community. Many advancements for alternative transportation occurred in Athens Clark County (ACC) during this past year, including approval of bike lanes for key roads across town which will increased connectivity for bike commuters, installation of pedestrian crosswalks at crucial locations along one of the heaviest traffic (both pedestrian and car) areas of town, and multiple interactions occurred between the Mayor and Commission and community groups to address the needs of the citizens instead of their automobiles. BikeAthens continues to be the source for information on use patterns and needs of the bicycle commuters for both UGA and the city as well as a source of information for citizens of ACC on important transit, bicycle, and pedestrian issues in Athens. Listed below are many of BikeAthens accomplishments throughout this past year.

• Sponsored our 4th Annual Tour de Sprawl. Friday night's keynote speaker, Chuck Bohl from the University of Florida's Knight Program in Community Building, spoke on the "Town Centers for Post-Suburban America." This talk focused on recreating the town centers in our communities which encourages human scale mobility and creates opportunities for interactions within the community. Speakers on Saturday's 13-mile ride highlighted effects of sprawl on community, wildlife, adaptive re-use and redevelopment, and accessibility to school, work, shops, and services by all residents. Speakers included:
  
  

Butch McDuffie, Director of Athens Transit Services for Athens Transit Authority, spoke on 'The Future of Transportation in Athens' and the long awaited multi-modal center.

Barbara Bacon, Housing Program Coordinator for the East Athens Development Corporation, spoke on the 'Need for Better Transportation Services for Lower Income Citizens.'

Bob Segrest, architect and partner in Bloomer Segrest Architecture, discussed the 'Adaptive Reuse of Buildings' in one of Athens' best examples, the Chase Park Warehouse Complex. Canopy Studio, one of the tenants of this complex, presented an abridged presentation of 'Big Box Blues' with a performance on trapeze and by local singer Julie Powell.

Jack Crowley, Dean of the College of Environment and Design spoke on the topic of redevelopment and infill.

Dr. Liz Kramer, Public Service Assistant at the UGA Institute of Ecology, discussed the 'Effects of Sprawl on Wildlife.'

Melanie Ruhlman of the Upper Oconee Watershed Network (UOWN) described the methods used to restore the stream bank and dedicated their conservation project at Ben Burton Park.

ACC Mayor Heidi Davison, spoke about 'Community Building' in Athens.

Robert Ransay, Financial Advisor at Raymond James Financial Services, discussed the 'Importance of Historic Preservation and the Need for a Downtown Historic Preservation Designation' in Athens.

• Advocated to have SPLOST 2000 bike improvement project funds directed toward the linking of existing in-town bicycle facilities. For the first time, the Mayor and Commission directed Public Works employees to work with BikeAthens to determine routes of importance for these improvements. This was a major breakthrough for BikeAthens as the users would finally have direct input in which routes were selected and the design of the routes (size of lanes, where bike lanes vs. bike areas were acceptable, sidewalks, crosswalks, signage along road, etc.). Improvements were gained on Alps, Oglethorpe, Williams, East Campus, Prince, Milledge, Lumpkin, and Baxter streets.

• Advocated successfully for pedestrian crosswalks with signage on one of the town's main corridors (for car, bike, and pedestrian), Prince Avenue.

• Generated significant public input on the annual MACORTS Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

• Launched campaign to generate public input on the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study-Long Range Transportation Plan (MACORTS-LRTP). This plan outlines the transportation growth patterns for the next 20 years which will influence the future design of our cities and therefore the accessibility of jobs, school, and services. Transportation of automobiles through road building was the main focus of the previous version. During previous comment periods on LRTP, there were few responses from citizens. BikeAthens brought attention to this opportunity for public comment through an intense grassroots campaign that focused on the often overlooked portion of the commuters, the transit riders, cyclist, and pedestrians. This comment period resulted in the highest response level with almost 400 comments. Seventy-five percent of these comments addressed the current state of our transit system and its need for improvement.

• Began implementing a Bicycle Recycling Program. Thirty unclaimed bikes were donated from ACC to BikeAthens. These bikes will be cleaned and repaired and then with the help of other community organizations, they will be distributed to ACC citizens in need of a reliable source of transportation. Two members of BikeAthens were given partial scholarships to attend a bicycle repair workshop held at a local bike shop in exchange for helping repair these bikes. If this pilot program is successful, we hope to expand it during 2004.

• Advocated for improved funding for transit services. In addition to the LRTP comment period, BikeAthens continually works with Athens Transit and the local government to find ways to increase funding opportunities for transit in Athens through grants, letter writing campaigns, and meetings with state officials.

• Worked with UGA Parking Services Task Force to identify campus locations where additional bike racks and covered bike parking were added (or will be in the future). BikeAthens was also asked to determine costs associated with these racks.

• Worked with UGA Facilities Planning (University Architects) on a campus Bicycle Master Plan. Also initiated discussions between University Architects and government officials to assure connectivity of their respective Bicycle Master Plans.

• Participated on the ACC Rails-to-Trails Committee for the future development of transportation corridor (rail-trail) linking eastside with downtown UGA, using reconstructed trestles over Trail Creek and the North Oconee River.

• Advocated for reinstatement of federal funds for bicycle/pedestrian facilities in the House of Representatives transportation appropriations bill (these funds were reinstated September 4, 2003).

• Sponsored multiple bike rides in association with other community organizations or businesses to bring attention to local causes, including the North Oconee River Greenway Celebration, Athens Regional Medical Center Breastfest, and Oconee River Land Trust's Celebration of Land.

• Sponsored Bike-to-Work Day and a Courteous Mass group ride in association with April 2003 Greenfest Earth Day Celebration. Greenfest is organized by a coalition of local organizations to provide citizens with the opportunity to increase their awareness of and interest in improving the environment of their home, yard, business, and community. Bike-to-Work Day focuses attention on the use of a bicycle as a viable mode of transportation in our relatively compact town.

• Worked with a coalition of local advocacy groups to produce an environmental agenda with specific recommendations to the ACC Mayor and Commission.

• Advocated successfully (with other groups) for a new ACC Environmental Coordinator position to oversee and direct all ACC environmental activities.

• Participated in (at the request of the Mayor) a community meeting on the redevelopment of a local shopping area to provide comments on the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

• Participated in approximately 20 UGA Freshman Orientation Sessions meeting new students and parents of new student to encourage bicycle usage of campus.