BikeAthens Update

September 22, 2005

• Make Prince Safe Now!
• Two pedestrians killed in two days
• Commission rail-trail vote expected
• M&C to address sidewalks, Old Hull Road
• Tour de Sprawl/Safe Routes Athens news

MAKE PRINCE SAFE NOW!

Last week BikeAthens launched the “Make Prince Safe Now!” campaign, designed to rally public support behind implementing traffic-calming measures on Prince Avenue when the street is repaved in October. As it stands, in a few weeks Prince from downtown to Milledge will be repaved and striped as it appears today: four lanes for cars, no new safety measures for people.

As part of our campaign, BikeAthens volunteers have distributed bright green postcards - making the case for a safer Prince - in businesses downtown, in Five Points and along the Prince Avenue corridor. The postcards are addressed to the mayor and commission, and most are pre-stamped and require only a signature and address before being dropped in the nearest mailbox. Many pick-up locations are marked by a bright green “Make Prince Safe Now!” flier or poster in the window. If you haven’t already, please be sure to pick up a card and thank the proprietors for their support. For specific locations, e-mail bradaaron@bellsouth.net.

It is also VERY important that your elected officials hear from you personally. Please take the time to e-mail, call or write your commissioners - no matter who they are - and politely tell them you support traffic calming safety measures on Prince Avenue as part of the October repaving. **No one’s vote is a given**, so it is crucial that ALL commissioners hear from their constituents, and soon, as this issue will be decided over the next few weeks.

Read this week’s Flagpole for background on Prince Avenue: http://www.flagpole.com/articles.php?fp=5613

View and print “Make Prince Safe Now!” materials

TWO PEDESTRIANS KILLED IN TWO DAYS

Early Tuesday morning, Oconee County pediatrician Stephen Floyd was struck and killed by an SUV while jogging on Highway 186 near Bishop. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the driver has not been charged as police continue to investigate.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/092105/new_20050921053.shtml

A little over 24 hours earlier, Janice Dukes was run down while walking on Whit Davis Road. She was later pronounced dead at Athens Regional Medical Center. In this case, the driver - apparently driving a Chevrolet pickup or SUV - left the scene. Athens-Clarke County Police are looking for the vehicle.

http://onlineathens.com/stories/092205/new_20050922043.shtml

Earlier this month, a homeless man, Robert Louis Smith, was the victim of a hit-and-run driver while cycling on Newton Bridge Road. According to the latest reports, police are investigating a possible link between the Smith assault and the murders of a homeless man and woman in August.

http://onlineathens.com/stories/091505/new_20050915064.shtml

COMMISSION RAIL-TRAIL VOTE EXPECTED

Tonight - Thursday, September 22 - the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission will hold a special session to vote on a proposed property exchange with Tailgate Station on Oak Street, located next to the site of the East Athens rail-trail. The 7 p.m. vote will follow a closed executive session.

According to the agenda report, the land swap would involve trading four single-family residential parcels on or near the rail-trail, owned by Athens-Clarke County, in exchange for part of the former CSX rail bed between Poplar and Peter streets, now owned by Tailgate Station.

The agenda report says “Recent and proposed additional development of the Tailgate Station Parking Project could possibly impact the constructability of the CSX corridor Rail-to-Trail Project,” and that Tailgate Station, “to complete construction in time for the 2006-football season … must file an application for rezoning by September 30, 2005. Thus, a Special Called Meeting under Suspension of Rules was requested.”

As a condition of the swap as proposed, Athens-Clarke County is expected to grant Tailgate Station a rezoning of the exchanged properties.

Earlier this summer, Tailgate Station developers erected a retaining wall along the historic rail line in order to expand their football parking lot, and violated their approved site plans by digging into the rail bed - which they later attempted to reconstruct.

Though Athens-Clarke County embarked on the rail-trail project in 2000, and millions in SPLOST funds and Congressional earmarks have since been allocated for its construction, the local government has yet to acquire any right-of-way.

M&C TO ADDRESS SIDEWALKS, OLD HULL ROAD

Also tonight, the mayor and commission will review the latest round of ACC sidewalk projects, in preparation for the October 4 regular session. New sidewalk segments are planned for Alps Road, Chase Street, Research Drive, Mitchell Bridge Road and Magnolia Street.

A revised plan for Old Hull Road is listed on the agenda as well, but as of this writing no agenda report was available and it is unlikely commissioners will discuss the project tonight.

Earlier this month the commission voted unanimously to reconsider an August decision on the widening of Old Hull. The plan as passed in August featured incomplete sidewalks and omitted previously approved bicycle facilities. Commissioner Alice Kinman has since worked with county staff on a potential revision of the project, and is proposing a multi-use path designed for cyclist and pedestrian use. A final decision on the project could come at the October 4 regular session.

TOUR DE SPRAWL/SAFE ROUTES ATHENS NEWS

Several members have asked about plans for this year’s Tour de Sprawl. The board has decided to forego the Tour this year in lieu of other fall and winter BikeAthens events, including the Safe Routes Athens Walk and Bike to School Day on October 5.

The Clarke County School District and BikeAthens are teaming up to initiate a Safe Routes to School program for our public schools. This initiative - called Safe Routes Athens - is now underway at Barrow Elementary. BikeAthens’ hope is to expand the program to all Clarke County public schools over the coming years.

Safe Routes to School is an international program that brings together parents, teachers, children, businesses and other members of the community to encourage children and their parents to walk, bicycle, or take the bus to school. The primary goal: to promote physical activity among school-age children while making our streets safer for those who cannot or do not drive.

The official kick-off event for Safe Routes Athens is its participation in iwalk 2005 - International Walk, Bike, and Take the Bus to School Day - to be celebrated at Barrow Elementary on October 5.

Visit www.saferoutesathens.com for details and volunteer information