The City of Atlanta recorded the highest rate of increase in biking to work between 2000 and 2009—an impressive 386%, surpassing even bicycle standard bearer Portland, OR—according to a report released by the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
Yet according to American Community Survey data, just 0.8% of Atlanta residents are hopping on their bicycles to get to work. The dearth of infrastructure funding—only 1% of federal transportation tax dollars spent in Atlanta go towards bicycle and pedestrian projects—is largely to blame.
“A much greater investment is needed in biking and walking to increase active transportation,” says Jeffrey Miller, President/CEO of the Alliance for Biking and Walking. “The Benchmarking Report shows that biking and walking are smart and cost-effective solutions that will pay for themselves many times over in healthcare savings and impact on local economies.”
Atlanta’s preliminary investments in bicycling and walking have already resulted in a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city. Edgewood Avenue underwent a “road diet” in 2004 that included bike lanes. Today the street is the city’s most popular bike route, according to biannual bicycle traffic counts. A variety of local businesses are thriving; the commercial strip has transformed into a Friday night destination; and the street is safer for all users—people driving, walking, biking, and patronizing local businesses—as a result. In 2013. the Atlanta Streetcar project will add a modern streetcar system to the mix, bringing bike lanes into the heart of downtown Atlanta in the process.
With the Atlanta BeltLine underway, Atlanta is poised to make a breakthrough into the top tier of cities nationally for cycling. Projects such as the proposed safety conversion on Ponce de Leon—where drivers are routinely involved in major crashes resulting in serious injuries—show how streets with BeltLine connections can be improved to the benefit of all.
“This summer voters have the chance to approve a penny transportation sales tax that would build half the BeltLine trails. As a bonus, the referendum would allow local governments the discretion to build purely local projects with 15% of the funds collected. We’ll be pushing for the bicycle network envisioned by the Connect Atlanta Plan to be fully planned and built out with those funds,” notes Rebecca Serna, Executive Director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.
In the meantime, the city spends just $4.53 per person on biking and walking, tied for 24th place with Louisville, El Paso, and Milwaukee. “Atlanta will continue miss opportunities to make big investments in bicycle projects until it comes up with a local matching source to bring in valuable federal transportation dollars, ” says Serna.
Atlanta’s city council may soon consider a “Complete Streets” ordinance to reinforce the city’s practice of planning for all transportation choices, but the city lacks a detailed bike plan with shovel-ready projects.
“Biking is on the rise in Atlanta, but the city won’t achieve its full potential until we invest in a network of safe and welcoming spaces for people to ride bicycles – for fun, fitness, and transportation,” said Atiba Mbiwan, Board President of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.
The study also notes that those cities with the highest levels of bicycling and walking lower levels of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Sixty-four percent of Atlanta residents are currently overweight or obese.
“Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2012 Benchmarking Report” was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and made possible through additional support from AARP and Planet Bike. For more information and to download the report visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/benchmarking.
