Commuting - Question about Atlanta commuting.

Ok, i've been commuting for sometime inside intown atlanta. But I'm trying to get a job in a bad part of town. THe location is directly off of moreland ave 2.5 miles south of I-20. I would be commuting there from GA Tech. Am I insane? Is there anyway I can make this safe. Are there ANY safe neighborhoods south of I-20 other than Grant Park? You dont have to live in ATL to respond, I just need ideas on how to ride through bad neighborhoods, is it even worth trying? THanks alot everyone.

bump

Just ride and don't act scared. I lived in Atlanta, it's not a bad ride from Tech, really.

Just ride and don't act scared. I lived in Atlanta, it's not a bad ride from Tech, really.

Exactly. I've ridden through some pretty rough areas of Atlanta and no one has ever given me trouble, now the cars on the other hand. ;) Oh yeah, ugly your bike up so it's less attractive to thieves.

How should I deal with cars down there. moreland isn't bike friendly in the least bit. Quite frankly, moreland isn't friendly in any way shape or form.

Just ride the route, no one will mess with you, I've lived all over Atlanta (good and bad) and have never gotten harassed by a person on foot while riding my bike. I think a big part of it may be that I always tend to look like a bum on a bike, so as long as you aren't commuting in a Disco Team kit, you should be fine.

As for the cars, look for a route on less traffic'd roads, instead of Memorial, use Glenwood, get off Decatur St around Hill or Grant instead of taking all the way to Boulevard. Hey man you can do it.

How should I deal with cars down there. moreland isn't bike friendly in the least bit. Quite frankly, moreland isn't friendly in any way shape or form.

Just ride it and you will be ok. Honestly. I just moved from Atlanta and rode all over town with no worries. As with any trip you take whether in a car, on a bike, on the bus, or on foot you need to be aware of your surroundings.

thanks everyone, i'm going to go try a route i mapped out on google earth right now!

Try talking to or sending an email to the folks at the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (http://www.atlantabike.org). One of the employees lives south of I-20 and bike commutes on Moreland every day.

Thanks! Will do!

I know everyone will disagree with this and tell you no, but if you are really worried carry a firearm, many many many small pistols out there easy to fit in a pack or pocket.

Ohh, i'm TOTALLY ok with carrying a handgun. Heres the problem. If i fire it while riding, (which would prolly be the case) I will more than likely get thrown off my bike due to the kickback. Then, instead of being hurt/robbed by the mugger, i will be run over by the truck behind me. Since I'm run over and dead, the mugger can still steal my stuff. hence, a handgun just doesnt make sense.

man you must not have ever fired a pistol before....beacuse no handgun i have ever shot would throw you of your bike from kickback, your not firin ah 50 cal. here is ah pistol like a small 9mm or even a small 22 cal. not a tank.

hmm. i'm still going with mace/pepper spray.

dang, I do nearly that route in the opposite direction every day. Going from south of Decatur into Tech. What's job are you trying to get? In East Atlanta by any chance? I take Moreland down to Joe's, EARL, and the Gravity all the time and never have any problems on my bike. In fact, Moreland is usually preferable to the surrounding small streets at night.

Ohh, i'm TOTALLY ok with carrying a handgun. Heres the problem. If i fire it while riding, (which would prolly be the case) I will more than likely get thrown off my bike due to the kickback. Then, instead of being hurt/robbed by the mugger, i will be run over by the truck behind me. Since I'm run over and dead, the mugger can still steal my stuff. hence, a handgun just doesnt make sense.

If you don't own a firearm, buy one! You should however consider taking a firearm safety coarse. Im not trying to insult you, but if you would consider shooting from your bike, then you probably don't have the best idea as to when you should fire your weapon. And, you should be fine with recoil. I don't think there's a pistol made that will throw you off your bike.

By the way, I was born and raised in East Point. (It wasn't always a ghetto) Makes me homesick to read the names of the streets around Atlanta.

Boise excellent idea for anyone owning a firearm, go to a safety course, even if you do not own/carry one, jsut learn that Fireamrs dont equal satan.

Does anyone here know if Scott Burns is still biking around Atl? He was working as a mess. in St.louis a few years ago but moved back there. Just curious........

Just be courteous and aware of your surroundings. I doubt you'll really have any problems if you're on a busy street during the daytime.

I'd be more worried about any attachments you have on your bike. Lights, flashers, racks, quick-release seats, etc. make easy targets for thieves.

I agree that Moreland isn't too bike friendly, but it sure will be fast. You'll probably have angry drivers honking at you every day.

You might also take a look at a MARTA-based route. You could grab a train at Midtown or North Avenue and take it to one of the southern stations (S2 or S3), then ride the bike east from there. You might be able to avoid Moreland altogether, plus it would probably be a little faster. Southbound trains are pretty frequent, and going 5-6 stops would take like 10 minutes. See if your new employer offers MARTA cards. A lot of them do.

(In case you didn't know, you can take your bike on any train, any car, at any time.)

I like the marta south bound idea, and then ride the bike west bound. Its not daytime riding that bothers me, its night time.