Southeast - Atlanta/Decatur needs a LONG "What's Up" thread too!

Who's up for Melton's tonight? Should actually be in the 40's for most of it. See you there!

Who else will be at the next East Wesley ride (http://www.atlantabike.org/Wesley_Road.html#W1) (February 10) besides me? I don't want to be the only idiot out there freezing his fanny.

The fates are conspiring against me whenever a East Wesley ride is planned. But due to previous commitments I won't be able to make it. But I think it is great that a number of the people who live on East Wesley are protesting the construction . Keep up the good work and I keep looking out for a ride I can attend.

But I think it is great that a number of the people who live on East Wesley are protesting the construction. Keep up the good work and I keep looking out for a ride I can attend.
A number of residents in the E. Wesley Road area have these signs in their yards. MT is right. Many folks in that area DON'T like the idea of screwing up a perfectly good road.

http://www.atlantabike.org/images/E_Wesley_yard-sign.jpg

that entire area is just a mess...and every time I go through e wesley it's just worse

Here's a brief news clip from the Garden Hills Town Crier.

The work on the East Wesley project was stopped for the second time last Friday by the Mayor, as the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign has continued its pressure to make the project accommodate bike lanes on East Wesley.
On Saturday, the Civic Association received through Howard Shook a one-page sketch from the City Engineers that showed a redesign of one section of East Wesley that illustrated a possible compromise that would put two four-foot wide bike lanes on the street.

Maybe these bike rides on East Wesley and the complaints of the residents are getting through to the city officials. :beer:

Maybe these bike rides on East Wesley and the complaints of the residents are getting through to the city officials. :beer:

Very cool, way to go ABC!

Free Valentine's hot chocolate. What a gimmick. :p

Very cool, way to go ABC!
GT, will you be there?
Have you seen yourself in some of the pictures (http://www.atlantabike.org/Wesley_pictures.html) on the website?

I don't want to be the only idiot out there freezing his fanny.
Luckily I wasn't the only idiot at the East Wesley ride.
It was a "warm" morning ~30F (windchill ~22F). :o
I saw Josh and Tommy at the ride. Any other BF folks there that I didn't see or haven't met?

This may be bad news for East Wesley and may be an indication of what will happen to many other roads and streets in the city of Atlanta.

February 13, 2007

Thank you very much for your concerns and interest during the development of this project. As you are aware, we have been working diligently to develop plans that take into consideration the expressed needs of the East Wesley community as well the needs of those who utilize this road for bicycling and other mobility purposes. However, we are of the opinion that the need to achieve aggressive traffic calming is paramount for the East Wesley corridor. Therefore, the department of Pubic Works will be implementing the construction of the project as originally designed. We remain sensitive to the need for alternative mobility throughout the city and propose an alternate route for those that choose to use bicycles to traverse between Peachtree and Piedmont along the East Wesley corridor.

If you have any questions concerning the construction, please feel free to contact Greg Holder at ghholder@atlantaga.gov or (404) 330-6208.

David E. Scott, P.E.
Commissioner
Department of Public Works
City of Atlanta
(404) 330-6240

:lol: Nine people who live in the E. Wesley area have already emailed Commissioner Scott (in the last 6 minutes) about this decision. (I'm on their email list)

Go ahead folks and rip him a new "you-know-what". :)

Aggressive traffic calming my ass! Here's a progressive traffic calming plan for this city, how about writing a few speeding tickets. How hard would that be. (yes I've had a few beers tonight)

on a different subject, how are you liking that sweet new ride, Josh?

It is awesome, I just need a good day off to really shake her down. Onto another subject, I have made arrangements with the Thinking Man Tavern for a viewing of the final stage of the Tour of California on their big screen projector. This will be on Feb 25 from 5-7pm, who wants to come?

Onto another subject, I have made arrangements with the Thinking Man Tavern for a viewing of the final stage of the Tour of California on their big screen projector. This will be on Feb 25 from 5-7pm, who wants to come?

Thinking Man's Tavern!! Way to go Josh, I'll be there for sure.

Think you can list this on the ITC site for me, if we can get a bunch of folks out to this we can probably pull somithing off for the TDF as well.

Think you can list this on the ITC site for me, if we can get a bunch of folks out to this we can probably pull somithing off for the TDF as well.

Sure thing, I'll post it on the website and mention it to the group.

BTW, the new ITC website is up... http://intowntouring.googlepages.com

It's still a work in progress, so this isn't an official announcement.

It is awesome, I just need a good day off to really shake her down. Onto another subject, I have made arrangements with the Thinking Man Tavern for a viewing of the final stage of the Tour of California on their big screen projector. This will be on Feb 25 from 5-7pm, who wants to come?

Josh - is there an official notice for this? I can post it on the Sorella forum too.

Edit: not a notice about your shake down of your bike, but for the Thinking Man Tavern event.

Josh - is there an official notice for this? I can post it on the Sorella forum too.

Edit: not a notice about your shake down of your bike, but for the Thinking Man Tavern event.

Feel free to put the word out, lets see if we can turn the Thinking Man into a "biker bar".

I can be there from like 5PM to 5:45PM

I can be there from like 5PM to 5:45PM

Hey! Good luck at the Tundra! We want a full report! Tip from last year: don't slow down to chat with the course marshals during the race. They really don't care where you bought your booties. :o

ugh, I did a full test run last saturday and it was horrible...my power numbers were low and I FELL DOWN ON THE TURNAROUND! :( :( :( Quite embarassing...it threw my chain off too. I lost about 30 seconds or so...

ugh, I did a full test run last saturday and it was horrible...my power numbers were low and I FELL DOWN ON THE TURNAROUND! :( :( :( Quite embarassing...it threw my chain off too. I lost about 30 seconds or so...


Okay. I didn't fall. But, I did just give up and stop, put a foot down and picked up my bike to turn. Chatting with the guys at the turn the whole way. Came in DFL, but at least not a DNF.

I'd rather have a million DFLs before a DNF or DNS...I got a 24:20, so I figure about a 23:50 if I don't fall, plus I was a little injured. I'm HOPING I can break sub 23 minutes

Holy cow! That's an impressive time! I was hoping to do it this year, to see how I would do now that I can actually breath. (Finally getting bad asthma under control!) You'll do great!

the weather is looking up! partly cloudy, high of 49, NO RAIN!!! but maybe a little windy, but still!

Ok folks. Here I am again -- Mr. Pain-in-the-eh, er, Neck. Gotta keep it clean. :)
We're doing another East Wesley (http://www.atlantabike.org/Wesley_Road.html#W1) ride this Saturday, February 24.
The weather is supposed to be awesome so come on out and join in the fun.

Ron,

I gotta question for ya.

I'm volunteering for the ING Marathon. They need cyclists to escort the wheelchair athletes during the event, mainly because we're higher up and more visible to vehicles. During the actual marathon, the roads downtown will be closed. During the training 'fun runs', however, the roads are open. I'm assuming the wheelers (their wording, not mine) will be on sidewalks. In downtown Atlanta, are we allowed on sidewalks? Part of the course is on Freedom Parkway, and I'm not sure where it's best to be.

Thanks!

PW

An Atlanta city ordinance states that is against the law to ride on the sidewalk within the city limits. The event organizers may have a waiver from the city. You might want to ask them about this.
I'll get the ordinance number tomorrow (when I'm at work) and PM you.

On another note, the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is taking legal action against the city regarding East Wesley.


Dear Fellow Bicyclist,

As demolition and re-construction resumes in earnest on East Wesley Road, we are reminding the City that they can still save about a million dollars by using safer and more effective traffic calming methods that are bike-friendly. They haven't gone too far yet to turn back and do it right!!

We have now taken it a step further in retaining an attorney to evaluate our legal options. Stay tuned for a decision soon on whether we file suit on this issue. In the meantime, we need to continue to remind the City of the folly of this project, and remind the general public that we must stop removing bicycle space on our roads in the name of safety!

Please ride with us this Saturday as we send a message that we have NOT gone away despite the City's attempt to ignore our pleas. The weather should be great this weekend, so come on out and support this critical cause! Come and hear the latest and view for yourself the destruction occurring on this road!

See ride details here (http://www.atlantabike.org/Wesley_Road.html#W1).

Dennis Hoffarth
Executive Director
Atlanta Bicycle Campaign
404-881-1112
atlantabike@mindspring.com
www.atlantabike.org

Ron, thanks for the ordinance info.

For the East Wesley rides, could I hang with the group on my mtb? I put in some serious miles last weekend on my road bike, so I might do this on my mtb to give myself a break. Especially since the road conditions looked pretty rough last time I rode E.W.

FYI

Here is Garden Hills neighborhood's recent assessment of the project:

http://www.gardenhills.net/Default.aspx?tabid=4126

Ron, thanks for the ordinance info.

For the East Wesley rides, could I hang with the group on my mtb? I put in some serious miles last weekend on my road bike, so I might do this on my mtb to give myself a break. Especially since the road conditions looked pretty rough last time I rode E.W.
The rides are very slow so a mountain bike will be fine. You won't be the only person there riding one. Top speed is usually 12-15 mph. On the hills it's slower. I'm usually on my middle chainring and cog #2 doing ~6-7 mph, just so I don't fall over, and I'm still passing some folks.


Here's the riding on sidewalks info.

Sec. 150-210. Riding on sidewalks.
(a) Business district. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district or the central traffic district.
(b) Age restriction. No person 13 or more years of age shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in any district.
(c) Duties to pedestrians. Any person who is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.
(Code 1977, § 13-2344)

Here's a link to the Atlanta municiple codes.
http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10376&sid=10
Search for "bicycle" in the search box in the top left. In the results window click on the first artice found, then scroll down to near the bottom.

FYI

Here is Garden Hills neighborhood's recent assessment of the project:

http://www.gardenhills.net/Default.aspx?tabid=4126

That article is so full of crap it is unbelievable that someone would actually publish it. The writer is misleading and at times, outright lying. For one, the City did not come up with alternate plans, ABC did and they were rejected by the City and neighborhood association. The City's alternate plans were to totally remove the cyclists from East Wesley and send them through other parts of the neighborhood. ABC's counters have remained focused on East Wesley and was fine with leaving the road the way it was in the first place, although did point out that the striping did not meet the standards for an official bike lane. I could add many more points, but I want to keep this short.

Tommy Lupo
Safety Director
Southern Bicycle League

Feel free to put the word out, lets see if we can turn the Thinking Man in 1 to a "biker bar".


what about for those of us under 21

what about for those of us under 21
You don't have to drink, pretty sure the place is "family friendly".

what about for those of us under 21

Thinking Mans isn't 21+ until after 9pm.

Thinking Mans isn't 21+ until after 9pm.

I haven't seen them card anyone yet unless you're ordering. I've gotten in after 9...

I know its a while before I will be moving up to the Atlanta area, but how far is it from Decatur to Georgia State? My wife we be working in the city and I will be going to school at GSU. We have heard good things about Decatur but is it a friendly commute from Decatur to GSU?

with no traffic it's almost a straight shot down Ponce in less than 15-20 minutes. With traffic it can vary greatly, but it will be way more than 20. I LOVE Decatur to death(I don't live there though), but it's just not very convenient to get to and from.

I haven't seen them card anyone yet unless you're ordering. I've gotten in after 9...

Yea, it's pretty laid-back place. I hang out with a bunch of the staff so I doubt they'll hassle our group. I've seen little kids in there at all times, I think the 21+ rule is mainly so that they can ask screaming babies to leave.

I know its a while before I will be moving up to the Atlanta area, but how far is it from Decatur to Georgia State? My wife we be working in the city and I will be going to school at GSU. We have heard good things about Decatur but is it a friendly commute from Decatur to GSU?

Decatur is very bike-friendly, and you can take the PATH bike lanes/path right into downtown. Someone else could tell you if it's easy to bike to GSU, but I imagine it's a bikeable commute, better than most other areas.

I know its a while before I will be moving up to the Atlanta area, but how far is it from Decatur to Georgia State? My wife we be working in the city and I will be going to school at GSU. We have heard good things about Decatur but is it a friendly commute from Decatur to GSU?

Hey J, it's very bikable from Decatur to GSU. I used to do that ride everyday when I worked for the state gov'ment. PATH out of Decatur > Candler Park > Little 5 > Edgewood all the way into GSU. There's a bike path or lane for almost half the route and quiet neighborhood streets otherwise.

Inside Decatur can be a bit expensive for young folks, make sure to look at Oakhurst and Kirkwood which are adjacent neighborhoods. Let me know if you're up here and I'll show you around.

I know its a while before I will be moving up to the Atlanta area, but how far is it from Decatur to Georgia State? My wife we be working in the city and I will be going to school at GSU. We have heard good things about Decatur but is it a friendly commute from Decatur to GSU?
It is a good commute as others have said. I live outside Decatur to the east, and commute through Decatur to downtown; my one-way commute is about 11 miles. It is about 5 miles from the center of Decatur to downtown Atlanta. One very good aspect of the commute is that is runs along MARTA's East rail line. If you have a mechanical breakdown or bad weather it is easy to hop on the train and ride into Decatur.

If you have any specific questions free feel to PM me.

I LOVE Decatur to death(I don't live there though), but it's just not very convenient to get to and from.

I think that's one of the city's greatest advantages -- it has both proximity and inaccessibility which gives it a real definition. It's easy to tell when you've entered the city limits.

I just reconfirmed with Thinking Man, all systems go. Pro bike racing and beer Sunday at 5:00!!!!!

I posted the Thinking Man info on the Sorella site. Be nice if any of them show up!

I posted the Thinking Man info on the Sorella site. Be nice if any of them show up!

Of course we'll be nice to any Sorella girls that show up! :D

oh whoops, for some reason I assumed he meant by car...duh...stupid me :)

sorry, yeah, by bike decatur is awesome. At least I know I can easily bike to Decatur and I can easily bike to GSU...there are lots of good routes to choose from.