Atlanta for commuters/recumbents?
 

Is Atlanta Georgia a decent place to be a bike commuter? How about recumbents? Are there any recumbent groups in Atlanta?

Atlanta is great for riding. Not sure about the 'bent part though.

Here's the deal with my hometown. We have great weather for riding during the winter, spring, and fall. Summer it gets hot and humid and the air quality sucks but I still ride. Traffic is pretty terrible and drivers don't have a lot of love for bike commuters. I've never ridden a bent around town so I can't help you there.

I've found the bicycle facilities in Atlanta to be very inadequate. Therefore, I learned early on to do without them. But there are plenty of ways to get anywhere I want to go, so I'm not limited. For example, if the traffic is heavy on the way home and I don't feel like huffing fumes in the summer heat, I'll take a detour and meander through local neighborhood streets, which adds a few miles to my route but also adds pleasure. I live about 14 miles to the east of Atlanta, so that's my regular commute. But I've covered many other areas in and around the city, without the help of bike facilities. There are many really neat neighborhoods and towns to ride through.

The weather is hot and humid in the summer. The winter is fairly mild, and we almost never get any snow--if we do, it's big news. Today, I was able to ride in just shorts and a t-shirt (I guess it was about 60 degrees at 6 a.m.) and it will get up to 85 degrees today.

I see plenty of bike commuters, but none where I work. The bike shop I frequent is run by a guy who is a regular bicycle commuter and who understands the mindset.

As for recumbents, I've seen them, but I'm not sure about groups. Personally, the only reason I don't ride a recumbent is because I haven't come up with the cash, yet. You can bet I will be riding one as soon as I do, I've test-ridden one and it was a total blast.

Stone Mountain is a nice place to ride if you are a recreational cyclist, costing nothing to enter if you do so by bike. I don't do it much, though, even though it's only 3 miles from my house, because I usually need the weekends to recover from riding to work all week.

Cheers!

I'm not so concerned with specific facilities as the attitude. Do people throw stuff at you and yell at you to get on the sidewalk? Am I going to a land of confederate flag-waving yahoos who'd rather use me for target practice than think I'm a legitimate vehicle on the road?

Yes, recumbents are a blast. I can't wait for my trike to come. Then I'll have all 3: A regular bike, a recumbent short-wheel-base 2-wheeler, and a three wheeler tadpole. Then I suppose I'll need a long-wheel-base and a delta but we'll see about that....

You just have to be super careful in heavy traffic...usally on most roads around the city there is little to no shuolder...and bikes lanes?? heh what bike lanes...I mean it can be done i ride to work and school at georgia state down in the heart of the city...Usally when i ride to school though i try and Take transit for about half of it though....The rebel flag thing...not so much in the city at all or very close surrounding suburbs, more out in the country areas of this great state...anything else just ask, and when you get here let us know.

Y'all are making me homesick.

Anyway, there will always be yahoos wherever you ride. In my case it seems that there are fewer than there used to be...or I'm able to to ignore them better. Like the others said, there are some alternative routes to some of the busy roads that can be a joy on which to ride.

My commute was from the Decatur area to NW Atlanta. I worked in an industrial area and rode around tractor trailers every day. I was not afraid, just aware. It seemed that I saw the same drivers everyday and I had no problems in that area. Since I was involved with shipping, I knew many truck drivers in the area and they looked out for me somewhat. It also helped that if I had problems with a truck, that company would no longer get my business. I had most carriers phone numbers on my cell phone and I was not afraid to call and talk to the dispatchers.

Of course I had a run-in or two with motorists (including flying over the hood of a VW on Peachtree ST) but I still loved riding in Atlanta and miss it terribly. I learned that it's very difficult to change someone else's opinion about cyclists when that person is stuck in traffic and wants to take their frustration out on me, so I keep going and take time to relax while watching the ducks swim at Piedmont Park.

There are quite a few bicycle commuters in Atlanta and many bike friendly businesses, so I think you will enjoy it there.

Diane, I can't speak for everyone, but in my experience, people are usually very nice to me. Yes, I've had someone yell, "Get on the sidewalk!" and I've had a bad experience with a very few intimidating motorists over the last decade. But people usually treat me respectfully and intelligently.

When I moved here as a teenager 30 years ago from DC, I was scared to death I was moving to the Confederate Redneck Capitol of the World. When I got here, I noticed a few of those types, but most of those who had grown up here were very friendly and welcoming, and the rest were just like me--transplants from somewhere else.

Atlanta has become an international city known for its progressive attitudes.

This by far is one of the funniest things I've read in a while...

Commuting in Atlanta is great, as long as you are in the city (ie. Inside the Perimeter), out in the 'burbs people tend to see bikes as toys and something people ride only on the weekends.

--Seth

I've only had a bottle thrown at me once in all the time I've been riding. I get way more "glad to see you"-type waves than I do one finger waves or comments about getting on the sidewalk.

I've seen a bunch of bike commuters lately north of the Perimeter in the Roswell/Alpharetta area. I'll be joining the ranks soon - perhaps tomorrow. Here's hoping I have a different experience than this!! I don't expect a problem - My commute will be breeze I believe. It's about 5 miles on a 1 or 2-year-old bike path to the bus stop. Then a 1 mile or so along a not crowded, wide, four-lane street. There is also a landscaped sidewalk along said street with limited vehicle crossings and no pedestrian traffic (like everywhere else outside the Perimeter.) I'll probably start on the sidewalk just because I'm also new to biking. I plan to act like a pedestrian at the vehicle crossings over the sidewalk.

Visit http://cleanaircampaign.com/ if you are new to bike commuting in the Atlanta area, you might qualify for up to $180 for your commutting.

When I heard about it, I was very excited. Unfortunately for me, I didn't qualify because I was already bike commuting.

But you can still register to win $25. They give $25 to 1 out of 20 people each month for not driving alone.

Here's the web site for one of the local club/advocacy groups. Might ask your question there as well.

http://bikesbl.org/

I should add that I never (OK, very rarely) ride inside the perimeter. Burbs only for me.

Did I miss something somewhere? What trike did you order? I'm not even used to my Phantom yet, and I'm looking at possibly adding an Actionbent Tadpole to my stable. That, or maybe the Catrike Pocket.

Those Confederate flag waving yahoos aren't really any worse than the California "Valley girl" wannabes, driving their convertible with their knees while applying make-up, talking on their Bluetooth, making notes on a windshield mounted notepad, and sipping a non-fat latte, all at once. ;) Besides, just get an Atlanta Braves jersey and wear it while you're riding.

Check out the website of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. They are the biggest, most outspoken bicycle advocacy organization in the metro-Atlanta area.


Never had anything thrown at me but I have been honked at a few times and have been told to get off the road a few times. I just smile and continue my VC-ing. :)


Recumbents?? There are a few around town. A fellow commuter rides one from my neighborhood to Georgia Tech in midtown.


Rebel flag?? This was the Georgia state flag from 1956 to 2001.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/gaflag.jpg

This was the Georgia state flag from 2001 to 2003.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/newgaflag.jpg

This is the present Georgia state flag.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/2003gaflag.jpg

Not sure what it will look like next week. :o

I've been commuting via bike ever since I started my job about 3 months ago. I live in Midtown (near the Fox Theater) and work downtown near Woodruff park. The total distance is about 2 miles.

I mostly stick to one-way streets (Courtland/Juniper for going to work) and ride in the street. When I first started, I tried to ride as close to the curb as possible, but soon realized this only served to encourage people to attempt to squeeze around/pass me without changing lanes. I ride at a fairly decent speed, and since my commute is mostly on one-way streets, there are plenty of other available lanes for people to use if they need to pass me.

Part of my commute goes through a somewhat rough neighborhood; my only negative experience so far was when some wanna-be thug decided he wanted to "try" me by stepping out into the street in front of me even after I verbally warned him of my approach (he was staring directly at me as he did this). He ended up laying on the pavement and I was still mounted and upright. I'm not really sure what the proper way to handle the situation was, but I stopped to apologize. After he threatened to "beat my ass" a couple of times, I managed to chill him out and we parted ways. I've since been advised by friends elsewhere that such bike vs. pedestrian encounters follow a code of "street justice", and since he was clearly in the wrong and ended up on the pavement, no further discussion was necessary. I'm not quite experienced enough to offer my own suggestion on that topic, so I'll just say try not to run into overly aggressive pedestrians in questionable neighborhoods.

The commute itself is pretty nice, though be prepared to do a lot of shifting to adjust for the extremely hilly terrain. It took me a little while to figure out what the best routes were so that I could spend most of my time riding downhill rather than uphill.

I've ordered a Pocket. Can't beat the price. Maybe it's not as nice as other trikes, especially with direct steering and all, but I have tried one and it was a total blast.
Hey, I resemble that remark! (No, I don't. Not at all. Besides, I think they make notes on their Blackberries.)

By the way, can you get a double-why-bother in Atlanta? (Double decaff nonfat latte) I'm kidding. I like espresso.

Oh, and hills? Nothing to it. Made my peace with hills. In Santa Barbara making peace with hills is like people in Seattle making peace with rain.

I commute all the time in Atlanta. I only use my bike for EVERYTHING except laundry (and if i could find a way to get 6 loads on my bike, i'd do it!). Intown Atlanta is fairly bike friendly. Some areas that are especially bike friendly: Roswell, Midtown, Virginia Highlands, Grant Park, Cabbagetown, Inman Park, Decatur, Emory, Druid Hills, Stone Mountain (if you know what your doing), and Candler Park. Also, generally speaking, once you go south of I-20 ATL isn't bike friendly (Grant Park/Cabbagetown are exceptions though i often wonder about cabbagetown). As long as you stay in those areas i mentioned, you'll be just fine. Heck, on some days I dont even carry tubes, I'm always within a 1/2 mile of a bike shop! Also, if you are really dedicated to living for cycling, check out Inman/Freedom Park if your into artsy stuff. Grant Park if your aren't. Enjoy Atlanta, its got good cycling weather. Ohh, and stay away from the suburbs, especially Alpharetta, I used to live there. Holy crap, i'll never ride there again!

Don't worry about the good'ol boys in "Giohgia". Take your trike down to the 4WD shop and have them put some 44" mudders on it. When you're riding down the road, the pickups won't try throwing beers AT you, they'll be throwing beers TO you and shouting "Hey, Diane". ;)

Yes!!! Absolutely!!! It's a little known fact that it IS legal for White Southern males to shoot and kill bicycle riders anywhere in the South. Naturally this privilege is limited only to those native born White Southern Males who can prove citizenship for at least 4 generations you understand. We don't want over hunting of the bicycle population. Wall hanging trophies are those cyclist wearing flashy *****exual Two-er day Fraynce uniforms. In fact, it's not uncommon at all to see dead *****exual cyclist tied to the hoods of pick-up trucks and El Camino's. Prime hunting locals are sometimes shared at cross burnings or Wednesday night suppers at the Baptist church. I suggest you avoid moving anywhere within the Confederate States of America and be sure to tell your friends!!!

Oh dear god I just got back from Atlanta. I don't see how on earth you can ride your bike there. And I'm talking about some of those places you listed as being good for riding, like Roswell and north perimeter places. Atlanta looks like a death trap to me. It's got to be the most car-centered place I've ever seen. I only saw 3 cyclists the whole weekend. One guy riding home on a Friday and two guys early Sunday morning before traffic got bad.

Cali Girls vs. Rednecks w/ gunracks? HMMMMMMMMM.
Read "Hit By A Fool In A Cage" thread. Didn't wan't to overstate the obvious,
but that incident happened in the Atl. and a conflag bumper sticker wuz on the van!
:mad:
Read "Misty Mountain (Bar) Hop" for a positive viewpoint. (Also ATL.)
:beer:

"...one of these days, your'e gonna need to ride with Balzhoff Steele..."

-from "The Friends of Balzhoff Steele" 10th Annual Bikers Roast (1983)

Just rode to the Dome for MNF Falcons/Jets Kickoff festivities. Only one crazy enough to bike in Hurricane Wilma Winds. Even bike cops were walking! Finally had to give it up as a hill+ crosswind/headwind caught mt windbreaker like a sail and lifted me off the seat! Had to put a foot down and walk... Ride home was mostly wind at my back, max rpms, taxi race in center lane all the way to the driveway of my highrise!!! What a blast!!! Living in Atlanta Rocks!!!

cool dood, i ride to gsu as well. getting a bit chilly though.
i love riding in downtown, dropping those cars in the dust kekeke