Speed Vest Demo at Atlantic Station

 

A group of cyclists enjoyed a ride from Sopo Bike Co-op where the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign was handing out bicycle lights, over to Atlantic Station for the Tree Lighting and other events.

Along the way, we were treated to a demonstration of the Speed Vest by its inventor Brady Clark.

When we arrived at Atlantic Station we were greeted by ABC's Bike Valet (pictured above). It's a treat to receive special treatment because you've arrived on a bicycle.

We narrowly missed getting a local TV station to film a demonstration, but with video camera in hand, we captured a few shots:

New Bike Rack at local Home Depot

 

I'm sure this news reverberates all across the ... well, it may not even make it across the parking lot if it weren't for me taking this picture. I'm sure there's someone out there who appreciates a new bike rack as much as I do. Even if it is a rather plain rack, it is at least a functional rack.

It was only a few weeks ago that I was locking my bike to a sign post in the parking lot.

 

It's Working - Part 2

 

Crowding at the Bike Rack. Just this past February, I celebrated seeing my first rack mate in a while, then in April, I would write about setting records for the number of bikes on the rack, and now, it's getting tough to find a spot for my bike if I get there a little late. Today was a multi-modal crowd with a scooter and motorbike to join the three pedalers.

If I turned the camera around the other direction, you'd see hundreds of cars of course, so showing a few bikes doesn't suggest that cycling is mainstream, but this gathering of bikes does show that we're pointed in the right direction.

The price of gas still holds the power to change our behavior. It's still working.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.2
Number of Cyclists seen: 29 (9 inbound with 920AM departure, 20 outbound with 510PM departure)
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton with a detour to run an errand

How to Commute when there isn't a Shower

 

OK, this is a picture of a bike rack that doesn't appear to go with the title of this post, but it really does. It only requires a modest amount of imagination which I'll promptly explain.

This is a picture of three bikes on the rack from Friday, and although there were also three bikes on the rack today, it wasn't the same three bikes. Today's bike that is not shown in the picture above was walked up rather than ridden. I met the owner as he was walking up and he admitted he cheats.

Admitting you cheat isn't how most conversations start out, but it was effective at getting things rolling.

The gentleman was dressed in business casual while I was dressed in moist salt. I suspected something was up before he admitted he cheats, but he quickly explained that he rides the bus with his bike on the way in, and then rides his bike home in the afternoon.

Nice. I'm glad our public transit has bike racks installed on the buses.

I've always taken it a little easier coming into the office to avoid too much sweat and then let it all out on the way home. This guy had a pretty good plan worked out.

If AT&T had showers, we'd miss much of the richness of experience that cycling to work provides. We'd ride the same way all the time and make boring commutes. Well, not as boring as the people we see inside the steel cages with really wide tires, but close.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.3
Number of Cyclists seen: 32 (11 in the AM, 21 in the PM)
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Warm but not as hot as last week (80s)

First Rackmate at the new Rack location

It may take a while for the new location to catch on. Good to see moving the old rack hasn't chased everyone away.

I may have seen this bike on the old rack, but I think I would have more clearly remembered the single speed.

Not sure if this can be attributed to Bicycle Month or not.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.4
Number of Cyclists seen: 22
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Left house at 9:30AM and still came across 6 inbound cyclists.

Found me some Bike Parking

I did some wandering around and located this beauty of a bike rack. This is the real deal here.

The rack is visible and away from where people would normally walk to/from their car so anyone near the bikes would draw attention. There is a nice separation between the traffic and pedestrians too which you can see below. This is nice.

(I switched my bike to the other end to try that out).



The garage can be reached either from W Peachtree (bike lane) or 5th Street (bike lane) or from Cypress (which is the street I've been using). This spot is one I can recommend.

I'm surprised the property managers weren't able to tell us about it, but that's OK. My bike has a new home.

I think I'll still bring it upstairs from time to time. I can't step into an elevator without it automatically starting up a conversation about cycling. I wish I had brought my bike into the building years ago.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 18 - all on the way home; most of them rec riders
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: We're in Atlanta's sweet spot now: sunny, mild and fragrant.

Next Chapter of Bike Rack Story

I learned the stated reason the Bike Rack had been moved. A bike rider had sent an email describing how he was afraid of being hit by a car while ascending the ramp that leads into the parking garage.

It is hard for me to imagine any cyclist would navigate the 35+ MPH streets surrounding this building and then find fault with the rack location because they were afraid of getting hit by a car going 10-15 MPH.

This cyclist hasn't been using the rack's new location. No one is using it.

This situation is an educational opportunity. There are a number of things that can be brought out:

• What makes a good location for parking a bike.
  
• How to appraise the safety risks and any liabilities that may ensue.
  
• What can be done to encourage leaving cars in the driveway and taking a bike into the office.
  

I had mentioned the newspaper writer I've worked with before. We'll have to see how to shape this.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.6
Number of Cyclists seen: 18
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Still cool in the morning (low 40s) but sunny and warm by afternoon. Glad to see some sun.

Bike Rack Located

On Wednesday there were three bikes on the rack for only the second time I can remember. On Thursday, there were three bikes on the rack for two days in a row. On Friday, the bike rack was gone. On today, with help from the property managers, I found the rack.

It got moved for safety reasons and it was a bike rider who suggested there was an issue. I'm all for improving safety -- cyclists are vulnerable -- but I haven't learned yet what the issue had been.

I'll tell you what I do see:
- The new location is less beginner-friendly to get into, although getting out is about the same. This is because the new location sits on a block that is surrounded on all four sides by one-way streets. Two of them carry traffic above 35 MPH at that point and Spring Street carries few cyclists.
- The new location feels less secure. The entrance and exits are not as well controlled in the new location -- I showed no one my badge -- and the clutter near the rack provides numerous alibis for being spotted near the bikes.
- The rack obstructs a handicapped spot. I don't know what this does to the lot's standing regarding the code for providing handicapped spaces.
- The entrance is confusing, but I think you can get used to it. However, reaching the rack from the entrance goes against normal traffic flow and presents a significant opportunity for unpredictability and thus accidents between cyclists and motorists. I'd have to go into the entrance again to sort out the safest way to make the entrance while avoiding exiting traffic -- even though that was probably the intent of switching the left and right.

On the positive side:
- Bringing my bike into the office jump-started a number of conversations about riding the bike to work. I had gotten a few bike questions in the old parking deck location, but nothing like bringing the bike up the elevator. I'll probably bring the bike up and down the elevator even if I plan to lock it up in the garage.
- I think I may have found the person with whom we can have a conversation about showers. I've got one pod-mate who would ride to work if there were showers. I know this is a barrier for others as well.
- This has made an interesting story for my blog. It would probably make a good story for the Atlanta Journal Constitution as well. The AJC writer I had worked with on other cycling stories had pitched a few ideas that never came together, but this one has potential.
- Since the old rack was the wheel-bender type, we've got an opportunity to put in some good racks.
- The effort to publicize the new location will help to organize the cyclists who currently commute to AT&T.

The story is getting better.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.1
Number of Cyclists seen: 16
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: More cold clouds. At least I could wear shorts. A little rain as I arrived at the office.

No bikes. No RACK!

Just when we had a surge of cyclists using the bike rack, it gets removed.

I haven't talked with anyone who knows why it was removed or if it is going to be replaced. In the meanwhile, I'm locking the bike to a railing inside the parking garage.

I hope there is more to this story.

Two days in a row

So, three bikes on the rack two days in a row. I wonder if people's New Year Resolution was to begin riding to work in April.

This is great to see them on the rack, but I'm not seeing them on the street.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 11.4
Number of Cyclists seen: 7
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Piedmont Park (short route so I could get home at the same time my daughter was arriving)
Weather: Rain and threat of rain, but I dodged it.

Somebody got my Spot

Somebody got my spot on the office bike rack. Not only is this the first rack mate of the year, but the first rack mate who has ever gotten my spot.

I've been parking my bike there since 1999. I've knocked off most of that missing gray paint. Hmmph!

Well, if I expect more cyclists to come into the office, I ought to get used to it. At least it's another Trek.