Originally Posted by
Walter S
The riding gets better and better all the time. Atlanta is a hotbed of bike lanes and off road trails more and more for years and the effect has slowly transformed the city. That's not to say that finding pleasant routes thru the city is a automatic process you just fall into. But 30 years ago it was impossible except for short distances. Now I have a nice network of routes that are highly enjoyable. There's the occasional 500 feet of busy road here and there but 95% good going from one end of the city to the other if you spend the time learning the area. Google maps is great for uncovering new places I might not have bothered to look - but I also know of much better routes than it usually suggests.
Envious!
We (my region/mid-size city) are gradually getting better; a long way to go, but still ...
Over the past 12-18 months we've managed to create a connector between the north/east and other branches of our river-side MUP, so that now cyclists can reach all three 'points' of the urban area without going on-street. In addition, we've seen the completion of an extension to one branch (of the MUP) that now means that cyclists can extend their rides approx. 10 kms and that kids from the poorer east side of the city can now ride to school(s) off-street.
The net effect: our MUP system now has close to 40 kms distributed among three branches, all river-side, thus allowing 80+ km. rides (three out 'n backs from a central fork where the river branches downtown) without once going on-street for those -- like me -- so inclined.
Not much, and its taken a lot of work lobbying city council and so on, but it's something.
Next project: we are lobbying council to keep the entire system ice/snow clear during winter. Gettin' there, budget constraints permitting.
That said ... I
love Atlanta. Been there several times (academic conferences, or on our way through to Fla.) and always enjoyed my time there.