Bicycling in the State of Georgia needs your help: Have your voice heard! Make a statement and ride your bike from Roswell to Georgia's Capitol. Show the Governor and your state legislators that bicycles matter!! Support upcoming cycling friendly legislation!!!
What:
Ride from Roswell to Georgia's Capitol with Roswell's Mayor Jere Wood and Atlanta's Mayor Shirley Franklin. Once we arrive at the Capitol, enjoy a FREE lunch on us, with Governor Sonny Purdue and your State Legislators.
Where:
Enjoy an easy-paced, relaxing bike ride, which will start at Roswell's City Hall. Ride down Roswell Road and Peachtree Street with a motorcycle escort to Georgia's Capitol! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Join along the route!!! We need everyone to participate!!!
When:
Date: Tuesday March 7, 2006 Ride Start Time: 10:00 AM Estimate arrival time at the Capitol: 11:30 AM – noon Departure time from Capitol: 1:00 PM (partial motorcycle escort back too!) Registration: 9:00 – 10:00 AM Rain or shine! We need your support regardless of weather, and regardless of how you get there!
Cost:
FREE!!!!!!
More Details:
There are no official sag stops on this ride. Motorcycle escort will be provided back to Sandy Springs. Bring MARTA fare if you prefer to ride from the Capitol back to Roswell via bus or to Sandy Springs via train.
As always, ride smart, wear a helmet, ride at your own risk, and obey traffic laws.
To reserve a FREE lunch, visit: www.RoswellGov.com
For more details contact Neva at: narem@ci.roswell.ga.us or Jim@SurgeSports.com.
Conceived by Roswell Mayor Jere Woods.
Presented by Bike Roswell and Georgia Bikes! www.BikeRoswell.com and www.GeorgiaBikes.org
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Bankrate.com says Traditional Neighborhood Design growing in popularity
According to a Feb. 23rd Bankrate.com article, "For those who long
for the connectivity of small-town life, yet don't want to give up the
conveniences of urban living, neotraditional communities provide an
alternative. Designed to include everything within easy walking
distance -- from the corner grocery to the school, and perhaps even the
office -- they appeal to die-hard pedestrians. Advocates say the
traditional neighborhood design, or TND, concept, which has been around
since the mid-1980s, is picking up steam. But don't be blinded by the
label. Critics say not everything claiming to be a 'traditional'
neighborhood lives up to its billing...
"TND grew out of the new urbanism movement, a response to suburban
sprawl and a growing dependence on automobiles, says John O. Norquist,
president and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism and a former
mayor of Milwaukee. Norquist cites three factors that historically
combined to create the current American landscape of disparate
neighborhoods. One was zoning practices that segregated commercial and
retail districts from residential neighborhoods. Another was the
overbuilding of highways. Finally, the secondary mortgage market, until
recently, favored separately zoned, single-family homes. 'Together,'
says Norquist, 'they created a situation where people and their
activities are spread over the landscape in separate pods. The new
urbanism is all about undoing that.'..."
for the connectivity of small-town life, yet don't want to give up the
conveniences of urban living, neotraditional communities provide an
alternative. Designed to include everything within easy walking
distance -- from the corner grocery to the school, and perhaps even the
office -- they appeal to die-hard pedestrians. Advocates say the
traditional neighborhood design, or TND, concept, which has been around
since the mid-1980s, is picking up steam. But don't be blinded by the
label. Critics say not everything claiming to be a 'traditional'
neighborhood lives up to its billing...
"TND grew out of the new urbanism movement, a response to suburban
sprawl and a growing dependence on automobiles, says John O. Norquist,
president and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism and a former
mayor of Milwaukee. Norquist cites three factors that historically
combined to create the current American landscape of disparate
neighborhoods. One was zoning practices that segregated commercial and
retail districts from residential neighborhoods. Another was the
overbuilding of highways. Finally, the secondary mortgage market, until
recently, favored separately zoned, single-family homes. 'Together,'
says Norquist, 'they created a situation where people and their
activities are spread over the landscape in separate pods. The new
urbanism is all about undoing that.'..."
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Commuter Rail from Athens to Atlanta: "a return to the past"
E.H. Culpepper, one of the region’s key economic development officials, will be here Monday to tout the benefits commuter rail can bring this city.
Culpepper, who has spent 20 years trying to convince area business and political leaders about the potential of the Atlanta-to-Athens commuter railroad, will outline the project in a 5:30 p.m. meeting with the Lilburn City Council. The meeting takes place in City Hall.
Culpepper, along with former Georgia Department of Transportation commissioner Wayne Shackelford, is one of several local business leaders envisioning a railway that links the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University in Atlanta to the thousands of Gwinnett employees who live on the I- 85 and Ga. 316 corridor.
State transportation officials say it’s possible trains could be running along the railway by 2010. Much of key infrastructure for an Atlanta to Athens line already exists.
CSX, the Richmond, Va.-based transportation company that owns the railway, is talking to local officials about its options.
One challenge for Culpepper and other supporters is changing metro Atlanta’s attitudes about alternative transportation. Commuters were once able to catch trains from Athens to Atlanta, but that practice faded away as the automobile took over.
“What we’re really talking about is a return to the past,” Culpepper said.
One possible advantage for cities along the old railroad: reinvigorating commerce. Studies have projected the commuter railway could carry 8,000 passengers a day, create high-paying job centers and spark Atlantic Station-like developments along the 72-mile route.
By Douglas Sams
Source: The Gwinnett Daily Post
Culpepper, who has spent 20 years trying to convince area business and political leaders about the potential of the Atlanta-to-Athens commuter railroad, will outline the project in a 5:30 p.m. meeting with the Lilburn City Council. The meeting takes place in City Hall.
Culpepper, along with former Georgia Department of Transportation commissioner Wayne Shackelford, is one of several local business leaders envisioning a railway that links the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University in Atlanta to the thousands of Gwinnett employees who live on the I- 85 and Ga. 316 corridor.
State transportation officials say it’s possible trains could be running along the railway by 2010. Much of key infrastructure for an Atlanta to Athens line already exists.
CSX, the Richmond, Va.-based transportation company that owns the railway, is talking to local officials about its options.
One challenge for Culpepper and other supporters is changing metro Atlanta’s attitudes about alternative transportation. Commuters were once able to catch trains from Athens to Atlanta, but that practice faded away as the automobile took over.
“What we’re really talking about is a return to the past,” Culpepper said.
One possible advantage for cities along the old railroad: reinvigorating commerce. Studies have projected the commuter railway could carry 8,000 passengers a day, create high-paying job centers and spark Atlantic Station-like developments along the 72-mile route.
By Douglas Sams
Source: The Gwinnett Daily Post
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Forest Park Council rejects rail referendum
Monday night (Feb. 20), the Forest Park City Council voted down a resolution to support a bill in the state legislature that would give voters a chance to decide if they want to pay for commuter rail.
"It's too early and premature for the city of Forest Park to get involved," said Councilman Wesley Lord as the council voted 3-1 against the resolution.
A bill in the state House would provide for a referendum for voters to decide whether they want to pay for a commuter rail line. That bill is still in committee.
Some people in Clayton County want voters to be able to decide the issue as county leaders have agreed to pay the future estimated $4 million annual operating debt on the proposed Lovejoy-to-Atlanta commuter rail line.
By Add Seymour, Jr.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Clayton/Henry Counties Section) Tuesday, February 21, 2006
"It's too early and premature for the city of Forest Park to get involved," said Councilman Wesley Lord as the council voted 3-1 against the resolution.
A bill in the state House would provide for a referendum for voters to decide whether they want to pay for a commuter rail line. That bill is still in committee.
Some people in Clayton County want voters to be able to decide the issue as county leaders have agreed to pay the future estimated $4 million annual operating debt on the proposed Lovejoy-to-Atlanta commuter rail line.
By Add Seymour, Jr.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Clayton/Henry Counties Section) Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
"We Must Turn To Transit..."
Fighting congestion on America’s roadways is the goal of a massive new investment in subway, light rail and commuter rail projects, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who today announced a plan to spend $1.5 billion on transit programs in cities like Dallas, Denver, Portland and Salt Lake City.
The spending plan, included in President Bush’s budget submitted to Congress yesterday, provides for multi-year funding for 23 existing projects, and five new projects eligible for funding based on progress in the months ahead.
“As a nation choked with congestion, we must turn to transit as one way to make it easier and faster to get to work, relieve crowded roads, and keep our economy moving,” said Secretary Mineta. “An investment in transit is an investment in fighting congestion.”
The spending plan, included in President Bush’s budget submitted to Congress yesterday, provides for multi-year funding for 23 existing projects, and five new projects eligible for funding based on progress in the months ahead.
“As a nation choked with congestion, we must turn to transit as one way to make it easier and faster to get to work, relieve crowded roads, and keep our economy moving,” said Secretary Mineta. “An investment in transit is an investment in fighting congestion.”
Friday, February 10, 2006
DMU is "Train of the Future"
Colorado Railcar has developed a U.S. version of a class of railcar that has been in use for some time in Europe and Japan that could revolutionize transportation in the States. Features of the Colorado Railcar DMU include:
+ World's first double deck hybrid engine/passenger car that seats 188. The new bi-level coach features baggage storage areas, bicycle racks, fully accessible ADA restrooms and roll-on, roll-off wheelchair access.
+ Dramatic fuel economy at half the budget of comparable locomotives.
+ Potential to run biodiesel, resulting in further fuel savings, better air quality, and less oil dependency.
+ 75% less noise than a locomotive.
Read all about it here....
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Rail is an antidote to our addiction
"I hate to keep harping on this, but Mr. Bush could have announced a major effort to restore the American railroad system. It would have been a major political coup. It would have a huge impact on our oil use. The public would benefit from it tremendously. And it would have put thousands of people to work on something really meaningful. Unlike trips to Mars and experiments in cold fusion, railroads are something we already know how to do, and the tracks are lying out there waiting to be fixed. But the reigning delusions of Hollywood and Las Vegas prevent us from thinking realistically about these things. We're only into wishing for grand slam home runs and five-hundred-million-dollar lottery jackpots. Anything less than that makes us feel like losers."
~ James Kunstler - Addiction, a response to George W. Bush's State of the Union assertion that "America is addicted to oil."
~ James Kunstler - Addiction, a response to George W. Bush's State of the Union assertion that "America is addicted to oil."
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