Get Involved in the better biking movement in Atlanta.
This is a time when advocacy efforts are crucial to making our streets safer for everyone. Within 24 hours from the Two Wheel Tuesday gathering we suffered two more casualties.
On Wednesday morning, Marten Bijvank was on his way to work on his bicycle when he was struck and killed by an unlicensed DUI driver on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, GA.
On Wednesday night, William Alexander was returning home on an electric scooter after the Atlanta United game and lost his life after he was hit and dragged under a CobbLinc bus on West Peachtree Street in Midtown. This is the second e-scooter death in our state.
These deaths could’ve been avoided so we will continue to advocate, to show up and to repeat this message of safety for all users of the road. Bruce Hagen expressed it aptly, “if we are using our voices to get in touch with our politicians and tell them ‘we are going to hold you accountable on election day if these things aren’t done’, suddenly you have a voice, everyone of us does and that is how change is made.”
Grassroot advocacy efforts was the main topic of the last Two Wheel Tuesday, a monthly gathering of bicycle commuters of Atlanta. Bike Law GA along with other advocates reviewed the latest efforts focused on Dekalb Ave, Baker St, the CSX crossing on Atlanta Ave, Cascade Ave and other Complete Streets projects.
The bicycle and LIT commuters in Atlanta and Metro Atlanta have been strong advocates by participating in city hall sessions, communicating with their local city officials, engaging on social media, attending weekly “slow roll” rides and educating their families, neighbors and co-workers.
Bicycle and e-bike commuters “slow roll” on DeKalb Ave every Friday at 8 am and have been instrumental in bringing attention to this dangerous corridor.
“We all have opportunities to be advocates. You don’t have to be a PhD, you don’t have to be rich and politically connected to have a voice and we have seen that here so many times and you can really make a difference by fighting the good fight” – Bruce Hagen, Bike Law GA.
Carl Holt, a bicycle commuter and advocate said, “West Peachtree Street was proposed under Renew/SPLOST for a Complete Street but under the re-baselining and re-prioritizing it is under only funded thru design. Just like with the other fatality on West Lake, both have plans for Complete Street improvements. Where are you at Atlanta leadership?”
Ken Rose from Decatur Bicycle Coalition and Maria Borowik from Bike Law GA talk about advocacy work for the CSX railroad crossing on Atlanta Ave.
How you can get involved:
-Join and support Georgia Bikes and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.
-Join your neighborhood association, attend meetings and voice support for projects that make our streets safer for bicyclists, LIT users, pedestrians and wheelchairs.
-Write your elected city officials and remind them of the need for safer streets for everyone.
-Encourage your friends and family to be bicycle friendly drivers!
Bruce Hagan’s cyclist law firm is fully committed to representing Georgia bicyclists. “All of our attorneys and most of the staff are full-time riders,” he says. Bruce has handled hundreds of bike crash cases and actively helps bicyclists understand Georgia’s bike laws.
