Press Release - 2017 Georgia Bike Summit p/b Bike Law GA Sept 29-Oct 1 in Macon, GA
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- Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 September 2017 15:19
- Written by Elliott Caldwell
Contact:
Elliott Caldwell
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8th annual Georgia Bike Summit Highlights Health & Economic Benefits of Bicycling, Renewed Focus on Bicycle Safety
Macon, Ga. – Georgia Bikes, a nonprofit organization working to promote and improve bicycling throughout Georgia, is hosting its eighth annual statewide conference, the Georgia Bike Summit presented by Bike Law Georgia, from September 29 to October 1 in Macon. The Saturday conference will take place at the Macon Marriott City Center, with other events taking place across Macon during the weekend, including Open Streets Macon on Sunday October 1. Under the theme of “Bikes at the Heart of Safety, Health, and Opportunity”, the 2017 Georgia Bike Summit will convene elected officials, transportation and tourism professionals, community leaders and citizen advocates for a weekend of networking and resource sharing.
Each year, the Georgia Bike Summit takes place in a different community in Georgia. The Summit moves in order to expose more communities to the benefits of being bicycle-friendly. Macon was selected as the host for the 2017 Summit because of the progress it is making in being more friendly to people on bicycles, from the founding of Bike Walk Macon (the first bicycle/pedestrian advocacy organization in the city) to Zagster Bikeshare to the continued development of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail to Macon Connects, the world’s longest pop-up bike lane network. “Macon is on its way to becoming a bike town and we are very excited to be a part of that evolution,” says Elliott Caldwell, Georgia Bikes’ Executive Director. “Rachel Hollar and Bike Walk Macon are leading the way for safe and complete streets, creating a more bikeable and walkable Macon for all its residents and visitors alike – we are glad to bring the 2017 Georgia Bike Summit to a city on the move,” he adds
During the Summit, workshops and speakers will address policy, funding, and infrastructure issues that can help communities interested in sustainable development and improved quality of life. The main conference occurs on Saturday, September 30th, and will feature workshops on topics such as creative funding for bicycle infrastructure to local youth bicycle programming to the health benefits of bikeshare. Summit sponsor Newtown Macon will lead a demonstration of setting up a pop-up bike lane (similar to Macon Connects) on Saturday morning outside the Macon Marriott City Center on Coliseum Drive. The Saturday main speaker is Nedra Deadwyler, Safety Education Programs Manager with Georgia Bikes and founder of Civil Bikes in Atlanta; she will engage the attendees on re-thinking bike education at the state level. Summit attendees can attend Bike Walk Macon’s Open Streets Macon event on Sunday from 2-6pm, starting at the corner of Montpelier Avenue and College Street.
For more information about the Summit, including registration information, visit GeorgiaBikes.org
