Planners, engineers & advocates learn benefits of RSAs

May 28-29, a team of transportation professionals and bicycle safety advocates from GA and SC convened in Athens for a  free, Georgia Bikes-organized workshop on how to conduct Road Safety Audits. Mr. Craig Allred, and expert on RSAs from the Federal Highway Administration, led the workshop. 

Road Safety Audit (RSA) is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. It qualitatively estimates and reports on potential road safety issues and identifies opportunities for improvements in safety for ALL road users

The aim of an RSA is to answer the following questions:

  • What elements of the road may present a safety concern: to what extent, to which road users, and under what circumstances?
  • What opportunities exist to eliminate or mitigate identified safety concerns?

Road safety audits can be used in any phase of project development from planning and preliminary engineering, design and construction. RSAs can also be used on any sized project from minor intersection and roadway retrofits to mega-projects. GDOT has significant federal funding to conduct RSAs in Georgia and is eager to work with communities to schedule them. RSAs are coordinated by GDOT’s Office of Traffic Operations, (404) 635-2828.

You can find out all about RSAs and how to conduct them here

GDOT Hosting Statewide Safe Routes to Schools Forum

The Georgia Department of Transportation is inviting educators, school administrators, local officials, parent/teacher association representatives, and interested persons from across the state to a free Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) forum.  The event – the first of its kind in Georgia – will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Friday, June 6, at Decatur High School and offer a variety of workshop sessions – from how to spice up your SRTS event to how to conduct a walkability review.

Participants will hear from SRTS champions, advocates and other leaders.  During lunch, this year’s Resource Center Partners of the Year will be introduced and Katherine Moore, Sustainability Growth Manager for the Georgia Conservancy, will discuss the Conservancy’s work on school siting.

Registration details and complete information on the state’s SRTS program are available at:  http://www.saferoutesga.org/content/first-statewide-safe-routes-school-forum-friday-june-6-2014 .  Registration closes Tuesday, June 3.

Launched in 2009, Georgia DOT’s SRTS Resource Center assists schools and communities with education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, planning, and other non-construction-related SRTS activities.  Efforts have focused on primary and middle schools (grades K-8), but now are being expanded to include high schools.  Georgia’s SRTS Resource Center is centered on the concepts of the international safe routes to school movement, the purposes of which are to encourage children to walk and bike to school and also to improve safety in the vicinity of schools.  SRTS encourages and helps empower communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity once again. 

Congratulations, Milledgeville! Georgia’s newest Bike Friendly Community!

Outstanding news for one GA community via press release from the League of American Bicyclists:

As we continue to celebrate National Bike to Work Week, the League of American Bicyclists today announced its latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC).

 “This round of applications overwhelmingly confirms what we heard from local elected officials at the National Bike Summit this year — riding a bike embodies the quality-of-life aspirations of communities across the country,” said League President, Andy Clarke. “Making this healthy and active transportation mode safe and easy is of growing importance to the 8 million residents of New York City and the 6,000 people in Franklin, Pa. alike. We’re excited that these communities have made the smart and vital investments to become a designated Bicycle Friendly Community.”

Milledgeville, Ga., was 1 of 49 communities selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to work to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic through policy and system changes. One of the main goals of that initiative was to gain a Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League. Today, Milledgeville is now a Bronze-level BFC.

“Milledgeville is proud to have earned the designation as a bicycle friendly community from The League of American Bicyclists,” said Mayor Richard Bentley. “We have worked over the past several months to make our community more inviting to bicyclists and to encourage more citizens to utilize bicycles as a means of transportation, recreation, and exercise. We hope this will aid in our message to encourage citizens to get active and help our community in several ways to include traffic issues, parking, and the environment.”

See the full list of Bicycle Friendly Communities here. An additional 28 communities received Honorable Mentions.

Congratulations to Milledgeville for this outstanding recognition! Milledgeville joins six other officially designated BFCs in GA.

A fun focus on safety in Savannah

In July of 2012, 22-year newlywed Matt Kohler of Pooler, GA was killed when a driver struck him from behind. He left behind a bereft wife and mother, both of whom have since become outspoken champions for improved bicycle safety in Georgia.

Matt was a fan of Moon River Brewing Company, and John Pinkerton, co-owner and brewmaster of Moon River, was a big fan

of Matt’s. To raise awareness for bike safety, especially Georgia’s three feet safe passing law, Moon River partnered with Savannah Bicycle Campaign to host the 2nd annual Matt’s Moon River Cruise. We joined our Savannah colleagues for a daylong celebration of bicycling, starting with a bike safety press conference at Ellis Square. We spoke to television and print reporters on the need for motorist awareness, better enforcement of the 3′ law, and the importance of people on bikes knowing their rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers.

Following the press conference, SBC volunteers shared bike safety tips like the ABC Quick Check, and then we split into teams for a bicycle scavenger hunt throughout the city (search #mmrc on Instagram and Twitter for pics). One couple from Pennsylvania, who had never been to Savannah before, joined the ride and scavenger hunt because they thought it would be a fun, creative way to explore a new city. They weren’t disappointed!

Our ride through historic city streets and neighborhoods concluded at Moon River, where we joined a crowd of supporters enjoying bluegrass music and Moon River’s craft beer. We also heard a stirring plea from Matt’s mother for safer conditions for bicycling. 

Next time you are following or passing a person on a bike, remember that they are someone’s son or daughter, father or mother, friend or loved one. With a little common courtesy and careful, lawful driving, we can all get home to our friends and families.

Our sincere thanks to Savannah Bicycle Campaign, Moon River, and the Kohler family for hosting this event to raise money and awareness for safer cycling in Georgia.

Coverage of the event from Savannah Morning News.

Georgia ranked 26th among Bicycle Friendly States

Bike Month brings latest ranking from League of American Bicyclists

Kicking off National Bike Month, the League of American Bicyclists has released its latest ranking of Bicycle Friendly States. In the seventh annual assessment, Georgia achieved a 26th place ranking nationally, while placing 4th in the South and receiving 38.57 points out of 100.

“We are excited and encouraged to see real progress in states like California, Minnesota and Utah,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “Overall, we still see a lot of opportunity to realize the huge potential of bicycling to promote health, economic development, and quality of life.” 

The Bicycle Friendly States ranking is based on a number of key indicators, including infrastructure and funding that provide on-the-ground bicycle facilities; education and encourage programs that promote cycling; and passage and enforcement of bicycle-friendly laws that make it safe and comfortable for people of all ages to ride. In the policy arena, Georgia excels, boasting one of the nation’s most forward thinking state-level “Complete Streets” policies. State funding to proactively implement safer roadways for all users is an area where Georgia needs improvement. Another strength identified for Georgia is its strong and growing network of over two dozen local bicycle safety organizations, which collaborate with Georgia Bikes for statewide improvements to infrastructure and law enforcement.

“Georgia is hungry for bicycle improvements,” says Georgia Bikes Executive Director Brent Buice. “Bicycle ridership is higher than ever – for both transportation and recreation, cities are passing ‘Complete Streets’ policies across the state, and enthusiastic, grassroots advocacy organizations are fostering tangible improvements to the quality of life of cities from Rome to Savannah. Now is the time for Georgia to invest in safe, healthy, economically vibrant communities.”

The BFS program is more than an annual assessment. Throughout the year, League staff will work actively with state officials and advocacy leaders to help Georgia identify and implement the programs, policies and campaigns that will improve conditions for bicyclists.

Learn more about the BFS program here.

About the Bicycle Friendly America Program

The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle. Learn more about the Bicycle Friendly America program at www.bikeleague.org/bfa