The first time I met my friend Frank, he had about 30 stitches in his forehead. He had been riding his bike back home from the grocery store, when a driver that failed to use his bliker, hit him and Frank went straight through the windshield. Because he was wearing a helmet, all he suffered was a huge cut on his forehead. The majority of the times I see him, he is bandaged in some way.
Bike culture is becoming in vogue in Atlanta. A cycling event called Critical Mass, calls cyclists to come together to bike the streets of Atlanta, usually on Halloween, without any streets being blocked off, bravely (or stupidly) defying natural traffic laws, there are numerous injuries, but that is a risk these devoted cyclists will make to have themselves heard.
Atlanta is infamous for traffic and parking problems.So, cycling is seen as a solution and many companies are willing to support it. For example, at a Falcons game the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) provided a bike valet, where fans could ride their bikes to the dome and park for free. ABC advocates for a Bike-Friendly Atlanta, they plan to set goals for investments in bicycle infrastructure and adpot a "Complete Streets" policy to make the streets safer and more accepting of all modes of transportation. ABC also hopes to serve as a resource for future cyclists offering classes in navigation and bicycle issues, tools for selecting the best bike route and keeping the public abreast of various cycling events. The coalition seems to be having a lot of success these days, as the city of Atlanta endorses NACTO's urban bikeway design guide, and shared bike ways where built in Marietta on Wylie and Marietta street.
A majority of the public is still hesitant (understandably) to intermingle with other traffic, but continued efforts will be made to promote a bike-safe city.
I didn't know they had Critical Mass in Atlanta. Drivers usually shouted profanities at the one in Valdosta.
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