Update: This was originally published in April. I took it down but now have decided it deserves to be in public view.
This photo is from a campaign* I created pro bono in 2015 with the help of the participating photo subjects to encourage city hall to implement truly bike-friendly changes in the city, per the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (on which I served as a steering committee member) and the city’s Sustainability Plan (created by a commission I was appointed by the city’s first mayor, Ken Wright, to launch and lead one week after the Metro Atlanta suburb where I live became the newest city in the United States in 2008, shortly after John and I attended the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Communities kickoff training). Please note almost all the people pictured no longer ride bikes in Dunwoody.
On the off-chance that someone who has the ability to make a difference will actually do it, I posted this comment on my city councilor’s blog post where he announced the city’s two-day planning retreat, taking place right now in the City of Suwannee, Georgia. This is not to be confused with the long line of emails I’ve written to city hall, including this one following the Ride to Lunch with the Mayor in 2019, or the media release that’s needed ASAP.
Hi, John. As you most likely will not have time for a bike ride in Suwannee, I offer you this virtual Artsy Downtown Suwannee tour. I am glad we are starting to see some art in Dunwoody. Thank you.
Note: if the subject of being “bike-friendly” comes up at the retreat, I am sorry that the City of Dunwoody was recently turned down by the League of American Bicyclists for Bicycle Friendly Community designation. When asked for my input, I recommend Bronze level to the League, as some good things have happened/are happening. However, I was not surprised at the outcome because almost all the “bike lanes” in Dunwoody do not meet access-for-all standards and require a known unreasonable assumption of risk.
(Note: No one should be encouraged to assume unreasonable risk on known dangerous-by-design roads with subpar infrastructure that doesn’t meet NACTO guidelines. No amount of education, expertise, or enforcement makes up for false and/or misleading “bike friendliness.” Please do not “greenwash” these dangerous conditions in city communications, especially as we are about to have National Bike Month.)
I have created this user’s guide for people who may be interested in riding a bike for transportation in Dunwoody (I am getting daily requests for my recommendations as I ride 5-15 miles per day for that purpose).
FYI, I do appreciate the parks improvements and I use them often as part of my daily travels.
*
Traveling at the Speed of Bike 