ATLANTA BICYCLE CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES WITH “SHARE THE ROAD” KICK OFF EVENT AND RIDE AT GLENWOOD PARK
Share the Road promotes four smart ways for motorists and bicyclists to ride together on the streets of Metro Atlanta; public awareness campaign sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
ATLANTA, APRIL 18, 2007 – The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) is launching its annual Share the Road campaign, a public awareness program to promote safe riding by motorists and bicyclists on the streets of Metro Atlanta. A kick off event and community ride is scheduled for 11am, Tuesday, May 1 at Glenwood Park, a bicycle-friendly community in SE Atlanta. ABC members, supporters, and civic leaders are expected to attend. A three-mile bicycle ride will follow the ceremonial kick off and end back at the park for a free lunch for all participants. The ride will include demonstrations for bicyclists to learn to effectively share the road with motorists. The event is free and open to the public.
The event also will include a sneak preview of the new “I’m on that bike!” marketing campaign which will debut during the month of May on billboards, MARTA bus backs, street banners on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, in print ads featured in the Neighbor Newspaper publications, public service announcements, community events, and on the ABC’s web site.
“We invite both bicyclists and motorists to get involved in this year’s “Share the Road” effort by joining us for the May 1st kick off, enrolling in an Effective Cycling class, joining us for Bike to Work Day, or simply putting a “Share the Road” sign in their yard,” said Dennis Hoffarth, Executive Director, Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. “The most effective way to promote bicyclist and motorist cooperation is by example. Increasing personal awareness and following the rules of the road is a great first step.”
The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is promoting the following Share the Road messages, all of which are Georgia laws:
1) Bicyclists have the right to ride on all surface roads and not the sidewalk
2) Bicyclists should never ride more than two abreast
3) Motorists are required to pass bicyclists in a safe manner (allow three feet when passing)
4) Bicyclists take the lane when the lane is narrow
These Share the Road messages along with the “I’m on that Bike!” marketing campaign will be promoted through various communication channels including community exhibits, printed brochures, bumper stickers, billboards, MARTA bus backs, street banners, public service announcements, lawn signs, buttons, web site, and public relations. The formal public awareness campaign culminates in September with the Share the Road Challenge, a ride and fundraiser on Labor Day.
Founded in 1991, the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is the city’s largest non-profit bicycle advocacy organization with a mission to promote bicycle transportation and use in the metro Atlanta region. In addition to the Share the Road campaign, ABC actively promotes its mission through Effective Cycling classes and the establishment of Bicycle User Groups, educating cyclists on how to plan and advocate for bicycle facilities in their own counties, workplace or neighborhoods. To date, ABC has educated more than 3000 adult and child bicyclists through Effective Cycling classes and workshops; implemented one of the most cycle-friendly bikes-on-train policies in the nation; established a Safe Routes to School program with six school sites in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties; and encouraged thousands of people to try bicycle commuting by hosting an annual BIKE THERE! /Bike to Work Day. The ABC is a membership-based organization with a board of directors and a full-time executive director. For more information, call 404.881.1112 or visit
www.atlantabike.org.
