ATLANTA—They’re at it again!
Atlanta City Councilmember Aaron Watson (Post 2 At-Large), the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) and the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club (The MACC) will lead a fall bike ride for Atlantans on the scenic Silver Comet Trail, Saturday, October 22, 2011, at 8 a.m. The ride will start at the Silver Comet’s Floyd Road Trailhead ( 4342 Floyd Road, SW , Mableton , GA 30126 ) and end at the Georgia-Alabama state line.
The Living Smarter Ride to Alabama is approximately 112 miles roundtrip; it will include short breaks along the way and an overnight stay in Cedartown , GA.
“This ride is part of our ongoing effort to ignite the community to become more active and healthier,” said Watson. “More Americans and Atlantans are joining the popular trend of biking to work, biking for exercise, or just plain biking for enjoyment. We want all who are interested to join us for what is anticipated to be a fun time.”
In preparation for the outing, Watson will lead training rides every Saturday until October 22. These training rides begin at 8:15 a.m. at the Floyd Road Trailhead (behind Silver Comet Bike Depot), with cyclists encouraged to ride from 20 to 40 miles round trip each time. Additionally, The MACC will provide a bicycling training class on October 15. This class and the training rides will help get cyclists ready for the Alabama ride.
All cyclists are required to register in advance of the Silver Comet Trail Ride to be eligible to participate. For more details and to register, visit www.atlantapost2.com/rides or call 404-330-6302.
The Living Smarter Ride to Alabama is the latest of five rides that Watson has led for his Living Smarter initiative.
STATS ABOUT BICYCLING
· Bicycling is the second most popular outdoor activity in the United States —Outdoor Foundation 2010
· 47 Percent of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008
· Most trips Americans make are short: 50 percent are less than 3 miles, 40 percent are less than 2 miles, and 28 percent are less than 1 mile—U.S. Department of Transportation 2009
· More than three times as many new bicycles (14.9 million) are sold in the U.S. each year than cars (4.6 million)
· Studies have shown that homes closer to bike paths are more valuable—Various sources
· On a roundtrip commute of 10 miles, bicyclist save around $10 daily—Commute Solutions, 2011
About Living Smarter
Living Smarter with Councilmember Aaron Watson is a community-wide initiative created last spring to energize and engage citizens in making Atlanta a more active, healthier and smarter place for everyone to live. A literacy project – -Living Smarter through Reading—recently joined a growing list of activities: Living Smarter through Cycling, the Living Smarter with Aaron Watson television program broadcast on ATL26, and partnerships with public and community entities to foster more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles for all Atlanta. To learn more, visit www.atlantapost2.com
Atlanta Bicycle Coalition
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition aims to create a healthier, more sustainable Atlanta by making it safer, easier, and more attractive to bicycle for fun, fitness, and transportation. Visit www.atlantabike.org
The Metro Atlanta Cycling Club
The mission of the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club is to promote cycling in the black community and build camaraderie among all cyclists. Visit www.maccattack.com
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