America is Building more Super Highways -- For Bicycles!

It was a city first settled in 1837 for the sole purpose of connecting rail lines.  It was named Terminus.  Later, it was brought to its knees and weakened by a devastating civil war.  The rail lines the city had come to depend were shattered and destroyed by an invading army.  Over the next century the city healed and grew, it symbolized progress and the promise of suburbia.  It is known today as Atlanta.  

Atlanta rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the Civil War and even though it never recovered its mighty rail system it has become a major metropolitan American city.  Atlanta has the cosmopolitan assets of any large city anywhere in the world.  It also has the suburban sprawl, the smog, and yes, the traffic.  

In November, Atlanta took a big step towards easing the gridlock.  The city opened the Eastside Trail, a paved, 14-foot wide path for bicyclists and other users that was once one of Atlanta’s many rail lines.  The trail is just part of a nearly $3 billion investment the city is making to transform the abandoned rail lines into usable biking and hiking trails.  Atlanta, like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and other major American cities is largely dependent on the automobile.  The bike paths are changing that.  Atlanta’s mayor Kasim Reed believes his city is transforming.  “The new (path) is already overused in terms of people…folks are demanding more and more."

Noting the unexpected popularity of the Eastside Line, Atlanta has plans underway to build the “BeltLine,” transforming another former rail line only this one is envisioned to be a type of belt way for cyclists taking them off some of the smaller paths and allowing for quicker access to different parts of the city.  Visit www.beltline.org.  

Atlanta is expecting the BeltLine (pictured) and other new trails to help generate money in new tax dollars and construction.  This has already happened in New York City with the High Line in Manhattan.  The new elevated 1.5 mile trail and park has spurred a variety of neighborhood redevelopment projects totaling approximately $2 billion in new construction.  Chicago is following the Big Apple’s lead with the Bloomingdale Trail, a three mile trail on a former El line.  It is being developed now.  When complete, Atlanta’s BeltLine is expected to generate roughly $60 million annually in taxes and other revenue.  

Even Los Angeles, the most car dependent city in the world is getting into the bike trail phenomenon with a proposed revitalization of the Los Angeles River.  The LA River Revitalization Corp has a plan for the once neglected waterway to bring back its ponds, greenery, parks, boats, kayaks, public art displays and more.  The LA River is 52 miles long; has over 27 bridges, many historic; and has been featured in over 100 major motion pictures.  Visit www.larivercorp.org for details. 

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