Kick off event and community ride scheduled for April 28
Share the Road public awareness campaign sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
ATLANTA, MARCH 31, 2006 – 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 Atlanta. A kick off event and community ride is scheduled for 11am, Friday, April 28 in Central Park . Both the Mayor and Governor are invited to attend and lead the community ride through and around Atlantic Station. 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.
“This is our third year of promoting the important safety messages of the Share the Road campaign with the residents and bicyclists of Atlanta,” said Dennis Hoffarth, Executive Director, Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. “Each year we are reaching more people – both motorists and bicyclists – with the goal of cooperation between all road users, resulting in safer bicycling conditions.”
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); and 4) Bicyclists take the lane when the lane is narrow. These Share the Road messages will be promoted through various communication channels including community exhibits, printed brochures, bumper stickers, billboards, MARTA bus backs, theatre slides, PSAs, lawn signs, buttons, web site, and public relations.
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 or BUGS, which educate cyclists on how to plan and advocate for bicycle facilities in their own counties, workplace or neighborhoods. To date, ABC has educated more than 500 adult and juvenile bicyclists through Effective Cycling classes; implemented one of the most cycle-friendly bikes-on-train policies in the nation; established a Safe Routes to School program with four school sites in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties; and encouraged hundreds 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.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nancy Tao, 770.329.3708 OR
Dennis Hoffarth, 404-881-1112
