The Atlanta Beltline is a great resource for our city. Safety concerns, however, are increasingly keeping lots of Atlantans away from it. The basic problem is that pedestrians and wheeled users on bikes, ebikes, scooters and other motorized vehicles share the same narrow path. This leads to constant risks of collision, with children and pets being especially vulnerable to high-speed vehicles. There has been a sharp rise in reported accidents, putting residents and visitors in real danger.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/residents-concerned-about-dangers-motorized-vehicles-atlantas-beltline/TNCNOUV55ZHPPBH4NCPEL3EZEA/ 

We call on Mayor Dickens, Atlanta Beltline CEO Higgs, and Beltline leadership to prioritize public safety, returning the Atlanta Beltline to a place of opportunity and enjoyment for all. 

Although a whole range of measures can and should be considered to avoid the current status quo, we encourage city officials to consider implementing three safety measures in particular:

(a)          Posting clear speed limits for bikes and allowed motorized vehicles along the beltline. The current speed limits are unknown to most users, and constantly violated, leading to significant risks of serious accidents.

(b)         Painting a middle line on the Beltline to separate directions of transit, so that users are reminded to keep right and to avoid walking in large groups that span the entire path.

(c)         Separating “heels and wheels”, which could be achieved by expanding the current path and creating two distinct lanes, so that wheeled vehicles have a protected space to ride, and pedestrians can enjoy the trail without fear of being hit.