DeKalb Commission to Consider Bicycle Bridge Over I-285 on PATH Trail

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Decatur Commissioner Fred Boykin sends along this info that was included in the most recent Bicycle South newsletter…

Next Tuesday October 8th at 10AM the DeKalb County Commission will consider a proposal to condemn approx 10’ (average) off the Church St edge of the CSX railroad right of way from Glendale to Erskine for the purpose of building a trail bridge over I-285 and a continuous multi-use trail along the route. If you’ve ever ridden the trail, you know this is the worst & most dangerous section between Decatur and Stone Mountain! PATH and the County have the funds, GDOT has approved the bridge, the permit is in place and the Clarkston City Council is in support and now is the opportunity to make this happen.

However, the DeKalb Commission has postponed this vote once before because the Commissioner for the district, Sharon Barnes-Sutton, has expressed some doubt about the need for a bridge. If you live in DeKalb and want a safe way to ride or walk this trail, then now is the time to contact her & the other Commissioners: Jeff Rader, Larry Johnson, Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson & Kathy Gannon. Click HERE (http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/boc/contact.html) for contact information. Please do it now! The vote is only a few days away.

41 thoughts on “DeKalb Commission to Consider Bicycle Bridge Over I-285 on PATH Trail”


    3. Thanks for making emailing even easier!

      I just contacted each of them to ask for their support of this proposal.

      Dedicated bike/walking lanes over major highways is one of the things I really miss about Central Florida, and it would be great to see more investment in this area here in DeKalb County.

  4. Life would be improved considerably if additional bicycle bridges were constructed over Scott/Ponce connecting Decatur’s Ponce bike lanes to the Deepdene Park Trail and Deepdene to the Freedom Park PATH. Heck, our kids could get to REI in Ponce City Market without risking life and limb. And yes, I will continue to propose this as often as possible…

    I like the County’s idea for Clarkston, too. Thanks, Fred and DM, for bringing it to our attention.

    1. +1, that stretch of the bike trail past Scottdale before you get to I-285 is awful. And dangerous.

    2. +1 I’ve already contacted the commissioner to reinforce the value this would add to the community. Representative democracy sure is easier in the age of email!

    3. I bike to work several days/week through the Scott/Ponce intersection. That bridge poses many obstacles to any convenient solution due to its width (I just ride the sidewalk for a few hundred feet – it sucks but is safer than playing chicken with 50 mph cars), but yes — connecting the Deepdene/Olmstead trail to Decatur that short distance, coupled with upcoming bike lanes on Ponce that will happen very soon, would really make biking from Decatur to points in midtown a lot more safe.

      And +1 for for the bridge proposal. That section right now make a family friendly bike ride from Decatur to Stone Mountain a lot less kid (and casual rider) friendly.

    4. I emailed all the commissioners also. Only one response, from Jeff Rader’s office, saying that Rader supports this project.

  6. Definitely the wrong picture to illustrate this story! That stretch of the “trail” is dang scary.

  8. My son has to travel on that section 4 days a week to attend GA Perimeter College; this is a much-needed improvement. I have just written my commissioner to ask her to support this project.

    And Jim D., I don’t understand your comment. I pass that section of Path trail twice a day and have not had any issues. The area is depressed economically, but the folks I see out and about and say hello to seem quite friendly.

    1. Jeff,

      I think you misunderstood Jim D’s comment. I do not think he is commenting on the feeling of being scared while riding through that area, but the actual terrain and crossing I285 is scary. As you know, it’s not really trail through that stretch because the PATH stops at the intersection of Glendale & Church.

  10. I’ve ridden that trail many times. Never has anyone messed with me. The only scary part is riding over the bridge with people are merging on and off 285.

    1. I live on Norman Road, on the Stone Mountain side of Clarkston, and while the area is indeed depressed economically, it is full of wonderful, committed people.

      The lack of a trail, however, DOES mean a scary commute — not because of the area, but because there is no shoulder, no space, and no way not to be in the way of very large trucks and people going too fast. There is NO WAY for a cyclist to both obey the law and not be both endangered and an endangerer on that stretch.

      I am all for improving the bridge AND the trail …. and, in the process, helping to contribute to the economic AND physical well being of my area, my friends and my neighbors.

  12. Thanks to DM for getting this post up so quickly. And I strongly encourage anyone who ever cycles this part of the trail to contact their County Commissioners and let them know how they feel. It is a very dangerous part of the trail and there have been at least two deaths over the years that I can remember. PATH has been working on this project for quite some time and has put significant funds and effort into this project.

    The GDOT and Federal Highways Administration have okayed it and it has been permitted. The County has the funds (much came from a federal Transportation Enhancement grant some years back). It would be a plus for Clarkston as it is right on the entrance to their community. The railroad is not supporting this (they were and then changed their mind) and that’s why the County is going to vote to condemn the property.

    1. I hope this passes. I get a little perverse thrill whenever communities are able to stick it, even just a little bit, to Big Rail. I’m a lover of trains and all but it’s just such a rare opportunity.

    2. Thanks Mr. Boykin. I have a vague memory of this place from my time in Scouts and bike trips to Stone Mountain. I recall this section as a major concern for the Scout leaders. It was like bringing a white water raft to shore right before one of the big rapids on the Chatooga River and discussing the correct way to navigate. It was something I did not want to do on a regular basis.
      Best of luck with the vote.

  14. This is great news and would make this stretch much safer. However, I find the bridge over Memorial much more dangerous, especially on the trip back into town. The bike lane there is too narrow and traffic too fast to easily navigate the entrance/exit ramps. At least the current bridge over 285 has stop signs to control the traffic to/from 285.

    But I’ll take what I can get. Let’s hope this gets approved and built soon.

    Also on my wish list would be bike bridges over N. Decatur and that other busy 4-lane road.

    1. I think the bridge over Memorial is also much more dangerous, but I recall at least one bicyclist who was killed at the intersection mentioned.

  16. Who cares?? Bike are meant for the sidewalk anyway. Hey- share the road….blah, blah, blah. We’re not going to obey stop signs or red lights but we are going to ride in the same lane right in front of you like we are a car and slow all of the traffic down. You’re not a car, you can’t go the same speed therefore you are dangerous. When will you people get this???

      1. Does the truth hurt JT? Not trolling just stating facts. Everyone feels the same way except the guys riding around in their bike uniforms like they are sponsored by the US Postal service etc… You are a middle aged man riding a bike just wear shorts and a T shirt, no one thinks UPS pays you to ride that bike…

        1. Big bubba, YOU should care about this project. This allows people an alternative to ride off the street.

          Also, If my bicycle ever slowed anyone down on their inevitable path to super-sizing themselves at Mcdonald’s, I sincerely apologize. My right to excercise should not affect anyone’s ability to go AT or above the speed limit

      2. As ridiculously backwards thinking as Big Bubba is, it pains me as a daily rider to constantly watch 99% of bikers behaving like complete idiots oblivious to the world around them.

        Cyclists will never get any respect until they regularly obey traffic regulations and behave courteously. And until they do so, they don’t deserve it. It just really sucks that the other 1% have to deal with the fallout of the 99%’s bad behavior.

  20. I often drive along the route next to the RR tracks in Clarkston that is ITP and has the bicycle path adjacent. I seldom see cyclists using the path built for them. They seem to prefer to use the street which is less safe. Why?

    1. I dont understand that either — given the option, I always ride on the PATH.

      Same story for the part of Dekalb Ave that has the PATH. Why ride on the street when a purpose built option is right there for the taking?

      1. I asked a cyclist friend this exact question- she said serious bikers who gather some speed find PATH too slow in general, and the street traffic behavior more predictable than the tots on bikes and walkers abreast who may not hear the “on your right” due to earbuds or inattention. I still told her I wished she would ride on the PATH for her own safety.

        1. yeah, i wish cars would stay in their driveways/garages.

          the reason some cyclists, myself included, prefer the road is that it is less dangerous. people who don’t ride bikes rarely understand this, and i don’t expect them to. aside from being safer, it is also much more convenient, something i think drivers can sympathize with, as long as i’m not in their way.

  22. PS: I think bike bridges for 285 and other places where needed for safety of bicyclists would be a really good thing ( if they were used instead of the streets)

  24. I’m with Bubba. I want to hammer the next lawn-chair bike rider that tries to keep me from passing.

  26. “PATH and the County have the funds, GDOT has approved the bridge, the permit is in place and the Clarkston City Council is in support and now is the opportunity to make this happen.

    However, the DeKalb Commission has postponed this vote once before because the Commissioner for the district, Sharon Barnes-Sutton, has expressed some doubt about the need for a bridge.”

    Dear Ms Barnes-Sutton.

    Please take your corrupt attempt at a shakedown elsewhere. Shut up and sit down.

    Regards,

    TeeRuss

  28. Leave it to something as controversial as not wanting to die on a bicycle to get everyone all riled up…

  30. Neat! I can see how that would be a pretty scary area on a bicycle. I only jog over that brige and the sidewalk is just wide enough for me to feel safe, but I’d not complain for this to happen.

  34. I support this bridge 100%. Not only for cyclists, but pedestrians and motorists alike. Peds cannot safely navigate PATH in this area and neither can anyone else – be it by car, bike or on foot. Please make the PATH complete and add this bridge.

  36. I also support this effort 100%. What was the outcome of the commission meeting a couple nights ago?

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