Bike community held steady as a mode of transportation from 2008 to 2009, despite falling gas prices, according to U.S. Census numbers of the 70 largest U.S. Cities, compiled by The League of American Cyclists.

In Atlanta, the share of bicycle commuters to the total city population rose from .51% to 1.08% from ’08 to ’09, an 111% increase.   This was in line with the key takeaway from the League’s analysis that cities with the fewest bike amenities saw the largest year-to-year growth this past year.

Still, Atlanta’s numbers are impressive.  That 111% increase propelled the city from a rank of 39th in % of bike commuters in 2008 to 22nd in 2009.

Lain, who also forwarded the study, notes that it’s sort of shocking that Atlanta’s % of bike commuters was almost the same as the city of Chicago, where 1.15% of commuters bike to work.

According to the ranker, the top 5 bike cities in the U.S. are 1. Portland, OR 2. Minneapolis, MN, 3. Seattle, WA, 4. San Francisco, CA, 5. Oakland, CA.

Photo of commuting Decatur students courtesy of BeActiveDecatur.com

I submit this question to the masses.

Sam writes in…

Do you know a good way of finding out how safe the bike racks at the Marta stations are? Particularly the East Lake Station? I wouldn’t leave my bike overnight, and I would use a chain on both wheels. Anything else I should do? Thanks.

AJC Photo

Roswell has begun painting “bike boxes” at city intersections, after their director of transportation saw them on a visit to Portland, Oregon.

What is a “bike box”?  From the AJC…

Bike boxes are designated spots where cyclists can wait at the front of the line for traffic lights, making them more visible to motorists. The Roswell bike box has a narrow green lane that leads cyclists up to the box and guides them in making a left turn onto Riverside Road.

Is this something Decatur could do?  As the AJC noted, “bike boxes and sharrows don’t cost much, just a few cans of paint, so more are coming.”