ATLANTA, Ga. -- Do you feel safe riding your bike in Atlanta? If the answer is no, city officials are working to change your mind. The city was selected for the green lane project, and will add more than 100 bike lanes throughout Atlanta in the next year.
11Alive's Kaitlyn Ross spoke to cyclists to see if they think the push will work.
"On the weekend I go out on my bike from 55-100 miles, but I would never commute the 2.6 miles to my job because riding on Peach Tree is so incredibly dangerous," said cyclists TaVona Boggs.
Boggs isn't taking any chances.
Riding with her cycling club Sunday, she says the thousands of bicyclists killed by cars every year, like an Atlanta firefighter hit and killed just last week in Louisiana, are never far from her mind.
"I think that could be me. And that could be any of my friends on bikes. So I want people to be more alert, more respectful," she said.
The Green Lane Project could be a way to get the city on track.
Mayor Kasim Reed announced a plan to add 120 lanes of bike trails across the city and launch a bike share program.
"This is a good start. We have a long way to go to make Atlanta a cycling friendly community," said cyclist Bruce Morton.
Morton has been riding for 20 years, and says while he applauds the idea, it's going to take action to make a difference.
"There's a lot of education that needs to be done with motorists and cyclists alike," he said.
Morton says simple changes, like including bicycle laws on the state drivers test would make a difference.
The city wants to roll the new bike lanes and bike share program out by 2015, but this group will be out on their bikes every week until then, too.
So they want motorists to educate themselves about riding now.
"A lot of times when you pass me on my bike, you're going to meet me at the red light, so have a little patience," said Boggs.
