Commuter Breakfast this Thursday
 150x105.jpg)
It ain't easy being green in Clayton County
Submitted by mr.windsurfer on Wed, 06/25/2008 - 9:35am.
In an effort to save gas, exercise and help out the environment a little I have been riding my bicycle to the Harold Bank Justice Center in Clayton County then taking the X-press transit bus from there downtown to work. I have requested a bike rack to lock my bike too numerous times and have also requested a bike rack on the bus with no results on either. so I end up having to lock my bike to a light post next to the bus stop.
On June 23rd I got off the bus after work to find my bike gone! first though was it was stolen and made a report with the Clayton County police department but under further investigation on my own and a day and a half on the phone I found out that the Clayton County Sheriffs department had without posting signs or giving me a warning cut my lock off and confiscated my bike because of a new decision by the police captain to no longer let bicycles park on courthouse grounds.
If it wasn't for one really nice woman at the Court House I would have never known my bike was there and it would have probably been auctioned off at a police auction.
GRTA Xpress and bike racks
I've been told that the plan is for all GRTA buses to be equipped with bike racks, and have requested the timetable, which I'll share as soon as I hear back.
In the meantime, have you contacted
Wanda Van Zandt: WVanZandt at GRTA.org
GRTA Public Affairs
Customer Relations Manager, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)
www.grta.org www.XpressGa.com
to ask for a bike rack on your bus?
Regarding the hassle with
Regarding the hassle with locking up at the Justice Center, I'd start or continue emailing and making phone calls to whoever you can. Eldrin Bell is the Clayton County commissioner and also the acting director of Community Development. I know he's been outspoken on promoting the Lovejoy commuter rail line so hopefully he is supportive of 'altenative' transportation in general. He should be notified on what the sherrifs are doing, and on the lack of bike facilities. This is the another contact for GRTA/CTRAN: jeff.metarko@co.clayton.ga.us, or, comments@grta.org, and the # is 404 463 3000. Eldrin Bell is at 770.960.7126 or 770 477-3569.
The Clayton County Building and Maintenance interim director is Les Markland, (770) 477-3557. The C-Tran/Public Transit Coordinator is Richard Bray, (770) 603-4089.
I hope this helps. Your story offers a good opportunity to show what is necessary and how unjust (ha ha) it is that there are no accommodations there. It's also inspiring that you have to go through so much to be able to bike commute, it sets an example that it can be done despite the difficulties.
justice center hassles
I have contacted Eldrin Bell and his assistant supposedly contacted the justice center administrator
about the matter but still havent heard any updates as of 7/3
My little setback with the sheriffs dept got me motivated to start bringing the bike all the way downtown with me. I didn't think it would be possible with so many of the busses not having racks but I found out I can store it underneath the bus in a huge compartment and since doing so actually gets me to work about 20mins earlier.
everything always seems to workout if you have the right attitude!
Alan
No Bike Parking on Courthouse Grounds?
Sounds like a job for ABC!
Being from Clayton County originally, and having kept up with the recent and interesting political developments down your way, I wonder if the Sheriff's department would even respond to ABC. Who have you spoken with in the Sheriff's dept? BTW, CCPD (you mentioned the police chief) would not have jurisdiction since the Sheriff's dept is tasked with courthouse security, and we know how well CCPD and the Sheriff get along.
Regarding the bus racks, I thought the bus system ALL had racks. This too is troubling. Have you contacted Clayton County DOT to inquire what happened to the bike racks that used to be on the buses?
Jim Sandlin
The watch guard that gave me
The watch guard that gave me my bike back told me the order to cut the lock came from a Captain Kidd (seriously) who evidently became a captain after being Victor Hills body guard??? I cant get any cooperation from the sheriffs department, its like the twilight zone there..
I have been riding the Xpress busses for about 3 yrs now and have been asking for racks since day 1.
the busses are fairly new and never had racks on them, maybe you are thinking about the c-tran busses.
I was told last week that bike racks have been ordered and will be installed oon the X press busses soon..we will see
I'd start or continue
I'd start or continue emailing and making phone calls to whoever you can. Eldrin Bell is the Clayton County commissioner and also the acting director of Community Development. I know he's been outspoken on promoting the Lovejoy commuter rail line so hopefully he is supportive of 'altenative' transportation in general. He should be notified on what the sherrifs are doing, and on the lack of bike facilities. You could also contact GRTA to request a bike rack at the site or that they work with the Justice Center for such, and also for racks on the buses. This is the contact for GRTA/CTRAN: jeff.metarko@co.clayton.ga.us, or, comments@grta.org, and 404 463 3000. Eldrin Bell is at 770.960.7126 or(770) 477-3569.
The Building and Maintenance interim director is Les Markland, (770) 477-3557. The C-Tran/Public Transit Coordinator is Richard Bray, (770) 603-4089.
I hope this helps. Your story offers a good opportunity to show what is necessary and how unjust (ha ha) it is that there are no accommodations there. It's also inspiring that you have to go through so much to be able to bike commute, it sets an example that it can be done despite the difficulties.
Xpress transit
I contacted Wole Ralph, Commisioner and Eldrin Bell, Chairman for district 3 in clayton county about the matter
Mr. Ralph never responded (not a wise choice here at election time) but Eldrin Bells assistant emailed me back and is supposedly looking into the matter but as of 7/3 I havent heard any updates.
I recently got a email from Mr. Alexander (Xpress customer service) who told me they had just ordered bike racks for the remaining busses. Its not as much of a issue right now since I found out that I can put the bike in a underhead compartment but i'm sure once people start seeing me and others riding bikes more space or racks will be needed.
Police confiscating bikes-happens at Atlantic Station, too
I am very troubled by the trend of police cutting off locks and confiscating bikes because they are locked up "improperly" in the absence or shortage of bicycle racks. Apparently, this is the case at Atlantic Station as well, where the 3 installed racks are hidden out of sight and not adequate for the demand. Does anybody have any legal opinion on the matter, or how we could fight it at the region-wide level? Is it simply a matter of educational outreach to the police force?