FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2017
MARTA Makes Biking a Breeze
Rail Stations Now Offer Bike Racks, Repair Stands for Bike Enthusiasts
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
just made commuting easier for bike enthusiasts with the installation of
new bike racks and repair stands at 37 train stations. In a move to improve
first and last mile connectivity, the Authority installed the new kiosks to
enhance station amenities to better accommodate those biking to and from
various rail stations.
Each biking kiosk is equipped with newly installed bike racks, fix-it stands
and tire pumps, making way for nearly 500 bikes to be parked throughout the
system at any given time. “Our new bike racks help us accommodate a growing
population of commuters who are looking for alternative means to get from point
A to point B,” said MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker. “All of our new bike racks are
located within the fare gates, protected from the elements and under our
security surveillance system.”
The biking
kiosk are located at all of MARTA’s rail stations except the airport. Currently,
all MARTA buses are outfitted with bike racks to accommodate cyclist in areas
outside of our rail access areas.
In addition to
the added convenience and security, this new cyclist-focused improvement provides
an additional way for local commuters to travel the city in the wake of the
I-85 collapse, while making MARTA an even more bike-friendly transit system.
The Atlanta
Bicycle Coalition assisted MARTA with implementing the initial phase of the
bike kiosks. “The I-85 collapse underscores the importance of prioritizing
transportation options that improve access for people who bike, walk and use
transit,” said Bennett Foster, with The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. “The more options we have, the less
vulnerable we are to sudden shocks to our transportation network.”
“Some individuals took buses and trains while
others found alternative routes to their destinations,” said Parker. “However,
we also see a number of people choosing two wheels instead of four to commute
on a daily basis. Our new bike kiosks will serve as another resource for those
integrating MARTA into their daily transportation plans.”
All
MARTA bike kiosks are equipped to inflate flat tires, tighten handlebars and perform
general bike maintenance and repair. “The
repair kiosks create a way for people who bike to complete the first and last
mile of their trips to MARTA. It’s especially important for areas that may not
have local bike shops,” said Foster. “The primary goal is to remove as many
barriers to biking as possible.”
MARTA JOINS CITY OF ATLANTA’S BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
In an additional
move to make the transit agency and the city even more bike friendly, MARTA is
partnering with the City of Atlanta’s Relay bike share program. The program,
which started with 100 bike at 22 sites is now expanding to 500 bikes at 65
locations around the city. “We are proud to partner with Mayor Kasim Reed and
the City of Atlanta in the expansion of their bike share programs that allows
riders to reserve, ride and return a bike to the same location or another Relay
hub,” said Parker. “We know that this program will continue to offer our
customers with an added benefit that promotes health and exercise while getting
them to their destinations.”
Arts Center, Civic
Center, Inman Park/Reynoldstown, King Memorial, Peachtree Center, West End, and
North Avenue MARTA stations are identified as Relay bike share hubs that are
currently in the development phase.
Each station will
have a bike share hub that accommodates ten bikes. For more information on the
Relay bike share program, visit relaybikeshare.com.
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Contact:
Erik Burton
Bike racks and repair stations are now available at all MARTA
rail stations except Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The
installation project started in 2016 and concluded April 2017.(first three photos, bottom photo) Three
riders enjoying the Relay bike share program (bottom right).