Fresh Loaf

Tuesday’s looking to be one of those days just jam-packed with forums.

While Georgia STAND-UP hosts its City Council candidate forum in Southwest Atlanta, a coalition of transportation advocates will be grilling Mayoral candidates about their stances on transit, bicycles and pedestrian friendly streets — and how mobility options other than automobiles could improve Atlanta’s quality of life and economic potential.

Citizens for Progressive Transit, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS are hosting the 6:30 p.m. forum at the Atlanta Regional Commission. Mayoral candidates Lisa Borders, Mary Norwood, Kasim Reed, Jesse Spikes and Glenn Thomas will give their take on the issues. Longtime business columnist and smart-growth advocate Maria Saporta will moderate the discussion.

For more information about the forum, visit the coalition’s website. For directions, click here. You can also try CfPT’s online transit trip planner. The ARC is convenient to three MARTA stations and Five Points bus transfer center. The coalition’s advocacy team will provide free bicycle valet parking.

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Atlanta cyclists will gather near Piedmont Park on Wednesday evening to remember fellow bike riders killed or injured by motorists on public roadways.

Details from the Atlanta Ride of Silence Facebook page:

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

For Atlanta riders, meet at Charles Allen & 10th at 6:45pm. Please wear a black armband to honor those who have fallen, we’ll have some on hand as well. We will have a sign-up sheet you can sign to indicate if you’re riding in memory of someone in particular. A few words will be said, then our ride will leave promptly at 7pm.

To sign up as a confirmed guest, visit the Atlanta Ride of Silence Facebook page. For more information about the worldwide event, visit the official Ride of Silence website. If you’re interested in spreading the word about Wednesday’s event, check out the organization’s blog and resources page. Both have templates for posting information on sites like Craig’s List, logos you can download and other organizing materials.

(H/T to Maigh; Logo courtesy of Ride of Silence)

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All this week, the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign encourages residents to leave their cars in the garage, hop on the ole Huffy, and participate in Bike to Work Week.

The nonprofit has banded together with Atlanta Transportation Management Associations, the Clean Air Campaign, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other velocipede advocacy groups and clubs to host cycling-related events and activities.

Tonight you can find a number of deals and discounts at participating bike shops to gear up for the week. Tomorrow you can find a Bike Buddy to help bring you up to speed. On Wednesday, downtown’s Woodruff Park will be the site of Bike Fest, a lunch hour celebration of all things cycling. On Thursday, you can participate in carpool-esque bike trains.

Visit the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign to register for an emailed discount coupon, enter into a prize drawing, and learn more information about this week’s activities. Be sure to also check out the city’s other cycling groups and resources such as Sopo Bicycle Cooperative and Faster Mustache.

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The Atlanta Critical Mass ride last month received a lot of attention because city police shadowed the slow-rolling gathering and ticketed cyclists out of the blue. That sucks, yes, but turn your eyes for the moment toward New York City, where police and Massers have never really had a peaceful go of things.

A video recorded during Friday’s Critical Mass in the city shows cycle-riding revelers pedaling through Times Square. Fun and games until a police officer pushes you off a bicycle for no reason.

According to Gawker, who gets the thanks for the video:

City Room reports that the unidentified officer was puts on “modified assignment” while they investigate; the AP says they also took away his badge and gun for now. (He should be fired.) Meanwhile, Gothamist reports that the cyclist was arrested and held in jail while being charged with assault.

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The monthly Critical Mass bike ride takes place this Friday. Starting around 6 p.m., cyclists will gather at Woodruff Park in downtown and pedal where their urges take them. Commenters on the ride’s message board — it doesn’t have any real political or power structure — are requesting the pack makes its way through East Atlanta. For more information or to ask questions of the group, click here to visit its message board.

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