Nonprofit leaders call for wheels-and-heels on Beltline

The push to separate wheels and heels on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail got a big boost over the weekend from the leaders of four major nonprofits that are deeply vested in the Beltline’s success.

In a column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, George Dusenbury of the Nature Conservancy, Michael Halicki of Park Pride, Greg Levine of Trees Atlanta and Mary Beth Matheson of the Atlanta Botanical Garden argue that the Beltline must “evolve.”

“Crowding on the trail has become a safety issue, with technologies unheard of 20 years ago (e-bikes and scooters) creating conflict — especially on the Eastside Trail. There is too much demand and not enough supply for walking, biking and scootering,” the four note.

The column appeared online Friday and was published this morning in the AJC print edition.

“A second trail would create safer commuting options and improve the lives of thousands of residents and visitors each day,” they continue. “It would make the Beltline more accessible for all by providing dedicated space for motorized vehicles — separating pedestrians from e-bikes and scooters,”

All four organizations are crucial players in the civic-support network that has helped make the Beltline a success. The Nature Conservancy’s involvement goes back more than 20 years, when it commissioned Alex Garvin’s Emerald Necklace report, which advocated for the trails-and-greenspace approach that the Beltline has successfully followed.

Park Pride has served as a partner with Atlanta Beltline Inc. in supporting the expansion of greenspace around the Beltline ring. For nearly two decades, Trees Atlanta has planted some 9,000 trees and others species, and cultivated native-grass meadows; that project is may soon gain official recognition as the “the world’s longest arboretum.” And the Botanical Garden is planning a Beltline-facing, pedestrian-and-bike-friendly “gateway” that should provide an anchor for the Beltline at the northern end of Piedmont Park.

The four leaders laud Mayor Andres Dickens’ March decision to deprioritize a leg of Beltline rail through wealthy, eastside neighborhoods in favor of transit that will actually transit needs. But, they note, this raises a question of what to do with 40-feet of unused right-of-way along the Eastside Trail.

“Making this investment flow to south Atlanta means that land set aside for transportation on the Eastside Trail could remain undeveloped for years to come. Unless we find another way to use that land for transportation.”

Once a second trail is installed, they note, “the land will still be there — preserved as a transportation corridor — to meet future transit needs.”

Better Atlanta Transit has long called for Atlanta Beltline Inc. to reserve the existing concrete trail for bikes, scooters and other individual wheeled vehicles and to install a separate walking path through the meadows and trees on the right-of-way originally reserved for rail. The idea gained traction when Dickens announced his pivot toward more urgent transit priorities.

Thus far, however, Atlanta Beltline Inc. has dismissed calls for the wheels-and-heels approach. We believe it’s time for ABI to refocus its approach by considering the present needs of the public it serves, and to manage the Beltline in a safe and prudent way.

As the nonprofit columnists put it: “The Beltline needs to continue to evolve to sustain its success and excellence. … The mayor and ABI must continue to be bold and commit themselves to building the second trail that the Eastside Beltline so desperately needs.”

If you agree, please make your own position known. You can do so by writing ABI CEO Clyde Higgs at chiggs@atlbeltline.org and Mayor Dickens at adickens@atlantaga.gov. Please be respectful. These are public servants who must take into account many perspectives and responsibilities. But you should also be frank in explaining your reasons for understanding that a wheels-and-heels solution makes sense.