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(WASHINGTON, DC) - March 2006 - For the 5th year in a row, Georgia has been represented in the National Bike Summit held annually in Washington, DC. by members of the North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association.

Joining forces with Georgia BIKES! and SORBA, the NGBDA thanked our Georgia Congressional Members for not only saving, but increasing the funding for bicycle facilities in the Transportation Bill. In addition, we sent the strong support message to all of these elected officials on issues such as Safe Routes to Schools, the Conserve by Bike portion of the Energy Bill, and adding "Bicycles" to the list of approved alternative transportation options listed in the Commuter Act.

To date, we have been successful in funding several bike/ped projects, increasing the funding for cycling in the Transportation Bill, and winning four Safe Routes to School pilot projects near Atlanta.

The North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association has 10 members representing 16 bicycle retail locations across northern Georgia. Formed in 1990, the organization is dedicated to bringing the best bicycles and services to north Georgia. The organization is active in promoting bicycle safety, ensuring land access, promoting pro-bicycle legislation, developing bicycling facilites, and fostering local bicycle events. A full 80% of monies raised through the organization's fundraising events has been donated towards these activities. Dan Thornton, with Free-Flite Bicycles with 3 locations in the greater Atlanta area is the organization's current President.

At the 2005 Bike Summit in DC
Working together to make Georgia a better place for bicycling! Steve Shackleford of Bicycles Unlimited, Belinda Sauret of SORBA, Mikki Griffin of Perpetual Motion Bicycles, Inc, Fred Boykin of Bicycle South and City of Decatur, David Crites of Georgia BIKES! and SBL, Daniel Elzey of SORBA, Walt Bready of SORBA, Tom Sauret of SORBA, Bill Wiley of Cycleworks, Steve Acenbrack from City of Roswell, Mark Gernazian of Cycleworks, and Bill Moll of Georgia BIKES!


(WASHINGTON, DC) - On March 17, 2005, a delegation of twelve bicycling supporters, mostly NGBDA members, met with Georgia Senators to ask them to protect projects that had just passed through the House of Representatives.

The Summit participants focused much of their time on communicating the importance of supporting a TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act) reauthorization bill that helps fund bicycle facilities, creates bicycle-friendly transportation systems, and provides safe routes to school. It is interesting to note that countless surveys (including a recent Chattahoochee-Flint RDC survey) show people want to ride their bikes more often. Communities that incorporate bicycle and walking trails into their planning and development have seen increases in property values up to 15 percent. While it's hard to put a price tag on the fun and joy of bicycling, the health benefits of riding are very tangible. People who exercise regularly save more than $500 annually in health costs and add years to their life expectancy.

Several Georgia Bicycle and Pedestrian projects were added to the most recent version of the House Transportation Bill, but the funding has not actually passed yet. Our local projects need to survive "conference" between the Senate and the House versions and then be sign into "Law" by the President of the United States. We ask that all Georgia cyclists take a momement to email their Representatives ( www.House.gov ) and Senators ( www.Senate.gov ) and share how important funding Bicycle and Pedestrian projects are in our communities and to "Preserve and Protect" the funding allocated in the House budgets.

The North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association has 14 members representing 17 bicycle retail locations across northern Georgia. Formed in 1990, the organization is dedicated to bringing the best bicycles and services to north Georgia. The organization is active in promoting bicycle safety, ensuring land access, promoting pro-bicycle legislation, developing bicycling facilities, and fostering local mountain bike racing. A full 80% of monies raised through the organization's fundraising events has been donated toward these activities. Kevin Crowe, with Cherokee Bikes, Inc. in Canton, Georgia is the organization's current President.