Early Daffodils

Daffodils are amongst the first flowers to come out of the ground and I'm always happy to see them, but it's rather sad they are opening earlier each year. This is taken today on my commute home from the office.



I have a picture of a daffodil from 1982 that was taken shortly after St. Patrick's Day (March 17th). That date is nearly 4 weeks earlier than it was 26 years ago.

On the same walk, I passed a stretch of the Beltline right-of-way. The brush has been cleared, but I'm not sure what is being prepared. This is looking south from Virginia Avenue. It's clear that there is room for a pedestrian trail alongside light rail along this stretch.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 5.0 (walking)
Weather: Raining all day long (fill that reservoir)

A Ride along the Beltline

OK, the Beltline has just begun construction, but it doesn't mean we can't ride through the neighborhoods near the Beltline's proposed route.

The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is sponsoring a bike tour Sunday April 20 along a southern stretch from the corner of Virginia-Highland over to where the construction has started.

This ride is one of the local Family Rides coming up this Spring. Details are found on ABC's website: http://atlantabike.org

Many lament the lack of facilities, but it's rides like these that show there's already a ground-swell of cyclists, courteous motorists, and suitable routes. We're reaching a tipping point.

Building Communities Less Dependent on the Car

Much industrial land in Intown Atlanta is currently being converted to multi-unit residential. Although Atlantic Station has grabbed Atlanta's spotlight for being a converted steel mill property, there are several smaller tracts that are turning residential. The pictured construction is along the planned Beltline. You can see the vine-covered abandoned rail running from bottom center upward to the right which is planned to become an alternative transportation corridor.

I don't know if this property is billed as less car-intensive, but it's close to downtown, and close to the PATH Foundation's Freedom Park Trail (I'm standing on the trail to take these photos). Restaurants are a short stroll away and you're within a couple of miles of most things you would shop for.

Many residents of single-family housing fear the number of cars higher-density might bring, but our mass transit needs this density to work efficiently. We're moving over the hump with this new development.

I was also standing on the trail to take this photo alongside Candler Park Golf Course's 9th tee box.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.9
Number of Cyclists seen: 19
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Beautiful Morning, Warm and Hazy afternoon