Learn how to position your trail project for success. From planning to design; permitting to procurement; construction to ribbon-cutting — step-by-step project delivery toward a cost-effective, timely, and quality outcome for all to enjoy.

This workshop will help attendees prepare for the FY26 grant application process with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. For the bicycle and pedestrian program, learn about problem identification, application requirements, and more to be prepared for when the FY26 RFP is sent out in December.

Regular business meeting of the Georgia Vulnerable Road User Task Team. All summit attendees are welcome to participate.

This presentation will examine gravel cycling tourism trends across the United States through the lens of both established and emerging off-road bike destinations where Gravel Adventure Field Guide has produced guidebooks.

Professional, full-time local advocates working session: share best practices, challenges, and mutual assistance. Limited to staff from BikeAthens, Bike-Walk Golden Isles, Bike-Walk Macon, Bike-Walk Savannah, and Propel ATL.

Join this exciting discussion on how to get more kids on bikes throughout Georgia.  Learn about national programs and local examples of how like-minded organizations are transforming their community, with a special focus on data-driven approaches.

Participants will meet at Decatur’s largest park, which offers 77 acres with 22 acres of protected greenspace, to learn about the facility's history (formerly a home for orphans) through today's usage. The hike features a walk around a pond to a spring and wetlands. You'll learn about the plants and animals that inhabit the area while we discuss plans for the site, including a trail system that connects to the Path and ways to use MARTA to bring more people to the park.

Georgia legislators are wrestling with questions related to how to apply the 1863 definition of "navigable streams" for purposes of recreation. Learn about where we stand in this debate over access to Georgia rivers and how states like North Carolina and South Carolina have used the "pleasure craft test" to adapt to support a modern-day river recreation economy.

Over the past 18 months, both the State of Georgia and the Atlanta Region have developed and submitted Priority Climate Action Plans to the US Environmental Protection Agency, funded by the Federal Inflation Reduction Act. Both the state and regional plans include active transportation as a key strategy for emissions reductions to be achieved by shifting trips from personal vehicles to biking and walking. We will cover the active transportation measures in each plan, why walking and biking reduce climate pollution, and how the active transportation community can help realize the goals for each plan.

This session focuses on the recent growth of parent-led bike bus programs among elementary schools in Atlanta. Program leaders at five schools in adjacent neighborhoods have collaborated to establish common approaches, address individual challenges, and form a collective voice to advocate for improved bike/ped infrastructure on roadways near school properties. These efforts have yielded increased ridership among students and expanded bike facilities at participating schools, demonstrating the ability of bike buses to sustain a culture of active school transportation.

This will be a combination of presentation and panel discussion covering Best Practices for National Water Trails, latest data and safety considerations for water trails, as well as presentations on the new Tennessee Blueways initiative and updates to the Georgia River Guide free mobile app. Tennessee Blueways has a particular emphasis on using river recreation to reinvigorate rural economies. Georgia River Guide is a game changing app promoting water trails in Georgia.

As cities across the country embrace bicycle transportation, creative design solutions to develop new bike infrastructure and improve bike safety emerge regularly. This session will cover a variety of strategies to retrofit existing vehicular infrastructure for bike accommodations and to provide safe crossings at intersections. The Memorial Dr. roadway reconfiguration is one such project in Atlanta that converted a four-lane roadway into a three-lane roadway with left turn lanes and a protected cycletrack.

Join two professional local advocates to share your ideas on defining and addressing needs related to pedestrian advocacy on the local level.

Bring your bike, helmet, and some water for a relaxed social ride of 7-12 miles through Decatur!

Mayor Patti Garrett welcomes summit attendees to Georgia's most bike-friendly city. Learn about what Decatur has done to earn that distinction and how the community plans to become an even better place to bike, walk, and live.

Georgia Bikes Executive Director John Devine follows with an exciting update on our next chapter, as well as an engaging conversation with Andrew Heath, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The City of Decatur recorded no fatal crashes during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. That streak ended with one fatality in 2022 and three in 2023. The City is embarking on a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan to eliminate severe crashes while supporting Decatur's long-term goals of mobility, equity, and sustainability. City and consultant staff will review our strategic vision for safer streets, talk about why and how the City applied for SS4A funding, and show how the SS4A plan is supporting local efforts.

Recent research has shown that natural spaces are an important tool for improved mental and physical health. This panel of practitioners in counseling, public health, and urban design will: review recent research on natural spaces and mental health including the Community Resiliency Model; describe mental and physical health needs in rural Georgia and how parks/trails can enable a healthier community; and provide examples of how both the urban design process can be sensitive to mental health.

Learn about state-level policy opportunities in this conversation with legislators. We'll talk about the proposed Georgia Yield legislation, Vulnerable Road User safety, and how the General Assembly works with advocates and government agencies to make policy.

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is working with local, state, and federal partners to build a 100-mile greenway trail along the Chattahoochee from Lake Lanier to Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Learn how TPL convened a coalition of more than 80 government, nonprofit, and business groups to develop the vision and coordinate implementation. The session will have a particular focus on TPL’s efforts to build a 48-mile camp and paddle trail within the RiverLands, as well as the RiverLands Showcase, a 2.7 mile stretch of trails, parks, and river access in Cobb County.

Explore the principles of smart growth through the eyes of a pedestrian. This interactive session will take you on a journey through Downtown Decatur, highlighting the impact of smart growth principles on walkability, safety, accessibility, mixed land uses, community engagement, and creating a sense of place. Participants will examine real-world examples of how pedestrian-focused planning can enhance quality of life, reduce environmental impacts, and foster more connected communities. Whether you’re a city planner, community leader, or urban enthusiast, this session will provide valuable insights into the critical role that pedestrian experience plays in creating vibrant, more sustainable cities.

E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular and attractive nationwide, and Georgia is no exception. This session begins with a review of an Atlanta-area rebate program designed to provide affordable transportation options, particularly to moderate- and low-income individuals; we'll discuss the rebate program rollout, lessons learned, and pointers for implementing a rebate in your community. This will be followed by an interactive discussion of e-bike safety and policy.

GDOT, in partnership with Georgia Bikes, is currently developing a Rural Statewide Active Transportation Plan to guide the update of policy, investment, and programs to improve and grow active transportation across Georgia. This session will feature key findings from the first phase of planning, including existing conditions related to safety, connectivity, bicycle level of service, policy, programs, funding, and public perceptions. The session will also highlight special planning focus areas such as a systemic trail crossings analysis. Additionally, attendees will be engaged in discussing potential priorities and strategies to consider in the development of the plan’s recommendations.

This session will introduce two very different land uses - forested open space and urban environments - and how they interface through a natural-surface trail network. By using a combination of best practices, “inter-industry” standards, and a holistic understanding of how people use natural-surface trails, these seemingly disparate contexts can become some of our most beloved refuges in cities.

Navigating the many available grants to find the right one for your community can be daunting. This session will provide an overview of available state and federal funding sources for on-street bike and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as best practices for crafting and submitting a competitive application.

An age-friendly community is a livable a town, city, county, region, or state that has partnered with AARP to improve livability for older adults and their families so they can thrive. People of all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, support transportation options, enable access to key services, increase participation in community activities, and support housing that’s affordable and adaptable. SRTS enables and encourages families to walk and roll to and from school when and where it is safe; where it’s not safe, SRTS works with schools and communities to make them safer so that families may choose active transportation options. In the session, we will give tips on available data for your communities, planning for and evaluating infrastructure, and share the amazing results achieved when information and advocacy came together.

Learn about the many available state and federal funding sources that may be used for multi-use trail projects, and hear from program experts. Best practices for creating a competitive application will also be covered.

Learn about creative and fun engagement events and strategies happening in communities across Georgia and around the country that build enthusiasm for bicycling, walking, and other active modes. Be ready to discuss your ideas and experiences, hear from fellow attendees about lessons learned and best practices, and help us build a calendar of exciting programs that work for different ages, communities, times of year, and goals.

We'll go over some cases throughout Georgia where bad design led to dangerous situations and legal action. Join us for the mobile workshop at 4:15 for a walking tour of some specific examples.

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A positive public-private partnership is not a cliche in Rome, Georgia. TRED (Trails for Recreation and Economic Development) was formed in 2012 when a need was identified to link two critical trail sections. Twelve years later, TRED’s unique public-private partnership with the City of Rome and Floyd County has created over 20 miles of multi-use and off-road trails. Additionally, a new trail partnership with a national healthcare system promises to create more opportunities for trail development and amenities. Learn how your community can utilize existing features and create partnerships that can help develop new trails or add to existing trails.

Take a walk with a practicing attorney and learn how to plan, design, and maintain public infrastructure that keeps people safe, limiting liability and keeping your local government out of court.

Making your community safer doesn’t have to break the bank and take years to see improvements. There are tools, resources, and hacks you can use right now to start making a difference, whether you’re a local government or citizen advocate.

Annual organizational coordination meeting. Limited to staff from GDOT, GA Safe Routes to School, Regional Commissions, and Georgia Bikes.

A special edition of Bike Law GA's annual Lawn Party! The Georgia Bike Summit will be happening in Decatur that week and Bruce's mobile workshop for Summit attendees will end at Bike Law GA's headquarters on Friday 10/4. And why not wrap it up with a special edition of your favorite Bike Law GA bike party?

119 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030

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