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Photo obtained via Facebook

This Sunday afternoon, April 8, all are invited to Atlanta Streets Alive, and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will debut a new Streets Alive route during the event.

The route is part of the city’s open streets initiative, joining 12 Eastside neighborhoods along 4.4 miles of Decatur Street and DeKalb Avenue.

“DeKalb Avenue is fast, dangerous and out of control, but there’s hope,” the Coalition said in a recent press release. “These improvements would transform a dangerous street into a safe connection from Decatur to the BeltLine and Downtown Atlanta. Whether you walk, bike, drive, take transit or all of the above, fixing DeKalb Avenue benefits everyone.”

At 1:30 p.m., there will be opening words from event organizers and Atlanta City Council members and a bike parade lineup between Pryor and Central downtown on Decatur Street, where free bike decorations will be available.

Then from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Atlanta Streets Alive will close streets to traffic, and all are welcome to “walk, roll, bike, and play,” kicking off the downtown bike parade at 2 p.m.

To find out more about the afternoon’s festivities, go to AtlantaStreetsAlive.com. In addition, attendees can RSVP for Atlanta Streets Alive via the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/856497387844451/.

Here is the full event announcement:

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Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s first Atlanta Streets Alive of 2018 to debut on new Eastside Route

On April 8, Atlanta’s open streets initiative follows last year’s record-setting attendance with a new route on one of Atlanta’s most challenged streets — DeKalb Avenue

(ATLANTA) March 26, 2018 – On Sunday, April 8, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is activating a new Atlanta Streets Alive route, connecting Kirkwood and Lake Claire neighborhoods to Downtown Atlanta along 4.4 miles of Decatur Street and DeKalb Avenue.

From 2-6 p.m., the streets will close to cars, and open for people of all ages to walk, roll, bike and play. Atlanta Streets Alive is free, and gives Atlantans the experience of enjoying city streets as a public space.

The fun begins Downtown, on Decatur Street between Pryor and Central, at 1:30 p.m. with official opening remarks and the opening of the street, followed by kick off of the bike parade at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to join the parade by lining up at 1:30 p.m. (free bike decorations are available while supplies last).

Several local businesses and community groups will host free interactive experiences along the route, from games to dancing to sports. More details about Atlanta Streets Alive – Eastside are available at AtlantaStreetsAlive.com.

Why DeKalb Avenue?

DeKalb Avenue is fast, dangerous and out of control — but there’s hope.

In 2015, Atlanta voters overwhelmingly approved the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond to update and improve our streets. DeKalb Avenue made the Renew Atlanta list as a Complete Street. This would mean potentially removing the reversible “suicide” lane (a long overdue safety improvement) and replacing it with turn lanes at key intersections, as well as repaving the street, adding a multi-use path and installing safer crossings.

These improvements would transform a dangerous street into a safe connection from Decatur to the BeltLine and Downtown Atlanta. Whether you walk, bike, drive, take transit or all of the above, fixing DeKalb Avenue benefits everyone.

By shifting the focus of DeKalb Avenue from cars to people, Atlanta Streets Alive will invite Atlantans to experience this vital east-west corridor as a safe, accessible public space for community. More information about the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s advocacy efforts and vision for DeKalb Avenue is available at AtlantaBike.org/dekalb_ave.

Atlanta Streets Alive – Eastside at a Glance

WHO		Atlanta Streets Alive is organized by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition with generous support from the City of Atlanta, ATL Parks & Rec, MailChimp, Clif Bar & Company, COX Enterprises and other sponsors. FREE and open to the public, activities appropriate for all ages
WHAT		4.4 miles of DeKalb Avenue and Decatur Street, open to people, closed to cars and filled with activities
WHERE		DeKalb Avenue and Decatur Street, from Rocky Ford Road to Peachtree Street Connecting 12 neighborhoods: Downtown, Sweet Auburn, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, Cabbagetown, Inman Park, Little Five Points, Reynoldstown, Candler Park, Edgewood, Lake Claire and Kirkwood Enter or exit at any point along the 4.4-mile route
WHEN	1:30 pm 2:00 pm	2:00 – 6:00 pm, Sunday, April 8, 2018 Opening remarks by organizers and City Council members + kickoff parade lineup, Downtown, on Decatur Street between Pryor and Central Kickoff parade launches from Downtown, on Decatur Street between Pryor and Central with FREE bike decorations available while supplies last
WHY		Atlanta Streets Alive invites Atlantans to experience this vital east-west corridor as a safe, accessible public space for community.
HOW		Attendees are invited to walk, roll, bike and play on the street, participate in activities on the route and visit local businesses. The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition encourages attendees to go car-free and #OptOutofTraffic when getting to Atlanta Streets Alive. The route is easily accessible by MARTA, streetcar, bike, foot and other human-powered modes of transportation. Tune into the action by listening to the live stream on ASA Radio at participating local businesses along the route or by visiting AtlantaStreetsAlive.com/radio. RSVP on Facebook: Facebook.com/events/856497387844451/ Interact on social media: @ATLStreetsAlive, @AtlantaBike, #AtlantaStreetsAlive, #RenewDeKalbAve

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