A “critical swarm” of Georgia Institute of Technology students, alumni and faculty took to campus streets on Aug. 13 to celebrate the opening of a brand new cycle track that links key parts of campus.
Georgia Tech police halted incoming traffic to let the crowd form in the street and prepare for an evening ride. Some people brought bikes to join in the inaugural critical swarm, with hopes of kicking off an annual tradition. Others stood in line to sign up for a free bike raffle.
University representatives said there was too much turnout to use the track. The swarm had to stick to roads instead.
The new campus cycle track creates a smoother east-west route through campus, starting at the Campus Recreation Center and running along Tech Parkway down to Tech Square. It’s a roomy path for bicycles, skateboards, e-bikes and scooters separated from car traffic.
“As it turns out, cities that are walkable and bikeable are better cities for everybody,” Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said.
Students and staff often spot the university president cycling around campus with his hallmark metallic gold helmet. Cabrera led the ride to help familiarize people with the new bike track, and to encourage students to join in on a hopeful annual tradition.
“We’re turning Georgia Tech into a lab of what a great city should look like,” Cabrera said.
The track is part of nearly 2.5 miles of new bicycle infrastructure, and another piece to Georgia Tech’s Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University status. The League of American Bicyclists awards the title every four years to schools that promote safe cycling programs and amenities.
University leaders championed the project, but the cycle track was originally a student concept. Engineering students Kimmie Hernandez, Danielle Kronowski, Poonam Patel and Rachel Still did a senior capstone project on the safety benefits of protected bike lanes in 2019.
“Designing this project as a student made it very personal,” Hernandez said. “I had four years of firsthand experience navigating the campus and seeing opportunities to improve mobility and safety.”
The students studied several options to make Ferst Drive safer for people on wheels – the team landed on today’s cycle track. The path stretches from Marietta Street to Midtown.
Georgia Tech landscape architect Jason Gregory said the project should inspire students to get involved with campus improvements. After all, the work isn’t over yet. Gregory said there are plans to connect the trail to the Beltline to provide a connection between the Beltline from the west side to the east side of the city.
See more photos by Delaney Tarr from the bike swarm below.
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