Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff will take part in the fourth annual Environs Residential BeltLine Bike Tour to benefit the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the ride beginning at the historic Old Fourth Ward water tower located at 659 Auburn Avenue NE.
"The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition does a great job advocating for a more bike-friendly city. The BeltLine Bike Tour is an excellent way for people to get outside and experience Atlanta in a unique, and exciting way," Dimitroff said. "I am a firm believer in the health benefits and physical merits of good fitness, specifically cycling. Through this event, people not only get a chance to see what a fantastic project the BeltLine is, but also get in a great workout."
The BeltLine Bike Tour (BBT) is an annual group ride for Georgians near and far to learn about the city's scheduled makeover. Anyone can participate. There are short, medium and full-length routes planned to suit all ages and cycling levels, including a five-mile route, a 15-mile half BeltLine route and the more challenging 28-mile Full BeltLine loop. Dimitroff will be participating in the Full BeltLine loop, which covers nearly the entire BeltLine corridor and showcases the most comprehensive economic development effort ever undertaken in the city of Atlanta, and among the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment projects currently underway in the United States.
In the last two decades, metro Atlanta has grown in widely spread and disconnected pockets that have strained the quality of life. The BeltLine seeks to correct this within the city by connecting a whopping 45 neighborhoods with transit, parks, trails, and a 22-mile nature preserve.
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition has been the city's voice for better biking for 20 years. Its mission is to make it safer and easier for people to ride bicycles. This will help create a healthier, more sustainable Atlanta, and allow people to enjoy a higher quality of life while improving public health, cleaning the air, reducing congestion, and building the community.
