As heard on the radio

A new report puts Georgia in the middle of the road – no pun intended – when it comes to the state’s overall bike friendliness.

In its annual survey, the League of American Bicyclists ranked the state 25th out of 50, with Georgia netting 38 out of a possible 100 points.

The ranking is a slight dip from Georgia’s placement in the past but an improvement over the state’s 2014 rank. It also maintains the state’s gains since 2008, when Georgia ranked second to last for cyclists.

Brent Buice, who heads the state advocacy group Georgia Bikes!, helped compile Georgia’s data for the national survey.

“I think the challenge – and why we’ve kind of plateaued – is because Georgia has not dedicated any specific funding to improve walking and bicycling opportunities at the state level,” Buice said.

Buice said funding for alternative transportation projects gets lumped into the Department of Transportation budget. He says for bike-specific projects, local communities usually have to bid for other funding.

Buice says the state could also use a vulnerable road user law, to bump up penalties for motorists who injure or kill those not in cars.

As far as improvements in the last year, the report noted the state’s new safe passage law – which requires motorists to give cyclists three feet or more when passing – a “Share the Road” campaign and more dedicated federal funding.