Decatur Hosts GDOT's 1st Ever SRTS National Training Course

Decatur Emergency Management Director Tony Parker

Biking is big at Glennwood Academy!

City Commissioner Fred Boykin

City Commissioner Fred Boykin

Workshop Participants, including David Crites of the Georgia SRTS Network in the baseball cap

Decatur SRTS Parent Volunteer Beth Thompson

Glennwood Academy Principal Dr. Gloria Lee and GDOT SRTS Resource Center's Sarah Knight

Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne

This past Tuesday, the City of Decatur hosted the first ever Georgia Department of Transportation-sponsored Safe Routes to School National Training Course. The training took place at city hall and Glennwood Academy. Twenty three individuals attended the course and various backgrounds were represented including community leaders, health professionals, engineers, bike advocates and Decatur Active Living staff. City Commissioner Fred Boykin shared how the program was first implemented and now currently administrated by Active Living staff.

The course provided participants with the knowledge and skills to develop sound SRTS programs based on community needs and conditions, best practices, and responsible resources.

Dr. Gloria Lee, principal at Glennwood Academy, shared with the group the success and impact of SRTS at Glennwood. Bikes cover the rail at Glennwood Academy every day. The group walked from city hall to Glennwood to observe dismissal from school and offered a number of suggestions. Decatur's SRTS was recognized for its vision and commitment to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Special thanks to Sarah Knight of the GDOT SRTS Resource Center, Elaine Armster and Byron Rushing of GDOT (Byron's a Decatur resident!), and city staff Tony Parker, Catherine Lee and Bertha Hunt for assisting with logistics. Tony Parker, the city’s Director of Public Safety, had the opportunity to discuss how traffic enforcement impacts SRTS with the group and also answered questions. SRTS matters in Decatur!

- Greg White