Elected officials from Newton and Rockdale Counties will again join the Covington Conyers Cycling Club (C4) and Conte’s Bicycles and Fitness Equipment of Conyers for the fourth annual Georgia Rides to the Capitol event on Tuesday, March 3.
This annual event, cosponsored by the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association and Georgia Bikes, is organized to "raise awareness of the benefits of bicycling as an important form of transportation, a beneficial economic development and tourism tool, an excellent way to maintain health and fitness, and a great sport and family activity," according to C4 President Maruice Carter.
Covington Mayor Kim Carter, Newton County Commission Chairman Kathy Morgan, and Main Street Covington Director Josephine Kelly are all expected to participate this year, along with officials from the city of Conyers and Rockdale County. State Representative Doug Holt will be among the legislators greeting cyclists on the steps of the State Capitol.
In 2008, Mayor Carter and Conyers City Councilman Vince Evans were among the 35 local cyclists who joined over 1,200 bicycle riders from around metropolitan Atlanta descending on the State Capitol downtown. Included among the entourage were mayors of Decatur, Roswell, Ball Ground, Woodstock, Douglasville, McDonough, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Lake City, and Duluth. However, 85-year-old Locust Grove Mayor Lorene Lindsey stole the show, rolling through downtown Atlanta on a tandem bicycle with DOT Commissioner Mike Evans. Primary routes for the event start from Decatur and Roswell. However, the C4 club will start again this year from Covington (86-miles round trip) at about 7 a.m., leaving from the Historic Court House, and through Olde Town Conyers (62 miles round trip) at about 8:15 a.m., eventually joining up with the Decatur ride at the East Lake MARTA station at 10 a.m. Mayor Carter will ride the five-mile trek from Decatur with the cyclists, while Chairman Morgan and Rep. Holt will be awaiting their arrival at the Capitol at approximately 12:30 p.m.
"This is the Covington Conyers Cycling Club," said Maurice Carter. "We want the rest of metro Atlanta to know Newton and Rockdale counties have progressive leaders who appreciate quality of life and understand the important role of cycling as transportation, recreation, and fitness. We want our leaders at the state and regional level to remember the east metro communities when they make decisions that affect our future. It’s well worth a long day of riding to ensure that we are part of that discussion."
