Historically, air quality in the Atlanta metropolitan area hasn’t been great. But that fate isn’t set in stone. In fact, every year Atlanta’s air quality gets a little better, proving that change is always possible.

Here are five things to know about the state of Metropolitan Atlanta’s air quality.

1) Poor Air Quality Can Impact Our Health

Air-born pollutants can have significant health consequences, especially for children, the elderly, and people with existing respiratory conditions.

Microscopic particles emitted by pollutants can burrow in the lungs or even blood, according to the CDC, while high ozone levels can be damaging to people with respiratory conditions like asthma. Reducing pollution is an important way to help everyone in our community stay healthy.

2) Atlanta Ranks Second in Pollution Emitted by Vehicles

It’s estimated that Atlanta ranks second nationally for most air pollution specifically from motor vehicles. Collectively, Atlantans drive upwards of 100 million miles a day, and the average daily commute is 34.2 miles, the fourth-highest driving distance in the country.

3) Atlanta’s Air Quality Gets Better Every Year—But There’s Still Work to Do

The 2022 State of the Air report released by the American Lung Association found that Atlanta’s air quality gets a little better every year. During the time frame covered by this report, Atlanta had the fewest ever days of unhealthily high ozone. Particle pollution was also at its best rate ever.

Despite these gains, though, Atlanta still received an “F” from the ALA for ozone pollution levels. The city is on the right track, but there’s still much to do.

4) Air Quality Can Worsen During the Summer

Ozone forms when other pollutants combine in heat and sunlight, so ozone pollution levels go up during the summer. Fortunately, the summer is also one of the best seasons for walking or biking, so Atlantans can mitigate this issue by choosing alternate forms of travel.

5) Getting Vehicles Off the Road Is Important for Clean Air

With so much of Atlanta’s pollution coming from motor vehicles, getting cars off the road is one of the most important things Atlantans can do to help improve air quality. You can do your part—while enjoying spending less time stuck in traffic—by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking transit.

Every year, Atlanta’s air gets a little bit better. If we all work together to get vehicles off the roads, we can keep this trend going.

We are doing our part to keep our neighborhood’s air clean. Click here to learn how—and see what you can do to help.

We recently spoke with Cornell Holmes, the General Property Manager of Atlantic Station. He’s a seasoned mixed-use real estate professional who has worked in San Francisco, Nashville, San Antonio, and Jackson, Mississippi. Most recently, Cornell relocated from Dallas to Atlanta to oversee property management and leasing at Atlantic Station.  

When looking for a home in Atlanta, transit was an important factor in Cornell’s decision and led him to choose a residence accessible to a MARTA station. Now, he frequently takes MARTA from the North Springs station to work at Atlantic Station.  

What have you enjoyed most about living in Atlanta?  

I’ve enjoyed the topography and the trees–the rolling hills and “city in a forest” have been a refreshing change in comparison to Dallas.  

Where do you commute from?  

I drive to the North Springs MARTA station, where they offer free parking, and I take the train to Arts Center station. I often walk from there to get to my office, or I take the Atlantic Station Free Shuttle if it’s raining or hot outside. I enjoy the opportunity to get a little exercise on both ends of my commute.  

Were you a transit rider previously before moving to Atlanta, or is this a new endeavor for you? 

When I worked in San Francisco, I frequently used the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART). I’ve used transit in many cities that I’ve visited as well.  

What made you want to use transit to get to Atlantic Station?  

 I ride MARTA for three reasons: 

1. Convenience – it’s easy for me to park at the MARTA station and take the train.  
2. Atlanta traffic – I get to avoid the worst part of commuting by taking the train. When I need to drive to work, I end up working until 7 PM or later to avoid the gridlocked drive home. When I take the train, I don’t worry about leaving during peak hours, and I can leave work when I’m ready.  
3. Sustainability – it’s the responsible thing to do.  

As a new employee at Atlantic Station, what made getting to work easier for you?  

When I first started, I was excited to learn that Atlantic Station has a transportation program called ASAP+. They work with employers and property managers during employee onboarding to make sure employees know how to access Atlantic Station without driving alone. I learned about their programs during my company’s onboarding orientation. The ASAP+ program manager encouraged me and other new employees to sign up for the Georgia Commute Options programs, such as Guaranteed Ride Home, carpool matching, and Gimme Five. 

What do you like most about using transit to get to Atlantic Station? 

It’s a less stressful way to get to work. If I drive, my 22-minute trip can easily take over an hour due to traffic. When I take the train, I can skip the stress. MARTA is also a great way to get to the airport from Atlantic Station when I need to travel.   

How do you spend your time while on transit?  

It depends on the day. I often do work on the train, but sometimes I listen to a podcast or watch something on Netflix.  

What advice would you give someone who is considering getting to work by riding transit?  

Register with Georgia Commute Options, log your trips, redeem your rewards, and enjoy the ride!  

What’s your vision for Atlantic Station going forward?  

2020 is going to be a big year at Atlantic Station. We’re opening a renovated and expanded Atlantic Green, creating new art installations, opening new retail experiences, and rolling out a new holiday program. This is all in addition to our existing programs like free yoga, outdoor movies, and special events. We’re building on a strong foundation, and we’re working to make Atlantic Station the best mixed-use development in the southeast.  

When it comes to transportation, we’re thinking long-term about how to leverage our proximity to the future Beltline. We’re working with ASAP+, Midtown Alliance, and the Upper Westside Community Improvement District to identify how we can better connect Atlantic Station to surrounding neighborhoods, especially as development booms in and around our District. I envision better spaces for biking, walking, and e-scooting. Atlantic Station was a pioneer property when it was built, and I’m looking forward to continuing our legacy of intelligent real estate services.  

One of Atlantic Station’s largest employers, Square has earned recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Business from the League of American Bicyclists. With this designation, Square joins the movement of nearly 1,400 local businesses, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies across the U.S. who are proving a commitment to creating accessible workplaces for people who arrive by bike.  

Square—a force that has transformed payment transactions with the introduction of its compact signature card reader—calls Atlantic Station home for its Southeast outpost, with its office located in the LEED-Gold certified BB&T office tower.   

“At Square, we’ve built a culture around bike commuting,” says Micah Wedemeyer, who serves as a bike mentor for Square’s Atlanta office. “The culture is fueled by our crew of passionate bike commuters who go the extra mile to help fellow employees try out biking to work coupled with the bike-friendly amenities our office offers—such as private showers, changing rooms, and secure bicycle storage. Our bike commuters support fellow employees along every step of the journey–from helping them identify an accessible route and bike for their new commute to holding lunchtime bike rides to our favorite local pizza spot.”   

ASAP+, the Transportation Management Association for Atlantic Station, supported Square in its pursuit of the Bicycle Friendly Business designation, working with the team to build its bicycle offerings to employees and apply for the certification. Square offers indoor bike storage, shower facilities for employees, and participates in Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s bike classes as well as regional campaigns like Biketober. Square also works with ASAP+ to extend to its employees programs from Georgia Commute Options, including Guaranteed Ride Home, $150 for switching their commute from driving alone to biking, and monthly prizes for bike commuting.  

“When places make it easier for people to choose to bike, they are building safer, stronger, and better-connected communities,” says Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists. “When more people are biking to work or shop, life is better for everyone.” 

If you’re a business at Atlantic Station interested in becoming a Bicycle Friendly Business, get in touch with ASAP+ by emailing [email protected].   

Learn more about the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business program: www.bikeleague.org/business 

Even if you live ITP (inside the perimeter), commuting just a few miles to work can be stressful and time-consuming. Chris, a Square Software Engineer at Atlantic Station, recently started using a bike for his 2-mile commute from his home in Midtown to work. He decided to give it a try after a coworker suggested he sign up for Biketober–a fun, free competition that takes place each October to encourage Atlantans to break out their bikes and experience the benefits from enjoying the city by two wheels. 

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Chris to hear about how relying on a bicycle to get to work has impacted his life for the better. 

What led you to start riding your bike to work?

There were a lot of people in the office who biked, and they were riding longer distances than my commute. When Biketober rolled around, one of my coworkers encouraged me to start riding and gave me a bike. Now, my commute is about 10-15 minutes total by bike.

What is your favorite part about commuting by bike?

It’s a faster commute, I save some money, and it’s an unavoidable workout. Before, I wouldn’t make time for working out or would work out on and off. Now, I get my exercise in each day I go to work.

How did you decide to rely on a bike for your commute?

I was interested in getting a bike to avoid driving a car and received one for free, so that helped me make my decision.

Do you have plans to continue riding your bike?

Definitely, I currently use it for commuting, but I do plan on using it to travel to other places. I’ve only had to skip riding it one day because of the weather, so it has been very useful.

What tips do you have for someone trying to find a bike that best suits their commute?

A coworker told me this quote: “Your first bike should cost less than your helmet, your second bike should cost more than your helmet, and your third bike should cost more than your car.” 

Also, starting to ride is not as bad you think. In general, cars are very respectful. There’s some unfounded anxiety about biking prior to starting. After you begin biking that goes away. I was worried about not being in good enough shape, but it was easy.

You just have to rip the Band-Aid off and start trying!

How did you determine the best bike route to take to get to your office?

I first asked coworkers who biked into work. I also tried a couple of different routes I found via Google Maps. My first attempt was West Peachtree Street, which had a huge hill, and figured out fast that would not be a good route. Then, I found that 17th Street to Peachtree Street was pretty flat, so that’s been my route since. 

Do you have any accessories for your bike that make commuting easier?

You are going to need a light for riding after dark, bike lock, helmet, and backpack. Some people use harnesses or panniers like the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic. You can hook it to your bike to carry things, so you don’t have to carry a backpack.

What tips do you have for people considering riding their bike to work?

Try to ride your bike in good weather–avoid really hot parts of the day in the summer. You can also rent bikes to try out before you commit to buying one. The Beltline has a lot of bike rental places. 

I highly recommend practice riding on the Beltline because you don’t have the pressure of cars surrounding you. You can try out several bikes to find one that is most comfortable for you.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your commute?

I used to take Bird Scooters, but I enjoy biking much more because of the exercise. I wish I had started riding a bike sooner. I’m enjoying participating in Biketober and will continue riding, as I feel healthier and am saving time on my commute!

With more commuters opting to bike to work, it’s no wonder properties are designing spaces suited for this growing trend. T3 West Midtown, Atlantic Station’s latest property that redefines the standard for the modern creative office, is at the forefront of this movement. Not only is the building made with heavy timber, making it more environmentally friendly, it also promotes sustainable practices to its tenants, encouraging people to take transit and bike to work.

A cornerstone of this is T3’s new bike room called The Wheelhouse. It features a bike ramp for easy access, a spacious storage area, fixit station and pump, and locker and shower rooms. 

Properties like T3 are setting the standard for office buildings that want to attract companies seeking spaces that promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable commuting for their workforce.