Some day in the next few years more people like Roswell resident Alex Olewicz could be cycling to work on a path dedicated to bicycles.

Olewicz makes the astonishing commute from Martin's Landing down to the Perimeter on his bike each day. On a path specifically created for bikes his 40-45 minute commute might drop considerably and the safety of the ride would definitely improve as he cycled along a tree-lined bike path set apart from roads with no joggers, strollers, rollerbladers or pedestrians to dodge.

But that is still a ways off, said David Low, deputy director of Transportation for the city of Roswell.

"In terms of the [State Route] 400 'Bicycle Expressway,' Roswell does not have a concept or plan to provide bicycle connections within the right-of-way of 400, but as with any good idea, we'll investigate it further," he said.

A bicycle expressway connecting Roswell to neighboring communities north and south could possibly become a reality in several years. Currently, the city of Alpharetta is awaiting word from the Ga. Department of Transportation to see if it receives a $1 million grant to begin the first phase of a future "bike expressway" project. They would have to match $250,000 of their own funds, if they receive the grant. 

That first trail would connect Haynes Bridge Road and the MARTA park and ride lot at Mansell Road.

"The Alpharetta project was identified as a recommendation from their Livable Center Initiative study funded by [the Atlanta Regional Commission]," Low said.

The bike expressway cost estimate is $1.9 million, so Alpharetta would have to spend even more than the match to fully fund the initiative.

The eventual goal would be to built the path along the 120-foot tree-filled buffer that is entirely outside the highway's right of way, according to Diana Wheeler, Alpharetta's Community Development director.

In Roswell, the Transportation Master Plan was recently updated to focus on making bike connections from the river, along Dogwood Road, Old Alabama Road, Holcomb Bridge Road and "eventually connecting to Big Creek Park and the Big Creek Greenway [in Alpharetta]," said Low.

The North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan also designates connections along Westside Parkway from Milton to the river, as well as along Highway 9 into Sandy Springs, according to Low.

"Roswell is always interested in connecting to [these paths] in order to provide additional transportation choices for the citizens of Roswell and all of North Fulton," he said. "We eventually would like to connect our riverwalk trail system to the Silver Comet Trail in Cobb County or the future Beltline trail network in the City of Atlanta."

And that's good news for Olewicz.

He has quite a few reasons for commuting from Roswell to work each day, including for exercise, saving money on gas and wear and tear on his car, as well as helping to protect the environment by not polluting.

"Plus, I want to set a good example for my two daughters," he said.

The Martins Landing resident gets up at 5 a.m. each day and is on the road by 5:20 a.m. for his 11-mile commute. Once he arrives at work, he showers and gets dressed in work clothes he previously took to the office.

"I do that pretty much year round," Olewicz said.

The only time he tries not to commute by bike is for safety when there's thunderstorms.

"But rain doesn't really bother me much," Olewicz said.

This time of year isn't as bad a ride as some would think.

"Actually I like the cold better than the heat in the summer," he said.

His commute takes 40 to 45 minutes, which isn't much different than in a car.

"Believe it or not, some days I get to work quicker than some people who cover the same distance," Olewicz said.

As early as he leaves home in the morning, he doesn't get stuck in traffic jams that a motorist leaving later would encounter. And even in a traffic jam, he can just drive by along the bike lane if there is one, or the shoulder of the road.

While weather can be a hazard with rain and the rare snowfall, and summer's sun requires plenty of sunblock, traffic is the biggest safety issued.

"I've been hit twice – a bunch of near misses," Olewicz said. "Just people not paying attention, basically," he said.

He's decked out with lights, reflectors and reflective gear.

"People just don't understand bikers are on the road also," he said.

Having a bike expressway along his route would definitely be safer.

Olewicz thinks it could go a long way to promote biking as an alternative way to get to work.

It takes a commitment to ride the bike. A good bike is needed and it must be maintained to stay safe, he said. The route must be planned.