The City of Atlanta has made several changes to its non-car transport options over the years since launching programs in 2018.

Initially, the city approved use of e-bikes and e-scooters for additional ways to get around Atlanta, but as Channel 2 Action News has reported over the years, the e-bikes and e-scooters haven’t been without issues for residents, prompting regulations by the city council. Rideshare company Uber even got in on it.

On the flip side, the city still encourages the use of e-bikes through multiple, and recent, rebates for purchase.

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Despite the changes to regulations on the micromobility vehicles, newly released data for Atlanta shows ridership is booming.

Atlanta has two official e-bike and e-scooter servicers, Lime and Bird.

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Data from Lime shows that since 2024, ridership of the green and white scooters and bikes has increased by 62%.

The company said its usership in 2025 is already record-breaking, with more than 200,000 trips taken on their vehicles since the start of the year.

“February ridership in 2025 is 62% higher than in 2024, and an astonishing increase of 200% from 2023,” according to a Lime announcement.

With thousands of riders and more than 100,000 trips in just February, Lime said their use in Atlanta shows the potential for moving away from being car-dependent.

“I am excited to see Lime ridership taking off in Atlanta, because it shows how incredible the potential is for micromobility to succeed even in a city that is historically car-dependent. We are working day in and day out to help connect communities outside of major transportation hubs, offer a reliable and time efficient commuter alternative, and are dedicated to building the future of transportation in Atlanta,” said Carol Antúnez, Senior Manager of Government Relations at Lime.

Channel 2 Action News is working to get similar information on ridership from Bird and the City of Atlanta for a fuller picture of the city’s e-bike and e-scooter situation.

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Taking Grady Jarrett out of Atlanta creates a little bit bigger impact than if someone pulled the deep dish pizza out of Chicago.

Some people don’t really like deep dish in Chicago. No, it’s true. Everyone in Atlanta, it seemed, loved Jarrett.

A beloved institution was cast off when the Falcons mismanaged their salary cap so bad they couldn’t keep him, after trying up to the last minute. Instead, they let go of their heart and soul Monday and Jarrett arrived Wednesday at Halas Hall not talking about looking for revenge or respect, just wins.

“Like I said, these things happen and I couldn’t be more grateful for those guys,” Jarrett said of the Falcons organization. “They made that process seamless. Granted, it is a little hard on you to be a Day 1 starter, never not starting when you’re dressed.

“But they made it easy for me. Hat’s off to those guys for trusting in me still. It is what it is.”

This didn’t seem quite like an announcement about a revenge tour. In fact, he hardly seems pre-occupied with vengeance.

“How can I? I’m focused on the next thing and my next thing is here,” Jarrett said. “I would be robbing Chicago coaches, players, fans, if I was up here worried about how Atlanta made me feel. And so even to give that energy to say: ‘I’m gonna get back at Atlanta’… We don’t even play Atlanta this year.

“So whatever they’re doing ain’t got nothing to do with me, you know? So all my energy, all my focus is right here in Chicago and that’s where it’s going and that’s where it’s gonna be.”

He did have a few more kind words for Atlanta even if his departure was less than ideal.

“You know what it was? I didn’t expect it, you know?,” Jarrett said. “But I would have faith to trust the process and let it play itself out, but I gave Atlanta my all.

“Everybody in that building, the organization know I gave Atlanta my all. I’m from Atlanta with or without the Falcons. Atlanta is always going to show me love. I’m going to show Atlanta love. You know, I’m so invested already in the community and life goes on. But my motivation doesn’t come from trying to get back or vengeance or whatever it is. I’m focused on the next thing and my next thing is here.”

Atlanta had been disappointment for years. The Falcons have fallen into such disrepair that the Bears have been in the playoffs twice since Jarrett was last in a postseason game. It is hard to believe.

He did make it to an infamous Super Bowl in Atlanta as a rookie, the one Dan Quinn and Co. gave away against the Patriots, and then a playoff season in 2016. But none after that.

Once off the Atlanta payroll, Jarrett wasn’t sure where he’d be going until his agents told him who was calling.

“I didn’t have any idea,” he said. “They said the Bears, and I was like, ‘OK, cool. They (a) perfect situation.’ “

Even after his 2023 ACL tear, Jarrett says he has plenty left to give his new team. Two years since said injury, he should be back to 100%. But 100% at age 32 isn’t like at 28 or even 30.

“My body is good, my body is strong, and my mind is hungry to learn,” Jarrett said. “I’m just in a position to where I’m in a special place at the right time around the right people and I’m super excited about what’s to come.”

What he’s hoping comes is wins, sacks, tackles for loss, even quarterback hits. He wants to be the disruptor in Chicago within Dennis Allen’s defensive scheme, just like he had been in Atlanta.

“I am the (Atlanta) franchise leader in quarterback hits as well,” Jarrett pointed out, to laughter across the room. “I thought I’d throw that in there. Sometimes you get seasons where guys may have eight hits but they might have six sacks. You’re like ‘dang.’

“But you might have a guy that had 20-25 hits and have three or four sacks. Affecting the quarterback is the bottom line, getting him off the spot, getting him uncomfortable. So to be able to be in a position from an interior standpoint it means a lot, especially when you have dominant guys from the outside coming every direction or whatever else coach Allen draws up, being able to be a piece to add to the group that’s here, it means a lot.”

The Bears are hoping he’s that missing piece to their defensive line puzzle, the quick three-technique disruptor who fits between two bigger edge rushers and a stout one-technique.

He might not ever be an institution in Chicago the way he was in Atlanta because at 32 there just won’t be a lot of seasons left.

But be a part of a second Bears Lombardi Trophy and all bets are off.

X: BearsOnSI

The Atlanta Hawks come into tonight’s game vs the Charlotte Hornets on a three game winning streak and winners of four of the last five. They have moved into 7th place in the Eastern Conference and have started to separate just a little bit from teams like Miami and Orlando. Tonight represents an opportunity to do just that against one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Our own Rohan Raman gave an in-depth preview of tonight’s game:

“Coming into tonight’s game, the Hawks are 5th in the NBA in PPG, 14th in FG%, 15th in 3PA, 19th in 3P%, 3rd in FTA, 26th in turnovers, and 12th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 17th in points per 100 possessions, 17th in effective field goal percentage, 21st in turnover percentage, 12th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 7th in free throw rate.

Currently, the Hawks rank 27th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage allowed, 17th in three-point attempts allowed, and 28th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 18th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 28th in effective field goal percentage allowed.

The Hornets’ offense is one of the most offensive – and not in a good way – in basketball. They are 28th in the NBA in PPG, 30th in FG%, 7th in 3PA, 28th in 3P% and 27th in FTA, 7th in turnovers, and 30th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Charlotte is 29th in points per 100 possessions, 30th in effective field goal percentage, 25th in turnover percentage, 6th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 29th in free throw rate.

Surprisingly, the numbers suggest the Hornets’ defense is not as putrid as the offense. They rank 14th in PPG allowed, 15th in field goal percentage allowed, 27th in three-point attempts allowed, and 3rd in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hornets are 19th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 20th in effective field goal percentage allowed.

Trae Young and Caris LeVert both did not play against the 76ers, but i would be slightly surprised if neither played tonight. Ball and Miles Bridges will both be in the lineup for tonight’s game – that’s enough offensive firepower to give Atlanta pause about not having two of their four best scorers in the lineup. Even so, this should be a great opportunity for Young to rack up 20+ points with 10+ assists without much difficulty. He’s averaging 26.0 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds in the two games he’s played against the Hornets this year.

Even though neither team is going to play the most exciting brand of basketball tonight, Dyson Daniels versus LaMelo Ball is one of the more interesting matchups in the NBA. Daniels’ combination of size, length and defensive IQ have been instrumental in him averaging a league-leading 3 steals per game. However, he usually has a height advantage on the opposing ball-handler. There is no such advantage with Ball and the Hornets point guard also has the range to hit shots from practically anywhere on the court. He’s been struggling as of late, but he can take over a game on any given night.

There should also be a good center matchup in this game between Mark Williams and Onyeka Okongwu. Since the trade deadline where he was almost traded to the Lakers, Williams is averaging 19.7 points and 13.2 assists per 36 minutes. He just turned in an excellent 24 point, 10 rebound effort in their win over the Miami Heat. Williams is one of the more inconsistent centers in the league, but it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top when comparing him and Okongwu. Okongwu has been largely solid since the trade deadline, averaging 17.6 points and 11.6 rebounds on a TS% of 66.8.

Although Ball hasn’t been playing his best basketball recently, Miles Bridges is. In his last five games, he is averaging 33 points, 8.6 rebounds, and four assists. For some perspective, only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama have done that this season. He’s going to be a big challenge for the Hawks to stop. Part of the plan to slow him down is going to be significant defensive minutes for Mo Gueye and Georges Niang.

Due to a back injury, Vit Krejci has been absent from the Hawks’ rotation for an extended period of time. However, he returned against the 76ers and had a modest performance with eight points and four assists. Even if Young plays, it will be interesting to see whether Krejci can take on a larger workload tonight so the Hawks are able to limit Young’s minutes.

DaQuan Jefferies and Josh Green have both been largely non-factors for the Hornets on offense, so the Hawks can hone in on stopping Ball and Bridges. There is still the possibility that those players are able to give Atlanta some problems, but there isn’t much of a supporting cast to really consider in this matchup.”

According to Fanduel Sportsbook, the Hawks are 8.5 point favorites against the Hornets tonight and the total is set at 233.5.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 

The Hawks have built some momentum over the last few games and are playing well. Dyson Daniels continues to show why he is one of the NBA’s most improved players, Zaccharie Risacher scored 22 in his last game, and Onyeka Okongwu is showing he is capable of being a starting center. While Atlanta is 2-0 against the Hornets this season, they have struggled with them in the past few seasons. Young and LeVert’s status will be huge tonight, but I like the Hawks to get a win tonight and stretch their winning streak to four.

Final Score: Hawks 128, Hornets 116

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