September 16, 200915 yr ... Good points, and toss in a set of tire levers. Get an experienced cyclist or shop employee to give you a hands-on tutorial in tire repair/tube replacement. It's easy once you know how, will put you back on the road in a few minutes, and will spare you the eventually inevitable and frustrating long walk home or the humiliation of having to call someone to pick you up. Reser Bicycle in Newport has a monthly class on how to do this. It was free for us because we bought our bikes there.
September 22, 200915 yr New bicycle shop open in Clifton on Jefferson Street... http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,5888.msg428764.html#msg428764
October 5, 200915 yr Cincinnati wants to know: What would it take to get you to ride a bicycle to work, to the grocery store, etc.? http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2009/10/05/city-would-like-you-to-bike/ There is a public hearing this Thursday, 7-9 p.m., at the McKie Recreation Center, 1655 Chase Ave., Northside. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
October 5, 200915 yr What would it take to get you to ride a bicycle to work, to the grocery store, etc.?
October 6, 200915 yr Cincinnati to host first public open house on citywide bike plan October 8 http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/1006bikeplanopenhouse.aspx By Randy A. Simes | Soapbox Cincinnati, October 6, 2009 As Cincinnati moves forward on its first comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan in over 30 years the City is looking for community input from cyclists and would-be cyclists. The first opportunity is a public open house that will be held on Thursday, October 8 from 7pm to 9pm at the McKie Recreation Center in Northside. The open house will include a formal presentation that will begin at 7pm and discuss the planning process for the Bicycle Master Plan. Those who wish to share their thoughts will be able to fill out a public comment card or speak directly with a member of the project team. Once complete, the Bicycle Master Plan will outline the infrastructure and programs that are necessary to transform Cincinnati in a way to make average Cincinnatians feel safe riding bicycles for daily trips as they would riding in their automobiles. The City has also planned several working neighborhood rides that will engage cyclists to ride through their respective neighborhoods with members of the Bicycle Master Plan project team. The first of these rides will take place on Saturday, October 10, following and will be divided into five legs: 1. 10:00am - Downtown (meet at Coffee Emporium) to Hoffner Park in Northside 2. 11:00am - Hoffner Park to the Kenard Avenue Kroger 3. 12:00pm - Lunch at Hoffner Park (brown bag it or get take-out from one of Northside's many eateries) 4. 1:00pm - Hoffner Park to Burnet Woods 5. 1:15pm - Burnet Woods (meet at fountain), Clifton Avenue, and Martin Luther King Drive Over the course of the working ride, members of the project team will be compiling feedback at stops along the route, and those interested in participating are encouraged to do so and participate in any or all legs of the ride, or just join everyone for lunch at Hoffner Park. The City is also looking for cyclists and/or would-be cyclists to participate in the Bicycle Master Plan survey that will help the City collect general information about the types of cyclists in the community and allow survey participants to grade the City on how they are doing on several different aspects of creating and maintaining a healthy bicycling environment. For those unable to participate in any of the above activities, there is still one more way to get involved. The City has developed an interactive map to gather comments from the public about bicycling conditions throughout the city, and will also solicit Information about streets and routes that you may use, routes that are either bicycle-friendly or un-friendly, and areas where improvements are needed .
October 12, 200915 yr Large turnout for bicycle planning open house http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/10/large-turnout-for-bicycle-planning-open.html By Kevin LeMaster | Building Cincinnati, October 12, 2009 A standing room only crowd gathered at McKie Recreation Center in Northside last Thursday to chime in on Cincinnati's first bicycle master plan since 1976. And on Saturday, riders joined planners from Toole Design Group and the City on tours along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Spring Grove, Ludlow and Hamilton avenues, providing feedback at stops along the route. The City is spending nearly $5 million to overhaul its bicycle infrastructure, including improved trails and bike routes, wayfinding signage, sharrows, bike parking and bike racks. The master plan, scheduled for completion next summer, also is expected to establish programs on bicycle safety and awareness.
October 12, 200915 yr ^I thought it was extremely difficult to get a word in among more avid cyclists. There was an enormous turnout, which I thought deterred more casual riders from providing input.
October 12, 200915 yr I came in an hour late but thought it was well put together. Personally, I don't use bike trails (unless I am on it for pure recreation -- e.g. Little Miami) or bike lanes/paths (they are degrading and/or far too short -- e.g. Victory Parkway), but I understand that for many, these are the only ways you can get them out on the bike and going places. There was a large turnout by Mobo coop, Campus Cyclery, 100% of Northside (it seemed like). I did mark on the map where I thought improvements could be made -- e.g. eliminating the central reservation (turning lane) on Central Parkway and using the 10ft. of space for 2 4ft. bike lanes. Climbing lanes on the long grades, such as on Gilbert Avenue. And so on.
October 12, 200915 yr ^Actually what would be even better is to remove the center turn lane and replace it with separated bicycle lanes that run down the middle of the road with a small landscaped strip on either side providing a buffer between bicyclists and automobiles. Personally I would take it a step further and remove the on-street parking on one of the two sides of the street and use the additional 8 or so feet to create an even better median space. Total space created would be 18ft. from the 10ft. turn lane and the 8ft. parking lane. 4ft. Buffer -> 4ft. Bicycle Lane -> 2ft. Buffer -> 4ft. Bicycle Lane -> 4ft. Buffer
October 23, 200915 yr Well the start of the Mill Creek bike trail exists as of this week. It's less than a 1/2 mile between the Ludlow viaduct and the used tire store near Mitchell Ave. The chain link fence along the creek is incredibly cheap and the overall ensemble is cheap. And it ends totally randomly with chain link fencing, not at an intersection with any road.
October 26, 200915 yr I used to be a fan of bike paths and special bike lanes, but I have changed my mind. I now think that everything works better with properly designed streets that accomodate both bicycles and cars. Under Ohio law, bicylces are supposed to ride on the far right side of the road, but they are permitted to ride in the center of the lane if they can keep up with traffic. This can be done on a 25 mph street. Roads with a lot of curb cuts, right turn lanes, highway ramps, and so on are not friendly to bicycles. They aren't friendly to cars, either. Sprawl development is just uncomfortable for everybody.
October 27, 200915 yr The 8th St. viaduct work is done, and it has sidewalks and bike lanes in both directions.
November 3, 200915 yr ^The sidewalks are great since they are now separated from the fast-moving traffic with a wall, but the bike lanes could probably use another foot of width due to the sewer grates that are present in the minimum 4 feet of space they have. Each of the driving lanes could have been reduced by 6 inches to accommodate this.
November 3, 200915 yr Honestly I think the bike lanes should be painted green or something else to better differentiate them from the traffic lanes for drivers who are less familiar with bike lanes.
December 4, 200915 yr Cincinnati receives "C" on first-ever Bicycling Report Card By Randy A. Simes, Soapbox Cincinnati | December 1, 2009 http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/1201bicyclingreportcard.aspx Taking cues from San Francisco, the City of Cincinnati engaged the local bicycling community in the City's first-ever Bicycling Report Card - an annual survey used to gauge the progress being made for two wheeled transportation in the city. Almost 600 people answered the report card questions distributed through the City's Bicycle Transportation Program earlier this year. More than 70 percent of the total respondents indicated that they ride a bicycle at least once per week, with 75 percent of the respondents falling within the 25 to 54 year-old age bracket. While the new Bicycling Report Card is a step in the right direction, it is clear that current or potential bicyclists feel there is still much to be done to make Cincinnati bike friendly after assigning the City a "C" grade. "The survey results will be incredibly helpful to us as we move forward over the course of the next year," said Melissa McVay with Cincinnati's Department of Transportation & Engineering. "I often hear people say that Cincinnati's topography will prevent us from ever really increasing our mode share numbers for cycling, but only 22 percent of the survey's respondents cited topography as an obstacle." Perhaps the most important piece of data was what people said was keeping them from riding more often. Of the roughly 600 respondents, 61.5 percent said that there were not enough bike lanes, while only 50 percent cited weather as an obstacle. "This tells me that we have a very real opportunity to make bicycles as much a part of everyday life here as they are in San Francisco or Portland," said McVay. "The feedback about bike lanes being such an important factor compliments much of the research we've seen on obstacles to increasing mode share - particularly for women. This gives us additional incentive to build as many on-street facilities as we can." The City recently opened up a 1-mile stretch of new dedicated bike lanes along Dana Avenue between Madison Road and Grigg Avenue. The new bike lanes were installed as part of a "road diet" according to McVay, which included the removal of two vehicle lanes and the addition of two striped, five-foot wide bicycle lanes. "The City is working to utilize every opportunity we can to install bicycle facilities," said Michael Moore, Interim Director, Department of Transportation & Engineering. "Dana Avenue was an especially cost-effective opportunity for us because the street was already being repaved as part of the City's Street Rehabilitation Program." Cincinnati now has more than 8 miles of dedicated bike lanes throughout the city, with another 2.58 miles of sharrows along city streets. Another 340 miles of roadway is being studied as part of the Bike Plan process. Additional Street Rehabilitation and Transportation Design projects will also be evaluated during the design phase to see how bikes or pedestrians can be best included as well.
February 23, 201015 yr Cincinnati Planning Commission approves new bicycle parking requirements By Randy A. Simes, Soapbox Cincinnati | February 23, 2010 http://soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0223bicycleparking.aspx Cincinnati's Planning Commission has just approved a new bicycle parking ordinance that will require all new or expanded parking garages to provide bicycle parking. The way that the ordinance is written now would require new or expanded parking garages to provide one bicycle parking space for every 20 motor vehicle spaces. This ratio is comparable to other cities across the nation that have recently implemented similar ordinances including Portland, New York City, Charlotte, Cleveland, San Francisco, Kansas City and Denver. "Surveys by the Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE) have found that the lack of secure, weather-protected bicycle parking facilities is a leading factor preventing people from cycling to work," said Melissa McVay, City Planner with the DOTE. Should a parking garage fail to supply the necessary bicycle parking, the City can refuse to issue or renew their license. In the instance of very large parking garages, there will be a limit of 24 total bicycle parking spaces that need to be provided. The ordinance also specifies that the bicycle parking space shall be located inside the parking garage and in an area that is protected from the weather. Additionally, each of the bicycle parking spaces will have to be equipped with a bicycle locker; securely anchored floor, wall or ceiling rack; or some other similarly designed system for securing the bicycle. "I think it's really exciting that Cincinnati is going to be the first city in the region to require bicycle parking in garages," said McVay. "But, it is important to remember that this legislation is just one of many steps that the City will ultimately take to make cycling more convenient." McVay went on to say that the City is currently working with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) to install bicycle parking at Fountain Square while they also work on retrofits to several City-owned parking garages to meet the new standard. In unrelated bicycle parking news, construction is currently underway on the new Bike Center at the Central Riverfront Park that will include lockers, repair facility, showers and connection to the riverfront trail system. And the City's first on-street bicycle parking will be installed this April in Northside where one motor vehicle space will be replaced by an on-street bicycle parking corral with 12 bicycle parking spots.
March 2, 201015 yr Cincinnati to install region's first on-street bicycle parking this April By Randy A. Simes, Soapbox Cincinnati | March 2, 2010 http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0302bikecorral.aspx The City of Cincinnati will be installing the region's first on-street bicycle parking this April in the bicycle heavy Northside neighborhood. Once installed, the bike corral will remove one on-street automobile parking space and create 12 on-street bicycle parking spaces. The installation of the new bike corral at Lingo Street and Hamilton Avenue will cost around $1,000 according to the City's Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE), and will require no disruption to surrounding properties. Additionally, the bike corral represents something more to local bicyclists. "The bike corral means that the city is listening to bicyclists about infrastructure," said Katie Vogel, Chair of the Cincinnati Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Bike/PAC). "On-street parking is advantageous in that it doesn't take up much needed space on narrow sidewalks, and it's also a major opportunity for City officials to show that they are willing to innovate with our infrastructure." According to Mel McVay, City Planner with the DOTE, the project is similar in scope to recent projects in Seattle, Portland, and Columbia. This increased effort by the City to make Cincinnati more bicycle friendly has been noticed by the local bicycling community, and is something many are already taking advantage of, or plan to in the near future. Vogel stated that she "definitely" plans on utilizing the bike corral when it is completed, and is looking forward to being able to lock her bicycle up knowing that it's not going to get knocked over by a pedestrian or by someone trying to put change into their parking meter. In addition nearby businesses look to benefit from the increased bicycle accessibility, while bicycling advocates are excited about the effect on people’s mentality as the bike corrals act as an equalizer for bicyclists trying to share the road with automobiles. "Cars and bicycles are inherently unequal as I'm not in a giant metal box and thus am more vulnerable than an automobile driver will ever be, but we can address that inequality as a community by implementing infrastructure improvements specifically for bicyclists," explained Vogel. Recent infrastructure improvements including new dedicated bike lanes, sharrows, trails, and bicycle parking requirements within parking garages are just a step in the right direction according to Vogel. "Cincinnati needs to make a significant commitment of political will and funding to implement the bicycle plan that is currently being worked on. This is going to involve funding maintenance of roadways in terms of paint and other infrastructure improvements that may be made," she said. "It's easy to fall into the trap of viewing infrastructure exclusively in terms of bike lanes or on-street bike parking; Cincinnati also needs to pass a comprehensive package of bicycle safety ordinances that will help to make motorists and cyclists alike more accountable for their behavior on the road." See a plan for the new on-street bike corral here: http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0302bikecorral.aspx
May 12, 201015 yr Cincinnati’s Northside community celebrates region’s first on-street bike corral By Randy A. Simes, UrbanCincy | April 22, 2010 http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/04/cincinnatis-northside-community-celebrates-regions-first-on-street-bike-corral/ Today Northside residents and business owners will be gathering with bicycling advocates at Lingo Street and Hamilton Avenue to celebrate the installation of the region’s first on-street bike corral. The City of Cincinnati first began working on the new bike corral last month. Now complete, the bike corral removes one on-street automobile parking space and creates 12 on-street bicycle parking spaces. The bike corral project is the first of its kind in the region, and is similar in scope to recent projects in Portland and Seattle. “Providing plenty of convenient and secure bicycle parking is a critical aspect of serving those who currently use bicycles for transportation and encouraging future cyclists,” said Michael Moore, Interim Director of the Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE). In total the project cost about $1,000 and was managed by the City’s DOTE which has been aggressively implementing infrastructure improvements that make Cincinnati a more bicycle friendly city including new dedicated bike lanes, sharrows, trails and new bicycle parking requirements in parking garages. Those interested in checking out the new bike corral are invited to join the Northside community, Cincinnati Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Bike/PAC), Queen City Bike and the Mobo Bicycle Coop at 6:30pm tonight at Lingo & Hamilton (map). Plenty of bicycle parking is available within the immediate vicinity, plus the site is served by Metro (plan your trip) and nearby automobile parking both on- and off-street.
May 12, 201015 yr Cincinnati aims to double number of cyclists by 2015 By Randy A. Simes, UrbanCincy | May 4, 2010 http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/05/cincinnati-aims-to-double-number-of-cyclists-by-2015/ Cincinnati has been making bold efforts recently to establish itself a more bicycle friendly city. New bike lanes, sharrows, on-street bicycle parking, bicycle parking development requirements, a bike share program, a bicycle commuter station and a bold new Bicycle Transportation Plan are all helping to change Cincinnati’s bicycling community for the better. So far, the City’s Department of Transportation & Engineering has made bicycle infrastructure improvements in several city neighborhoods including Clifton, University Heights, O’Bryonville, Walnut Hills and Northside. City officials hope that the new bicycle infrastructure and public policy will double the number of people bicycling regularly for transportation in five years. Many local bicycling advocated believe that some of those future improvements need to start happening now. “We’re urging the City to immediately begin putting bike lanes and other improvements in place on Riverside Drive, Madison Road and Spring Grove Avenue,” stated Gary Wright, President, Queen City Bike. “Those three streets must be a critical part of any serious bike network in the City, and doing this now will show that this is not a plan that will sit on the shelf.” Of those three streets Wright mentioned, Madison Road is scheduled to be repaved this year making for a perfect opportunity to install bike lanes at the least possible cost to a major transportation route between eastern neighborhoods like Hyde Park to the center city. Wright adds that Spring Grove Avenue runs right through the epicenter of Cincinnati’s bike culture in Northside and that additional investment along Riverside Drive could bolster that corridor from the popular recreation route it is now to something much more. “Adding bike lanes now and making other changes to slow traffic through the East End community will encourage more people to give street riding a try while also doing a lot to enhance the neighborhood,” Wright explained. “Bike lanes along Riverside will not serve as a substitute for completing the Ohio River Trail, but they will also make the Little Miami Trail connection planned for Lunken more accessible to a few more riders right away.” Following eight months of surveys, open houses and on-the-street focus groups, the City is ready to release a draft of the plan and receive final comments from the public. The release of this plan will take place on Wednesday, May 5 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (map). The Bicycle Transportation Plan calls for additional infrastructure improvements, educational and encouragement efforts, and enforcement programs. Those interested in providing feedback may do so by contacting the City with comments online or by calling (513) 591-6000 prior to Friday, May 14th.
May 12, 201015 yr University of Cincinnati starts new bike share program just in time for Bike Month By Randy A. Simes, Soapbox Cincinnati | May 4, 2010 http://soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0504bearcatbikeshare.aspx Just in time for Bike Month this May, the University of Cincinnati has rolled out the region's first bike share program. The Bearcat Bike Share program debuted on Earth Day, and is available to all UC students, faculty and staff. "The idea of a bike share program had been bounced around by students for the past couple of years," explained Shawn Tubb, UC Sustainability Coordinator. "In December 2009 we completed the bike plan and the bike share program was a big part of it, and it just seemed like a logical first start and something we could easily implement." The program has started out with 30 bicycles at four different locations on both East and West campuses in Uptown. In large part, the program was made possible thanks to support from Huffy Bicycles, UC Undergraduate Student Government Association who contributed $7,000, the UC Foundation, Reser Bicycle Outfitters, UC College-Conservatory of Music Tribunal, UC Facilities Management and UC Planning+Design+Construction. The majority of the bicycles are found at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) and can be checked out much like books at a library. The bicycles can then be used on- or off-campus, but must be returned by the end of the CRC's business hours. Bicycles are also stationed at University Hall and the Central Utility Plant on East Campus, and University Paviliion on West Campus. The pilot program is scheduled to last approximately six months. Officials hope to expand the scope of the Bearcat Bike Share Program to include more bicycles and additional resources. "We're hoping to encourage some more faculty and administrators to use bikes to go back-and-forth between East and West campus," said Tubb. "It's a good way to decrease automobile use and get people more comfortable with cycling in the city." Tubb also described how the Bearcat Bike Share program does interface with the City's Bike Plan, and could eventually work together with future plans for a city-wide bike share program comparable to those found in Washington, D.C. and Paris. In the mean time though, Tubb is hoping to expand upon the initial $18,500 program by implementing a shop where bicyclists can come for repair work and other needs to help create a stronger bicycling culture. "The bike plan UC did helps to incrementally change the culture in Cincinnati about the city not being a good city for bicycling," Tubb explained. "When we put the survey out to students we got 2,100 responses with most saying they weren't comfortable when it came to riding safety in the city, so we want to give them the tools on how to do it safely. The more bicycles there are on the road, the safer it will get." Across the United States there have been about 80 colleges and universities to institute similar programs. In addition to the new program, UC will also be hosting workshops as part of the university's free Sustainability Workshop Series. The first such workshop will focus on urban riding and safety tonight at 5pm at the Catskeller on UC's West Campus (map), with the second focusing on repair and maintenance on Tuesday, May 11 - also at the Catskeller at 5pm.
May 13, 201015 yr BTW, that on-street bike corral installed in Northside is built sturdy! If a car were to run into that, it would get the raw end of the deal. Very well done, and for minimal price. My sources at City Hall tell me a few more are coming for other parts of the city.
May 16, 201015 yr I'm not seeing very many people use it though, unfortunately. Most of the day on a sunny Saturday, the corral was completely empty.
May 16, 201015 yr I'm not seeing very many people use it though, unfortunately. Most of the day on a sunny Saturday, the corral was completely empty. For me, locking my bike out front of where I am going (so I can keep an eye on it) is still kind of a habit.
May 20, 201015 yr Cincinnati's Ride of Silence It's unfortunate that over 700 cyclists are killed each year while riding, many of them occurring in the cities and suburbs. With the Ride of Silence, this is a chance to educate motorists that cyclists have the legal right to the roadway and to watch out for us. The Ride of Silence is akin to a funeral procession, where it progresses from start to finish (at Fountain Square) in a double-file line, masked in silence to honor the fallen cyclists. The ride will be slow, with a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour. The goals include honoring those who have been injured or killed, to raise awareness that cyclists are here, and that we all share the road. The Cincinnati Cycle Club has organized this year's Ride of Silence for Thursday, May 20. Three rides, departing from Newport and Cincinnati, will converge at Fountain Square for a ceremony at 7:30 PM. There will be a series of speakers, and the return rides will begin by 8 PM. Participants are being asked, if possible, to wear a Cincinnati Cycle Club jersey and a black armband to honor those that have been lost, or a red armband to remember those who have been injured by an automobile. If you are unable to participate in any of the rides, the Club invites any and all to come to Fountain Square. Each ride begins at 6:30 PM. # Northern Kentucky: Newport High School, Jason Reser leads ([email protected] 859- 261-6187) # Cincinnati: Ault Park, 3600 Observatory Avenue, Steve Wegener leads ([email protected] 513-351-9004) # Northwest: Winton Montessori School, 4750 Winton Road, Big Dave Riemenschneider leads ([email protected] 513-373-5387) For more information, contact John Chester ([email protected] 513-541-1828). More Cincinnati cycling news can be found at http://www.cincyrides.com and http://queencitybike.blogspot.com
May 21, 201015 yr Good to hear that one of the early projects will be Riverside from downtown to Delta. This is one of the heavier cycling routes, given the lack of a viable alternative. I bike this route weekly, and I encounter about 5-30 cyclists on a given ride, depending on the time of day. I usually bike in the "parking" lane -- i.e. the right lane, but will merge over if the lane encounters a parked car, which is fairly rare in many areas. Not a big issue for me, but can be for many others, especially novices who can just merge over without signaling or looking. Given that there is not a shortage of parking along Riverside, the elimination of one side of parking and the creation of two 4' bike lanes out of that should be no major issue. The city will have to diamond grind out some thermoplastic markings from newly paved roads, but at least the city is being proactive. City plan to add 440 miles of bike lanes draws praise, criticism, questions By Steve Kemme, Cincinnati Enquirer, May 20, 2010 HYDE PARK - A proposal to create 440 miles of bike lanes in Cincinnati over the next 15 years drew criticism, questions and praise at a Hyde Park Neighborhood Council meeting Thursday night. Some residents expressed concerns about the city bike plan's impact on traffic safety. Others wondered about its cost and whether the city would be able to keep the bike lanes in good condition. "In order to make these bike lanes, some traffic lanes will have to disappear," Gary Wollenweber said. "Parking will disappear on some streets."
June 1, 201015 yr I'll be doing the 62 mile loop. Anyone else doing this? Bike ride aids breast cancer fight By Peggy O'Farrell, Cincinnati Enquirer, May 31, 2010 One day, Allison Gordon might actually get on a bike during Ride Cincinnati. But when the riders hit the trail June 13, the 40-year-old Blue Ash woman will be manning her clipboard again to make sure everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there. The fourth annual bicycle ride to benefit breast cancer research starts at 6:30 a.m. June 13 at Yeatman's Cove.
June 23, 201014 yr Huge bicycle trail network to be pitched to Cincinnati council By Dan Monk, Business Courier of Cincinnati, June 18, 2010 Cincinnati would establish a 445-mile network of off-street bike trails and on-street cycling routes under a new transportation plan that will be presented next week to Cincinnati City Council. The Cincinnati Bicycle Transportation Plan calls for a 13-fold expansion of what is now a 33-mile collection of poorly connected bike paths all over town. By 2025, the plan would establish more than 330 miles of newly designated street lanes where markings indicate rights of way for cyclists. And it would add about 83 miles of off-street bike facilities, including bike trails and shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians. The goal is to establish a “continuous and usable network of improvements” that can help cyclists use city streets for recreation and commuting. The plan can be downloaded at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikeplan
June 23, 201014 yr Here's a variety of stories I've published over the past month that haven't been shared on this thread: Cincinnati aims to double number of cyclists by 2015 -- http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/05/cincinnati-aims-to-double-number-of-cyclists-by-2015/ Cincinnati City Council celebrates Bike to Work Week -- http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/05/cincinnati-city-council-celebrates-bike-to-work-week/ Cincinnati installs new bicycle racks inside Fountain Square Garage -- http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/06/cincinnati-installs-new-bicycle-racks-inside-fountain-square-garage/ Cincinnati to vote on massive bicycle policy reforms -- http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/06/cincinnati-to-vote-on-massive-bicycle-policy-reforms/ Bicycling and walking trips up 25% since 2001 according to new study -- http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/06/bicycling-and-walking-trips-up-25-since-2001-according-to-new-study/
June 24, 201014 yr With the new biking rules recently discussed, I have a question somebody here might be able to answer. Do all traffic laws apply to cyclists as well as motorists? Are there any laws specific to cyclists? There seems to be a lot of lawlessness surrounding biking. If there are laws, they certainly aren't enforced.
June 24, 201014 yr I've been ticketed for riding on the sidewalk, riding the wrong way on a one-way, riding without a light at night, and was arrested once for "reckless operation of a motor vehicle". I didn't go to jail but they threw the bike in the cruiser and made someone pick me up from the state highway patrol station.
June 24, 201014 yr With the new biking rules recently discussed, I have a question somebody here might be able to answer. Do all traffic laws apply to cyclists as well as motorists? Are there any laws specific to cyclists? There seems to be a lot of lawlessness surrounding biking. If there are laws, they certainly aren't enforced. Theoretically bikes are supposed to follow all the rules cars do. I have never been ticketed. I have ridden on sidewalks (about ran into a bike cop who was riding on the sidewalk too), run stop signs in residential areas & when I was a younger man, exceeded the speed limit. When I was a kid in Springfield a cop told me he hoped I got run over to teach me to not ride at night. That being said, with all this "special" junk, I don't know what the rules will be. I swear all this crap is just going to take something pretty simple & make it a giant PITA.
June 24, 201014 yr >Mind letting us know what you were doing? The main problem was that when the cop was running my driver's license I asked him sarcastically "so am I a menace to society?". He didn't like that. The dude actually showed up to court two months later and wouldn't drop the charges, costing me thousands in fines, lawyer fees, and inflated car insurance, even though I didn't own a car at the time. When I did get a car again I had to pay some kind of $800 fee just to get insurance, before paying an inflated rate. Keep in mind this is the same state trooper who pulled over my friend's girlfriend and made her sit in his cruiser for an hour while telling her his life story.
June 26, 201014 yr "Are there any laws specific to cyclists?" Ohio laws: Bicyclists must ride with, not against, other vehicular traffic. Only when walking a bicycle is a cyclist permitted to travel facing traffic. Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings. Bicyclists must use appropriate hand signals before turning or stopping. Bicyclists must keep to the right edge of the roadway, allowing faster traffic to safely pass. Cyclists can travel in thye middle of the lane if they are proceeding at the same speed as the rest of the traffic or if the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle. Bicyclists should not pass other traffic on a hill or at an intersection. Bicyclists must stop at a curb to allow emergency vehicles to pass. Bicyclists must observe speed restrictions in school zones and speed limits in general. State law also permits local governments to regulate bicycle operation, such as requiring bicycle licensing and registration. Bicyclists must familiarize themselves with local ordinances to be properly educated about all laws affecting them. Bicyclists must never ride on the freeway, or attach themselves to other vehicles using the roadway. Bicyclists should ride only on the permanent attached seat of the bicycle. Passengers should not be carried unless the bike is equipped for it, and at least one hand should be kept on the handlebars at all times. Bicyclists should ride no more than two abreats in a single lane, except on paths set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Every bicycle ridden after dark must be equiped with a white headlight, a red tailight, and a red rear reflector. No bicycle shall be operated unless equipped with a bell or horn audible to at least 100 feet away. Every bicycle must have an adequate brake. A motorist must: Share the road with bicycles. The bicyclist has the same right to use the public road as any other driver, except freeways. Maintain a safety zone of approximately three feet between the car and the bicyclist. Pass a cyclist only when it can be done safely. Leave ample room for turning right after passing a bicyclist so the bicyclist is not cut off when the motorist slows for the turn. :police:
June 30, 201014 yr "Bicyclists must keep to the right edge of the roadway, allowing faster traffic to safely pass. Cyclists can travel in the middle of the lane if they are proceeding at the same speed as the rest of the traffic or if the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle." This is one I wish more people understood. Most motorists see such a maneuver as deliberately trying to impede traffic, when it's simply the cyclist trying to stop following motorists from making a (sometimes mutually) dangerous move. There's another law that doesn't specifically apply to bicycles, but to any slow moving vehicle, and it relates somewhat to the situation above. It basically states that it IS legal to pass a cyclist (or moped, or whatever) even in a no passing zone, as long as they're going less than half the posted speed limit, and of course only if the sight distances allow it to be done safely.
July 7, 201014 yr The City of Cincinnati is soliciting feedback on the proposed changes to Madison Road. http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/madisonroad/ They want to change it from 3 lanes each way with parking on the outside lanes limited to non-rush times, to two lanes each way with a center turn lane and a bike lane along each curb, with no street parking. As simple as it sounds, there's so many benefits to doing this, not only to cyclists but to pedestrians and motorists as well, that it should be strongly encouraged. I sent in my feedback, send yours.
August 25, 201014 yr City adding bike lanes to Central Parkway, Spring Grove Avenue, Linn Street By: Randy A. Simes August 25, 2010 – 3:00 pm As summer draws to a close, Cincinnati city officials will be installing several miles of new dedicated bike lanes and sharrows. According to the Cincinnati Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE), crews have already introduced bike lane symbols along Spring Grove Avenue, between Crawford Avenue and Mitchell Avenue, and will be completing the separation line later this week. Other city streets to be improved later this summer include Central Parkway, between Brighton Place and Hopple Street, and Linn Street from W. 6th Street to Gest Street. In total, the projects account for approximately two-and-a-half miles of new bicycle facilities. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
August 25, 201014 yr Word is that the proposed change to Madison Road between Torrence/Grandin and Dana has received very positive community support, so the the changes to add bike lanes there are almost certain to be implemented. The city just this week started working on replacing the curbs, so repaving shouldn't be too far off (finally!).
August 25, 201014 yr Interesting that they are marking bike lanes on Spring Grove when they just built a separate bike path next to Spring Grove. I guess city planners don't talk to each other.
August 26, 201014 yr Bike paths, bike lanes, and roads with no specific bike facilities cater to different segments of the riding population. Yes there's overlap, but the most timid riders generally won't touch a bike lane. Even so, the new path is unfinished, so it basically goes from nowhere to nowhere, with no obvious start or end point either. I don't know what sort of plans they have for finishing it, but whenever it might be finished is going to be a long time out, and it won't help those who already use Spring Grove. An odd thing about it also is that there's very few curb cuts that allow you to get onto the thing. I've ridden along there a few times, and thought about trying it out, but I could never get on it because there's so few connections and a guardrail in the way. It's kind of bizarre.
August 28, 201014 yr Interesting that they are marking bike lanes on Spring Grove when they just built a separate bike path next to Spring Grove. I guess city planners don't talk to each other. Big difference between a recreational trail and a bike lane.
August 30, 201014 yr Queen City Bike Receives $10,000 Grant for Bicycle Friendly Destinations New Program to Get More People Riding Bikes to More Places CINCINNATI (August 30) – Queen City Bike announced today that it has received a $10,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) to help launch a new program to get more people riding bicycles to more places in the region everyday. The Bicycle Friendly Destinations Program will work with area employers, retailers, government agencies, and arts and cultural organizations to make it easy for people to reach and use their facilities on a bicycle. The overall goal of the project is to increase the use of bicycles for all kinds of trips, whether to work, to go shopping, or just to run errands in the neighborhood. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
September 9, 201014 yr Word from the city is that Erie Avenue is going to be put back the way it was, due to excessive whining from a small set of Hyde Park residents. With this year's funding for the bike program nearly exhausted, and the fact that Erie is already a pretty easy road for cyclists, they probably aren't going to add sharrow markings either, at least not yet. The changes to Madison Road are still going to proceed though.
September 9, 201014 yr Word from the city is that Erie Avenue is going to be put back the way it was, due to excessive whining from a small set of Hyde Park residents. :roll:
September 23, 201014 yr From the Queen City Bike Facebook page: After months of delays, Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering is making a decision RIGHT NOW about whether or not to include bike lanes on a critical stretch of Madison Road. We have learned that some opponents of making the city bicycle-friendly are quietly working to stop this! We urgently need as many people as we can to send an e-mail immediately to Tim Jamison, Acting City Engineer, while copying Mayor Mallory and the City Council, explaining why it is important to them personally -- and to the city and region -- to start making these much-needed improvements on Madison Road right away. A copy of a suggested message and correct e-mail addresses are below. We are sharing this to help you draft your own message. If you already ride Madison or live in an adjacent neighborhood, let them know! If you would start to ride if their were bike lanes there, let them know that, too! The affected section of Madison Road is between Grandin Road and Dana Avenue. DOTE originally proposed a change in the lane striping in order to make it a complete street. You can view their original proposed changes here: www.cincinnati-oh.gov/madisonroad. The result would be two travel lanes in each direction, a center two-way left turn lane, and bicycle lanes. DOTE believes this will calm traffic and improve Madison Road for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. These proposed bike lanes would connect to the sharrows through O'Bryonville, and the new bike lanes on Dana Avenue. We believe DOTE may be wavering in their commitment. That's why they and your elected officials need to hear from you right away! Thank you for your help! Gary Wright, President Queen City Bike P.S. Be sure to ask Mr. Jamison for a response in your message! DRAFT E-MAIL MESSAGE TEXT FOR YOUR PERSONALIZATION TO: [email protected] CC:[email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Tim Jamison, Acting City EngineerDepartment of Transportation and EngineeringCity of Cincinnati Dear Mr Jamison, I am writing to urge you to follow through on plans to put bike lanes in both directions on Madison Road between Grandin and Observatory when it is repaved and restriped in the next few weeks. Madison Road is the essential link for bicyclists traveling between Hyde Park, Oakley, and Madisonville to the east, and Walnut Hills, Evanston, Avondale, Clifton, and Downtown to the west. The Bicycle Master Plan enacted by City Council just a few months ago recognizes this by calling for bike lanes along most of its length. Increasing ridership significantly is a specific objective of the City's environmental plan in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will not be able to achieve that objective without implementing the Bicycle Master Plan's recommendations for Madison, a major commuting route to and from the city's two major employment centers in Downtown and Uptown. I personally ride this route frequently from Walnut Hills to Hyde Park on business and to go shopping. Bike lanes on this stretch will make my journey easier, and will encourage more people to use their bicycles for shorter trips. They will also directly benefit the neighborhood business districts along the route by getting more people out of their cars and onto the street. The most cost effective way of getting started and increasing bicycle ridership immediately is to add these lanes now. As part of a road diet, this will also calm traffic and enhance the livability of neighborhoods along this corridor. Can you confirm for me that bike lanes are included in your plans for immediate action? Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD] cc: Mayor Mallory and City Council Members About Queen City Bike: Queen City Bike is a non-profit organization that promotes bicycling as a safe and healthy means of transportation and recreation in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Learn more about us at www.QueenCityBike.org
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