Join your fellow bicycle advocates from around Ohio and adjoining states in the Columbus Winning Campaigns Training August 6-8.

• Campaigns — big and small, short and long — are the lifeblood of every advocacy organization.
• Campaigns effect change, whether in policy or culture or in the built environment (bike plans and bike lanes).
• Campaigns mobilize grass roots cyclists to get involved, making an organization politically powerful.
• Campaigns help raise the profile of your organization in your community.
• Campaigns get people to become members and to contribute to your organization.  

Today, the National Complete Streets Coalition is thrilled to join with Transportation for America, America Bikes, and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to bicycle down Pennsylvania Avenue, America’s main street, and publicly express our thanks to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for all his hard work to make sure that walking and biking are on equal footing with other modes for safety, convenience, and accessibility.

The recent Hilltop Mobility Plan and the Bicentennial Bike Plan have suggested bike lanes on this critical east/west corridor. This is a precedent-setting project and a critical need to make progress on the bike friendliness of the region. It is also one of the first proposed “road diets” in Ohio. Experience from around the country has demonstrated that road diets that comply with “complete streets” principles calm traffic, create a more livable environment, and spur economic vibrancy.

Some of the Hilltop stakeholders are concerned that the removal of some of the existing on-street parking will have a negative impact on the small businesses in the core of the neighborhood. Hearing this concern, the Transportation & Pedestrian Commission delayed recommendations on this specific project in November 2009 to collect more data. The Commission conducted a walking audit and a public meeting with many of the neighborhood residents and digested their concerns. The Commission also directed the City to conduct an independent parking audit for the project area, which has now been completed.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is funding this project, and we must make a recommendation by the end of May, or else sacrifice the financial support. The issue will be discussed at each of the following public meetings. The parking needs and bicycle accommodation options will be the sole topic for the first public meeting listed below (May 6). However, this issue will be one of several issues at the two Commission meetings; there will be limited opportunities for public comment. That said, the Transportation & Pedestrian Commission has already received numerous written testimonies over the last 4+ months. So…if you haven’t spoken up…May 6th is the time!

If you are interested in providing testimony and/or receiving the talking points in support of bike lanes, please contact Consider Biking Board member Jessica Mathews via e-mail.  

The following meetings at which the Hilltop Parking Study/West Broad Street Mobility issue will be discussed have been scheduled as follows:

Hilltop Public Meeting
Thursday, May 6
6:00 p.m.
Columbus West Family and Wellness Center
Community Meeting Room
2300 West Broad Street (Corner of West Broad Street and Wheatland Avenue)

The Greater Hilltop Area Commission
Tuesday, May 11
7:00 p.m.
Hilltop Library
511 South Hague Avenue

Transportation and Pedestrian Commission
Tuesday, May 18
5:00 p.m.
109 North Front
Ground Floor, Room 100

Here’s a link to our report from last year’s Summit.

We have had 2-3 Consider Biking members attend in the past few years. But frankly, our representation from Ohio has has been far below that of our size, legislative importance, and constituency.  It’s been embarrasing. Just check out the two pictures below of last year’s Ohio delegation vs. that from Michigan.  Ouch! 

The good news is that we’re already seeing a committment from 5 of our Consider Biking Board leadership…and,we’ve recieved inquiries from another 5-8 Consider Biking members.  With once-in-a-lifetime favorable support for the advancement of active transportation from key Federal leaders…and the reathorization of the Federal Transportation funding formula scheduled for later this year…we’ve got to get our cycling constituency in front of our legislators in March! 

Won’t you please join us? We promise you’ll feel a new sense of engagement in advancing our cause; you’ll make a huge difference in our pedaling revolution!  Detailed conference information and scheduling can be found on the LAB website here.  Please contact jeff@considerbiking.org if you have any questions, or would like suggestions for travel arrangements and/or coordinate your traveling arrangements with our troop from Central Ohio. Make plans soon; the Early Registration discount deadline is February 4th.

Then….the Committee will have a few more hearings down the line…where they’ll entertain “proponent” and “opponent” testimony from individuals/organizations/etc.
We’ll be in attendance at the Committee meeting, and will report back to our bicycling constituency, and also, answer any questions about the process.

Highways and Transportation Committee 

Wed., Dec. 9th 10:00 AM, Ohio Statehouse – South Hearing Room
SB 174 Wagoner/Fedor, 1st Hearing, Sponsor
“Safe passing distance between motor vehicles and bicycles”

Here’s a link to the draft legislation.

UPDATE November 20 - The Hilltop Community RESIDENTS have OVERWHELMINGLY expressed a desire to have bike lanes striped on Broad St. However, as expected, some business owners along Broad St. have reservations about the subsequent loss of parking on one side of the road. (Despite the fact that additional parking will be marked on the south side and many more off-street parking alternatives identified.)

This bike lane project could set a precedent for the future of bike accomodations in Columbus. 

WE MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION:

1) It is critical that bicyclists show up - in person - at the Hilltop Area Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilltop Branch of the Columbus Library – 511 S. Hague. This will be THE MOST IMPORTANT action pro-bike-lane activists can make. This will, in fact, be the most significant call for action for bicycling we’ll make in 2009!

2) Please provide written comment to the project planning team here www.hilltopmobility.com As soon as possible. The deadline is Monday, Nov 23 – however, your comments will likley be collected for a brief period afterwards. We encourage you to support the option that recomends bike lanes on BOTH sides of Broad St.  Obviously, this is a critical east-west corridor to provide safe accomodations for bicyclists. More importantly, the recomendded "road diet" and addition of bike lanes will add to the livability and resurrection of this neighborhood.

We’ve opened this post to comments below. Please contact jeff@considerbiking.org if you plan to attend the Hilltop Area Commission meeting, and would like to be included in a distribution list of talking points for the Commission meeting.

 <previously posted on Oct 27th>

 The public involvement portion of the Hilltop Community Mobility Plan has clearly indicated that striped bike lanes are desirable on Broad St, between Hague and the I-70 interchange.  This stretch of road is identified in the Bicentennial Bikeways Plan to receive bike lanes, so we’re happy to see the public has validated this need.

Even before the specific planning options were drawn, the neighborhood residents voted overwhelmingly in the Spring of 2009, that they “wanted it to be easier to ride a bicycle on the Hilltop,” and many stated specifically that Broad Street should be made a priority for bicycling.  

The City’s study team is finalizing the plan and recommendations; bicyclists need to stay tuned to the process and ensure that the bicycle needs are carried forward as specified in the Bike Plan and by the neighborhood’s wishes!

Through public outreach in August and September, the Planning Consultants (Transystems) got written comments from people in the Hilltop. 

79% support reducing the number of travel lanes from 6 lanes to 4 lanes on W Broad St between railroad tracks near Wilson Rd and ODOT/ODPS to provide bike lanes, full-time parking, and/or pedestrian benefits.  This shows that the community strongly supports a “road diet” of some type.

When asked specifically about potential changes to Broad, east of Hague Ave,

• 86% support “East of Hague-Alternative 2” – striped parking on one side (alternating) and bike lanes
• Only 14% support “East of Hague-Alt 1” – striped parking on both sides and no bike lanes

When asked specifically about potential changes to Broad, west of Hague Ave,

• 49.5% support “West of Hague-Alt 2” – striped parking on one side (alternating) and bike lanes
• 30% support Alt 3 – no parking; 4 lanes with bike lanes and striped buffer
• 22% support Alt 1 – no parking; 5 lanes w/center turn lane and bike lanes

Stay tuned for news of the public meeting where you can view the bike treatment options for Broad St., and provide feedback regarding the best choices.

Public Open House regarding Westerville Rd (SR3) Corrider Study from Morse Rd to I-270 on Nov 17th from 5:00-7:00 pm. Blendon Township Senior Center – 6330 S. Hempstead Rd. in Westerville.

This study reviews current travel conditions and will identify improvements that are needed by the year 2030. (What about now? ha ha)  Improvements that may be recommended include additional travel lanes, (boo!) intersection improvements, access management, improved bicycle and pedestrian access, and others.

We just learned of public meeting for November 11, 2009, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Lazelle Woods Recreation Center, 8140 Sancus Blvd. (Mail-in comments also encouraged if you can’t attend)

Lazelle Road between High Street and Worthington-Galena Road is currently under study for possible changes that will better the overall traffic flow in the section. These changes could include pavement widening, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, shared-use path, and a new traffic signal or roundabout.

To request files and basic conceptual drawings, e-mail jeff@considerbiking.org. And/or,specific questions may be directed to Gary Wilfong, P.E. Department of Public Service, City of Columbus, (614) 645-1704, gdwilfong@columbus.gov

The first Charette meeting to identify the need for a Bicycle Advisory Group is Wednesday, Oct. 28th at 6:00 – 7:30pm at the Westerville Senior Center located at 310 West Main Street. It is open to all interested bicyclists, (Westerville) citizens and leisure path stakeholders. 

If you are interested but cannot attend, please feel free to forward your coments to Michael Hooper at 614-901-6505.