For Immediate Release   
Contact:  Rick Tilton, 645-7263
September 24, 2010

City of Columbus To Expand Its Bicycle Safety Share The Road Program With Installation of 159 Sharrows, 17 Share The Road and 133 Bike Route Signs In Three Areas Beginning Saturday

On Saturday, the City of Columbus will begin to install 159 bicycle sharrow pavement markings, 17 Share The Road and 133 Bike Route signs in the Downtown and Northland areas and on Lockbourne Road on the South Side.  The three projects totaling $195,000 are part of the City's Bicentennial Bikeways Plan created by Mayor Michael B. Coleman in 2008.  Most of the work will be completed by the end of October.

"We continue to invest in our Bicentennial Bikeways Plan so bicyclists and motorists can share the road safely and legally," said Mayor Coleman. "These sharrows and signs are the next step in making Columbus the most bike friendly city in the nation."

The Downtown project, the Scioto-Alum Creek Bike Connector, will provide a link between the I-670 Bike Trail and the Scioto Bike Trail at North Bank Park.  The Olentangy-Alum Creek Bike Connector will link the Alum Creek Bike Trail near Cooper Road and Ranier Avenue in northeast Columbus to the Scioto-Olentangy Greenways Trail at the Broadmeadows pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Olentangy River.  The connector will go on streets and bike trails through the Northland area and north Columbus west of I-71 near the Worthington border.  The South Side project will be on Lockbourne Road between East Livingston and Frebis Avenues.

"These sharrows are visible reminders that cars and bicycles have the same right to a lane of traffic," said Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee.  "Sharrows underscore City Council's commitment to encouraging the use of energy efficient and healthy alternative forms of transportation."

The work, except for two streets in the Olentangy-Alum Creek Bike Connector, will be completed by the end of October.  Sharrows will be placed on Lincoln Avenue between Sinclair Road and Foster Avenue and Ponderosa Drive between Rainier Avenue and East Dublin Granville Road in 2011, Lincoln Avenue and Ponderosa Drive are being considered for possible resurfacing in the spring of 2011.

The City of Columbus and Ohio Department of Transportation collaborated in the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010 to install 188 sharrows and 54 Share The Road signs on a 6.5 mile stretch of North High Street between Nationwide Boulevard and Morse Road.  The project was funded through a $200,000 ODOT grant.

Scioto-Alum Creek Bike Connector (see attached map SciotoAl)

• 47 sharrows, 5 Share The Road signs and 48 green Bike Route signs
• 1.7 miles
• Will provide bikeways link between the I-670 Bike Trail at Cleveland Avenue and I-670 and Scioto Bike Trail at North Bank Park.  This will be a connection in the 320 mile Ohio To Erie Trail linking Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati
• Route includes:
  • Cleveland Avenue, between Jack Gibbs Boulevard and McCoy Street
  • McCoy Street, between Cleveland Avenue and North Grant Avenue
  • North Grant Avenue, between McCoy Street and East Naughten Street
  • East Naughten Street and Mount Vernon Avenue, between Grant Avenue and North 3rd Street
  • Nationwide Boulevard, between North 3rd Street and Neil Avenue
  • Neil Avenue, between Nationwide Boulevard and North Bank Park along West Long Street
• Cost:  $58,000 (design and construction costs)

Olentangy-Alum Creek Bike Connector (see attached map Olentang)

• 60 sharrows and 3 Share the Road signs and 85 green Bike Route signs
• 8 miles
• Will run between Cooper Road and Ranier Avenue north of East Dublin-Granville Road and the Scioto-Olentangy Greenways Trail at the bridge over the Olentangy River at Broadmeadows Boulevard
• Route includes a combination of streets and bike paths through the Northland area and north Columbus west of I-71 near the Worthington border
• Cost:  $112,000 (design and construction costs)

Lockbourne Road (see attached map Lockbour)

• 52 sharrows and 6 Share The Road signs between East Livingston Avenue and Frebis Avenue
• 1 mile
• Cost:  $25,000 (design and construction costs)

Rick Tilton

Assistant Director
Department of Public Service

City of Columbus
109 North Front Street
Columbus, Ohio  43215
Phone:  (614) 645-7263
Fax:  (614) 645-7805