Opinion | Consider Biking

Moderation in all things
Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:07 am Maybe I'm just becoming sensitized lately but in reading some of the postings and their replies I get the feelings that things are starting to get a little polarized. I love my renewed biking skills and times and want to see things improve to make cycling safer as well as more useful and more fun. It is not my intent, however, to have my bicycle replace my car as some suggest. Does bicycling have benefits for everyone in running short errands? Definitely - unarguably. Can bicyclng replace the automobile for daily commutes? For some - yes for others (including me)- no. I can't afford the hour plus each way it would take me to get to work on a bicycle even if there was a safe way to do it. Nor am I willing to ride in inclement and cold weather. Can the bicycle replace the automobile for long trips and hauling? Again, in my opinion, no! That's why we ALL need to learn to share the roads. Another topic discussed the value of bike lanes. Are they the perfect answer - no. Nothing can change the habits and hazards on the roads that make travel (both motorized and pedal-powered) dangerous. There will always be discourteous and unthinking people and unforseen situations on the roads. But dedicated bike lanes DO allow us to share the roads so that motorists don't have to consistently travel at less than the posted speed limits just because WE have decided to be there. Some have suggested moving their discussions to other forums and that is their right but I hope this is not being done just to avoid hearing opinions that differ from theirs. It is the different voices that help define the clear message that IS biking in the Columbus OH area. OK - I'm getting a nosebleed from the elevation here on my soapbox so I'm climbing down now. When asserting your RIGHTS as a cyclist (or anything else) remember that "Your right to throw your fist ends at the tip of my nose." I don't remember who originally said that but I do remember that everytime I push for something - someone else is feeling the push and I need to think seriously about what I'm doing. (3) Replies

Moderation in all things

Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:07 am

Maybe I'm just becoming sensitized lately but in reading some of the postings and their replies I get the feelings that things are starting to get a little polarized.

I love my renewed biking skills and times and want to see things improve to make cycling safer as well as more useful and more fun. It is not my intent, however, to have my bicycle replace my car as some suggest.

Does bicycling have benefits for everyone in running short errands? Definitely - unarguably.

Can bicyclng replace the automobile for daily commutes? For some - yes for others (including me)- no. I can't afford the hour plus each way it would take me to get to work on a bicycle even if there was a safe way to do it. Nor am I willing to ride in inclement and cold weather.

Can the bicycle replace the automobile for long trips and hauling? Again, in my opinion, no!

That's why we ALL need to learn to share the roads. Another topic discussed the value of bike lanes. Are they the perfect answer - no. Nothing can change the habits and hazards on the roads that make travel (both motorized and pedal-powered) dangerous. There will always be discourteous and unthinking people and unforseen situations on the roads. But dedicated bike lanes DO allow us to share the roads so that motorists don't have to consistently travel at less than the posted speed limits just because WE have decided to be there.

Some have suggested moving their discussions to other forums and that is their right but I hope this is not being done just to avoid hearing opinions that differ from theirs. It is the different voices that help define the clear message that IS biking in the Columbus OH area.

OK - I'm getting a nosebleed from the elevation here on my soapbox so I'm climbing down now.

When asserting your RIGHTS as a cyclist (or anything else) remember that "Your right to throw your fist ends at the tip of my nose." I don't remember who originally said that but I do remember that everytime I push for something - someone else is feeling the push and I need to think seriously about what I'm doing.

(3) Replies

Consider Dating
Author: batmanwest :: Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:46 pm Welcome to the bike Dating forum!! are you a lonely biker with no self esteem? are you a confident biker with jealousy issues? are you a cool laid back biker that just cant seem to meet anyone just as hip?? what ever your type is...here is you chance people!!!! post your personals here. who knows, we could just inspire true love here! Name: Adam West Likes: Painting bikes and gallons of beer Dislikes: tight pants on men, flock of seagulls hair Interests: Good Conversation, interesting micro brews, new and light weight bike parts, climbing buildings on campus looking for: people who are not into them selfs that would love to grab a beer and talk about what ever (35) Replies

*Consider Dating*

Author: batmanwest :: Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:46 pm

Welcome to the bike Dating forum!! Shocked

are you a lonely biker with no self esteem? are you a confident biker with jealousy issues? are you a cool laid back biker that just cant seem to meet anyone just as hip?? what ever your type is...here is you chance people!!!! Cool

post your personals here. who knows, we could just inspire true love here! Idea

Name: Adam West
Likes: Painting bikes and gallons of beer
Dislikes: tight pants on men, flock of seagulls hair
Interests: Good Conversation, interesting micro brews, new and light weight bike parts, climbing buildings on campus
looking for: people who are not into them selfs that would love to grab a beer and talk about what ever

(35) Replies

Tell me what's wrong with this idea
Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:05 pm Rather than rebuilding roadway overpasses to widen them for bicycle lanes (a most costly proposal), why can bicycle lanes be added to the outside of existing overpasses on some sort of cantilever system as bicycles are never going to be as heavy as autos and do not require the kind of support structure that autos do? The worst that could happen is that some signage would have to be moved. Additionally the existing railing system would keep bicyclists and motorists from wandering into each other’s path. (0) Replies

Tell me what's wrong with this idea

Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:05 pm

Rather than rebuilding roadway overpasses to widen them for bicycle lanes (a most costly proposal), why can bicycle lanes be added to the outside of existing overpasses on some sort of cantilever system as bicycles are never going to be as heavy as autos and do not require the kind of support structure that autos do? The worst that could happen is that some signage would have to be moved. Additionally the existing railing system would keep bicyclists and motorists from wandering into each other’s path.

(0) Replies

Dear Editor
Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:02 pm 9-1-1 Help. I’m in Reynoldsburg on a bicycle and I can’t get out! A bit dramatic, I suppose, but true none the less. I started writing this as a letter to the editor (though I didn’t know which paper due to the gerrymandering around here) and started thinking that grousing wouldn’t get me anywhere. What I needed to seriously think about is what solutions I wanted to see instead of what problems I perceived so here is my list (without regard to whether they can be accomplished). 1. Road improvements that are in the NEAR future. I’m going to be 54 soon and don’t want to wait until I’m 70 to be able to safely get places on a bicycle. I am NOT doing this for my kids or grandkids – this is for ME! 2. A bridge over Blacklick Creek on the west side of Civic Park in Reynoldsburg so that I can visit my wife’s relatives off of Rosehill Road without getting on Broad Street (dangerous) or adding 1 ½ miles to the trip going south to main than back to almost Broad. 3. A bike path connecting Civic Park and Kennedy Park in Reynoldsburg since they didn’t consider bicycling when they widened Lancaster over the last couple of years. 4. A bike lane alongside Rosehill Road during the ongoing expansion project that would extend from Livingston Avenue north all the way to Broad Street. 5. A bike path alongside Blacklick Creek where it goes under the bridge they are rebuilding on Broad Street east of Reynoldsburg – New Albany Road. 6. A bike rack at either the Reynoldsburg City Hall or the police station so people who are registering (licensing) their bikes can park them somewhere. 7. Bike lanes along Livingston Avenue where it crosses over I-270 and along Noe-Bixby Road from Broad Street south to Chatterton Road. 8. Bike lanes or a bike path along Reynoldsburg- New Albany Road from Broad Street north to, at least, Morse Road. 9. Questions regarding bicycling rights and regulations on the Ohio driver’s license written examination so that driver’s would have to be aware that we are on the road and have both a right and a legal obligation to be there. 10. An active public service campaign through the mass media outlets that bicyclists are out there and have both rights and responsibilities on the public roads. It must be in someone’s best financial interest to fund this sort of thing – AAA, the health and auto insurance industry, the AMA, the Ohio Department of Transportation, someone! 11. Enforcement of the current laws – ticketing both drivers for things such as harassment and failure to yield and cyclists for things such as riding on the sidewalks (endangering pedestrians), failure to stop at controlled intersections, and riding the wrong way on the roadway. A little common sense enforcement would raise awareness and go a long way to improving road safety in Ohio. I am not so naïve as to believe any of the above items are easy to do. In today’s society nothing is accomplished without a study group, then a long range plan, then a referendum, then a series of funding discussions, then a short range plan, then three readings before some government body, then a bid proposal, then bid screenings, then more oversight meetings, then installation delayed by change orders and modifications to make the final project usable. Our elected and hired representatives aren’t even allowed to communicate and cooperate across their imaginary boundaries to make simple, low cost projects, such as putting a bicycling and foot bridge over a creek (an engineering and construction feat that most farmers and landscaping companies can easily accomplish). I also know that most of the people we need to reach to make any of the above items happen are never going to read this posting – and that’s probably not all bad. If any of you have the desire, tenacity, and love for political and bureaucratic gamesmanship to take any of these items forward – feel free. I seek no credit for the ideas (others have had them before me) and take no blame for the results (unless that will make something actually happen). (5) Replies

Dear Editor

Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:02 pm

9-1-1 Help. I’m in Reynoldsburg on a bicycle and I can’t get out!

A bit dramatic, I suppose, but true none the less. I started writing this as a letter to the editor (though I didn’t know which paper due to the gerrymandering around here) and started thinking that grousing wouldn’t get me anywhere. What I needed to seriously think about is what solutions I wanted to see instead of what problems I perceived so here is my list (without regard to whether they can be accomplished).

1. Road improvements that are in the NEAR future. I’m going to be 54 soon and don’t want to wait until I’m 70 to be able to safely get places on a bicycle. I am NOT doing this for my kids or grandkids – this is for ME!
2. A bridge over Blacklick Creek on the west side of Civic Park in Reynoldsburg so that I can visit my wife’s relatives off of Rosehill Road without getting on Broad Street (dangerous) or adding 1 ½ miles to the trip going south to main than back to almost Broad.
3. A bike path connecting Civic Park and Kennedy Park in Reynoldsburg since they didn’t consider bicycling when they widened Lancaster over the last couple of years.
4. A bike lane alongside Rosehill Road during the ongoing expansion project that would extend from Livingston Avenue north all the way to Broad Street.
5. A bike path alongside Blacklick Creek where it goes under the bridge they are rebuilding on Broad Street east of Reynoldsburg – New Albany Road.
6. A bike rack at either the Reynoldsburg City Hall or the police station so people who are registering (licensing) their bikes can park them somewhere.
7. Bike lanes along Livingston Avenue where it crosses over I-270 and along Noe-Bixby Road from Broad Street south to Chatterton Road.
8. Bike lanes or a bike path along Reynoldsburg- New Albany Road from Broad Street north to, at least, Morse Road.
9. Questions regarding bicycling rights and regulations on the Ohio driver’s license written examination so that driver’s would have to be aware that we are on the road and have both a right and a legal obligation to be there.
10. An active public service campaign through the mass media outlets that bicyclists are out there and have both rights and responsibilities on the public roads. It must be in someone’s best financial interest to fund this sort of thing – AAA, the health and auto insurance industry, the AMA, the Ohio Department of Transportation, someone!
11. Enforcement of the current laws – ticketing both drivers for things such as harassment and failure to yield and cyclists for things such as riding on the sidewalks (endangering pedestrians), failure to stop at controlled intersections, and riding the wrong way on the roadway. A little common sense enforcement would raise awareness and go a long way to improving road safety in Ohio.

I am not so naïve as to believe any of the above items are easy to do. In today’s society nothing is accomplished without a study group, then a long range plan, then a referendum, then a series of funding discussions, then a short range plan, then three readings before some government body, then a bid proposal, then bid screenings, then more oversight meetings, then installation delayed by change orders and modifications to make the final project usable. Our elected and hired representatives aren’t even allowed to communicate and cooperate across their imaginary boundaries to make simple, low cost projects, such as putting a bicycling and foot bridge over a creek (an engineering and construction feat that most farmers and landscaping companies can easily accomplish).

I also know that most of the people we need to reach to make any of the above items happen are never going to read this posting – and that’s probably not all bad. If any of you have the desire, tenacity, and love for political and bureaucratic gamesmanship to take any of these items forward – feel free. I seek no credit for the ideas (others have had them before me) and take no blame for the results (unless that will make something actually happen).

(5) Replies

Curious as to others experiances...
Author: Nextone :: Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:20 pm Every time I have been harassed on my bike I have noticed that it is always by a car full of men, never a woman around. Generally the favorite line yelled from a passing car has had some sort of homosexual connotation. Today it was "Don't get killed f@g" I have heard many others. Anyone have an idea to why younger generally drunker males do this? Does biking threaten the intoxicated suburban male's essence of masculinity? I have noted that I get yelled at always at night, say after 10-11pm, generally by a bunch of guys in an American "sports" car (Mustangs and Cameros seem to be popular). Anyone notice themes to being harassed on the road? (50) Replies

Curious as to others experiances...

Author: Nextone :: Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:20 pm

Every time I have been harassed on my bike I have noticed that it is always by a car full of men, never a woman around. Generally the favorite line yelled from a passing car has had some sort of homosexual connotation. Today it was "Don't get killed f@g" I have heard many others.

Anyone have an idea to why younger generally drunker males do this? Does biking threaten the intoxicated suburban male's essence of masculinity?

I have noted that I get yelled at always at night, say after 10-11pm, generally by a bunch of guys in an American "sports" car (Mustangs and Cameros seem to be popular).

Anyone notice themes to being harassed on the road?

(50) Replies

700 23C Road bike wheel
Author: batmanwest :: Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:18 pm question, any one have a used, 1/2 way decent 700 by 23C rear road wheel? 8 or 9 geared.....any help would be sweet -westie (0) Replies

New Bikers = Safety Issue
Author: Edan :: Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:07 am With high gas prices, I'm sure we've all noticed a huge increase in cyclists on the road this summer. A lot of these people are taking to the streets with no idea how to behave as a cyclist. This has caused some major safety issues for them, other street users, and issues for us (bicycle advocates, enthusiasts, and hardcore commuters). I have personally seen a number of bikers completely ignore red lights, stop signs, and other traffic narrowly avoiding death and/or law suits. These new bikers desperately need our help. If we do not educate them on proper procedures, we could lose them as well as many other potential bikers to safety fears. What can/should we do? (13) Replies

New Bikers = Safety Issue

Author: Edan :: Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:07 am

With high gas prices, I'm sure we've all noticed a huge increase in cyclists on the road this summer. A lot of these people are taking to the streets with no idea how to behave as a cyclist. This has caused some major safety issues for them, other street users, and issues for us (bicycle advocates, enthusiasts, and hardcore commuters). I have personally seen a number of bikers completely ignore red lights, stop signs, and other traffic narrowly avoiding death and/or law suits. These new bikers desperately need our help. If we do not educate them on proper procedures, we could lose them as well as many other potential bikers to safety fears. What can/should we do?

(13) Replies

The Myth of the Scofflaw Cyclist

Author: lifeontwowheels :: Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:25 am

Quote:

Whenever you read an article about cycling in the city, or a discussion of transportation involving cycling it is highly likely that you'll read a comment like this:

"I will 'share the road' when cyclists start 'obeying the traffic laws.'"

and this

"I always see bikers disobeying traffic signals. They always run red lights going across R Street and Connecticut Ave"

and this

Before encouraging people to cycle and spending millions of pounds of our money in the process, the Government should have down some groundwork to make roads safer for all of us. [WC: Sounds reasonable]

Making cyclists observe a few traffic laws - such as stopping at traffic lights and zebra crossings - would have been a welcome start.[WC: Really? You'd START with cyclists?]

In fact after Alice Swanson's death, many comments on the post, DCist and elsewhere mentioned that something like this was bound to happen because of the illegal manner in which most cyclists ride. Despite the fact that there seems to be no indication that she did anything illegal.

Which leads to what I call "The Myth of the Scofflaw Cyclist".

Now then, I'm not trying to claim that cyclists don't break the law. Let me state clearly and upfront, they do. What I'm saying is that there is nothing unique about the frequency with which cyclists as a class break the law when compared with drivers or pedestrians. And even if cyclists broke the law more flagrantly, that would not negate the need to share the road.

(4) Replies

Please ask, please tell
Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:03 am Sorry about the baited subject line. I'm hoping to get a large variety of readers to this posting and benefit from their opinions and experience. Is there a way to get a listing together of the public officials involved in biking plans/decisions and their e-mail addresses? Yesterday I had a question regarding access to Civic Park in Reynoldsburg and ended up sending it to both the Street Department Head and the Parks Head (both had screened e-mail addresses by the way) as I didn't know who would be involved in the Rosehill widening project which would be a perfect opportunity to provide multi-use access to the park from that side of town. Additionally, sometime this weekend I am also going to try to ask someone more about the location of the I-70 underpass that is part of the Blacklick Greenway but am not sure who to ask. Would it be appropriate to ask people to post questions that they ask like this somewhere on the forum and the answers (or non-answers) they receive? (4) Replies

Please ask, please tell

Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:03 am

Sorry about the baited subject line. I'm hoping to get a large variety of readers to this posting and benefit from their opinions and experience.

Is there a way to get a listing together of the public officials involved in biking plans/decisions and their e-mail addresses?

Yesterday I had a question regarding access to Civic Park in Reynoldsburg and ended up sending it to both the Street Department Head and the Parks Head (both had screened e-mail addresses by the way) as I didn't know who would be involved in the Rosehill widening project which would be a perfect opportunity to provide multi-use access to the park from that side of town.

Additionally, sometime this weekend I am also going to try to ask someone more about the location of the I-70 underpass that is part of the Blacklick Greenway but am not sure who to ask.

Would it be appropriate to ask people to post questions that they ask like this somewhere on the forum and the answers (or non-answers) they receive?

(4) Replies

Anyone familiar with Campus View...
Author: razzmatazz :: Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:39 am I think that is what the road is called.... It is off of High Street, north of 270? Champs and the hotels are all clustered right there. From High street it looks like a nightmare for cyclists. I hear there is a back way? Anyone know if this is safer? I would be traveling there, from Downtown, at night and then leaving the area in the am to head home. Thanks, (9) Replies

Anyone familiar with Campus View...

Author: razzmatazz :: Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:39 am

I think that is what the road is called.... It is off of High Street, north of 270? Champs and the hotels are all clustered right there. From High street it looks like a nightmare for cyclists. I hear there is a back way? Anyone know if this is safer? I would be traveling there, from Downtown, at night and then leaving the area in the am to head home.

Thanks,

(9) Replies

Nice ways to get drivers to give you space when passing?
Author: ariel :: Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:28 pm Hey everyone -- this is one of those "what is legal and what's not" questions. My main problem when bicycling is the approximately 1 in every 20 drivers who pass too close to my left. I want a couple feet and it scares me when they only give me 6 inches. So what I ideally want -- I know this sounds silly -- is a big orange flag sticking out perpendicular 2 feet to the left of my bike. Drivers wouldn't want to hit the flag, so they would zip by 6 inches from the flag instead of 6 inches from me. However, this sounds like something the police would view as a traffic hazard. I wonder if anyone knows what the law is regarding this. Just today I saw an old fellow on a recumbent with lights rigged up on the back on both sides, making his bike a good 3 feet wide. That inspired me to post here. When I was younger and more rebellious, I used to just hold out my U-lock in my left hand while biking on busy streets. It worked like a charm -- even the worst SUV-driving soccer moms gave me space -- but I don't do it anymore because it seems so aggressive. Of course I don't want to smash anyone's car window (never fight fire with fire) and I don't want to look like I'm threatening to do that. So, any ideas? Cheers Ariel (15) Replies

Nice ways to get drivers to give you space when passing?

Author: ariel :: Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:28 pm

Hey everyone -- this is one of those "what is legal and what's not" questions. My main problem when bicycling is the approximately 1 in every 20 drivers who pass too close to my left. I want a couple feet and it scares me when they only give me 6 inches. So what I ideally want -- I know this sounds silly -- is a big orange flag sticking out perpendicular 2 feet to the left of my bike. Drivers wouldn't want to hit the flag, so they would zip by 6 inches from the flag instead of 6 inches from me. However, this sounds like something the police would view as a traffic hazard. I wonder if anyone knows what the law is regarding this. Just today I saw an old fellow on a recumbent with lights rigged up on the back on both sides, making his bike a good 3 feet wide. That inspired me to post here.

When I was younger and more rebellious, I used to just hold out my U-lock in my left hand while biking on busy streets. It worked like a charm -- even the worst SUV-driving soccer moms gave me space -- but I don't do it anymore because it seems so aggressive. Of course I don't want to smash anyone's car window (never fight fire with fire) and I don't want to look like I'm threatening to do that. So, any ideas?
Cheers
Ariel

(15) Replies

Best Bike Store?
Author: gratitudejoy :: Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:57 pm What is the best bicycle store in Columbus? Qualities that matter to me- Owners live locally Workers are paid a living wage, treated fairly focus is on bikes as utilitarian not recreational vehicles any uninformed shoppers are gently informed with kindness and respect (15) Replies

Bike Plan: How it will affect us
Author: Yethu :: Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:27 pm The city engineer who has spent years transforming his department toward bike-friendly policies and the consultant who wrote the report say we are getting everything we need to become a leading bike-friendly city. This is a major cultural change since when I came here 2 years ago. But nothing except the signs will change on the parts of High and Neil that are the most biked streets and have the most bike crashes. And the brilliant idea of a Bike Boulevard between High and Neil is scheduled for perhaps 2014. People are saying the right things about eliminating one-way streets downtown, adding bike lanes to Broad, making new road projects bike-friendly, spending real money for bike/driver education, updating traffic lights to work for bikes..... It's hard to tell from the written report what is planned (and harder still to tell what money will come and when anything will be done.) If, as I suspect, the City is serious about this, we should find a way to clarify what they mean and work with them to get what will actually make biking so safe that everyone is comfortable biking daily on roads and bike paths. Carl (1) Replies

Bike Plan: How it will affect us

Author: Yethu :: Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:27 pm

The city engineer who has spent years transforming his department toward bike-friendly policies and the consultant who wrote the report say we are getting everything we need to become a leading bike-friendly city.

This is a major cultural change since when I came here 2 years ago.

But nothing except the signs will change on the parts of High and Neil that are the most biked streets and have the most bike crashes.

And the brilliant idea of a Bike Boulevard between High and Neil is scheduled for perhaps 2014.

People are saying the right things about eliminating one-way streets downtown, adding bike lanes to Broad, making new road projects bike-friendly, spending real money for bike/driver education, updating traffic lights to work for bikes.....

It's hard to tell from the written report what is planned (and harder still to tell what money will come and when anything will be done.)

If, as I suspect, the City is serious about this, we should find a way to clarify what they mean and work with them to get what will actually make biking so safe that everyone is comfortable biking daily on roads and bike paths.

Carl

(1) Replies

Tips for Reading City Bike Plan
Author: Yethu :: Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:46 pm Unfortunately, this isn't something the average cyclist can spend half an hour reading and come away with a meaningful idea of how the plan will affect their biking. (It's hard to enthusiastically support something you don't understand....) For the few people with the interest, energy and time to begin puzzling out what this means, here are some tips.... --- Getting: Download: http://www.altaprojects.net/columbus/ColumbusBMPFinalApril2008.pdf --- Printing: 288 pages. About 2 inches. I found it easier to follow printed, but still not easy. --- Searching. Since there isn't an index, open the file you downloaded and search on your own computer. You can only use one word in a search. --- Finding projects: The key is to find the project number. Find the 15 pages of charts near the end with the first column "Roadway/Corridor. (Portrait format.) On the computer file, page 260 (but no page numbers when printed.) If you know the street name involved, get the "Project #." Examples: Hunter Avenue: 79 High St: 36, 75, 76, 123, 36. Then go to 15 pages with the first column "Project#." (Landscape format.) Page 273 on the file; unnumbered when printed. Then go to the "Project Number" and see the names of all the streets involved and the bikeway types. Example: Project 79 covers Dennison, Goodale Blvd, Goodale Bridge, Goodale St, Hunter. This includes a Bike Boulevard on Hunter, Dennison and Goodale. And Paths on Goodale, --- When? Go to the two page chart titled "Recommended Phasing by Project Number." Page 258 in the file. Now find your project number by scanning until you find it. You'll then discover what phase it is planned for and the total project cost. Phase 1: 2008-2012 2 2013-2018 3 2019-2028 Example: Hunter Avenue Bike Boulevard will be in about 2014. 2.2 miles. $208,750. ---- Why then? That table also gives the Implementation Score. Scoring is explained at page 7-13. Example: Hunter Bike Boulevard: Implementation Score 64.94 (I don't know why the scores don't seem to affect the timing of the project. Hunter in Phase 2 has a higher score than most in Phase 1.) --- I haven't yet found a way to really see what's planned. To see what's planned for High St., you can go to the chart for Recommended Bikeways by Roadway/Corridor. At High St. you can tell that most of it will just get signs marking it as a bike route (8 miles, including the highest bike accident locations in the city), while bike lanes are for 2.1 miles.) --- Not easy to understand. I hope this helps you. And encourages the City people to give the bike community something more that we can understand.... Carl (4) Replies

Tips for Reading City Bike Plan

Author: Yethu :: Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:46 pm

Unfortunately, this isn't something the average cyclist can spend half an hour reading and come away with a meaningful idea of how the plan will affect their biking.

(It's hard to enthusiastically support something you don't understand....)

For the few people with the interest, energy and time to begin puzzling out what this means, here are some tips....

---

Getting:

Download:
http://www.altaprojects.net/columbus/ColumbusBMPFinalApril2008.pdf
---

Printing:

288 pages. About 2 inches.
I found it easier to follow printed, but still not easy.
---

Searching.

Since there isn't an index, open the file you downloaded and search on your own computer.

You can only use one word in a search.
---

Finding projects:

The key is to find the project number.

Find the 15 pages of charts near the end with the first column "Roadway/Corridor. (Portrait format.)

On the computer file, page 260 (but no page numbers when printed.)

If you know the street name involved, get the "Project #."

Examples:
Hunter Avenue: 79
High St: 36, 75, 76, 123, 36.

Then go to 15 pages with the first column "Project#." (Landscape format.)

Page 273 on the file; unnumbered when printed.

Then go to the "Project Number" and see the names of all the streets involved and the bikeway types.

Example:
Project 79 covers Dennison, Goodale Blvd, Goodale Bridge, Goodale St, Hunter.
This includes a Bike Boulevard on Hunter, Dennison and Goodale.
And Paths on Goodale,
---

When?

Go to the two page chart titled "Recommended Phasing by Project Number."

Page 258 in the file.

Now find your project number by scanning until you find it.

You'll then discover what phase it is planned for and the total project cost.

Phase 1: 2008-2012
2 2013-2018
3 2019-2028

Example:
Hunter Avenue Bike Boulevard will be in about 2014.
2.2 miles. $208,750.
----

Why then?

That table also gives the Implementation Score.

Scoring is explained at page 7-13.

Example:
Hunter Bike Boulevard:
Implementation Score 64.94

(I don't know why the scores don't seem to affect the timing of the project.
Hunter in Phase 2 has a higher score than most in Phase 1.)
---

I haven't yet found a way to really see what's planned.

To see what's planned for High St., you can go to the chart for Recommended Bikeways by Roadway/Corridor.
At High St. you can tell that most of it will just get signs marking it as a bike route (8 miles, including the highest bike accident locations in the city), while bike lanes are for 2.1 miles.)
---

Not easy to understand.

I hope this helps you.

And encourages the City people to give the bike community something more that we can understand....

Carl

(4) Replies

Columbus Area Bike Plan
Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:38 pm I'm a new member here and, as usual, I'm jumping in with both feet. I hope you don't mind. I finally found the time to read over the proposed and planned bike trail expansion plans that the mayor and regional officials have in the works and am, not surprisingly, disappointed. While the mere mileage of these proposals is impressive, the logistics must be politically driven. Why else would you put in several miles of bike paths and trails that connect with nothing when you could more easily and cheaply put in shorter paths that connect existing trails into a network that would let you travel around the greater Columbus area without first driving your SUV to a parking lot to unload your bike, travel around in a circle and then reload your bike for the ride home? I live in Reynoldsburg so will benefit little from the City of Columbus’ efforts no matter how well thought out. I admit that may be a part of what clouds my opinion. Still I hate to see bicycling remain a recreational endeavor rather than a viable lifestyle as is promoted by these little “pocket pathways” that are being proposed. I am constantly reminded of the Louisiana “Bridge to Nowhere” when I look at where the pathways start and stop. One of the biggest blockades to being connected are our highways (predominately the interstates). They divide the Columbus area up into little islands whose surrounding virtual waterways can only be traversed under extremely hazardous conditions. One proposal is to add bike lanes to overpasses that currently have no on or off ramps (such as Livingston Avenue over I-270 on the east side). I applaud that and understand why it has been relegated to a far future undertaking. Widening overpasses is time consuming, expensive, and a major headache for motorists already using those routes on a daily basis. Given this, why isn’t more consideration given to tunneling in areas where I-70, I-270, and I-670 are already elevated? The technology exists to make these tunnels and is in current use to resolve our stormwater and sanitary sewer issues. The cost would have to be less than rebuilding overpasses and the time constraints would be minimal as there would be no traffic to work around. And make no mistake, time is a vital cost, as future construction not only balloons prices, but fades in the memories of those who made the plans. It’s a common parenting practice to put a plan so far out in the future that you’ll never have to carry it out. Come to think of it, it’s a fairly common political practice as well! I’m not really trying to be negative about this. The fact government has any plans at all is great. The fact that those plans are relegated to the purview of “Parks and Recreation” rather than “Transportation”, however, speaks volumes. I am already a member of AARP and hope to be able to safely get around the Greater Columbus area on my bicycle before I am covered, by age, under Medicare. See you around. (3) Replies

Columbus Area Bike Plan

Author: tipusnr :: Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:38 pm

I'm a new member here and, as usual, I'm jumping in with both feet. I hope you don't mind. Wink

I finally found the time to read over the proposed and planned bike trail expansion plans that the mayor and regional officials have in the works and am, not surprisingly, disappointed. While the mere mileage of these proposals is impressive, the logistics must be politically driven. Why else would you put in several miles of bike paths and trails that connect with nothing when you could more easily and cheaply put in shorter paths that connect existing trails into a network that would let you travel around the greater Columbus area without first driving your SUV to a parking lot to unload your bike, travel around in a circle and then reload your bike for the ride home?

I live in Reynoldsburg so will benefit little from the City of Columbus’ efforts no matter how well thought out. I admit that may be a part of what clouds my opinion. Still I hate to see bicycling remain a recreational endeavor rather than a viable lifestyle as is promoted by these little “pocket pathways” that are being proposed. I am constantly reminded of the Louisiana “Bridge to Nowhere” when I look at where the pathways start and stop.

One of the biggest blockades to being connected are our highways (predominately the interstates). They divide the Columbus area up into little islands whose surrounding virtual waterways can only be traversed under extremely hazardous conditions. One proposal is to add bike lanes to overpasses that currently have no on or off ramps (such as Livingston Avenue over I-270 on the east side). I applaud that and understand why it has been relegated to a far future undertaking. Widening overpasses is time consuming, expensive, and a major headache for motorists already using those routes on a daily basis. Given this, why isn’t more consideration given to tunneling in areas where I-70, I-270, and I-670 are already elevated? The technology exists to make these tunnels and is in current use to resolve our stormwater and sanitary sewer issues. The cost would have to be less than rebuilding overpasses and the time constraints would be minimal as there would be no traffic to work around. And make no mistake, time is a vital cost, as future construction not only balloons prices, but fades in the memories of those who made the plans. It’s a common parenting practice to put a plan so far out in the future that you’ll never have to carry it out. Come to think of it, it’s a fairly common political practice as well!

I’m not really trying to be negative about this. The fact government has any plans at all is great. The fact that those plans are relegated to the purview of “Parks and Recreation” rather than “Transportation”, however, speaks volumes. I am already a member of AARP and hope to be able to safely get around the Greater Columbus area on my bicycle before I am covered, by age, under Medicare.

See you around.

(3) Replies

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