Cincinnati becoming more bicycle friendly

Over the past year, Cincinnati has been making steady improvements in infrastructure and initiatives aimed at making the city more bicycle friendly. In 2009, neighborhoods like Clifton, Northside, OTR, and East Walnut Hills made improvements to bicycle infrastructure. In June 2010, City Council approved Cincinnati's first comprehensive bike plan. The plan includes legislation that protects cyclists and adds 329 miles of bike friendly street infrastructure over the next 15 years. Some of the legislation has already been implemented throughout the city. Take a look at the progress!

Northside bike Corral (pictured above)

Located on Hamilton and Lingo, this recently installed bike corral can hold up to 12 bikes in one automobile parking spot. More of these should be coming to commercial areas around Cincinnati in the future. Northside has also added 28 other bike racks to the business district.

Parking garage ordinance

All new or expanded parking garages in Cincinnati will now have to provide 1 space of bicycle parking for every 20 spaces of automobile parking. Bicycle spaces max out at 24.

Safe distance law
Passed in late June, this legislation requires all drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing. The law also prohibites people from driving and parking in bike lanes. I can tell you from personal experience that this legislation was much needed. Hopefully the city has an advocacy or signage plan so everyone actually knows about the law.

Clifton bike parking
29 bike racks were installed on Ludlow Avenue during the sidewalk renovation. Every parking meter has a metal ring for locking bicycles.

Dana bike lanes
Two automobile lanes were removed from Dana Avenue between Madison and Griggs to make room for the addition of bike lanes.

Ohio River Trail
Construction has been moving along on what will be 23 miles of trail from Coney Island to Sayler Park. The trail will eventually connect to the Little Miami Scenic Trail, which will connect all the way to Lake Erie when completed. http://ohioriverway.org/ohiorivertrail/

Sharrows
Yes, those arrows with the bikes on them do have a name. Sharrows were painted on areas of Clifton Ave., Ludlow Ave., and Madison Ave. as a pilot project by The City to test their effectiveness. The pilot project showed that bike ridership went up when sharrows were put in place.

Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail
Construction has already begun on this biking/hiking trail along the Mill Creek. When the first three phases are complete (around 2012), it will stretch from Mitchell Ave. to the Mill Creek Rd. Bridge. Over the next five years, plans involve connecting the trail to the Ohio River Trail at US 50.

Bicycle Maps!

Food for thought...
Does Cincinnati have inherent qualities that make it more or less bicycle friendly?