Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
If the city of Cincinnati’s bike-lane policy were an actual bike lane, it might be a lot of fun to ride, but there would be so many twists and U-turns, riders might get a little dizzy.
The city’s bike policy was one thing, then it was about to become another, now it is back to the original.
The city’s bike program, up until about a week ago, emphasized a regional effort to enhance and improve bicycle/pedestrian transportation.
There was a specific emphasis on: “bicycle lanes, sharrows, bike racks, parking, signage, railroad crossings, traffic improvements.” A “sharrow” is a shared-lane marking on the street.
In the proposed 2015 budget, the city administration changed the language of that policy. It still talked about improving bicycle/pedestrian transportation, but it placed an emphasis on off-road trails.
Paths and trails are different things.
For the most part, a “path” is on a city street. For many, it would be a means of transportation from one place to the next. Like going to work, or visiting a friend, or shopping.
A “trail” is different. For the most part, it is off-road, perhaps along a river or through woods. Bike people like trails; they are just not used so much as transportation. They are largely for recreation and exercise.
There is a perception that Mayor John Cranley prefers paths.
That perception is correct.
“He does prefer off-road paths to on-road lanes, and believes the majority of the public does also,” spokesman Kevin Osborne said.
But Osborne added: “It should be noted, however, that there is not a ban on lanes. The mayor just prefers City Council vote explicitly on each project, rather than having a huge swath implemented administratively.
“Also, based on community support, the mayor supports the completion of two bike lanes: Woolper Avenue in Clifton, and Kellogg Avenue in Mount Washington. Sometime soon, the mayor will introduce legislation to complete both.”
City Councilman Chris Seelbach thought that the administration’s proposal was a bad idea.
So he brought a motion to revert the bike policy back to the original.
Then he got four others members to sign that motion.
Those council members are: Yvette Simpson, David Mann, Wendell Young and P.G. Sittenfeld.
So, with those five votes, the city bike plan will not change. ■