With goals of greatly improving the biking culture in Columbus, making it safer and easier to get around by bike and helping people get fit, Mayor Michael B. Coleman is pushing for the 2012 Bicentennial Bikeways Master Plan in partnership with MORPC and others.
As part of the planning process, the mayor is asking residents to give their feedback on the proposed Master Plan and what they want to see done. The feedback is part of an ongoing effort to develop a complete system of shared-use paths and on-street bikeways between now and the city’s Bicentennial in 2012.
“Biking is a great way to get around and to get fit, and we are committed to improving the paths and lanes for people on bikes over the next few years,” said Mayor Coleman. “Too many people have been hurt walking and biking, and the city is refocusing our neighborhood and traffic planning to be more bicycle-and pedestrian-friendly.”
The final plan will trigger an expanded network of on-street improvements to encourage more people to use bicycles regularly and decrease dependence on cars and gas. The plan also addresses key issues such as bicycle parking, access to public transit and rider safety.
The requested public feedback will augment months of input already received from representatives of government, Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), bicycle-community interests, environmental organizations, businesses and residents.
The draft of the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Master Plan is available online at www.altaplanning.com/columbus, where public comments can be submitted to Bernice Cage of MORPC until Jan. 11.
