Car Less Ohio

Promoting the bicycling lifestyle in The Buckeye State

New bike trail approved near Hudson

Dorothy Markulis of the Hudson Hub-Times reports that the local planning commission has approved the design of a new half-mile bike and hike trail in Hudson, near the Ohio Turnpike. The article, titled Trail near Turnpike approved…again, details problems with the trail since its first approval in 2006, and the difficulties in planning the layout to address concerns of nearby wetlands, as well as adjacent residential property.

Columbus bike safety maps – drafts available

Dean Narciso of the Columbus Dispatch reports that the initial drafts of new bicycle safety maps for Columbus are available for public comment. The maps can be viewed online in two sections, representing the Northern and Southern portions of the city.

The maps are a collaboration of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), the city of Columbus, the Franklin County Engineer, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, and Consider Biking.

Bridge construction to begin for Chillicothe bike path

The Chillicothe Gazette reports today that work is schedule to begin on Monday, March 9, 2009 of a new bridge for the bike path that crosses State Route 104 near the northern edge of the city. Full story…

New bike path approved in Tipp City

The Dayton Daily News reports that the city council of Tipp City has selected one of 17 bids from contractors for the construction of a bike path in Kyle Park. Construction is planned to begin on April 1 of this year.

New bike trail planned for Geneva State Park

Carl Feather of the Star Beacon reports that Ashtabula County Commissioners approved a bid for a new paved bike trail in Geneva State Park. The project is being funded by a Clean Ohio Trail Grant, a community development block grant, and a grant from the Ashtabula County Convention Facilities Authority. An early summer completion date is targeted.

Read the full story here.

Dayton makes bid to get Bicycling Hall of Fame

Accoring to a story in the Dayton Daily News, the city has submitted a proposal to become the new home of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. A group headed by the Ohio Bicycle Federation and Wright-Dunbar Inc. submitted the proposal last month, and passed the first round of review. The plan puts the Hall in an old building that was once the home of the Wright Brothers’ first bicycle store.

The search committee is looking for a space with at least 15,000 square feet of climate-controlled and secure space in a community that can provide support, draw in visitors, and is bicycle-friendly. Dayton is up against the Hall’s current home of Somerville, NJ, as well as Davis, CA and Madison, WI, the number-one and number-two bicycle-friendly cities in the country, according to the League of American Bicyclists rankings.

You can read the full story here.

Ed Begley Jr. to speak at HBA Akron Home & Flower Show

Ed Begley Jr., the actor most famous for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the TV series St. Elsewhere, in more recent years has become known as one of Hollywood’s most visible environmental advocates.

Mr. Begley will be in Akron to present his talk Live Simply So That Others Can Simply Live at 1:00pm and 5:00pm at the HBA Akron Home & Flower Show on Sunday, February 28, 2009. The show will be held at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.

You can read more about Mr. Begley’s life in the Southern California neighborhood (that he shares with Bill Nye the Science Guy)  in this article from the Akron Beacon Journal.

Grove City council approves new bike paths

An article on ColumbusLocalNews.com reports that the city council of Grove City, Ohio recently approved two appropriations of $38,000 and $31,000 for engineering services that will mean new bike paths in the Windsor Park addition and between the Westgrove development and the Town Center, respectively.

Bike lanes being added to Clime Road near Columbus

From Columbus Business First of Feb. 16, 2009:

Construction began Monday on an $7.9 million effort to widen and reconstruct a 1.5-mile stretch of Clime Road on the west side of Columbus.

The section of highway, stretching east of Demorest Road to Harrisburg Pike, was closed Monday to traffic, said the Franklin County engineer’s office, which is managing the project.

Crews are working to widen and rebuild the road so they can add a center turning lane, two bicycle lanes, storm sewers, sidewalks and curbs, along with signs and street lighting. The stretch will be closed for about 40 days as a culvert along the path is replaced, the office said.

The project, scheduled for completion next summer, will cost $7.9 million and is funded by Federal Highway Administration and Ohio Public Works Commission dollars.

New Trail Link Planned for Cleveland’s West Side

According to a recent article by Michael Gill in the Cleveland Free Times, the Cleveland City Planning Commission has given approval for funding to be sought for the development of a new 2.5-mile bike trail. The trail will link the city’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood to the west with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The project is expected to be completed in three to five years.