Columbus: Up and Coming Cycling City?
January 7, 2009
Car Less Ohio points to an article describing how code changes in Columbus could provide hope for bicyclists and pedestrians in the future:
On a related note, Streetsblog reports that zero bicyclists died on Portland's streets in 2008. Considering the sheer number of cyclists in the city and the perception in many other places that street cycling and sharing a road with cars is outright dangerous, Portland once again proves that they must be doing something right...
The changes to city codes will allow the city to develop policy rules and regulations pertaining to sidewalks and bikeways, said Mary Carran Webster, spokeswoman for the public service department. It establishes a requirement for bikeways when private land is developed and codifies a requirement for developers to provide sidewalks, she said. The legislation also promotes better community health and will improve safety, said Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, who served as chairwoman of City Council's Public Service and Transportation Committee until her resignation became effective Dec. 31...Some people will laugh at the idea that a sprawled out city like Columbus in a less-than-progressive state like Ohio could ever become the best bicycling city in America. The article is rather vague when it comes to describing how enthusiastic Columbus's elected leadership is on these issues; but if local leaders are serious about improving bicycle access in the city, it could only be a plus for the city, and it could help distinguish it as unique to the region. Plus, who cares if they actually become the best? if more cities even attempted to be the best city for bicyclists, we might be able to think of cities other than Portland when it comes to this topic.
Jeff Stephens is chairman of the Columbus Transportation and Pedestrian Commission and executive director of Consider Biking. "Bifurcating the issue allowed time to fully vet this," he said. "It is a guarantee from City Council that Columbus will become the best bicycling city in the country."
On a related note, Streetsblog reports that zero bicyclists died on Portland's streets in 2008. Considering the sheer number of cyclists in the city and the perception in many other places that street cycling and sharing a road with cars is outright dangerous, Portland once again proves that they must be doing something right...
