Columbus Announces $170 Million Bikeways Plan

"Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman issued the draft of the Bicentennial Bikeways Plan calling for a major $170 million investment in biking facilities over the next 20 years, including an immediate $20 million commitment towards the first phase. The plan calls for an integrated 500-plus-mile system to serve the entire city and providing linkages to the regional bikeway system, including the 3-C trail that crosses the entire state from Cincinnati to Cleveland via Columbus. The plan was announced on May 12th during Bike to Work week with over 100 cyclists joining the mayor, who biked from home, in front of the Ohio Statehouse. With 87 miles of routes and trails currently, the city expects to add by 2012 an additional 31 miles of off-street trails, 58 miles of on-street bike lanes, and installing hundreds of bike racks and other amenities. The city hired Alta Planning and Design as project consultant."