The Fourth Annual Central Ohio Ride of Silence will start on Wednesday May 16, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. on the south side of the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Hundreds of communities in the United States and around the world will simultaneously participate in the Ride of Silence, a silent and slow bike ride to honor cyclists killed or injured or harassed on our roads and to raise the awareness of motorists that cyclists have a legal right to ride our public roadways. For more information on how to participate, and to donate to Ride of Silence, read on...  

The COBAC website working group is scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening April 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Northside Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library at 1423 North High Street a block and a half north of King Avenue. Everyone with skill and experience in designing and maintaining a website who wants to volunteer to be part of the working group that plays a central role in communicating the programs and activities that are making Central Ohio a bicycle friendly community is welcome to come and share your ideas. COBAC Webmaster Andy Monaghan, who has done yeoman service for us designing and maintaining our website, will be there to pass on the torch. See you there!  

Has that lonely daily commute to work gotten you down? Are you looking for an opportunity to go on a nice long ride with a few thousand friends? You should sign up now to ride the 46th Tour Of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) on May 12th and 13th. You can sign up today with the Tour Of the Scioto River Valley's online registration. For those who aren't familiar with TOSRV, here is a quick rundown from the TOSRV press release.  

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) plays a crucial role in making Central Ohio bicycle friendly. In July, 2005 MORPC adopted, at our urging, a policy that requires every transportation project that uses MORPC federal transportation funding to accommodate bicycling and walking. MORPC continues to implement that policy and to work to make bicycling and walking part of the transportation mainstream. That is why it is important to the bicycling and walking community of Central Ohio to attend the "Regional Brainstorming Session" from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday April 19, 2007 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. You can register for this FREE event by going to www.morpc.org. You should also consider attending the annual MORPC meeting/luncheon from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. just before the brainstorming session. Individual tickets for the meeting/luncheon are only $60 for a wonderful lunch, networking, and to hear keynote speaker Dr. Jennifer James, a researcher, writer, and commentator who is an Urban Cultural Anthropologist and formerly a professor at the University of Washington Medical School. For more details, and to register, go to the MORPC website.  

The traditional Safe Routes to School model uses the 5 "E's" - engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation - to accomplish two main goals: increase the number of students who walk and bicycle to school, and make walking and bicycling to school safer. This widely accepted standard program has its developmental roots in largely suburban settings. However, many schools and communities experience a different set of circumstances related to active transportation that remain unaddressed in most of the widely available resources and guidance. The SRTS National Partnership has created the Diverse Communities Committee to help identify existing resources and gaps in resources for three populations: large urban school communities, rural school communities, and students with disabilities. Your input is needed to aid in decision making. Please take the time to complete a brief survey.  

Our votes made a difference! The COTA levy passed, providing a much-needed boost for public transportation in rapidly growing Central Ohio. And, you voted to ban smoking in most public areas, a move that will lead to reduced heath problems for children and adults exposed to second-hand smoke. Several bike-advocates were also elected to state and federal offices, not the least being Senator Sherrod Brown, a member of the Bike Caucus. Read more about the victories for bicyclists and pedestrians at the League of American Bicyclists website.  

The Board of Directors of the Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition urges you to vote on November 7th FOR Issue 7, the COTA bus levy. Passing this levy will benefit ALL of us, even those of us who don't ride the bus much, in many ways. These include relieving traffic congestion, reducing dependence on foreign oil, improving air quality, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting the "Bike'N Bus" program, and contributing to the economic health of Ohio's fastest growing metropolitan area. Read more about Issue 7.  

A plan for a critical link in the downtown bikeway network is currently being developed by the City of Columbus Transportation Division. The proposed trail would stretch from North Bank Park to Jack Gibbs Boulevard, accommodating bicyclists, joggers, walkers and in-line skaters. Primary objectives for the plan are to make it an easily identifiable, attractive, safe, and convenient trail. The trail will provide a much needed east-to-west link in the City's trail system, and will also be part of the statewide Ohio-to-Erie Trail. The public is invited to attend an open house to view the preliminary plan for this trial on Monday, October 23, from 6:00-8:00 pm at North Bank Park Pavilion, 311 W. Long Street  

The city of Chicago today released a landmark Complete Streets Policy that for the first time mandates that all users must be accommodated in all transportation projects. According to the Complete Streets Website, "Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safest access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street." Read more about Chicago's new policy.  

Governor Bob Taft on October 4 announced $6.95 million in Clean Ohio Trails Fund grants to 30 communities and organizations, part of a comprehensive effort to expand Ohioans' access to recreational trails statewide. The announcement marks the fourth round of Clean Ohio Trails Grants, with a total of $25 million going to local trail projects over four years through the Clean Ohio Program. Read more about specific allocations for each county.  

The city's recreation and parks department, along with the Columbus Division of Police and the Clintonville Community Crime Patrol, is making its first effort to establish a trail watch program along the 4-mile stretch of the Olentangy Greenway between Whetstone and Tuttle Parks. "The volunteers will primarily provide customer service to trail users and will be the eyes and ears of the recreation and parks department," said Mark Young, Olentangy Greenway Trail watch coordinator for the city's recreation and parks department. Read the complete article by Randy Navaroli in This Week News for details on how to volunteer.  

The Columbus Transportation Division has a supply of bike lockers to place in the downtown or other areas of town as well as a supply of regular bike racks. Please click here to send us your ideas on where the bike lockers might best be located and where we need to put more bike racks. Several other important issues were discussed at the meeting, not the least being that the city's efforts to create a comprehensive bicycle action plan have stalled. Read more...  

During the opening ceremonies of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits' Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure on June 17, 2006 Gov. Bob Taft signed into law a major revision in Ohio's bicycle laws. House Bill 389, dubbed the "Better Ohio Bicycling Bill" by its proponent, the Ohio Bicycle Federation, takes effect on September 21, 2006. Everyone who rides a bicycle should take a few minutes to study it. Read more...  

The Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries (FACT) will be hosting a family bike ride on Saturday, Sept. 9, along the Alum Creek recreational trail. The ride will start in Westerville at 10:30 AM and will end around noon, at which point free lunch will be served. Details...  

The Long Street Business Association and TeamColumbus are hosting the second annual Long Street Tour on Saturday, September 2, 2006 in the historic Long Street District just east of I-71 on Long Street with the starting booth in front of The Historic Lincoln Theatre. A number of us were at last year's Long Street Tour on a bright and sunny and warm Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the races and other activities immensely. The schedule for the Long Street Tour is posted on the Long Street Business Association website.  

Based on the HUGE success of COBAC's Comfest Bike Corral, the Mayor's Green Team wants to work with COBAC to begin providing bike parking regularly at future City festivals and other community events. The program has been dubbed "Pedal Instead." Our first Pedal Instead project is the Family Fun Fest on Saturday, September 16 at COSI/Genoa Park/Riverfront Ampitheatre. Please help us make this a success by donating 3 hours of your time. Read more on how to volunteer...  

You've been looking for an opportunity to make our Central Ohio community friendly for bicycling. Here's your opportunity. The 2006 National Bicycle and Pedestrian Count will be on Wednesday September 13th during morning rush hour from 7:00 to 9:00 am. We need more volunteers to help with the count!!!. COBAC helped the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission make this a successful count last year. Read more on how to volunteer this year...  

The defeat three years ago, on September 4, 2003, of a bill up for a vote on the floor of the United States House of Representatives containing a provision seeking to eliminate the Transportation Enhancement Program is significant to the bicycling movement. On this third anniversary of the momentous vote, take time to "Remember the Vote on Transportation Enhancements!" and to recognize and to thank those who stood up for a bicycle and pedestrian friendly America. Read more...  

Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) is a federal program which provides limited funds to states including Ohio. These funds will be used to improve the ability of primary and middle school students to walk and bicycle to school safely. The program enhances the health of kids, improves air quality and the environment, and creates safer routes for walking and bicycling. International Walk to School day began in 1997 to create awareness of the need for communities to be more pedestrian and bike friendly. Now over 3 million Americans participate annually. To become involved or register your school for the October 4 event, visit www.walktoschool.org.  

Great news from the July 20th Bikeways Advisory Committee Meeting: On June 5, 2006 the Columbus City Council voted to authorize $255,000 for the comprehensive, long-range, city-wide, public-involvement-process Columbus Bike Plan. The consultants hired to guide the creation of the bike plan (Burgess & Niple, Alta Planning + Design, and MORPC) are gearing up to begin the planning process. Read More.  

An article appearing in the Sunday edition of the Columbus Dispatch compares the budgets, useage, and features of the parks in Columbus and its suburbs. The results show, among other things, that residents want more recreational opportunities. Read More.  

The Ninth Across Ohio Bicycle Adventure will take place from July 22- 29, 2006. With all new host towns and beautiful routes this scenic bicycle tour will have the perfect combination of food, fun, friends and frolic. XOBA's 60 mile average days will be enjoyable for both the beginning bicycle tourist and veteran riders. Riding from "coast to coast" we will see the range of terrain and scenic beauty of Ohio's towns, plains valleys and hilltops. Visit XOBA's web site for more information.  

Rick Palsgrove of the Columbus Southeast Messenger reported this week on the growing number of trails linking Central Ohio's communities. The article features the Alum Creek and Blacklick Creek Greenways Trails, highlighting recent and planned activities. The complete article can be found on the Southeast Messenger web site.  

The Licking County Bicycle Club is staging the 34th Annual Land of Legend Tour on Saturday, July 8. Come experience a Central Ohio tradition and a uniquely enjoyable bicycling opportunity. This year's tour is designed to appeal to the casual rider as well as the long-distance hill-climber looking for a challenge. Route options of 26, 29, 62, and 100 miles wind through the scenic back roads of Licking and Knox counties. Visit the Land of Legend Tour Web Site for more information.  

Warm and dry weather welcomed the Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic last weekend. Both days of cycling were held in the streets of Grandview. This year's event was the 13th annual cycling classic presented by J. Baumeister and his Ten Speeds Productions. "The weekend just went phenomenally well," Baumeister said. "It was just a great weekend of racing, and the events that were held in the community really complemented the cycling." (Complete article by Alan Froman, ThisWeek Newspapers)  

The monthly COBAC meeting will take place on Wednesday (6/28) at 7:00 pm at Scottie MacBeans, 4675 N. High Street, Worthington. The Critical Mass Ride will begin at 5:30 pm, this Friday (6/30) in front of the Ohio Statehouse (41 S. High Street), regardless of weather. Come help raise awareness of bicycles on our streets.  

The Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic, a favorite stop of professional cyclists and spectators for the last 12 years, returns to Grandview Heights (Columbus) June 23-25th, 2006. Racers particularly enjoy the hilly terrain and hospitality of this central Ohio community. Event details and schedules are available from the press release or at www.tourdegrandview.com.  

The June 23-25th Community Festival (ComFest) is a gathering of friendly Central Ohio residents, and wonderful music, arts, and food. For bicyclists, this year will be even better: valet bike parking will be available for the first time! This service will be provided by volunteers from the OSU Cycling Club (Friday), COBAC (Saturday), and Third Hand Bicycle Co-op (Sunday). To volunteer, contact any of these groups. Come down to Goodale Park and enjoy the unique atmosphere.  

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Gordon Proctor today announced ODOT's new Safe Routes to School Program. The program will make it easier and safer for children to commute to school using their own power, and is the first of its kind for Ohio. For specific information, and to learn how to promote Safe Routes in your community, read the press release or visit www.dot.state.oh.us/SafeRoutes/.