Cincinnati Bicycle Master Plan

Cincinnati Bicycle Master Plan
Name	Cincinnati Bicycle Master Plan
Adopted	2012
Jurisdiction	Cincinnati, Ohio
Agency	City of Cincinnati

Contents

Cincinnati Bicycle Master Plan The Cincinnati Bicycle Master Plan is a municipal planning document that outlines strategies for cycling network expansion, safety improvements, and multimodal integration across Cincinnati, Ohio. The plan connects local initiatives with regional entities such as the Ohio Department of Transportation, Hamilton County, and metropolitan partners including SORTA and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. It situates Cincinnati within broader national trends influenced by documents and organizations like the National Association of City Transportation Officials, League of American Bicyclists, Federal Highway Administration, and Congressional Bicycle Caucus.

Background and Development

The plan originated amid local policy shifts influenced by precedents from cities such as Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and Denver and by advocacy from groups including the Cincinnati Bicycle Club, BikeOhio, Queen City Bike Club, and People for Bikes. Early catalysts included the regional visioning work led by the Cincinnati Metropolitan Planning Organization, municipal initiatives from the Mayor of Cincinnati's office, and grant opportunities from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Technical studies referenced standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and guidance from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Smart Growth America. Public workshops drew participation from neighborhood councils such as Over-the-Rhine, Hyde Park, Mt. Adams, Clifton, Westwood, and institutions including University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and Xavier University. The planning process integrated data sets from Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Public Health, and the Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering.

The plan's objectives align with federal and state policy frameworks like the U.S. Bicycle Route System, the Safe Routes to School program, and the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance efforts. It sets measurable targets for mode share increases mirroring ambitions seen in Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan and Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030, and emphasizes safety outcomes supported by Vision Zero-aligned approaches promoted by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiatives. Additional goals include integration with transit providers such as Cincinnati Metro and Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), economic development aims comparable to studies by Brookings Institution and Urban Land Institute, and public health objectives informed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Public Health Association recommendations.

Recommended infrastructure typologies reference standards from National Association of City Transportation Officials and include protected bike lanes inspired by projects in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, neighborhood greenways modeled after Seattle Bicycle Master Plan implementations, and multiuse trails drawing on examples like the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Great Miami Riverway, and the Katy Trail State Park. Network design proposes arterial routes connecting business districts such as Downtown Cincinnati, Over-the-Rhine, and Cincinnati Financial District to residential neighborhoods like Walnut Hills and Evanston, and to anchors including Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati Union Terminal, TriHealth, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Bikeshare and micromobility strategies reference operators and models such as Citi Bike, Divvy, Indego, and private providers explored in cities like Austin, Texas and Los Angeles. Supportive infrastructure recommendations include intersection treatments based on Federal Highway Administration guidance, bicycle parking standards akin to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency policies, wayfinding systems similar to Portland Bureau of Transportation signage, and freight-bicycle accommodations informed by National Association of City Transportation Officials research.

Implementation pathways emphasize capital project sequencing coordinated with entities like Hamilton County, the Ohio Department of Transportation District 8, and federal grant programs including Transportation Alternatives Program, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, and competitive funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD and INFRA grants. Local funding mechanisms discussed mirror approaches used by Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis such as municipal bonding, dedicated levies modeled on Cincinnati Zoo ballot measures, and public-private partnerships with institutions such as Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. Cost estimates draw on examples from American Council of Engineering Companies reports and lifecycle analyses used by the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

Public outreach built on collaboration with neighborhood associations like Mount Adams Community Council, West End Community Council, and civic groups including League of Women Voters of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Preservation Association, and Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI). The plan documented stakeholder input from Cincinnati Police Department, Cincinnati Fire Department, Cincinnati Public Schools, healthcare partners such as Mercy Health, and business improvement districts like Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. Engagement methods paralleled successful outreach from Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition and national practices recommended by Transportation for America and Project for Public Spaces.

Performance monitoring strategies reference metrics endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and datasets such as those maintained by Strava Metro and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey for commute mode share. Evaluation frameworks proposed periodic updates in coordination with planning cycles of Hamilton County, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and state agencies like the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to ensure resilience reflecting climate considerations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Global Change Research Program. Adaptive management practices follow examples from Portland Bureau of Transportation and Minneapolis Public Works to refine infrastructure, safety, and programmatic elements over time.

Category:Transportation in Cincinnati