The Ohio Bicycle and Pedestrian Program supports ODOT in the promotion and facilitation of the increased use of active non-motorized transportation. We also provide support to local governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations and private citizens to encourage, educate, plan, and design pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Since 1992, the Ohio Department of Transportation has invested $98 million to improve and modernize pedestrian and bicycle routes across the state. Today, Ohio has more than 3,000 miles of designated bike paths used by an estimated 4 million bicycle owners.
The approach to the program includes the following 5 “E’s”:
The Five “E’s”
| Education |
- Teaching Ohio residents about the benefits of healthy and active transportation choices, instructing them in important lifelong bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver/bike safety and educational outreach campaigns.
- Provide biking and walking maps.
- Educate local officials and engineers on how to conduct walking and biking assessments in their community.
- Host conferences and seminars/webinars regarding the most timely bike and pedestrian issues.
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| Engineering |
- Provide technical assistance within the Department and to local officials regarding walk- way and bikeway design, construction, and maintenance.
- Recommend design standards for safer and fully accessible pedestrian and bike facilities.
- Review ODOT construction plans to ensure that pedestrian and bicycle needs are met.
- Provide technical assistance to local officials regarding walkway and bikeway design, construction and maintenance.
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| Enforcement |
- Partner with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are obeyed and initiate crossing guard programs throughout the state
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| Encouragement |
- Participate and plan events to promote walking and bicycling such as Bike to Work Week and commuter challenges.
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| Evaluation, Policies and Planning |
- Review and evaluate existing policies and standards with respect to pedestrian and bike facilities.
- Monitor and document pedestrian and bike crashes throughout the state to identify areas of concern.
- Complete a statewide bike and pedestrian plan for Ohio which prioritizes future projects.
- Work with local governments to identify potential funding sources for their project.
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