After a visit from the League of American Bicyclists, Athens has to decide which improvements it wants to implicate.
Despite a review of Athens last week from the League of American Bicyclists, improvements to cycling safety are still up in the air.
Steve Clark, a specialist from the league, made the evaluation last Thursday after spending the morning biking around the city with officials and enthusiasts. The league, sponsored by Trek Bicycle Corporation and other businesses, reviews cities and makes suggestions for improving local bikeways.
After applying for designation, a city may be awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond designation, or no designation at all.
Although Clark praised the area’s off-street trails, such as the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, he offered specific room for local improvement.
Over the past few years, the city has been slowly making its own improvements. An estimated $1.4 million spur from the bike path across the Hocking River to Columbus Road on the city’s north side has been in the works since at least early 2013. The city is currently overhauling West Union Street, though bike lanes are not in the works.
Clark pointed to East State Street and Uptown as problematic areas, and suggested adding what he described as “advisory bike lanes,” which could be occupied by motorists if cyclists aren’t present.
“Uptown traffic is slow, but there isn’t a dedicated space for cyclists,” Clark said, adding that he thought it wouldn’t be intimidating for a “seasoned cyclist,” but could discourage new cyclists.
Athens Bicycle, 4 W. Stimson Ave., partly spearheaded last week’s event. Co-owner Pete Kotses said he’s been advocating for greater cycling access for a couple years.
“It was a program that we had the opportunity to participate in for free,” Kotses said. “It’s just something we would like to see, and it seems like there are a lot of people in the city who feel the same way.”
Who will lead any changes, though, remains unclear. Kotses said he thinks city officials will be open for improvements.
But Athens City Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, and chair of the body’s transportation committee, said improvements would likely come from residents and advocates like Kotses, instead of city officials.
“The elected officials and city administration need to get together a plan and let the people be involved in that,” Papai said. “It really needs to be driven by the citizens involved.”
She added that some of Clark’s advice — specifically his suggestion to possibly widen roads — may not come to fruition anytime soon.
“In order to put in a bike ring, they need to get rid of parking,” she said. “Which is something that we already have an issue with in Athens.”
Whether or not any of these changes happen, Clark still sees promise in amenities for local cyclists.
“Athens has enormous potential as a bikeable city,” commented Clark.
@emilybohatch
eb346012@ohio.edu
