Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Bike Plus planning initiative is a citywide effort to modernize the City’s bikeways plan, which was adopted in 2008. Through the 2024 Bike Plus plan, the Department of Public Service is actively engaged in making Columbus a city where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are able to bike and use other forms of micromobility safely and comfortably for any transportation or recreation need.
This ordinance demonstrates the commitment by the City of Columbus to the overall well-being of the City’s residents.
Bike Plus is one of the many strategies the City is using to make Columbus a healthy, equitable, resilient and economically strong community. Biking is a healthy, low-cost option that helps meet Climate Action Plan goals. Investment in safe bicycle infrastructure also supports the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on Columbus streets. The Bike Plus planning effort also aligns with the City’s goals to become a more walkable and transit-friendly city by supporting the Zone In and LinkUS initiatives. The Bike Plus plan includes a long-range vision for future bike infrastructure, as well as a short term goal to implement key bikeways in the next five years. The long-term plan envisions nearly 500 miles of new bikeways to be implemented throughout Columbus in the coming decades. The “near term network” aims to add 20 miles of new bikeways by 2029.
Community outreach is foundational to the Bike Plus plan’s Vision Network and strategies. Throughout the plan process, the Bike Plus team had over 11,000 engagement touchpoints including nearly 100 in-person events, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, public open houses, area commission and local organization presentations, conference sessions and intercept surveys at high-travel areas like bus stops, parks and community centers. In-person engagement was used in tandem with interactive webmaps and surveys that also collected over 5,000 pieces of input. These touchpoints and more were used alongside technical analysis in decision making throughout the Bike Plus process, including guidance from a technical working group consisting of multiple City department representatives.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
No funding is required for this legislation. Costs for plan implementation will be addressed over time through the capital improvements budget and operating budget processes, pursuit of grant opportunities, and other funding partnerships.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the adoption of Bike Plus as soon as reasonably practicable.
Title
To adopt Bike Plus, a plan for biking, scooting, and rolling as a guide for infrastructure investment, policy development, and program implementation related to the improvement of conditions for biking and other forms of micromobility throughout the City; to repeal and replace the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan and Ordinance No. 0849-2008; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council last adopted a citywide bikeways plan in 2008, known as the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan under Ordinance 0849-2008; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has grown and changed extensively since the adoption of the 2008 plan; and
WHEREAS, Columbus and central Ohio anticipate continued population growth through 2050, providing transportation options for those without access to a vehicle and all vulnerable road users is imperative; and
WHEREAS, high-stress streets and intersections are prevalent in Columbus and limit access for people biking, scooting and rolling safely to schools, jobs, parks, medical care and food sources; and
WHEREAS, in November 2022, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced the intent to launch a new planning process to update and replace the 2008 plan in recognition of the growing community desire for safe bicycle infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service initiated the Bike Plus planning process in April 2023 as a means to create a new and modernized bikeways and micromobility plan to meet the needs of our growing city; and
WHEREAS, the Bike Plus planning process emphasized an equitable and inclusive public engagement process that included over 11,000 touchpoints with members of the Columbus community; and
WHEREAS, Bike Plus envisions a future where residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can enjoy a network of bikeways to travel around Columbus safely; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the passage of this legislation in order to facilitate the adoption of Bike Plus as soon as reasonably practicable for the immediate preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Bike Plus is hereby adopted as a guide for making policy decisions and the planning of future public bikeways facilities and capital improvements.
SECTION 2. That the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan and Ordinance No. 0849-2008 are hereby repealed and replaced in their entirety by Bike Plus and this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That key City departments, including Development, Neighborhoods, Public Service, Public Health, Public Safety, Public Utilities, and Recreation and Parks are actively engaged as leaders and partners in the process of developing, implementing, sharing progress and updating Bike Plus.
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Public Service has the authority to apply for and accept grants aligned with the delivery or completion of Bike Plus.
SECTION 5. That the Director of the Department of Public Service has the authority to make modifications to Bike Plus as necessary.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.