Columbus Low Stress Bike Network
- Discipline
- City and Regional Planning
- Semester
- Spring 2018
- Description
- Low-stress bike networks can be very beneficial to cities as they allow for more people fo access particular amenities throughout the city by bike. Particularly in low-income regions of Columbus, bike infrastructure is lacking, which if fixed can allow for the people living in these regions an opportunity to access better job markets and neighborhood destinations (schools, churches, retail areas, parks, etc). A low-stress bike network should be easily accessible to the region n which it is applied while also encompassing a level of comfort for all experience levels, Traffic calming techniques, better lighting, and clear signage can help to change stressful networks into networks that can be more user-friendly to all riders. The Ohio State City and Regional Planning senior studio has researched what low-stress bike networks are useful, how low-stress bike networks should be implemented, and where low-stress bike networks should be built. The class had guest speakers during the research phase, which allowed for a better understanding of low-stress bike networks. The research into these four topics was then pit into action as the studio selected four regions of Columbus to implement low-stress bike networks. The four regions selected were Downtown Columbus, the Linden Neighborhood, Ohio State University Campus, and the South Side. The most efficient routes were researched throughout these communities based on connectivity to existing infrastructure, access to the most important amenities, and demographics. The routes were then tested as the class went out to groups to experience the proposed routes. Changes were then made to previous routes as necessary to develop the most applicable and functional low-stress bike networks throughout each community. the class worked with the Bicycle Working Group and other city officials after the initial research phase and then again after the neighborhood implementation phase to create successful low-stress bike networks throughout each neighborhood. The last part of the report shows an implementation matrix regarding each of the four proposed neighborhoods. This matrix lays out the implementation feasibility and the potential impact for each low-stress bike network recommendation per neighborhood. the background research, proposed networks, and implementation matrix throughout Columbus are presented by the Ohio State University City and Regional Planning senior studio in this report.