BICYCLE ROUTES

In the state of Ohio numerous roadways are designated by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) as Bicycle Routes.  This designation does not carry the implication that these are the only roads which bicycles may use, nor that they are the most "bicycle-friendly" roads in the state.  It merely affords the long-distance cyclist the convenience of a grid of interconnected, marked routes crossing the state, similar to the numbered State and US Route markings which make it easy to find one's way by car.  Ohio's major Bicycle Routes are designated by letters, while some local routes may be designated by number.  They are marked by small rectangular signs, displaying the letter (or number) of the route inside a green oval against a white background.  (This is the standard practice; however, some routes are not marked, and on those which are marked some of the route signs are badly faded or missing altogether.  The initial concept was good, but the upkeep is wanting.)

Although there are places where Ohio's bike routes make use of bikeways, for the most part these routes follow standard motor roads.  Outside cities these are mostly two-lane county and township roads, but bike routes may also follow state and US routes in order to make necessary connections.  Riders should be aware that in hilly areas Bicycle Routes occasionally lie over severe grades which may be too steep for all but the strongest cyclists to negotiate without dismounting.

BIKEWAYS AND MULTI-USE PATHS

Southwestern Ohio features numerous scenic, asphalt-paved multiple-use paths (often misleadingly marked as "bike paths" or "bikeways").  Area routes currently include several major interconnected paths...

• River Corridor Bikeway (Miamisburg - Dayton, 22.6 mi.)

• Great Miami River Recreational Trail (Franklin - Miamisburg, 5 mi.)

• Little Miami Scenic Trail (Milford [Cincinnati] - Loveland - Xenia - Springfield, 70 mi.)

• Creekside Trail a.k.a. "H-Connector" (Dayton - Xenia, 11.2 mi.)

...plus several shorter connecting paths, as well as independent paths, most of them also paved.  The main paths feature free drinking water and rest room facilities during the warmer months, and are convenient to food stops and free parking at various points.  Save for a few short sections, multi-use paths are separated from motor traffic except at intersections.  Some paths also double as bridle trails, though, so cyclists and others must be prepared to dodge occasional "horse-apples."  Multi-use paths are wonderful for novice and casual bicycle riders.  There is no motor traffic, the surface is paved, grades are gentle, the scenery is usually pleasant, and in many areas lush foliage provides cooling shade.

On the other hand, some poorly designed, built, and maintained stretches of trail include sharp, blind curves; hazardous crossings of busy roadways; low spots that collect mud, hazardous (in cleated biking shoes) connecting stairways; bike lanes doubling as car parking lanes; heaves and gaps in the pavement from lack of maintenance; and wholesale removal of broad swaths of foliage that could have provided welcome shade and shelter from wind.  It's evident that some of the designers and builders of these supposedly bike-friendly trails haven't been on a bicycle since they were children, if ever.  Little wonder that these paved death-traps are seldom used by seasoned cyclists.

Despite the difficulties, however, Ohio's extensive and growing bikeway system is the envy of most other states.  Cyclists visiting from other parts of the nation marvel at our increasingly interconnected intercity bikeways that enable riders to travel 100 miles or more at a stretch, for the most part separated from motor traffic except at intersections.

BIKEWAY LAWS AND SAFETY

BIKEWAYS AS ROADS:  Bikeways are in fact public roads, and the standard rules of the road apply as much to them as to motorways—the exception being that motor vehicles are not permitted on bikeways.  Vehicles (bicycles) should be operated to the right of the bikeway's center line except when passing, and pedestrians (walkers, joggers) should keep to the left, just as they would when walking along a motorway with no sidewalk.  This optimizes traffic flow, allows for passing, and minimizes the chances that pedestrians will be caught unawares by vehicles approaching from behind.

Cyclists should obey all traffic lights and signs, including speed limits, if any.  Always look in all directions and signal before turning or changing lanes, and give audible warning when passing other riders or pedestrians.  And remember that (in most states) pedestrians have the right of way; all vehicular traffic must yield to them.  Even if this is not the law in your area, it is still better to lose a few seconds by slowing down than to spend hours in an emergency room or a day in court.

STOPPING:  If you must stop on a bikeway for any reason other than to wait for traffic at an intersection, always signal your intention both visually and audibly beforehand.  Once stopped, immediately get yourself and your bike completely off the bikeway!  Stopping unexpectedly on a bikeway is an invitation to trouble, and leaving your bike parked on the pavement, even for "just a moment," is almost as certain to get you cast into hell as stopping your car in the passing lane of an expressway!  If you're lucky, you'll just hear some colorful language; if you're not so lucky, you'll be spending some time at the bike repair shop, or possibly in an emergency room.

AUDIO HEADSETS:  Although a bikeway might seem the ideal place to use a Walkman™ headset, it is actually dangerous to do so there, whether you are a cyclist or a pedestrian.  Unlike motor vehicles, bicycles moving at speed on smooth pavement are almost silent save for the faint whir of tires and gears—so much so, that cyclists cruising normally can even "creep up on" wild creatures along the trail, startling them as they whiz past.  Being adequately aware of the approach of cyclists (especially from behind) requires that one's eyesight and hearing be completely unimpeded; if you wait for the sense of touch to come into play, it's too late.

IN-LINE SKATES:  "Roller-Bladers" seem to occupy a category midway between vehicular and pedestrian traffic.  While they are technically "on foot" and would be considered pedestrians elsewhere, their speed and directionality tends to be a closer match to bikes than to strollers.  Therefore, on bikeways it is probably wisest for skaters to follow the same practice as cyclists and keep right of center.  However, if different rules are posted or in effect in your area, be sure to observe them; being consistent is prime.

PROBLEMS:  Many seasoned cyclists avoid bikeways / multi-use paths, especially on weekends and holidays.  It's a fact of life that 20-mile-per-hour bike traffic mixes poorly with meandering sightseers, gawking children, and Walkman-deafened bladers.  Despite the road-style markings and long-distance design of bikeways, these strips of pavement seem to be regarded by the majority of folks more as long, narrow playgrounds than as thoroughfares for intercity traffic.  Consequently, bikeways are often congested with inattentive pedestrians, whose natural inclination seems to be to wander directly into the path of the nearest approaching bicycle.  Ironically, an alert adult cyclist, riding responsibly and observing all applicable traffic laws, is in much less danger of being involved in a collision on a motorway, where traffic is relatively orderly, than on a so-called "bikeway," where chaotic milling about seems the standard order.

PEDESTRIANS

Bikeways are natural magnets for strollers, joggers, and sightseers, and there is no reason that they should not be able to enjoy these wonderful facilities, too.  However, because bikeway ambience and dimensions are similar to those of hiking trails and sidewalks, the walking public must be educated and reminded that a bikeway's primary design and function are as a road for vehicular traffic.  And like any other vehicular roadway, a bikeway can be dangerous if people are inattentive or wandering about in the middle of it.  Through a moment of carelessness, an idyllic afternoon can instantly become a scene of bleeding horror and screaming pain!  Exaggeration?  Nope.  Read on!

Bicycle traffic has its own unique hazards, and pedestrians must become aware of them if they want to use bikeways and stay in one piece.  This is no threat, just a fact of life.

• Most people do not realize just how fast bicycles are moving.  While the majority of novice riders crank along at 12 mph or less, many cyclists ride at 20 mph or more, and some attain over 30 mph on the flat.  At those speeds, even a slight brush can break a wrist, and a direct impact can be permanently crippling or disfiguring.

• Bicycles at speed are virtually silent.  You simply cannot rely on your ears alone to warn of approaching danger.  If a daydreaming stroller wanders into the path of a 200-pound rider-machine projectile, torn flesh and broken bones are the predictable result.

• A bell, a horn, or a shout of "PASSING" might sound like a cheery greeting, but it should be regarded as a warning of imminent danger.  Respond to it in the same simple and immediate way that you would to a blast of the horn of an 18-wheeler:  If you're in the way, get out of the way now; if you're already out of the way, stay out of the way!

If everyone is to be able to enjoy bikeways, we must all learn how to use them properly and safely, and we must train ourselves to react appropriately in common situations.  Fortunately, bikeway safety is easy.  Its primary requirement is simply to stay alert, to remember that you are on a road, and hence in a potentially hazardous situation.  Safety is less a matter of being smart than of not being stupid.

Remember:  A bikeway is a ROAD, not a mall!

While bikeways can be dangerous if used carelessly, staying healthy and happy on them is not at all complicated.  The rules are few and simple:

• Always WALK LEFT, RIDE RIGHT!  Walk (or run) along the left edge of the road, not in the middle of it.  This goes for your kids, too; you wouldn't think of letting them wander about in the middle of a street, so don't let them do it on a bikeway.

• When in a group, DON'T BUNCH UP!  Walk single-file or or (at most) two-abreast, always staying well clear of the center line.

• If you stop, GET OFF THE PAVEMENT!  If you're on a bridge, get as far to the side as you can.  Bikeway pavement is narrow, so consider it RESERVED for things that are moving.

• Always LOOK BOTH DIRECTIONS before stepping onto the pavement or crossing the center line.

• USE YOUR EARS, but don't rely on them alone!  Unlike rumbling motor vehicles, bicycles do not announce their presence audibly, and at speeds of 20 mph or more can be upon you before you're even aware of them.

• BE PREDICTABLE!  When cyclists pass, stay as far to the side as possible and keep moving straight ahead.  Don't stop.  Don't wander.  Smile and wave if you like, but don't thrust your hand (or anything else you don't want broken) into the cyclist's path.  Never cross the center line, even if you happen to be on the wrong side of it, unless the cyclist indicates that it's okay do so.  Remember, the cyclist is not trying to hit you, but only looking for a clear way to get around you; if there is one, don't block it!

• CONTROL YOUR TODDLERS!  (Ditto for pets!)  Little ones tend to focus on what they're doing to the exclusion of everything else.  This might be okay on a playground, but not on a bikeway.

• EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN!  Teach them that a bikeway can be a fun place if used properly, but that it is not a playground.  Teach them to treat a bikeway the same way you would want them to treat any other public road or street with vehicular traffic on it.  Little fingers caught in whirling spokes are lost forever, and scars are not pretty even on the most cherubic of faces.

In most states pedestrians have the legal right of way over any and all vehicles.  However, they do not have the right to block traffic or create hazardous situations, either intentionally or through negligence.  If you are going to use a bikeway, you must do so responsibly and with due caution.

ADVOCACY

Bikeways which are both safe and inviting are in everyone's interest—even that of motorists, who would have fewer bicycles to contend with on the roads if all bikeways were truly bike-friendly.  It therefore behooves anyone who lives or drives near a bikeway (or where one is planned) to lobby the local authority responsible, to demand that any facility designated as a "bikeway" be designed, built, maintained, and operated in a fashion consistent with its primary purpose as a transportation route for two-wheeled vehicles.  If it is not, bicyclists simply won't use it; it will be merely a long, narrow playground, and otherwise a waste of tax revenues.

In addition to being long enough to connect at least two places which are worth someone's time and effort to go to and from, a bikeway suitable for both road and trail bikes should have the following features:

• Hard pavement:  While fat-tired trail bikes can get by on dirt or crushed stone, road bikes with high-pressure tires require hard, smooth pavement for safe and efficient operation.

• Adequate width:  A bikeway should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) wide, sufficient to accommodate two bike lanes, one for each direction of travel, and to allow for safe passing.

• Gentle curves and grades:  To maximize clear-sight distances, curves and grades should be as gentle as practicable. This not only allows for safe passing, but also makes the bikeway less attractive to muggers and other undesirables, who depend on seclusion to operate.

• Markings:  To encourage proper lane use, a bikeway must be marked with a dashed center-line, and (where appropriate) solid no-passing lines, in accordance with standard road marking practice.  In addition, all public access points should be clearly marked "WALK LEFT - RIDE RIGHT" to remind all users, including pedestrians, that a bikeway is a road intended for vehicular traffic and must be treated as such.

• Intersections:  Motorways which cross bikeways should have "BICYCLE CROSSING" signs posted.  In addition, bikeway traffic at public intersections must be controlled, either by "STOP" or "YIELD" signs, or by traffic lights with timers or bike-sensitive triggers.  Public bikeways should also be afforded the right-of-way where they intersect private roads or driveways.

• Shade and water: Long-distance bicycling tends to dehydrate riders, and hot weather can produce heat-related ailments.  Foresighted bikeway design includes the availability of clean drinking water and periodic refuge from the sun. While foliage should be trimmed back from the right-of-way by a meter or so, it provides an effective windbreak and should not be removed altogether.

• Realistic speed limits:  If limits are posted, they should be at least 25 mph (40 km/hr) outside congested areas.  Otherwise, experienced cyclists conditioned and accustomed to fast riding will choose to ride motorways instead.

• Law enforcement:  Especially during periods of anticipated heavy use, mounted (bicycle or horseback) police patrols should enforce applicable traffic laws (for both cyclists and pedestrians), educating first-time offenders and ticketing repeaters.

Because they are sometimes designed by well-meaning officials who are nevertheless poorly informed about bike laws and operation, bikeways all too often exhibit significant shortcomings.  These range from mere inconveniences to outright hazards, and in almost all cases tend to discourage use by cyclists.  Following are some real-life examples of "nightmare" bikeway designs.

• Two-way bike lanes along one side of a motorway:  A cyclist traveling in the street-side bike lane finds himself closely "sandwiched," between bicycle traffic to his left and motor traffic to his right, both moving in the opposite direction!  Any so-called traffic engineer who designs one of these horrors should be sentenced to ride it on a bicycle, both ways, every day, during rush hour!

• Mindlessly meandering routes: Many bikeways follow waterways or old railroad rights-of-way, while others must thread their way through urban areas, and the twists and turns in these are necessary and understandable.  However, some designers (who obviously haven't ridden a bike in years, if ever) seem to think it's neat to throw in a few extra kinks here and there.  Bikeways which curve, rise, or dip needlessly or excessively are dangerously limiting to line-of-sight distances and tend to cause loss of control.  While a wandering road might be pleasantly "scenic" to the casual 8-mph wobbler, to the hurried commuter or the tired long-distance tourer the twists and turns are unpleasant hazards to be cursed, endured, and dealt with.

• Unrealistic speed limits:  While 15-mph limits might be appropriate in severely congested areas, they are entirely out of place on cross-country runs.  Seasoned cyclists will choose to ride on motorways, rather than be restricted to speeds more appropriate for small children and nursing-home refugees!

• Under-pavement traffic signal sensors:  These gadgets do a fine job of detecting a ton or two of steel, but are not so great at responding to a flesh-and-bone human riding an aluminum or carbon-composite steed.  If a push-button actuator is provided, it should be within reach of a mounted cyclist in any bike-legal traffic lane.

Again, safe and attractive bikeways benefit everyone, even if only to help reduce bicycle traffic on motorways.  On the other hand, so-called bikeways that are poorly designed, maintained, and managed are not only a public danger and a waste of taxpayers' money, but a blot on the natural scenery as well.

If you are a public official in charge of building a "recreation facility," then certainly, go ahead and build a "multi-use path" if you like, with lots of cute little curves and dips and obstacles, and which doesn't go anywhere in particular.  Just don't expect bicyclists to ride on it!  But if you are responsible for building a "bikeway"—a transportation route—then fix the idea in your mind that the objective is to build a road, one that offers an attractive alternative to motorways for getting from place to place on two wheels.  In either case, remember whose money it is that you're using!