Help improve Mitchell Avenue in Cincinnati (update 1)

Westward view of Mitchell Avenue

When a roadway is repaved in Cincinnati, Ohio, it may be in consideration for bike lanes or other related bike route improvements, such as sharrows, wider lanes or traffic calming measures. Such measures are being implemented within the city as roadways undergo routine maintenance as their pavements reach the end of their life cycle, and such improvements can improve the quality of cycling throughout the city. Such projects that have been completed include:

• Dana Avenue bike lanes and roadway narrowing from Interstate 71 to Madison Road.
• Madison Road bike lanes from Dana Avenue to Torrence Parkway.
• Spring Grove Avenue bike lanes and sharrows from Northside to Mitchell Avenue.
• Central Parkway bike lanes in Over-the-Rhine for a few blocks.
• Linn Street bike lanes in Queensgate.

Help improve Mitchell Avenue when it is repaved later this year. The city of Cincinnati has proposed a four-foot climbing lane for cyclists on Mitchell going eastbound through the North Avondale neighborhood. While the grade looks easy to climb, it can slow cyclists down. Adding in that Mitchell carries a substantial number of automobiles, separation for the uphill climb is desired.

There is a hold up, however, as St. Bernard – whose boundary straddles Mitchell Avenue, is proposing that the climbing lane be eliminated for more on-street parking buffer. Here is a drill down of the proposal:

• Current conditions: A 42′ roadway with two 10′ on-street parking lanes, some of which double as a through lane during rush hour, and two 11′ travel lanes.
• Proposed conditions: A 42′ roadway with two 8′ on-street parking lanes, a westbound 11′ travel lane, a 10′ eastbound travel lane, and a 5′ bike climbing lane eastbound.

St. Bernard believes that a 10′ parking lane is more desired than 8′, although the narrower parking lane has been implemented elsewhere in the city with no problem. Their concern is that the parking lane is not wide enough for a bus to pull into a stop without sticking about 1/2′ into the travel lane. But given that the proposed travel lane is 11′ and 10′, there should be ample room for a vehicle to pass a bus adequately. The city of Cincinnati, in order to go ahead with the repaving project, needs St. Bernard’s support and blessing for the bike lane. Here is how to help:

• Send an e-mail to St. Bernard Service Director Phil Stegman explaining why the bike lane is important to you and why it is important to them and to the region.

Below is a draft e-mail message from Gary Wright at Queen City Bike for your use. Please customize it for your needs.

• TO: service@cityofstbernard.org
• CC: bburkhardt@cityofstbernard.org; jestep@cityofstbernard.org; roxanne.qualls@cincinnati-oh.gov; queencitybike09@gmail.com
• TEXT TO MODIFY:
  • Phil Stegman, Director
    Service Department
    City of St. Bernard 

    Dear Mr Stegman,
    I am writing to urge you to work with the City of Cincinnati to add a bike lane to Mitchell Avenue by allowing 8 feet for parking rather than 10 feet on the St. Bernard side of the street.

    This minor change would allow a bike lane to be added to the uphill side of Mitchell, making it possible for bicyclists to use this important street to get to and from North Avondale, Hyde Park and points east from St. Bernard, and to Cincinnati neighborhoods to the west and north.  Changes have already been made or are being planned for Dana Avenue and Spring Grove, leaving Mitchell as a critical gap in the regional bicycle street network.

    A bike lane would also make St. Bernard a more desirable place to live for Xavier University students who want to live in a green, healthy community that encourages and supports active lifestyles. Bicycles on the street are a sign of a desirable place to live for young people, and can be an important part of revitalizing neighborhood business districts. Clifton, Northside, and O’Bryonville are all areas where bike lanes are making a real difference.

    Can you confirm that you will work with the City of Cincinnati to allow a bike lane to be added to Mitchell Avenue this year?

    Sincerely,

    NAME
    NEIGHBORHOOD, CITY

    cc:
    Mayor William Burkhardt, City of St. Bernard
    Councilperson John Estep, Chair, Transportation Committee, City of St. Bernard
    Councilperson Roxanne Qualls, Chair, Transportation Subcommittee, City of Cincinnati
    Frank Henson, President, Queen City Bike

As a personal note, Mitchell is my preferred commuting route between Northside and Xavier University – where I work, and the current conditions of the roadway are nothing but more than awful. The roadway is pitted with potholes and dips, and has been under construction for the past several months for pipe installation. Now is the time for improvements, while a repaving project is programmed. Let’s get that climbing lane added to Mitchell!

Thanks to Buffy below for corrections on the lane widths and St. Bernard’s rationale.