Mayor Coleman, Councilmember Paley, ODOT Director Wray & Others Celebrate Bike to Work Week, Kick Off Share the Road Campaign
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2013
For
More Information:
John Ivanic, 645-6798
Tyneisha Harden, Mayor’s Office, 645-2425
Rick Tilton, Dept. of Public Service, 645-7263
Jose
Rodriguez, Public Health, 645-6928
Steve Faulkner, ODOT,
644-7101
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Mayor Coleman, Councilmember Paley, ODOT Director Wray &
Others
Celebrate Bike to Work Week, Kick Off Share the Road Campaign
Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus City Councilmember Eileen Paley, Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray and Columbus
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long this morning kicked off Bike to Work
Week and unveiled the City’s Share the Road campaign by leading a caravan of
bicyclists from the Westside Health Center at 2300 West Broad Street to City
Hall.
“Bicyclists and motorists need to obey all traffic laws and
share the road safely and legally,” said Mayor Coleman. “That’s why we are partnering with ODOT on a
Share the Road public education campaign to give bicyclists and motorists tips
for staying safe on Columbus streets.”
The Share the Road educational campaign will include TV and
radio ads, banners, a billboard, neighborhood events and other educational
materials. Share the Road information is
available online at ShareTheRoad.Columbus.gov.
“The City of Columbus continues to invest in the
infrastructure and amenities that encourage biking and a healthy lifestyle,”
said Councilmember Paley, chair of the Public Service and Transportation
Committee. “Share the Road is an
important message for everyone to keep in mind while on our roadways.”
In 2013, the City is investing $5.1 million in bicycling
facilities to make Columbus more bicycle friendly, including:
• 13 miles of
sharrow pavement markings
• 25 bike
racks
• A third
round of eight bike shelters in Columbus at eight locations
• 3.1 miles
of bike paths
• 3.3 miles
of bike lanes
• 35 bicycle
detector markings at signalized intersections so bicyclists can get a green
light and safely ride through those intersections
• 3 bike
corrals
“As more and more people take to the road on bikes, we want
to ensure paths and roadways in Ohio make biking easy, accessible and safe,”
said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray. “Reminding
motorists that bikes have an equal right to use roads is an important part of
building a ‘share the road’ culture in our state.”
Share the Road is part of the City’s Bicentennial Bikeways
Plan and sponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Share the Road is
also part of a national effort to encourage safety and awareness by improving
bicyclists' and motorists’ knowledge of traffic laws related to bicycles.
“I encourage everyone to hang up your keys and take out your
bike,” said Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long. “Biking more
and driving less is good for your body. It is good for your heart and muscles,
helps you manage your weight, and gives less impact on joints than other types
of exercise. Biking helps prevent overweight and obesity, as well as the health
conditions associated with them. Unfortunately obesity levels are at near
epidemic levels in Columbus and the state of Ohio.”
“All across the region, biking and walking have become
critical components of thriving and healthy neighborhoods,” said William
Murdock, the Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.
“MORPC is a strong proponent of transportation choice because we know that when
bikes, pedestrians, cars, trucks and buses enjoy our roads safely together, we
create communities where people want to live and businesses want to locate and
grow.”
Learn more about the Share the Road campaign at
ShareTheRoad.columbus.gov, connect online at:
Facebook.com/ColumbusPublicService and twitter.com/ColumbusDPS or search for
#ShareTheRoadColumbus.
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