Cincinnati's Central Parkway Bikeway hasn't made the thoroughfare any more dangerous than similar streets without lanes, a study has found.
A memo written today by Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black detailed results of a study by the city's transportation department revealing that the stretch of Central Parkway that includes the city's controversial bike lane has had no more accidents than comparable streets without lanes.
"Changing any street from full-time parking to rush-hour restricted parking does require an adjustment in drivers’ behavior and expectations," the memo reads. "However, the number of crashes between the 1600 block and the 2000 block of Central Parkway (Liberty Street to Ravine Street) is comparable to similar streets citywide."
The study compared the stretch of Central Parkway with the lanes to Glenway Avenue between Rapid Run Road and Gilsey Avenue and Hamilton Avenue between Spring Grove Avenue and Bruce Avenue. Central Parkway had seven parked-car crashes and 62 total accidents in 2015, according to the study. Glenway had 13 parked car crashes and 91 total crashes. Hamilton Avenue had seven parked car crashes and 51 total crashes.
Controversy has raged over the lanes since they were first proposed in 2012. A pitched battle over parking along Central Parkway led to a $100,000 compromise that re-routed the lane around parking in front of the Mohawk Building along the sidewalk. Since that time, there have been complaints about a large number of car accidents along the route.
Last month, Cincinnati City Councilman Christopher Smitherman introduced a motion calling for removal of the lanes, citing citizen complaints about safety. Meanwhile, community councils in Over-the-Rhine and Clifton have come out in support of the lanes and have asked that they be extended.
The memo recommends that the lanes stay in place.
“Given the reduced risk of injury to bicyclists, the administration does not recommend removal of the bike lanes,” the memo reads. “However, DOTE will continue to monitor conditions, and improvements may be made in the future as best practices evolve.”
UPDATE: City administration has since pulled the report, saying it was released prematurely.
"The report in response to Council Motion No. 2016000342 was issued prematurely and has been recalled," according to a statement issued by City of Cincinnati Director of Communications Rocky Merz. "Before being presented to the City Manager for review, the item was not fully vetted and has not undergone a complete administrative review. We are working swiftly to respond to the City Council motion and the report will be re-issued once all necessary review and consideration has occurred."
You can still find the original report here.
Vice Mayor David Mann isn't too happy about the report being pulled, according to Cincinnati Business Courier reporter Chris Wetterich.
"I believe that report on the bike lane is one of the best reports I’ve seen because it’s evidence based," Wetterich reported Mann saying.
