If you're out on the town at The Banks, in parts of Over-the-Rhine or downtown and you need a lift home, you may want to consult a map the City of Cincinnati has released.
The city has set up nine rideshare zones in the busiest parts of those locations. If you're hailing a Lyft or Uber there, you'll need to meet your ride in a designated area. If you're a rideshare driver, your app will show you a so-called "geofence" which will direct you to the pick-up and drop-off location you need.
Initially, the idea of corralling rideshare drivers and users into specific zones caused consternation from some who frequent downtown bars and restaurants. Critics didn't like the idea that they might have to walk to the zones from other locations.
But the city clarified the way the zones will work: They're only in effect during certain times and only encompass small parts of downtown. And the city says the largest of the zones is only as big as a city block — meaning it won't be necessary to walk farther than that to meet your ride in any of the zones.
Outside the zones and during off-hours, ridesharing will work as it always has — call a car and it will be able to pick you up at your chosen location.
Cincinnati City Manager Patrick Duhaney says the zones are a way to mitigate safety and traffic concerns caused by busy nights downtown.
"In some of these areas we have witnessed multiple times where people exited in the middle of the street,” Duhaney wrote in a memo. “These designations will ensure passengers have to exit on the sidewalk.”
The zones in Over-the-Rhine will be located here during the following times:
- 12th Street just east of Main Street (11 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- Main Street at 12th Street, east side (11 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- Main Street at 13th Street, west side (11 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- Elm Street just north of Henry Street (Daily, 24/7)
The zones downtown and at The Banks will be located here during the following times:
- East and west sides of Walnut Street between Sixth and Seventh (6:30 p.m.-3 a.m. daily)
- North side of Second Street between Walnut and Main (11 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- North and south sides of Freedom Way between Rosa Parks and Joe Nuxhall Way (1 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday)
The rideshare zone concept, which the city has been phasing in since last summer, emerged out of a joint effort called the Cincinnati Mobility Lab between the city, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Uber, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
Here's a handy map of the zones:
