MANSFIELD, Ohio – The local bicycle advocacy group Richland Moves! has been working behind the scenes to extend the bike route to downtown Mansfield streets, including raising funds for the project through a grant from Richland Public Health.
The group formed a steering committee earlier this year to generate a feasible bike loop. The bike loop would run from the north end of the city in North Lake Park to Woodland, then to the central part of downtown. The map below shows the group’s final draft, which they will propose to city council in the near future, according to Nelson Shogren, Chair of Richland Moves!
On Feb. 26, this proposed bike loop in Mansfield was approved for feasibility and practicality by Mansfield’s City Engineer Robert Bianchi.
“We’re starting to get serious with what we do. We rode all over Mansfield last fall to scout out the best routes,” said Shogren.
The group met originally with Mayor Tim Theaker and Bianchi in January to discuss the proposed route’s feasibility. Theaker said he is excited about the project.
“It’s going to be a nice thing to do. It’s a good, healthy project. I think it’s very important to be active, to be proactive to improve your health,” said Theaker.
Theaker has a daughter who lives in Amsterdam. He and his wife went to visit her earlier this year and they noticed the level of bike friendliness in the foreign city. “The number one priority there is bicycles, then pedestrians, then cars.”
However, he said, due to Mansfield’s lack of funds, Richland Moves! is responsible for their own fundraising. Shogren said the project’s cost would be under $10,000. He cited Ashland as a city that completed a similar project with a wellness grant for $2,000 from Samaritan Hospital and volunteers. Marion completed a similar project with a Robert Woods Johnson wellness grant, volunteers and donated metal posts.
The amount of the grant from Richland Public Health depends on the cost of the materials and labor for the project. Shogren said the labor might be donated through the Ohio Contractor’s Association this summer.
The group is also working on building bike racks. Spokesman Joshua Werner of a sub-committee within Richland Moves! stated they are in the targeting phase, in which they are searching for possible locations for an inverted U-shaped bike rack. Pioneer Career and Technology Center is helping with the construction of the bike racks.
In addition to having a marked route, the bike loop will also include wayfinding signs – specific signs that point bikers to significant landmarks in Mansfield. Shogren said the signs will be placed strategically along the route to stimulate business.
“It’s important to increase the economic vitality of Mansfield’s downtown area by creating access. The purpose of having a marked route on the street is to let motorists know bikers are out. It also lets cyclists know that it’s okay to ride here because it’s designated,” explained Shogren.
The most critical component to this project, said Shogren, is education.
“We want to educate the public that bikes have the right to share the road with motorists, buses and trucks. This should open that awareness,” he said.
The next step in the process of implementing the proposed bike loop is setting a presentation to Mansfield’s city council. Shogren said this is planned for the near future.
Richland Moves!’s meetings are open to the public. Anyone interested in getting involved with their efforts are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings. The next one will be Tuesday, April 7 in Richland County Public Library on the first floor’s community center at 6 p.m. To follow the group’s efforts, visit their Facebook page.
