Cleveland cycling news: West 65 plan, Opening Day ride, Critical Mass and some clinics

CLEVELAND - Making Cleveland a more bikeable community isn’t being done with a broad brush, but rather in small strokes.

“These small planning pieces are coming together,” said Jacob VanSickle executive director of Bike Cleveland.

According to VanSickle, the Detroit Avenue upgrade will begin this spring when the weather breaks. Restriping of the roadway and new signage designating bike lanes from West 25th Street to Lake Avenue will be done by the city.

VanSickle also pointed to a utility project by Cleveland Public Power along Denison Avenue, which eventually will have that street repaved from Ridge Road to Broadview Road. Under Complete and Green Streets, Denison would be striped for bike lanes.

Cleveland’s Complete Streets ordinance requires a certain percentage of money used on street projects to go to cycling and pedestrian set asides.

West 65th Corridor Plan

Planners are looking to add West 65th between Detroit and Denison avenues to the growing number of multi-purpose pathways under the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative.

Seed money from NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency) allowed planners to study to feasible and requirements of a project which, if all elements were included, could cost $5 million.

Among the larger components are an off-road trail, painted “sharrow” lanes and upgrading intersections.

The final public hearing on the project took place earlier this week and now the hard part begins as a search has begun to secure funding.

“Implementation is where we see if things are really moving forward,” VanSickle said.

Speaking of implementation, two trails thatopened recently, the Lakes to Lake Trail from Shaker Heights to Lake Erie and the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge Trail, will have official ribbon cuttings when the weather breaks.

Bike me out to the ballgame

The first one went so well they’re doing it again.

Bob’s Bike Tours is hosting their opening day ride on April 8.

Meet at the West Side Market, ride to League Park then off to the Baseball Heritage Museum in the downtown colonial Arcade and then to 4:05 home opener against the Yankees. Tickets are $50 and include raffle tickets.

Proceeds benefit Cleveland Indians Charities, which include Boys & Girls Clubs and Cleveland Baseball Federation, supplying baseball equipment for kids in the inner-city.
Visit Bob’s Bike Tours’ facebook page or call 440-681-8262.

Critical Mass to the Beer Engine

Friday, Feb. 22 is the final winter Cleveland Critical Mass Ride. Meet on the Square near the Moses Cleaveland statue near the Terminal Tower 6:30 p.m., the ride will depart at 7.

The destination, rain, snow or whatever, will be the Buckeye Beer Engine on Madison Ave. in Lakewood.

Free Bike Clinics

Century Cycles, all three locations, is helping to plow through winter with bike clinics.

The Basic Bike Maintenance clinic is Saturday, Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m, otherwise the others listed below are at 6:30 p.m.

Roadside Repair: February 19
Shifting Adjustment: February 21
Bike Commuting 101: February 26
Preparing For the MS 150 and Other Event Rides: February 28
Riding In Traffic: March 5
Basic Bike Maintenance: March 7

Visit their website for more info

Did I mention they’re free?

If you've let your bike maintenance go after the fall, this is a good time to get service before the weather warms and bike shops are swamped.