A strengthened bike advocacy movement in Columbus is causing a 'mind shift' that will ensure biking, walking and transit are an integral part of the city's transportation grid. Consider Biking reports that it worked with Columbus city council to pass a Complete Streets resolution (a nice warm-up to legislation). While bike planners in Cleveland have drafted a similar resolution, it has yet to be considered.

A pair of public meetings tonight begin to shape the future for two of Cleveland’s prime destinations: The Flats and University Circle.

First, Ohio Canal Corridor and the City of Cleveland will introduce the Canal Basin District Plan. The focus of the plan is on “connections”—trail, bikeway, public transit and pedestrian boardwalks—to and from a new 21-acre urban park at the last oxbow in the river with major redevelopment activity in the Flats. Canal Basin Park will serve as the destination or jump off point for the Towpath Trail, but beyond that goal, how it integrates with the boardwalk along the river to Flats East Bank and to public spaces in and around the Flats and Cuyahoga Riverfront are still up for discussion.

Going on at the same time, uptown, is the continuation of plans to find a higher purpose for the sea of surface parking lots along Mayfield Road—the main artery connecting Little Italy and University Circle. Last year, an arts and retail village idea was floated along with RTA’s plans to move a Rapid Transit station to Mayfield and E. 119th (from its current location at E. 120th). Tonight’s meeting will introduce the city’s streetscape planning project for this stretch, begin to analyze traffic circulation and set goals to improve pedestrian friendliness.

• Google Maps is launching a new feature to promote walking in urban areas:
  

  Starting today, you can tell Google Maps that you want walking directions, and we'll try to find you a route that's direct, flat, and uses pedestrian pathways when we know about them. Just get directions as you normally would. If you're going 10 km or less (some call this 6.2 miles), we'll show you a link that you can click to get "Walking" directions.

• The Cleveland Clinic is launching a farmer’s market this week. They explain:
  

  The Fairfax/Hough neighborhoods surrounding the Clinic are "food deserts," meaning healthy, fresh food options are hard to find. This market will help alleviate the draught and bring us closer to our neighbors. We've also formed a relationship with Cleveland Foodbank to support their efforts to end hunger and bring healthy foods to families in need thanks to the market. And AVI Food Systems, a Cleveland Clinic food service provider, has committed to purchase any perishable items that remain unsold at the end of the market (to) use in the Clinic’s cafeteria.

• Green building reaches its full potential when we reuse an existing building. On August 7, the Cleveland Green Building Coalition hosts a LEED-EB technical workshop: The ‘EB’ stands for Existing Building. Learn how to evaluate already inhabited buildings for energy efficiency and to achieve LEED-certification.
• Food & Water Watch have sent an activist alert opposing a new rule in Ohio that restricts "rBGH-Free" (a type of bovine growth hormone) labels from appearing on milk containers.
  
  

Location(s)

This highly interactive meeting is open for all community stakeholders to attend and share their thoughts to kick-off the streetscape planning project along Mayfield Road from the Cleveland city line to Euclid Avenue. A study comissioned UCI, Little Italy Redevelopment Corp. and NOACA will analyze traffic circulation, improve pedestrian-friendliness, investigate development opportunities and enhance the quality of life within the Mayfield Road Corridor.

This first community meeting will focus on understanding the Mayfield Road Corridor district, and the purpose of this meeting will be to inform the community about this TLCI process, stimulate thinking about issues and opportunities within the study area and engage in meaningful discussions with stakeholders about their goals, priorities and ideas.

For more information on getting to University Circle, please visit the “Get Here” page at www.universitycircle.org. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Bongorno at 216-791-3900.

Location(s)

 Take steps to fight diabetes. This 4-mile fundraising walk around downtown Cleveland supports the American Diabetes Association's mission to find a cure. 

Register and funraise here.  

Location(s)

Big Creek Trail and Neighborhood Connector Plan
Public Meeting

The City of Brooklyn and project partners are seeking public input on the Big Creek Trail and Neighborhood Connector Plan. The study will develop preferred alignments for a three mile all-purpose trail expansion through the city that will seek to connect the Metroparks Zoo and Brookside Reservation to the Big Creek Reservation south of Brookpark Road. It will examine connecting parks, neighborhoods, civic and commercial areas throughout the city while identifying opportunities for interpretive exhibits and ecological restoration.

The $75,000 study is being funded by a $60,000 Federal Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative grant program administered through the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency with local matches from the cities of Brooklyn, Cleveland and Parma, Cleveland Metroparks, and Friends of Big Creek.

The meeting starts at 6:30 PM at Brooklyn City Hall, 7619 Memphis Avenue. For more information contact Donna Thompson, City of Brooklyn at 216-635-4224 or visit < www.friendsofbigcreek.org >.

Big Creek Trail and Neighborhood Connector Plan
Public Meeting

Wednesday, June 25th
6:30 pm

Brooklyn City Hall
7619 Memphis Avenue
Brooklyn, Ohio 44144

Location(s)

Join the CWRU community for a discussion related to the Western Reserve Studies Symposium (WRSS) on "The Livable City and its Neighborhoods" Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the university's involvement in the the revitalization efforts taking place in several Cleveland neighborhoods: Buckeye, Detroit Shoreway, Fairfax, Glenville, Slavic Village and Tremont. The discussion is related to the Regionally Speaking virtual symposium. Free. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP via e-mail to latisha.james@case.edu

Over the next few months, the City of Cleveland Heights is conducting a comprehensive study of the Cedar-Fairmount District in order to enhance the mixed-use nature of the area. By analyzing existing traffic patterns and current street and sidewalk conditions, the study will focus on managing and calming vehicular traffic, maximizing parking opportunities and creating a compelling streetscape that fosters activity and vitality for pedestrians and business owners in the district.

Cycling advocates in the Heights are also looking for support to make Cedar-Fairmount more bike friendly. If you are a cyclist and want to improve the ride conditions through Cedar-Fairmount, express yourself in a survey here and at a public meeting on June 5.

Location(s)

Cleveland Heights is conducting a comprehensive study of the Cedar-Fairmount District in order to enhance the mixed-use nature of the area. By analyzing existing traffic patterns and current street and sidewalk conditions, the study will focus on managing and calming vehicular traffic, maximizing parking opportunities and creating a compelling streetscape that fosters activity and vitality for pedestrians and business owners in the district.

Get an overview and give your input.

Location(s)

HOW MANY DAYS CAN YOU AVOID COMMUTING ALONE, DURING THE WEEKS OF July 20th – August 2nd?

Carpool - Find a partner, even for just 1 day a week, using our free service at www.OhioRideshare.org.

Bike To Work and To Do Errands - View or print a FREE county bike route map at www.noaca.org/bikemaps.html

Ride the Bus - Visit www.noaca.org/cc2008.html for all the regional transit links Walk - No additional equipment needed!

Telecommute (Work from Home) - First time? This is a good week to try it!

Compressed Work-Week - Work four 10-hour days and take a day off!

Please share your commute story at www.noaca.org/cc2008.html and we will calculate the emissions you saved as a region!

Commuter Challenge 2008 is brought to you by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s Air Quality Programs, Rideshare Program, and Bicycle Planning. NOACA is a regional transportation and environmental planning agency. For more info call (216) 241-2414 ext. 252 or 373.