THE PEOPLE TRAILS ARE THE SIGNATURE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES IN COLUMBUS

The People Trail network, a subset of the overall bicycle and pedestrian network, consists of family-friendly, low-stress recreational routes and loops throughout the city.

People Trails meet the following criteria:

Comprised of only shared use paths .

Constructed and maintained to the highest safety standards .

Uninterrupted or minimally interrupted movement .

High level aesthetics .

Well-connected to community destinations and amenities .

Maintained to high standards by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department .

Designed and upgraded to accommodate bi-directional bicycle and pedestrian traffic .

THE COLUMBUS BICYCLE NETWORK IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR USERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

The proposed bicycle network includes a system of on- and off-street facilities that provide varying levels of separation from motor vehicle traffic, intended to accommodate bicyclists of varying skills and comfort levels. The bicycle network reflects that our community is comprised of bicyclists of differing and changing skills, and it recognizes that not every bicycle facility in the network will serve every bicyclist in the community. Therefore, the overall proposed bicycle network contains within it smaller systems of existing and proposed facilities that communicate to bicyclists where they will feel most comfortable and how they should plan their routes.

The overall bicycle network is the complete system of bicycle facilities and includes off-street facilities, as well as a system of on-street facilities intended to serve confident bicyclists who are comfortable and/or prefer sharing the street with motor vehicle traffic or riding in bicycle lanes. The low-stress bicycle network is a subset of the larger, overall bicycle network; it consists of bicycle facilities that provide physical separation from motor vehicle traffic. The low-stress network includes comfortable facilities that serve all types of bicyclists in Columbus. The People Trail network, the smallest system of bicycle facilities, is the signature family-friendly recreational system, also serving pedestrians, providing comfortable access to amenities and key destinations throughout the community. The People Trail network consists only of select shared use paths. This nested approach to the bicycle network is illustrated below.

Diagram Of Bicycle Network Subsets

Overall Bicycle Network

The complete network of bicycle facilities in Columbus

LOW-STRESS BICYCLE NETWORK

A subset of the overall bicycle and pedestrian network consisting of low-stress bicycle facilities that meet the needs of inexperienced bicyclists and the “Interested but Concerned” user group.

The smallest subset of the overall bicycle network, serving both bicyclists and pedestrians, consisting of family-friendly recreational routes and loops.

People Trail Map

The People Trail is envisioned by this plan as a system-within-the-system; a subset of the overall bicycle and pedestrian network. This map identifies the existing and proposed sections of Columbus’ bicycle and pedestrian system that comprise the People Trail network. The map also identifies existing neighborhood bicycle routes that, while not part of the People Trail, close loops and connect segments of the People Trail network.

The proposed trailheads identified on this map will serve as designated public access points to the People Trail and/or as significant wayfinding markers along the trail. Many of the proposed trailheads are located in existing and proposed parks, where users would have access to existing amenities and can easily begin or end their journeys.

In Columbus, all trailheads should include the following wayfinding features:

Rules and etiquette of the People Trail and of the complete bicycle and pedestrian network .

Distance and directional information to key destinations .

Wherever possible, trailheads should include the following amenities which will enhance their function as a gateway to the People Trail network:

Maps of the People Trail network and of the complete bicycle and pedestrian network . .

Parking Areas

Trash Receptacles .

Bicycle Racks .

Bicycle Repair Station .

Lighting .

Seating (benches, picnic tables, etc.) .

Drinking Fountains .

Restrooms .

Landscaping .

PROPOSED TRAILHEAD

PEOPLE TRAIL (EXISTING / PROPOSED)

EXISTING BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN FACILITY PROPOSED AS A FUTURE PEOPLE TRAIL

NEIGHBORHOOD BICYCLE ROUTES THAT CONNECT SEGMENTS OF THE PEOPLE TRAIL NETWORK