April 2024

On Wednesday, April 10th (NEW DATE!) 4 to 6 p.m., the Columbus Department of Public Service will test quick-build, two-way separated bike lanes on E. Broad Street between Franklin Park West and the entrance to Wolfe Park. This one-day, pop-up event is an opportunity for you, other cyclists and those interested in biking more to help evaluate barrier and bike facility types and provide feedback.

You’re invited to come ride with City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla and city transportation planning staff. If you represent and organization, please invite three others to participate. We will meet at Wolfe Park for two ride timeslots —4 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. During each test ride, city staff will lead participants on the 2-mile loop. After each test run, participants will be asked to complete a short survey and provide feedback.

The pop-up test is in advance of a quick-build project for protected bike lanes being installed later this year on E. Broad Street. The city recently was awarded a $1.38 million federal grant to fund demonstration pilot projects that support safety improvements for all roadway users. This test aligns with the goals of the Vision Zero Columbus, Bike Plus, Columbus Climate Action Plan and LinkUS initiatives.

If you have questions, please email me or bikeways@columbus.gov. We look forward to biking with you on April 3!

As a thank you for providing testimony and advocating for the safety of cyclists, pedestrians, and all residents here in Columbus, members of the Yay Bikes! Board of Directors have been invited to participate in a conversation on Mobility and Safety with Councilmember Barroso de Padilla, Council President Hardin, Interim Director Kelly Scocco, Mobility & Parking Division Administrator Justin Goodwin, and other key leaders in our mobility initiatives on April 8th. This discussion will provide an opportunity for us to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore actionable solutions together.

Are you a member of Yay Bikes!? It's free and it strengthens our membership voice at events like this. We currently have over 5,000 members. Join us!

Yay Bikes! sent a letter of support for this project on behalf of our members. This is the letter we received to thank us for our support...

Dear Partners,

Last week we received the exciting news that the LinkUS West Broad Street BRT project received a $42 million Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Capital Construction Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. We were one of only 132 communities who received an award out of 686 total applications. We were also only one of a hand full communities whose projects were featured in an interactive virtual StoryMap that USDOT created to explain the NAE program. That says to me our application perfectly met the intent of the NAE Grant and the more than 150 letters of support you provided last fall had a huge impact on the funding decision by Secretary Buttigieg and the Biden-Harris Administration.

This is a big deal. It will help advance the West Broad Street BRT in a huge way, provides more capacity for future LinkUS projects, and builds major momentum for LinkUS in our community. 

Thanks again for your tremendous support and helping to advance LinkUS.

With deepest appreciation,

Rory McGuiness

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE

“Yay Bikes! influences the conditions that help people safely and comfortably ride bicycles for transportation.” (Organizational Mission)

In early 2024, the Board of Yay Bikes! convened over a series of meetings to identify the vision, strategies, and activities that would guide the organization’s work over the next 1-3 years. The Board understands that Central Ohio sits at a critical hinge point for bike planning, policies, programs, and infrastructure - and we need a coherent, effective, collaborative, and actionable plan to ensure Central Ohio moves in the direction of a safe, accessible, inclusive, comfortable, and connected bike network.

Critically, this work will require robust capacity, deeper partnerships, and richer engagement with the wider community of bikers and potential bikers - especially folks with minoritized lived experiences and folks living in disinvested and low income communities.

Our vision below sets out the future we are building toward → Our strategies are the broad approaches we will utilize to achieve our vision.

VISION

Yay Bikes! is a Central Ohio leader in bike advocacy, education, rides, and events and successfully:

• Advances implementation of safe, comfortable, accessible, and equitable bike infrastructure throughout Central Ohio using a mobility justice lens
• Builds a robust partnership network
• Creates equitable and inclusive opportunities for community outreach and participation

STRATEGIES

• Create/Lead bike rides and bike events throughout Central Ohio.
• Create/Lead equitable educational opportunities for bikers of all types, ages, and skills.
• Create/Implement a short/long range advocacy plan to build and strengthen safe biking networks, infrastructure, programs, policies, and partnerships.
• Create/Implement a communications plan to reach new audiences and improve overall communications and outreach.
• Create/Implement a development strategy to fund staffing and build capacity required for effective organizational operations.
• Grow/Engage/Empower YB board, committees, volunteers, and membership to (1) understand and develop solidarity with disempowered communities and marginalized lived experiences and (2) fully engage in effective advocacy.

Help us achieve our vision by joining a Yay Bikes! Committee! Click here to read committee descriptions and let us know if you're interested.

Unfortunately, our Hilltop ride scheduled in March was cancelled due to lightening. We have rescheduled it for Earth Day! There is a cap of 50 riders (due to insurance requirements), but you can add you name to a waitlist and be notified if someone cancels.

DON'T DELAY REGISTER TODAY!

Yay Bikes! will be partnering with Remember Us Urban Scouts and Black Girls Do Bike to lead a ride for this great event! The ride is scheduled to begin at 4 pm from Genoa Park. Watch our social media accounts for more information!