Clifton Ave Two-Way Protected Bike Lane
What is it?
The Clifton Avenue two-way protected bike lane is a wide bike lane designed for cyclists to ride in both directions on the same side of the street. This design is ideal for locations like Clifton Avenue where one side of the street has significantly fewer conflicts such as driveways and cross streets. The bike lane is protected from traffic by parked cars, heavy parking blocks, and delineator posts.
The protected bike lane extends from Straight Street to Ludlow Avenue, and was a pilot project coordinated by the City of Cincinnati, Clifton Town Meeting, the Devou Good Foundation, Tri-State Trails, Metro, and UC.
Why was it installed?
The pilot project was conducted at the request of the Clifton Town Meeting. They believed the protected bike lane provided a safer, more comfortable experience for bicyclists of all ages and abilities that are riding on Clifton Avenue. The pilot project was funded by the Devou Good Foundation. The project was made permanent by a motion of Cincinnati City Council in October 2021.
How to use it
Bikes: Ride to the right of the bike lane, and only use the left lane to pass. Slow down and look both ways before crossing an intersection or driveway. Northbound bikes should wait patiently behind buses while passengers are loading. Southbound bikes should stop if they see an oncoming bus merging into the bike lane. Wait until the bus has fully merged back into the traffic lane before continuing southbound.
Motorists: Stay in the travel lane unless you are parking. Park in the lane next to the bike lane – do not park in the bike lane. Parking meters and kiosks are still in effect, so make sure to pay before leaving the area. Use caution and look for bicyclists before turning across the bike lane at Clifton Court and Martin Luther King Drive.
Pedestrians: Stay on the sidewalk unless you are entering a parked car.
Metro Users: Wait on the sidewalk at the bus stop until your bus arrives. The bus will pull into the bike lane and over to the sidewalk to pick you up.