Safety Got Worse Before it Got Better on Cincinnati's Central Parkway Bike Lane

The controversy over a protected bike lane along Central Parkway in Cincinnati continues. The latest grist for the mill comes from a report finding that crashes increased in the first complete year of the lane's operation.

1 minute read

August 3, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Central Parkway

A group ride on Central Parkway protected bike lane in Cincinnati. | 5chw4r7z / Flickr

Chris Wetterich reports from Cincinnati: "A new city study of crash data found that the number of car crashes on Central Parkway experienced an uptick after the city installed a controversial protected bikeway along the road in 2014 but has fallen in recent months."

"The total number of crashes in 2012 along the road from Liberty to Linn streets was 57 compared with 62 in 2015," according to Wetterich, though for "the first four months of 2016, the number of crashes – 14 – has decreased compared to the same periods in 2015 and 2012, when there were 19 and 17, respectively."

The Central Parkway bike lane project inspired controversy, right up until it opened, as Planetizen documented in October and April of 2014. According to Wetterich, the controversy continues, though a majority of the Cincinnati City Council wants to keep the bike lanes.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016 in Cincinnati Business Courier

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

19 minutes ago - Newsweek

Close-up on woman in white and blue striped knee-length dress standing next to mint green cruiser bike resting against low wrought iron fence in front of green lawn.

Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.

1 hour ago - domus

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

2 hours ago - Greater Good Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.