COVINGTON, Ky. — There soon could be more places for people to ride their bikes in two of northern Kentucky’s biggest cities.
Newport has already approved a new bicycle transportation plan, and Covington commissioners will vote Tuesday whether to approve the plan as well. One cyclist behind the plan said it would make for healthier people and safer roads.
Wade Johnston rides his bike everywhere, or at least everywhere he can. And he thinks it would do a lot of good for a lot of people to bike a little bit more themselves.
“Riding a bike is a great way to stay healthy and be active in my daily life, and I find it to be pretty convenient and accessible to ride my bike. But I know I’m a confident cyclist who’s been doing this for a long time,” Johnston said.
Johnston is the executive director of Tri-State Trails, a nonprofit working to connect and expand bike trails and paths in northern Kentucky and greater Cincinnati. With funding from the Devou Good Foundation, Tri-State Trails came up with a comprehensive road map to improve cycling infrastructure in both Newport and Covington.
“Both of these communities are very walkable and dense and urban, and it’s a really easy environment to traverse on a bike if you feel safe doing it,” Johnston said. “What we hear very frequently from the public is: they like riding bikes. They love riding on trails. And in protected bike lanes. But right now, our infrastructure in northern Kentucky is not very well connected.”
Johnston said some of the goals are to connect existing trails and make biking more safe on bridges like the Fourth Street Bridge and Girl Scout Bridge, which both connect Covington to Newport.
On the Girl Scout Bridge, Gloria San Miguel was killed after being hit by a driver while riding a bike, a tragedy that had an influence in developing the plan.
Covington Special Projects Director Elizabeth Wetzel said there are some challenges that come with improving biking infrastructure in the city.
“Our streets are narrow. Parking is limited. And it’s important for our small businesses and our residents that don’t have off street parking. So it’s an interesting puzzle to work through,” she said. “We all welcome it. It’s just a matter of how do we get all of these pieces to fit together, so it works for everybody who lives here and works here and plays here.”
Covington City Manager Ken Smith informed the commission that the plan had few substantive changes since March and stressed the city had wiggle room in how it implemented the plan’s recommendations.
“Nothing in it is guaranteed,” Smith said, “and we will evaluate each thing as it comes along for implementation.”
Johnston said Tri-State Trails recognizes those challenges, as well as the financial burden each city faces to implement infrastructure changes. The group is dedicated to help secure funding.
He said the backbone of a good biking network is there and he’s hopeful to see the day a few more people grab their helmet and not their keys when heading out the door.