Bicycle Transportation Program

The mission of the City of Cincinnati Bicycle Transportation Program is to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Cincinnati, so that persons of all ages and abilities utilize bicycles for all types of trips. We work toward this goal by planning, engineering, and implementing bicycle facilities, and by educating the community about bicycle transportation.

The Bicycle Program has successfully implemented many projects, including striping 7 miles of bicycle lanes, installing over 450 bike racks, creating 12 miles of shared-use paths/trails, posting 23 miles of bicycle routes, upgrading 231 miles of streets with bike friendly stormwater inlets, and installing 2 miles of shared lane markings, or "sharrows."

Cincinnati's Bike Friendly Infrastructure

Bike Lanes
A bike lane is a portion of the roadway which has been designated by striping, signing and pavement markings for the exclusive use of bicyclists. Note the bicycle symbol, the arrow above, and the solid white line to the left of the lane.

Sharrows
Sharrows (shared lane markings) are pavement markings installed within shared travel lanes. Sharrows can be helpful on streets where there is insufficient space to add bicycle lanes. The markings (a bike & chevron) help cyclists position themselves within the lane safely to avoid being squeezed off the road or hit by suddenly opened car doors. Read more about sharrows here.

Wide Curb Lanes
A wide curb lane is a shared lane that is sufficiently wide for motor vehicles to pass bicycles in the same lane without needing to change lanes or crowd the cyclist. There are no pavement markings or striping used to designate wide curb lanes. The recommended travel lane width for shared use by motor vehicles and bicycles is 14 feet.

Bike Routes
A bike route is a shared roadway which has been designated with signing as a preferred route for cyclists. The green bike route signs provide directional information for cyclists and remind motorists that they may see cyclists on the roadway.

Unmarked Shared Roadways
Most streets in Cincinnati that do not include specific bicycle facilities like bike lanes or sharrows are considered "unmarked shared roadways." Such roadways are open to both bicycle and motor vehicle travel, but do not include special pavement markings for bicycles.

Shared-Use Paths/Trails
A shared-use path is a paved path separated from the road for the use of bicyclists, walkers, runners, and in-line skaters. A special green sign indicates the limits of these paths. Some shared-use paths are part of trail systems and will have signage designating them as such. (i.e. the Ohio River Trail).

Share the Road Signage
Share the Road signs are installed on roadways that are preferred routes for cyclists. The signs remind motorists to expect to see cyclists on these roads, and remind both cyclists and motorists to be courteous to one another and share the roadway safely.

Bike Racks
City Staff have recorded over 450 "for-public-use" bike racks throughout the City. These racks can be found at shops, schools, restaurants, libraries, pools, and in many business districts. Please click here for an interactive map showing approximate locations of these recorded bike racks.

In an effort to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Cincinnati, the City currently has established a program to install free sidewalk bike racks where there is a "demonstrated need" and "adequate sidewalk space to physically accommodate a rack without impeding pedestrian traffic". If an adjacent property owner would like the City to evaluate a location within the City's right-of-way for the installation of a new bike rack, please click here.