More OBF News

Safer three foot passing bill

Our Safer Passing Bill (S.B. No. 174) is now before the Ohio Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Our sponsor, Senator Teresa Fedor of Toledo, made her sponsor testimony before the committee on December 8, 2009. The three-foot passing clearance requirement was one of several OBF proposals which were given to Senator Fedor during a May ride with Fedor and Wagoner from Toledo to Columbus. (12/12/09)

OBF participated in OTEC 2009

OBF Board Members Tricia Kovacs, Don Burrell, Andy Davis, Dan Carrigan, and Steve Magas represented OBF by making presentations during the October 27 and 28, 2009, Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC) at the Columbus Convention Center. (9/09)

Senator Fedor Announced Bike Safety Bill after Bike Tour

OBF Chair Chuck Smith completed a bicycle tour from Toledo to the statehouse in Columbus with Senator Teresa Fedor of Toledo on Sunday. Upon arrival at the statehouse, Sen. Fedor announced her intention to introduce a bill based upon eight key proposals approved by the OBF board during our Earth Day meeting at Lake Farm Park in Kirtland. The proposals, which can be viewed here, will go to the Ohio Department of Public Safety for their approval before introduction.

Smith was interviewed Wednesday morning by Bill Cohen of the Statehouse News Service concerning a proposal to require motorists to leave a three foot clearance when passing bicyclists. The interview may be heard here. 5/9

The bill was introduced by State Senator Teresa Fedor on September 28 into the Ohio Senate. On the same day, OBF President Chuck Smith was interview by Jo Engles of Ohio Public Radio. The interview may be heard here.

To purchase a jersey or tee shirt advocating "3 Feet Please" visit this site. (10/09)

Don Burrell Elected to TransportationMATTERS Board

OBF Board Member Don Burrell has been elected to serve on the TransportationMATTERS Board of Directors. In addition to serving on the OBF Board for over 20 years, Burrell is a transportation professional. He has been the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Metropolitan Planning Office staff member assigned to Cincinnati Area bicycling for over 30 years.

TransportationMATTERS is a new organization created by leading individuals and organizations in Ohio transportation. The OBF joined TransportationMATTERS early this year.

OBF Chair Chuck Smith nominated Burrell for the Transportation MATTERS Board. 5/23/09

Chuck Smith was interviewed by station WDTN

Chuck spent a few seconds on camera talking about how he has commuted to work by bicycle the past 20 years.

Steve Hardwick participates in Radio Panel Discussions

On June 19 and on August 14, 2008, OBF at-large representative Steve Hardwick participated in radio panel discussions on the topic "Bicycling in Central Ohio." The discussion took place on Fred Andrle's award-winning morning local talk program on Columbus's NPR station WOSU. Other panelists were Columbus City Council Member Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Principal Planner for Bikeways Bernice Cage, and Columbus Outdoor Pursuits Board Member Deborah Evans. You can listen to an MP3 broadcast of the first discussion.

The 2008 LAB National Bike Summit

A delegation from Ohio attends the the 2008 League Summit in Washington D.C....more

Legislation for Better Bicycling in Ohio, Part 2

The OBF submitted (through Reps. Setzer and Miller) House Bill 390 to the Ohio House on November 7, 2007. Representative Arlene Setzer of Vandalia introduced the bill into the House Infrastructure... 1/25/8

Thanks for buying 1,805 Share the Road License Plates in 2007!

Plate sales continue to fund publication of the booklet, Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts. We also appreciate your license plate renewals, as they count the same as new plate sales.

Cycling Forum on WMUB Radio

On July 13, 2007, a discussion about cycling was broadcast on WMUB Radio in Oxford, Ohio. The guests were Chuck Smith, Chair of the Ohio Bicycle Federation; Doug Hamilton, Owner of BikeWise in Oxford; and avid cyclists Carrie Wilson and John Hofmann.

(The audio files have been removed from the WMUB Website and are no longer available.)

Underground Railroad Bicycle Route Passes through Ohio

A travel article published by USA Today featured the Adventure Cycling Association's new Underground Railroad Bicycle Route from Mobile, Ala. to Owen Sound, Ontario. The route goes through Ohio from the SW to the NE, and the article happened to feature a rear view of OBF president Chuck Smith near Xenia as he rode a local portion of the trail.

Thanks for buying 1,546 Share the Road License Plates in 2006!

Plate sales continue to fund publication of the booklet, Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts. And we appreciate your license plate renewals, as they count the same as new plate sales.

Legislation for Better Bicycling in Ohio takes effect

Our bill for better bicycling in Ohio, House Bill 389, was signed by Gov. Taft on June 17, 2006, and went into effect... 9/20/6

Two new manuals at ODOT

Heather Bowden, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator with ODOT, has announced the availability of two new manuals, ODOT Design Guidance for Independent Bicycle Facilities, and ODOT Design Guidance for Roadway-Based Bicycle Facilities. These are available on-line as Microsoft Word documents including directions for retrieving them.

Additional comments, criticism, overlooked items can be sent to Heather Bowden. 12/2/5

Pres. Chuck Smith Featured in story

Our own OBF President Chuck Smith was featured in the October 16 issue of the Dayton Daily News concerning his routine bike commuting activity. 12/1/5

Senate Bill 158: Ohio Right of Way

By Pete Precario

Update: On February 28 OBF Chair Chuck Smith and Secretary Mike Abrams testified in support of HB 388, the companion bill to SB 158, before the Ohio House Transportation, Public Service, and Homeland Security Committee. 2/28/06

Over the past few months, the Ohio Bicycle Federation has been working as part of a coalition whose purpose is to help make the "right-of-way" safer for motorcycles, bicyclists, and... 9/13/05

European Public Policies

An article appearing in Governing Magazine contrasts our public policies regarding bicycling with those of Europe, where many more people than here routinely and safely ride bicycles. Enlightened public transportation policies make it work. Read the article here. 10/15/5

Ed Honton Dies

On the morning of October 12, 2005, Ed Honton, a longtime friend of bicycling in Ohio, passed away peacefully after a long fight with leukemia.

Ed has a long list of accomplishments. He was the first Ohio Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. Ed was instrumental in pushing for the first cross-Ohio bicycle route, the Cardinal Trail. He also founded the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund and tirelessly pushed the trail toward completion. Ed was co-founder of the Ohio Bicycle Federation. Ed received the OBF Horace Huffman Award in 2000 for his outstanding promotion of bicycling for recreation and transportation. Ed participated in the first OBF Bicycling Awareness Day in the Ohio State Capitol Atrium in February, 2000. He rode his bicycle 18 miles roundtrip for treatment in his fight to overcome prostate cancer. Ed was a League of American Bicyclists Effective Cycling Instructor, and is listed in the credits of the League's Effective Cycling video.

Ed had an enthusiasm for bicycling which was contagious. He will live on in the hearts and minds of those of us lucky enough to have known him.

In tribute to his accomplishments, Ed's family requests donations be sent to 10/16/5

The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund
PO Box 21246
Columbus, Ohio 43221

Archival material