Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition to hold first meeting of the year

David Berenson, Beth Steinberg and Greg Donley (L-R) were among the 35 cyclists who rode to the August 16 Cleveland Heights City Council meeting. The cyclists were supporting the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition's proposal to place sharrows on five roads in Cleveland Heights.

The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition (CHBC) is cycling into its second year with its first quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. at Jimmy O’Neill’s Tavern, 2195 Lee Road.

CHBC wants to give all residents a chance to steer the coalition on a path that will make Cleveland Heights an even better place for bicyclists and for the community as a whole. Those who attend the Jan. 19 meeting can hear about CHBC’s work, provide input and learn about volunteer opportunities to help accelerate progress.

The coalition supports the idea that bicyclists are an indicator of a healthy, vibrant community with a quality of life to attract and retain residents, businesses and visitors. CHBC is working to improve bicycle facilities, encourage more people to ride and educate bicyclists on safe cycling and motorists on sharing the road.

The coalition has worked with the City of Cleveland Heights, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, University Circle Inc., and other government agencies and bicycling organizations on initiatives such as planning for sharrows on Euclid Heights Boulevard and helping four elementary schools launch “Walk or Bike to School Day” programs.

CHBC also encourages people to stop by Jimmy O’Neill’s Tavern before the meeting to buy and enoy supper or a pint and converse with cyclists and the coalition’s current board members, including Mary Dunbar, Nick Matthew, Joy Henderson, Brandon Henneman and Ian Hoffman.

For more information about CHBC, bicycling news and cycling tips, go to www.BikesintheHeights.org, or contact Joy Henderson at Lammerson@sbcglobal.net.

Mary Dunbar is part of the growing collaboration involving bicyclists, residents, government, schools, businesses and others to make Cleveland Heights more bicycle friendly. She is a founding member of CHBC and a retired communications professional. In her spare time, she is breathlessly awaiting feedback on a recently submitted application to list yet another part of Cleveland Heights as an historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.