Hueston Woods State Park Bikeway Feasibility Study

Abstract

Study of the potential for implementing a public bikeway in Hueston Woods State Park. The study looks at the physical, legal, and social trailblocks present for the park and in light of these obstacles, considers the cost/benefit of various bikeway options.

Executive Summary - - First-year graduate students in the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability at Miami University worked with Hueston Woods State Park in Butler County, Ohio to explore the feasibility of adding a bikeway at the park. The park offers a wide variety of amenities and attractions, but doesn’t offer a path for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel along the Main Loop Road from one end of the park to the other. After exploring the associated environmental regulations, public opinions, related barriers, engineering concerns and financial costs, the team recommended that the park not construct a bikeway, but instead add shared lanes signage and a bicycle education program. This alternative has minimal cost, can be implemented more immediately, and causes little environmental impact. However, if Main Loop Road is reconstructed, the project team recommends incorporating a paved shoulder into the roadway. Some additional recommendations include exploring bikeway options within the park but away from Main Loop Road, considering whether connection to other pathways outside the park are possible, and gathering further public input to determine if a new pathway is desired.