Beavercreek Residents Brainstorm for Bike Path ; Group Studies Improvements, Development Proposals

BEAVERCREEK — Roger Brislawn, a Beavercreek resident since the early ’50s, is an avid skier and hiker, but bicycling is one of his favorite activities. He has been riding bikes for almost 20 years.

Brislawn is chairman of the Beavercreek Bikeway Advisory Committee, a group appointed by City Council to help promote Beavercreek as a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly community.

Brislawn and the four other committee members meet once a month to study and discuss plans for current and future bikeway and pedestrian improvements. The committee provides comments and suggestions on development proposals. They meet with the chief of the city planning department, Jim Wahl, to provide committee input on these proposals.

One of the committee’s goals is to establish a network of bikeways and pedestrian paths to connect with Creekside Trail, which runs from Dayton through Beavercreek to Xenia. At this time, the city has parking areas located on Dayton-Xenia Road and also at Grange Hall Road.

A future station is planned for North Fairfield Road. Additional parking is available at Angel’s Pass, located off Factory Road.

Brislawn worked on the original Bikeway Plan that started in 1997 and approved in 1999. This plan was for bikeways in Beavercreek. The plan was to upgrade the streets and sidewalks for bikers and walkers for recreational and work purposes.

Since the plan was approved, improvements have been requested on a yearly basis to be included in the city’s Parks and Public Works budget.

Once the recommended network is established, residents will be able to conveniently access the Mall at Fairfield Commons, city parks, Creekside Trail and other locations within Beavercreek, without using their cars.

The city will start posting “Share the Road” signs on the networks this year. Maps will eventually be available for those interested in finding out how to bike or walk to the Creekside Trail and from one area to another in Beavercreek.

Brislawn said the committee will offer an April 18 bike class to citizens of Beavercreek. “The class will teach people how to service and maintain their bicycles.

They will also be shown how to prepare for long bike trips — food, clothing, camping gear, etc.” There will be four sessions taught by a member of the Dayton Cycling Club and committee members.

On June 11, the committee will also sponsor a Bike Rodeo for kindergartners through sixth-graders. The event tests the children’s biking skills and knowledge of safe biking. Free helmets are given to the first 50 participants. Prizes are awarded based on skills shown in their age group.

This event is supported by AAA, Children’s Medical Center, the Beavercreek Fire Department and the Dayton Cycling Club.

There is a bike survey on the city Web site — www.ci.beavercreek.oh.us — which Brislawn is eager for residents to read and complete.

The feedback is necessary for planning for bikeways and pedestrian sidewalk improvements.

Significant results of the survey reveal that 72 percent favor a mandatory helmet law for children 13 and younger. The survey also indicated that with bikeway improvements, such as wider shoulders, the number of residents who would ride their bikes to Creekside Trail, will increase from 36 percent to 66 percent.

For more information, call Roger Brislawn at 426-3253.