http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index ... ood_2.html
I'm a little skeptical of spending money on master plans for bikes but I think this time it might be worth the effort. A bicycle freindly City does have advantages.
The path around Lakewood Park has increased the use of the park. People were free to walk arounnd the park before the path was built but for some reason the path makes a difference. A properly designed bike plan should have the same affect City wide.
Here are some free ideas that are worth every penny:
More bike racks.
Make a few North/South streets one way with a dedicated bike lane. Cook one way South and Andrews one way North. Maybe a few others.
A bicylce right of way along the tracks East and West.
Bicycle lanes on Hilliard.
No need for bicycle lanes on Lake but allowing rush hour parking like they do in Cleveland might lessen traffic a bit and make biking safer.
Dead end Webb at Clifton with bike access only.
Clifton
Webb Road and Nicholson as gateway streets to the "arts district" and downtown Lakewood. A little City money for plants and flowers and some financial help with exterior design to give those streets a more welcoming look. Maybe the new County government can divert some of the money they use for the homeless resettlement program for a "bike The City" demonstration project. Since Lakewood is inelligible for County development dollars that's not going to happen but it doesn't hurt to ask.
An expanded cafe district on Madison with new bike lanes and a lot of bike racks and a lot of outdoor dining.
A new centrally located elementary school at Kaufman Park as a YEAR ROUND learning center in partnership with Beck Center, Lakewood Recreation and the Library. Picture a rivitalized park with plenty of bike friendly activities and plenty of bike racks and.
A Lakewood School/Akron University partnership with emphasis on the Senior year in highschool as the first year of college funding by funding education instead of funding raises and early retirement with some money coming from tax dollars now wasted on Tri-C. That doesn't have much to do with biking I thought I'd throw it in anyway.
There are probably a lot of good reason why some people would oppose some or all of those ideas; on the other hand you can get anything accomplished in politics without angering 49% of the people.