wellness
Cycling Routes Safe for Families and Beginners Expand Across Columbus Parks
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department added new markings and barriers on several trails this spring to reduce vehicle conflicts for young riders.
How we reported this
Columbus Recreation and Parks opened three new segments of protected bike lanes on the Scioto Greenway Trail on June 15, giving families direct access from the Arena District to the riverfront without crossing busy streets.
City data show that trail use jumped 28 percent last summer compared with 2024, and department staff say the increase came mostly from households with children under 12 looking for flat, low-traffic routes. The timing matters because school is out and many parents want outdoor activity that does not require driving to distant state parks.
One of the newest additions runs along the west bank of the Scioto River between Rich Street and the Main Street bridge, where orange bollards now separate the path from two-way traffic. A second route starts at Goodale Park and follows the Olentangy Trail south for three miles to the Dodridge Street underpass, where riders can loop back on a newly paved spur through Harrison West. The department partnered with the local advocacy group Bike Powell to install wayfinding signs every half-mile that list distances and surface conditions.
Trail conditions and costs
Maintenance records released last month list 47 miles of paved multi-use paths inside city limits, with 12 miles rated as beginner-friendly because they have grades under 3 percent and no street crossings rated above local-road speed. A day pass for the city’s bike-share fleet costs $8, while a family of four can rent two adult and two child helmets plus a tag-along bike for $35 at the Franklinton Cycle Works shop on West Broad Street. The shop also runs a free Saturday morning skills clinic at 9 a.m. through August 30 for riders who have never ridden in traffic.
Users who want to avoid peak heat can start before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.; the Recreation and Parks website posts real-time trail camera feeds that show shade coverage and any temporary closures. Riders should carry water, since only two of the new segments have working fountains this season.
Next steps for families
Parents can download the free “Columbus Trails” map from the city site and plot loops that stay under five miles. The next public input session on further route expansions is scheduled for July 22 at the Driving Park Library branch.