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Councilwoman wants bike trail in Monroe

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 1:21 AM Monday, February 8, 2010

MONROE — One member of the Monroe City Council is seeking to improve connections between neighborhoods.

Councilwoman Suzi Rubin says she’d like to have a bike trail in the city as part of the Great Miami River Recreation Trail System in Butler and Warren counties.

“There have been a couple of attempts to try and do something off and on, but it’s a pretty big challenge and it takes some money. If we can get some grants that might be helpful,” she said.

“The real problem is getting across Ohio 63 and getting across Ohio 4. That’s going to take a bridge or something like that. At least if we can connect in with the trail, that’s a good start. Ideally, it would be nice to do both of them at some point.”

Rubin, who recently was appointed to represent the city on the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, asked fellow council members to provide her with feedback about the path. The group is a council of local governments, business organizations and community groups committed to developing collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life and the economic vitality of the region.

Councilwoman Lora Stillman weighed in on the subject immediately.

“If you can get a grant, go for it,” she told Rubin during a recent council meeting.

Right now, Rubin said, youths can ride their bikes around the city, but some areas aren’t safe for bicyclists.

“Ohio 4 and Ohio 63 and Todhunter Road, those are not very bike friendly. If we could have a way for kids to even get from neighborhood to neighborhood or get to the school or whatever, we’re not looking for something huge,” she said.

“I’m really just exploring it right now to see what it would take to do.”

Bike trails were long-term goals set in the city’s 1995 or 1997 Comprehensive Plan.

Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Anna Hale said she supports the idea if the city can get grant funds to build local bikeways in the community.

“It’s probably going to be a costly thing to hook into the Great Miami River Recreation Trail,” she said.

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