Bicycle Friendly Community

Goshen, IN | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: Goshen has a comprehensive, quality bicycle network with connections to several surrounding communities. The Maple City Greenway Trail System started in 1995, and Goshen's elected officials have continued to support the development and maintenance of its trail system. Goshen currently has over 20 miles of shared-use trails in its system with plans for the development of an additional 28 miles. Goshen also has a lively biking community, e.g. there are year-round bike riders, commuters, Amish who ride to work, college students and bike groups. A popular community bicycling event is the Pumpkinvine Bike Ride on an outstanding rails-to-trails project, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. The community also has a Bicycle Parade and a fundraising bike ride for a local advocacy agency for the poor, the Center for Healing and Hope.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: Goshen recently completed the construction of the Shanklin-Millrace Bicycle/Pedestrian Tunnel, which is a safety improvement project to ensure safe passage across SR 119 on the Maple City Greenway Trail System. Prior to construction, trail users found it difficult and often dangerous to cross SR 119 at this mid-block crossing. SR 119 has an average daily traffic of 13,000 vehicles per day, and the Maple City Greenway averages 900 users per day. With Congestion Mitigation Air Quality federal funding through the Indiana Department of Transportation, a below-grade underpass was constructed to allow a safe and efficient crossing for trail users and school children to walk to the nearby middle school.

Most Compelling Community Statistic: Bicycle lanes are repainted every 12-18 months (or earlier if needed) as part of regular street-network maintenance. A more durable paint was introduced in 2010 to help lengthen the life span of each paint application.