COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After being forced to lay off employees, close recreation centers and cancel yard waste pick-up, the City of Columbus has a 2010 budget that is up 6.7 percent.
With income tax increasing .5 percent, projects that were cut or put on hold are coming back.
One project that was on hold is the creation of miles of bike paths.
Two years ago, Mayor Michael Coleman announced that Columbus was going to become a bike-friendly city.
A study suggested adding more bike trails, better signage and more bike racks. But much of the project has been halted.
"I wouldn't say I am disappointed so much as -- just sort of business as usual," said Michael Patrick O'Shaughnessy.
Jeff Stephens with Consider Biking, a bike-advocacy group, said the pieces are in place. They just need the funding.
"Frankly, world-class cities have world-class ways to move people about and cycling is going to be a critical one in the coming years," Stephens said.
Columbus assistant director of public service Rick Tilton said that since the city is not making money, many of the major bike projects have not materialized.
But, the city, with the help from The Ohio Department of Transportation, has been able to put up 'Share the Road' signs and hopes to be in share rows on High Street in the spring.
Until more income comes into the city many of the projects like adding connecting bike trails will be racked.
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