BRUNSWICK — Just a week after the death of a local cyclist, the city unveiled a master plan to build up to 25 miles of multipurpose paths in Brunswick.

Andy Comer, a traffic engineer with TMS Engineers Inc. based in Stow, is working with Chagrin Valley Engineers and members of a city steering committee on options to improve conditions for cyclists and walkers in the city. They presented their findings to members of City Council and the public on Tuesday.

James “Jimmy” Chapple, of Brunswick, died July 6, a day after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle on Miner Drive on his way to the gym.

No one has yet been charged in the accident.

His partner of 14 years, Missy Carder, said she is glad to see the city making efforts toward keeping cyclists and pedestrians safer.

“People just don’t pay attention when they’re driving,” Carder said. “I think anything that they do to make cycling safer for people is wonderful.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 716 bicyclists were killed and 52,000 were injured in traffic accidents nationwide in 2008.

At-large Councilman Pat McNamara said Brunswick will apply for grants to cover the construction of paths or to renovate roads to make cycling safer, depending on recommendations from the steering committee composed of residents and city officials.

“In some areas of the city we won’t be able to construct a trail, so we’ll have to use already existing roads,” McNamara said.

He also warned about problems arising from the community as some residents may resist the idea of a bike path running along their backyards.

“A system of off-road trails and paths for primarily recreational use were determined to be the most desired facility by the community. Routes and facilities to connect the commercial districts and schools were the next most sought after facility,” according to the master plan.

The plan outlines optimal roads for the addition of bike lanes, such as Grafton and Laurel roads. It also identified Center and Pearl roads as unfavorable areas to try to add bike paths.

The overall cost of developing the proposed 25.09 mile off-road bicycle network is about $17.6 million.

McNamara said the project could be done in parts, taking as many years as necessary to get grants and other funding to complete it. The most probable starting place would be Towne Center off Center Road, he said.

The master plan could take up to 20 years to be fully implemented, Comer said.

While routes have not been determined, consulting city engineer Ryan Cummins said from any point in a residential area, a pedestrian or cyclist could use all residential roads to get to an entrance point to the off-road pathways.

Another part of the plan would improve signage and other education efforts for drivers and bicyclists. Signs would direct people to the safest bike routes and remind everyone to share the road.

This part of the plan is expected to cost $52,650 for signage on about 9.75 miles of roadway.

Ohio law states drivers must treat bicyclists as any other driver on the road, but Carder said that rarely happens. She said she and Chapple were avid cyclists and would have commuted on their bikes more if they had direct, safer routes to use.

“Every night after work, we would ride our bikes to the grocery store or the video store, and that’s when we would catch up on our day,” she said. “We didn’t want to get hurt. We just wanted to go out and ride our bikes.”

Contact Jennifer Pignolet at (330) 721-4063 or jpignolet@medina-gazette.com.

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