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The lower deck of the Detroit-Superior Bridge, originally designed for streetcars and now occasionally opened for tours and events, has been identified as a possible avenue for bikes and pedestrians, although the cost and logistical issues would make it a difficult project to pull off.

The money is pouring in for the proposed green makeover of Public Square in downtown Cleveland – nearly half the estimated $30 million cost has been pledged by the Cleveland and Gund foundations.

But when the greening of Public Square is finally completed, one thing we don't want visitors to hear when asking for directions is Northeast Ohio's version of "You can't get there from here."

A recent report commissioned by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance highlights ways to improve the links among downtown areas using bike lanes, walking bridges and other pedestrian-friendly means to address the critical element of the revitalization of the center city.

The remake of downtown Cleveland from Public Square to the Flats to the waterfront to midtown and the Campus District must be accompanied with a comprehensive plan that makes it safer and easier to move about.

Improving connectivity is not just a matter of courtesy to visitors, but also of accommodating the lifestyles of thousands of new arrivals flocking downtown for the experience of urban living.

After Heinen's Fine Foods opens its planned store in the former Ameritrust complex at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue next year, shoppers leaving on foot with grocery bags in both arms should have a less stressful walk back to their apartments.

That's not to say gas-powered transportation should take a back seat. Many people have mobility issues and for them continued free downtown trolley service is vitally important.

Some of the projects cited in the Step Up Downtown report have long been discussed. (The report was prepared for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance by the Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and Progressive Urban Management Associates of Denver.)

One key project is the proposed pedestrian bridge from the Mall to the lakefront that is essential to connecting Public Square and other downtown spots to the lakefront.

Planning and construction of the bridge should be a priority to have it ready for the Republican National Convention in 2016, although a desire for speed should not trump quality.

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Other intriguing recommendations in the report include making streetscape improvements and adding bike lanes to West Third Street so it can be a safe alternative link to the lakefront near FirstEnergy Stadium, as well as sprucing up the roadway beneath the Main Avenue bridge to provide a safe connection between the Warehouse District and the Flats.

The Flats are coming back, at least on the East Side, and it should be easier to get there from other parts of downtown.

The plan also suggests linking the Campus District, with Cleveland State University at its core, to the lakefront by adding directional signs for cyclists to follow and by possibly converting alley-like Rockwell Avenue into a green, bike-friendly corridor.

The addition of green spaces and creative new pathways can be as exciting as the addition of new hotels, residences and visitor attractions downtown. It's been suggested, for instance, that the lower level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge could be dedicated for bike and pedestrian use. A costly proposition but intriguing nonetheless.

Cost will obviously be a factor in determining which projects get done and when, but with money coming into the city from various sources, including a likely 40-year extension of the bed tax, the time to act is now.