Bicycling-related news from here and there around the heartland:
Kansas:
- Salina bicyclist Giang Ta of Salina, Kansas was hit by a car and injured on May 2nd. The motorist was ticketed for inattentive driving.
- The El Dorodo Times has coverage of last weekend’s Great Escape Bike Ride.
- Micah learned that Hills make you strong, wind makes you mean, and gravel makes you patient.
- An editorial in the Topeka Capital-Journal asks drivers to watch out for bicycles.
Arkansas:
- The National Trails Symposium is coming to Little Rock in November, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help make the event a success for the state.
Colorado:
- A motorist-cyclist conflict in Woody Creek, Colorado leads to a disorderly conduct charge for the cyclist, and an unsafe passing citation for the motorist.
- Allen Overton suffers from multiple sclerosis, but that doesn’t stop him. He’s riding his recumbent three-wheeled hand cycle from Longmont, Colorado to Illinois, planning to cycle 100 miles every day. “If you have MS, it doesn’t mean you can’t be healthy,” he said.
- Bicycling is dangerous in Greeley, Colorado, “home to hundreds, if not thousands, of the 8-mile-per-gallon behemoths we call Chevy Suburbans or Ford F-350s. Biking in Greeley is dangerous because nearly no one — outside of basic transportation necessity — does it.”
- Tim Blumenthal hopes to showcase bicycling at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this August.
- The death of Denver cyclist Shahram Moghadamnia, who was killed on April 19th, is leading to calls for improvements to West 32nd in Denver, a popular route for cyclists heading to Lookout Mountain and other rides in the Golden area.
- TransAmerica cyclists helping Ordway, Colorado “Trail Angel” Gillian Hoggard after her home was destroyed by a wildfire in April.
Iowa:
- A group Iowa cyclists is raising money for clean water in their Waters of Hope tour around the state.
- The Des Moines Register features a profile of bike shop owner Kyle Robinson of Kyle’s Bikes in Ankeny, Iowa.
Missouri:
- Bikes, Buses and Feet – How to Make Alternatives to the Car Work for Kansas City from CampKC.
- Columbia, Missouri cyclist Judy Knudson travels to New York to ride as a marshal in the Five Boro Bike Tour. Knudson is one of the founders of Bike, Walk and Wheel Week in Columbia.
- In Columbia, Missouri, GetAboutColumbia gives away 100 free bicycles at the 7th annual Cycle Recycle.
Nebraska:
- 22-year-old Bryan Backhaus, co-owner of Bike Pedalers in Lincoln, died suddenly after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Bryan’s mysterious death leaves behind a grieving family and many unanswered questions. Friends from the shop are putting together a Ride for Bryan.
- Newly bicycle-friendly Omaha, Nebraska is adding bike racks to Metro Area Transit buses.
Oklahoma:
- John Paul Miller, the caretaker at Ron Stephens Stadium in Lawton, Oklahoma, rebuilds bicycles in his spare time, and has given away hundreds of them, mostly to children.
