Bicycling-related news from our little region of the world:
Kansas:
- In Winona, a 4-year-old boy is killed riding his bicycle, driver of semi doesn’t stop, Sheriff refuses to call it a hit-and-run: “Driver may not know he hit the boy.” Good grief.
- In Fort Scott, a woman was hit by a vehicle coming from behind her, but wearing a helmet may have saved her life. Driver was “blinded by a slight curve in the road”. The article doesn’t say if the driver was charged, but instead discusses bicycle safety. Must be OK to run someone over if you can’t see where you’re going, but are driving anyway…
- A new blog from Andrew Hartsock, published in the Lawrence Journal-World. First post: Confessions of an (expletive deleted)
- A profile of BMX rider Seth Klinger from Winfield
- Record-setting ultracyclist Sara Kay Terrell of Hays will speak at the Amelia Earhart Festival in Atchison on July 19th.
- commuterDude and Noah have ride reports from the Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride
- The rider of xcxbike enjoyed their tour through Kansas: “Kansas was the state of giving people. We had several occasions where people bought us food (ice cream, paid for our breakfast at the chatter box cafe, cooler filled with fruit given to us by the gas station lady..). Everyone was so kind and the cars, trucks,and large farm machinery always moved way over for us on the road. People were kind, just be sure not to talk politics with them.”
Arkansas:
- Bella Vista police are looking for help finding a maroon 2003 Chrysler Town and Country minivan that struck down a bicyclist in a hit-and-run accident
- The Big Dam Bridge 100 takes place in Little Rock on September 27th, but kids can ride the Hot Wheels 100, a century spread out over 12 week, plus a 12-mile ride on the big day. Cool concept!
- The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville is implementing a bicycle sharing program, allowing students, alumni and faculty to borrow at no charge and use 48 numbered bicycles, returning them to racks scattered around campus.
- Fayetteville native Iris Ferguson is cycling coast to coast to raise money for injured veterans
Colorado:
- In Steamboat Springs, Stripes cause strife when traffic lanes are widened (and shoulders condensed)despite opposition from local residents
- In Montrose, a 14-year-old boy is charged with multiple felonies resulting from a hit-and-run accident that killed David J. Tomlinson, 51, of Cuba, Illinois. The juvenile hit Tomlinson from behind while the cyclist was heading south on U.S. Hwy. 550 near Colona.
- In Denver, an 87-year-old bicyclist dies after being hit by a motorcycle
- The Adams County district attorney has charged a man with a history of drunken driving and hit-and-run, in connection with a traffic accident that seriously injured a teenage bicyclist in Commerce City.
- Aspen plans biking, pedestrian improvements
- The Fort Collins Bike Library is a big success
Iowa:
- Iowa is, of course, gearing up for RAGBRAI: Central Iowa cities ready for RAGBRAI riders, Two-thousand miles is magic number for cyclists preparing for RAGBRAI, , RAGBRAI: The party’s in Ames, RAGBRAI riders have a ‘soft spot’ for towns like Morley, RAGBRAI route won’t be changed
- Pickup-bicycle crash kills Mason City man
- In Cedar Rapids, Bicyclist hurt after hit-and-run
- A new 25-mile bike trail from Ankeny to Woodward will feature a 13 story tall bridge.
- Bob Mionske of VeloNews weighed in on a proposed Dallas County ordinance that would have required huge amounts of liability insurance for any organized bike ride in the county. Dallas County ultimately ended up shelving the proposal.
Missouri:
- The Tour of Missouri is adding a women’s race, to take place on September 8th
- The Joplin Globe has a report on the Tornado Alley 110 ride: Cyclists say bike tour as rough as promised; long, rugged route helped raise funds for Red Cross
- From St. Joseph: City to add nearly 4 miles of hiking, biking trails
- From Liberty: New Clay County trail making mountain bike enthusiasts jump for joy
Nebraska:
- A 3.5-mile hiking and biking trail linking the city of Aurora to the Pioneer Trails Recreation Area may be coming soon.
- Bike Sales Up in Lincoln
- Readers of the Omaha World-Herald offer tips on using bicycles to save gas
Oklahoma:
- More bicycles taking to the streets in Tahlequah
- Bicycle patrol units are beefed up in Midwest City and Norman
- Tulsa man shot in attempted bicycle theft
- Profile of pedaling maniac Demetri Kolokotronis, who rode his bike from New York to Oklahoma City to visit an old friend. Locals are agog.
