The following are some hand-picked bicycling-related news items from Kansas and neighboring states, for January 16, 2013:
Bicycling News from Kansas
- Iola Repeals Mandatory Bicycle Registration — The Iola City Council has voted 8-0 to eliminate mandatory bicycle registration in their community, and to eliminate a ban on riding bicycles on sidewalks.
- Residents Advocate for Bicycle Safety in Southeast Kansas — Southeast Kansas residents have started a petition to encourage KDOT to add shoulders to K-39 highway to improve bicycle safety along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.
- Abilene is considering creating a “safe and accessible community-wide network for pedestrians and bicyclists”, by which they appear to mean a trail network. A letter from City Manager David Dillner discusses designating “a safe and accessible route for bicyclists and pedestrians using existing assets such as the Mud Creek Levee” and the possibility of bike lanes, signage, and signalization improvements. He suggests directing the Planning Commission to “review existing land use policies and regulations regarding bicycling and walking to recommend changes that may be more advantageous to promoting and protecting these alternative modes of transportation”.
- The Chamber of Commerce in Hutchinson is adding a shiny new bike rack to their office, and encouraging folks to visit them by bike: “Encouraging folks to bike and be physically active is making our community a better place. It lowers health care costs, reduces pollution, and makes our community a more welcoming and friendly place when you see people out on the streets and sidewalks. We shouldn’t build our world just to accommodate the vehicle.”
- In Paola, Students review pedestrian safety — “Sunflower Elementary students have been learning about bicycle and pedestrian safety during physical education classes.”
- The Kansas City Metro Bicycle Club has a new Facebook page.
Regional Bicycling News
- Conway, AR: Traffic Skills 101 being offered in February — “The course, certified by the League of American Bicyclists, is designed for beginner and intermediate bicyclists 16 and up. Cyclists will learn tips, tools and techniques they need to confidently share the road or trail.”
Boulder, CO: Winter Bike To Work Day 2013 — “Boulder is celebrating its fifth annual Winter Bike to Work Day (WBTWD) to reward those who ride their bike all or part of the way to work, school or another destination around town. Ride and receive a free breakfast, and enter the WBTWD drawing for fabulous prizes.” Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013- Boulder, CO: Colo. 93 widening clears way for underpass south of Boulder — The existing crossing of the highway on the Community Ditch Trail is “incredibly hazardous”, but a new underpass will “allow pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists to get from one side of the highway to the other without interacting with cars”. Also, the addition of shoulders to the highway “opens up a whole area for road cycling that hasn’t really been available”.
- Storm Lake, IA: Keep advocating for trails — “Lakeshore Cyclery Owner Larry Godfredson said he frequently receives calls from cyclists inquiring about trails in Storm Lake, and after receiving disappointing news, they vacation or day trip elsewhere.” Meanwhile, residents say: “We want more trails!”
- Columbia, MO: PedNet chief leaves legacy — “Ian Thomas, who stepped down last week as head of the PedNet Coalition, often is asked why he enjoys bicycling so much. He has spent more than a decade trying to persuade Columbia residents to get out of their cars and onto bicycles, and he can regularly be seen around the central city riding a bike, regardless of the weather. Truth is, Thomas said, he doesn’t have a particular fondness for bicycling. It just makes a whole lot more sense than driving for short journeys.”
- Kansas City, MO: KCMO Unveils Bike-Friendly Maps — “The city released its first ever Bike KC map Tuesday showing their progress to becoming a more bike friendly city. In the past five years, the city has gone from about six miles of bike lanes and 25 miles of bike trail to 34 miles of bike lanes and 352 miles of signed bike routes.” Paper maps will be available on request, or you can view online.
- Neosho, MO: Neosho receives $210,000 to extend pedestrian-bicycle trail network — “The project would extend the current trail system by over 2,700 feet.”
- Omaha, NE: Robotic Convenience Store — “The first Shop24 robotic convenience store in Nebraska is up and running at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Omaha. The giant vending machine, with a 10×13-ft. footprint, can stock up to 200 items, and will share a percentage of with the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department.”
- Bartlesville, OK: Man Arrested For Leaving Scene Of Accident — “67-year old Robert Cameron Coyle is charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident. The victim told officers that a pickup hit him in the back with the passenger side mirror of the suspect’s truck. Reportedly, the man fell hard off his bicycle hitting the pavement.”
- Norman, OK: Norman bicycle shop fills a niche market for ‘folders’ — “Al’s Bicycles carries folding bicycles by Brompton, Dahon and Tern, which cost from around $1,500 to $3,300. Customers have traveled to the Norman bike shop from Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and across Oklahoma specifically to test drive the folders.”
Upcoming Kansas Bicycling Events
- There’s one Kansas event this coming weekend: The Kansas City Metro Bicycle Club‘s President’s Ride is 10am on January 20th, from Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee, Kansas. About 20 miles.
- The following weekend is the Cancer-Thon in Leavenworth, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This year, the event takes place on January 26th, and running from 1am to 4pm. The event his hosted by Santa Fe Trails Bicycle Shop. Cyclist ride laps on the asphalt track at Abeles Field in Leavenworth. The cost is $25 per person, which includes T-shirt, prizes, and food. Race as an individual or on a three-person team. The top teams receive trophies, and the top individuals get medals.
- Registration has opened for the 2013 Cottonwood 200, a three-day 200-mile supported bicycle tour through the Flint Hills, which takes place May 25-27, starting and ending in Topeka. The cost is $110 ($105 for Kaw Valley Bicycle Club members), which is a $10 increase over 2012 prices. Register here.
See also: Kansas Ride Calendar
Upcoming Regional Bicycling Events
- Dyersville, IA: Racers will descend on area — “On Jan. 20 approximately 200 bikers and runners will participate in the Triple D biking, running races.” The majority of the bicyclists will be using specially-made snow bikes.
- The 2013 RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party is Saturday, January 26, 2013 in Des Moines, IA.
- The 2013 Oklahoma Freewheel tour takes place this year from June 9-15. The route is Idabel-Antlers-Talihina-Warner-Tahlequah-Pryor-Miami-Joplin, MO, about 458-509 miles. The cost for the Freewheel has taken a big jump this year, from $175 to $295. OKC Bicyclist has the story.
See also: Regional Ride Calendar
Last Look
Snowy Trail Bridge at Lone Elm Park, Olathe, Kansas
The Sunflower Cycling News is a periodic publication of Kansas Cyclist, featuring bicycling news from Kansas and neighboring states.
If you have a news item or upcoming event you’d like to share, please contact Kansas Cyclist with details.
Post tags: Abilene, Digest, Hutchinson, Iola, Paola
