The Sunflower Cycling News is a periodic publication of Kansas Cyclist, featuring a compendium of hand-picked bicycling-related news items from Kansas and neighboring states.
The following is a recap of recent bicycling news from the region, as well as a look ahead to upcoming rides, races, and bicycling events coming up.
Bicycling News from Kansas
Pittsburg Scouts Honored for Cycling
FreeWheels for Kids promotes safe bicycling in KCK
Topeka Motorist’s hearing in vehicle-bike case postponed
Work continues to save Marysville Depot
Accused Killer Ordered To Stand Trial in Salina
More Kansas Bicycling News Headlines
- Topeka Bikeway Signs Being Installed
- Ride Lawrence is seeking volunteers
- MHK News is looking for people to write articles related to bicycling and cycling in Manhattan
- Into The Grey: Randonneuring in late December … 124+ miles, temperatures and winds in the teens. “Did we have fun? Mmmmm, yeah… yeah, we did. Strange, ain’t it?”
- There is a petition to designate the American Discovery Trail as the “first coast to coast trail in the National Trails System”. The American Discovery Trail passes right through the heart of Kansas.
- Sunflower Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop is holding a Sunflower Kanza Clinic on January 9th at 7pm at their store in Lawrence.
Regional Bicycling News
— In Jonesboro, Arkansas, a new trail is planned for Craighead Forest Park.
– A man in North little Rock, Arkansas is thanking three strangers who helped him after he crashed his bike.
— Vail, Colorado is celebrating its status in the Bicycle Friendly Community rankings, after moving up from bronze to silver.
— Fort Collins, Colorado bicycling columnist Rick Price says We need to unlearn the outdated ‘far to the right’ rule.
— An Iowa driver who struck and killed a cyclist uses the old “I thought I hit a deer” excuse, and gets away with it
— A Kansas City, Missouri man’s bicycle was destroyed when the bus he was riding on collided with a van, and he’s waiting for the insurance company to settle up. In the meantime, he was without transportation, until a new bike was donated by television viewers who want to “pay it forward”.
— A letter to the editor in Kansas City, Missouri questions “whether marked bicycle lanes along city roads offer bicyclists a safe, legal right-of-way”, while apparently not understanding how they work.
— A complete Streets bill in St. Louis County, Missouri remains in limbo. A group of “bike enthusiasts” is adamantly opposed to the “nightmarish” proposal. Meanwhile the president of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation says “United we stand tall and we take positive steps to make our transportation system better, divided we undermine the system approach and take steps backwards.”
— Bellevue, Nebraska is considering banning bicycles from their Missouri River bridge, saying that impatient motorists are creating a safety hazard.
— In Lincoln, Nebraska, a look back at the forming of advocacy group BicycLincoln: “We are showing the nation how a small heartland city is not just making things better for those on bikes but how investing in better active transportation makes for a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community.”
— There’s a new bicycle club in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. The local newspaper says Bike-friendly streets would be good for our health.
— In Oklahoma, a travelogue, with fine photos, from New Years Day Ride 2014.
— Oklahoma City has the state’s first buffered bike lane.
National Bicycling News
- Kansas City Royals minor league players build bikes for kids in Arizona
- Ogden mayor commits to riding his bike to work every day in 2014
- Amputee cyclist rides and changes tire with NO HANDS
- Bike Signals Get the Green Light From Engineering Establishment
- Minneapolis winter bicyclists are more resilient, more hearty, just plain tougher and much better looking than bicyclists from all those wimpier cities
- As City Cycling Grows, So Does Bike Tax Temptation
- People who bike throughout the winter are maybe a little happier than your average person
- People Who Bike in the Winter “Should Be Arrested”
- Choosing to bike or walk will save money
- A Little Less Driving Means Big Dividends For Local Economies
Bicycling Inspiration
We’ve had our share of frigid weather, but now that that’s over and done with (right!), get out there and ride.
This is me enjoying the Southwind Rail Trail. Temperatures in the 30s, plus a couple inches of snow on the ground, make for excellent riding conditions!
If you have a news item or upcoming event you’d like to share, please contact Kansas Cyclist with details.
Post tags: Digest, Gail Kline, Kansas City, Marysville, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka
