Location: Lawrence

Kansas Cyclist Bill Hancock to Speak in De Soto

Riding with the Blue MothThere may be some awkward moments at the De Soto Chamber of Commerce‘s annual dinner on Saturday.

The notably bicycle-unfriendly town of De Soto (De Soto Reaffirms 83rd Street Bicycle Ban), located in eastern Kansas between Lawrence and Kansas City, is welcoming Bill Hancock, author of “Riding with the Blue Moth,” to be the featured speaker at their dinner. The book relates the story of Hancock’s cross country bicycle trip after the death of his son, where the “blue moth” is Hancock’s metaphor for the grief and depression he felt after the loss of his son.

Bill lives in Prairie Village, Kansas and is director of the NCAA’s Bowl Championship Series, and he will speak Saturday at De Soto VFW Post 6654, where the dinner takes place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The cost for the event is $35 per person.

Here’s hoping that the Chamber of Commerce understands the negative reputation the community has earned through the bicycle ban fiasco, appreciates the positive economic impact that bicycling can bring to their town, and is willing to work to persuade the De Soto city council to address the situation.

Learn more from the De Soto Explorer: De Soto Chamber annual dinner Saturday

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About The Author

By Randy Rasa, editor/webmaster at Kansas Cyclist, the web's premier Kansas cycling information site, featuring authoritative guides to Kansas cycling clubs, bike shops, organized bike rides, touring, trails, and much more. [learn more]

3 responses to “Kansas Cyclist Bill Hancock to Speak in De Soto”

  1. Keith Clark says:

    Great Book “Riding with the Blue Moth”…

  2. Sean says:

    Considering that motorists already have a limited-access, 4-lane road just a mile to the south, what more do they want? There aren’t any other alternatives for a cyclist wanting to ride between Lawrence and Kansas City, unless they ride many miles out of their way to K-32 or the road that skirts the southern edge of the ammunition plant. DeSoto needs to be aware of the reputation it has made for itself with this idiotic ban.

  3. Randy says:

    A photo of Bill Hancock from the event here. No word on whether he mentioned De Soto’s bicycle ban…