Kansas Cyclist - Kansas Bicycle Guide and Reference

City commissioners in Arkansas City, Kansas are trying to decide whether to proceed with construction of a multipurpose hike-and-bike path along the Arkansas River levee.

According to an article in the Arkansas City Traveler:

The project has been in the works for years, but some commissioners have questioned the wisdom of proceeding even with a state grant and money available to pay for the project. The hike-and-bike project is in motion, so the city doesn’t have to do anything for it to proceed. However the city could put the brakes on if it decided it did not want to finish the project.

City Chief of Administration Steve Archer said that all the property has been acquired for the project, and that it is currently in the design phase. The design phase is to be completed by the end of March and construction could begin this fall.

Commisioners are divided about the trail, with some believing that it should not be completed even if the city has the money, and others seeing it as a quality-of-life issue that has the potential to spur economic development, open up the river for more recreational use, and attract people to the city.

The levee trail is the first section of a trail system that is ultimately intended to circle the entire city. The majority of the money for the project is being provided by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation,

According to the Hays Daily News, someone broke into the Hub Bicycle Shop in Hays in early January, throwing a brick through the front window. According to the report, the only thing taken was cash.

The police apparently have a suspect in custody, but no additional info has been released. But I think it’s pretty safe to assume that the culprit is not a cyclist.

First, to a cyclist, a bike shop is a sacred place, on a par with a church, synagogue or mosque. To desecrate it is unthinkable.

Second, the thief obviously doesn’t understand the economics of bike shops, which are typically neither high-volume nor high-margin, and so there are probably not heaping piles of cash lying around in bike shops.

Third, The Hub is owned by John Schlitter, who also is an owner of recumbent manufacturer Bacchetta, and an incredible cyclist in his own right. In 2007 he was part of a two-man recumbent team that finished first in the annual Race Across America (RAAM), crossing the continent in just over 7 days, with an average speed of an amazing 18.07 mph, setting a new record in the process. The man is a legend. No real cyclist could conceive of stealing from someone of his stature.

Fourth, and most telling, is that when the thief entered the bike shop and found himself surrounded by bikes and gear, the only thing he took was cash. That is someone who clearly does not have the right priorities. A cyclist would realize that, if he took cash, he’d eventually just end of trading it in for more cycling gear anyway. A real cyclist (assuming, for the sake of argument, that one could possibly find himself in such a position), would cut out the extra step, grab all the bikes and gear he could handle, and only then consider the possibility of opening the cash drawer.

Salina, Kansas is in the early stages of creating a new “Comprehensive Plan” for the city. This plan will help to determine the future of the community, and covers topics such as transportation, health issues, arts and culture, tourism, development patterns, and land use, with the goals of identifying community issues, assets, and a vision for Salina.

The first steps in creating the plan is a series of public meetings, where citizens can comment on the directions they believe the city should move. These comments will help the consulting firm the city hired, Gould Evans Associates of Kansas City, to update the plan.

At the first meeting, local resident Phil Black spoke up about the need to take bicycle transportation into consideration in the plan. “There needs to be more than just a (bicycle) path here and path there,” Black said. Black and other local citizen are pushing for a comprehensive transportation plan that addresses not just motor vehicles, but facilities for cycling and walking as well.

The public comment period will continue through the end of February, and the public can also contribute their ideas on the City of Salina’s Web site; additional information on the project is also available from Gould Evans.

See also: Salina Journal article Salina Comprehensive Plan debated at public meeting

Bob Roll is speaking tonight (Friday, February 1, 2008) at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike in Lawrence, Kansas. The talk begins at 7pm, and admission is free. Call the shop at 785-843-5000 for details.

Bob Roll is a former professional cyclist, riding as part of the legendary 7-Eleven Cycling Team, as well as the Motorola cycling team and Greg LeMond’s Z team. He competed in three Tours de France, three Giros d’Italia, seven Paris-Roubaix races. Roll has written four books on cycling, and since 2001 has been a color commentator for the television coverage of the Tour de France on the Versus network (formerly known as Outdoor Life).

An article in the Lawrence Journal-World features an interview with Roll and discusses his appearance, his views on bicycle racing and the state of cycling in America.

An editorial in the Pittsburg Morning Sun (Hike-and-bike path may make for a healthy community) came out in favor of a proposed multi-use path in Pittsburg, Kansas. The southeast Kansas community of about 20000 is also home to about 6000 students at Pittsburg State University.

The path, about 1.5 miles in length, is envisioned to connect the PSU campus to local shopping and entertainment.

Todd Kennemer, assistant director of public works, said he envisions “Pittsburg as a network of hiking and biking trails, giving residents the ability to travel the town and exercise, while traveling outside of their usual vehicle routine.”

Blake Benson, the president of theChamber of Commerce, said that hike-and-bike trails could be a valuable tool for attracting families to Pittsburg.

While the city has been talking hike-and-bike trails for at least 10 years, sentiment has recently grown in favor of the investment, and on Tuesday evening the city commission approved the project.

The Emery Park BMX Track in Wichita, Kansas was recently the victim of a theft that damaged the park. Thieves made off with helmets and at least 200 feet of copper wiring, some of it cut at the base of poles and pulled it from an underground conduit. The thieves also used sledge hammers to break down doors, which will need to be replaced.

Police say the theft of the copper wiring is part of a trend fueled by higher scrap-metal prices.

The Emery Park BMX Track is located on park land owned by the city, but rented by a non-profit group called GEAR (Group Effort Association for Riders), which was also responsible for building, maintaining and running the park. That group does not have insurance to cover the damage or replace the stolen property, which they estimate to be at least $5,000, not including labor.

The group is asking for donations to help them rebuild the park. If you can offer any support, including material or labor, please contact the group at kansas_bmx@cox.net or 316-529-2582. Monetary donations can be sent to:

GEAR Inc, DBA Emery Park BMX
PO BOX #16425
Wichita, KS 67216

See also:
Wichita Eagle: Thieves ravage BMX track
KAKE TV: Wichita BMX Park Hit by Thieves

An article in the Kansas City Star (Bike-powered pedicabs may soon troll downtown) reports that Kansas City, Missouri may soon allow operation of pedicabs:

City official Gary Majors said Friday that public transit options here may soon include bicycle-powered pedicabs.

Majors, director of the Regulated Industries Division, said his City Hall department is working on an ordinance to legalize the human-powered carts — now outlawed — in time for warm weather and the formal grand opening of the downtown Kansas City Power & Light District.

He said the entertainment district’s restaurants, pubs and Sprint Center arena would create demand for short-hop service between downtown hotels, parking lots and the Bartle Hall convention center.

In a subsequent editorial, the Star says that “This creative idea deserves serious consideration”, and that Majors “hopes to have an ordinance in place by spring”.

KCBike.info also has coverage of this topic (along with the full text of the original article), and points out that other cities in the region already offer pedicab service, including St. Louis, Springfield, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Denver.

Seems like a sensible idea - what do you think?