Kansas City is trying to build 15 miles of bike lanes a year. Here’s why
A late-October bike ride through downtown Kansas City, and a bit beyond, was more than a casual outing for a small group of cyclists.
It was a celebration.
The group of city leaders, council members and others were celebrating the installation of more than 30 miles of bike lanes in two years, a pledge Kansas City made last year.
The bike lanes show the city’s eagerness to change from being car centric to allowing for other modes of transportation, said Bailey Waters, chief mobility officer in Kansas City Public Works.
“I think being able to do 15 miles a year for two years quite obviously shows that dedication and it’s exciting to live here at this time,” Waters said.
The addition of the bike lanes was an important step for Kansas City, said Michael Kelley, policy director for BikeWalkKC, a nonprofit that advocates for safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
“We know that a big barrier for a lot of people cycling is that they don’t feel that there’s a safe place for them to do so,” he said. “Building this protected infrastructure that separates them from drivers creates not only a safer place for more then to feel safe to ride but also a safer environment for pedestrians, transit users and drivers as well.”
In addition to help reducing carbon emissions, cycling is easier on people’s pocketbooks because owning a bike is significantly cheaper than owning a car, he said.
The city’s goal is to build another 15 miles a year for the next five years. A preliminary list of protected lanes to be installed next year can be found at at the city’s public works department’s website.
There is an interactive map for people to leave comments on where they want bike lines or what their thoughts are on next year’s list, Waters said.
Biking for climate, safety and equity
Although the goal is ambitious, it’s what the city needs to pursue not only as a way to combat traffic violence, but as one method to address climate change, Kelly said.
It’s also is a way to make it easier for more people to get to the places they need, which improves their quality of life.
There’s an equity component as well. Oftentimes, people have the idea that the only people who use bike lanes are those who are dressed in spandex bike shorts, he said. But bike lanes are important for the unhoused and those living in households that don’t have access to a car, Kelly said.
“Building these facilities show that we’re not just protecting our most vulnerable road users, but some of the most vulnerable populations we have as a city,” he said.
Councilman Dan Fowler, who represents Kansas City’s 2nd District in the Northland, said he always thought bike lanes could be used as a legitimate method of transportation for such things as work and shopping in addition to recreation.
Fowler said he’s comfortable with the speed at which the city is adding bike lanes, especially if you take into consideration that drivers are not used to being around bicycles.
“If you expand at a reasonable rate, people will gradually become more and more comfortable with the fact that there are bicyclists or pedestrians or scooter riders off to your side and they’ll be less apt to be upset about it,” he said.
Once drivers adapt and if the bike lanes are useful, he said, the city will be able to more quickly grow its bike facilities.
This story was originally published November 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City is trying to build 15 miles of bike lanes a year. Here’s why."
