Bike Share Comes to Oklahoma City

 Posted on August 3, 2011

After being rumored for awhile, Oklahoma City is officially announcing their plans to implement a bike share program here in the city hopefully starting this fall: A bike share program like those embraced in other cities will be started later this year in downtown Oklahoma City. Such programs have “stations” where bicycles are checked in and out with a deposit placed on one’s credit card. A nominal charge is sometimes paid for use of the bicycles; final details of the downtown arrangements are pending negotiation of a vendor contract. [Read More]
automobile-alley  bike-share  bricktown  downtown  oklahoma-city  tulsa-townies  uptown 

Car Free OKC: Commuting Bag

 Posted on August 3, 2011

So far in my little experiment, I’ve really only been bicycling between home and work, which isn’t really a big change for me except that it’s my only option now. However, because I’m now completely reliant on the bicycle to get me around, I have been attempting to make myself absolutely prepared for as many problems as possible. I’m glad I did, since yesterday I had a nasty multiple puncture flat which thanks to equipment and planning was easily handled. [Read More]
car-free  carfreeokc  commuting  equipment  oklahoma-city 

Car Free in OKC

 Posted on July 29, 2011

[caption id="" align=“alignright” width=“281” caption=“Photo By: Pioneer Library System”][/caption] For the past year, I have participated in a few 30 Days of Biking events. I truly love participating in these events and it reminds me of how much I love cycling. Lately, I have thought about my days in Chicago. My bicycle was my only means of transportation and it was incredibly liberating. I began to wonder how that experience would work in Oklahoma City, where car is king. [Read More]
car-free  carfreeokc  commuting  oklahoma-city 

Velomobiles Come to Oklahoma City

 Posted on July 26, 2011

There is now one known velomobile gracing Oklahoma City.  News9 put together a story last night about the custom-built machine of Frans van der Merwe who uses the machine to commute back and forth to Guthrie (which is at least a 25 mile ride each way).  According to the story, he averages about 25-30 mph on his rides which really makes me jealous.  See the whole piece below:

frans-van-der-merwe  human-interest  oklahoma-city  velomobile 

Edmond Seeking Consulting Services for Bicycle Master Plan

 Posted on July 15, 2011

Edmond has made several important bicycle changes lately including the simplification and clarification of bicycle regulations and the installation of new bicycle route signs. It now appears that they are making a concerted effort to put together a bicycle master plan for the entire city. They are currently seeking a consultant to provide “Engineering and Planning Services for a Bicycle Master Plan”. Full details on the RFQ can be found here. [Read More]
bicycle-master-plan  edmond  infrastructure  legislation 

Norman Earns LAB Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community Award

 Posted on July 12, 2011

Norman becomes the second Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community in Oklahoma after Tulsa’s win in 2009. The League of American Bicyclists website gives great praise to the efforts Norman has made to expand their cycling path and trail networks along with the recent passage of a three-foot passing rule: Community Highlights: Norman’s current Bicycle Advisory Committee has come a long way in the past decade to reinstitute old bike lanes while also extending the network with the addition of new lanes. [Read More]
bicycle-friendliness  lab  league-of-american-bicylists  norman 

MAPS 3 Timeline Approved including Bike Trail Schedule

 Posted on July 11, 2011

With more than a little controversy, the Oklahoma City Council has approved a timeline for all the MAPS 3 projects. Included in this timeline for the 57 miles of new bicycle trails included in the MAPS projects: Trails • Fifty-seven miles of trails for walking, cycling and other outdoor activities are planned. The locations of the trails are still being worked out, but they expect to make use of lakes and other well-used areas of the city. [Read More]
legislation  maps  maps3  metro  oklahoma-city  trail 

Oklahoma Legislative Update

 Posted on July 11, 2011

[caption id="" align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Photo By: George Thomas”][/caption] With the end of the legislative session, we now can report on the final disposition of the four major cycling bills that were being considered this year: SB443: Requires bicycle safety questions on the driver’s license exam. Passed and signed by the governor. HB2049: Designates Route 66 as the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail. Originally, the bill only partly covered Route 66, but in the end it was expanded to cover the entire length. [Read More]
bicycle-trail  hb2049  historic-bike-trail  legislation  route-66  safety  sb443  sb487  sb951  state-laws 

Hit-and-Run Crash Near Norman

 Posted on July 10, 2011

Sad news to mark my return to blogging, a man on a bicycle was struck from behind in a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning: A hit-and-run incident left a Norman man seriously injured Friday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Troopers said Brian Dressler, 32, was struck from behind about 4 a.m. while riding his bicycle on the shoulder of the Interstate 35 bridge over the Canadian River in Cleveland County. [Read More]
brian-dressler  hit-and-run  investigation  non-fatal  norman 

Oklahoma City Council Conducts Public Hearing on Bicycle Ordinance Changes

 Posted on May 17, 2011

Sorry folks, but I’m back to playing catch up. Firstly, the Oklahoma City Council is holding the public hearing phase on the major changes to the city’s bicycle ordinances. The meeting is occurring today starting at 8:30 AM in the City Council Chamber on the 3rd floor of 200 N. Walker. As you can see from the full agenda, there is a lot of ground being covered so I can’t really say when the ordiances will changes will be considered. [Read More]
bicycle-routes  city-council  laws  legislation  oklahoma-city