Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer today proclaimed ?May is Bike Month.? In celebration of Bike Month, the City of Wichita is highlighting recent improvements that help make traveling by bicycle easier. The featured improvements include:

Construction of the McAdams Bike Path. The newly constructed 2.5 mile McAdams Bike Path will open on May 27. The bike path was constructed using ARRA funding, and will provide a critical connection between the existing K-96 Bike Path and Canal Route Bike Path.

Installation of the 1st and 2nd street bike lanes. Bike lanes have been installed on 1st Street and 2nd streets as a pilot project. The approximately 4.5 miles of bike lanes provide an important east-west connection from the Uptown, College Hill, and Crown Heights neighborhoods to the I-135 to the Canal Route Bike Path. The bike lanes provide important access for cyclists while improving the safety of all roadway users.

Installation of Wichita Transit bike racks. To make riding the bus more convenient, Wichita Transit utilized ARRA funding to install 381 bike racks at 127 bus stop locations. The bike racks allow transit riders to bike to their bus stop and securely park their bicycle for their return trip home.

Resurfacing of the Arkansas River Bike Path. Approximately 2 miles of the Arkansas River Bike Path (Kellogg to Pawnee) was resurfaced. The project removed large cracks and bulges, resulting in a very smooth surface that everyone can enjoy.

Updated bicycle path and trails map. You can find an updated map with all of the trails and paths in the City of Wichita on the City?s website at www.wichita.gov

Click here for the May is Bike Month schedule (PDF).

From Kansascw.com

A new portion of bike path will be built in Wichita’s mid-town. The city council approved the extension of path that currently ends at Central. The city is able to pay for the path with money leftover from another bike path project.

The city plans to continue the path from Central to Waco, then south to 1st Street, and west on 1st Street to connect to the Arkansas River pathway system. The project will be put out for bid in June.

It will cost $140,000 to construct this portion of the path. The city will use leftover money from a block grant from the Department of Energy. The city was given the grant to connect paths from McAdams Park to Grove Park. That project is just about complete and came in under budget. The city checked and found the leftover money could be used towards another eligible pathway.

Bike racks are popping up at area Quik Trip convenience stores. It’s always nice to see businesses acknowledge cyclists in this way. At this particular location you may have to move the trash can to use it though.

Saturday, May 21st.
It is listed here and here but… I really don’t think it’s happening. I haven’t heard anything more about it. Go bike Douglas anyway just to be safe.

From KWCH.com…

Tuesday the Wichita City Council will hear about a proposal to add bicycle parking to the city’s Delano neighborhood.

Under the plan 135 bike racks would go in an area around west Douglas between Vine and McLean and around Lawrence Dumont Stadium. It’s part of the Delano Neighborhood Revitilization Plan and and effort to make the area more bicycle friendly.

Under the plan the racks would be installed in phases to offset the $72,000 cost. While city funding is being sought, the plan also would like to seek private contributions toward the project.

Tuesday’s resolution would not obligate the city to spend any money toward the project just yet. Click here for a link to the city’s website to see the entire project proposal.

Edit: 04-06-2011
From KWCH.com…

The Wichita City Council approves a plan to add bicycle parking to the Delano neighborhood.

The plan would put in 135 specially designed bike racks in the business area around west Douglas and Lawrence Dumont Stadium.

Council members also approved allocating funds for the first phase of the project, which would be 24 racks. Private funding will also be sought toward the project.

Ride along with Dave and check out the new bike path on the East side of the river below the historic Broadview Hotel.

Saturday, March 19th 11:00am.
Drop in Heartland Cycles (Old Town), then begin a 14-mile loop south to Tom Sawyer Bicycles. Continue to Historic Delano District via the central bike path. Visit the Bicycle X-Change, then head to Continental Bikes on West Street. The last leg will take us through parks and back to Heroes (approx 14 miles).

Visit the Wichita Bike Walk Alliance website.