From the Wichita Public Schools News Room…

Bicycle X-Change and Community in Schools helped make sure students from nine schools received bikes for the holidays. Thirty-four refurbished bikes were given to selected students who attend Cloud, Curtis, Dodge, Hamilton, Harry Street, Jefferson, Lincoln, Truesdell and West.

The students who received the bikes were selected by the school’s Communities in Schools site coordinator. They were chosen because of need, good behavior and/or scholastic achievement.

The Bicycle X-Change has donated bikes to students through Communities in Schools for more than 15 years.

Read more…

The City of Wichita has placed new bike racks at different locations around town. A few of them are on West Douglas, one of those at a favorite Coasters hang out the Shamrock Lounge. The Shamrock has always been bike friendly and have their own rack which you can also see in the photo.

Edit: Just so you don’t miss Karen in Delano’s comment…

That’s one of the Transit Department’s sites… Delano’s supposed to get a whole bunch more from the City at large, including (IIRC) some special ones at the Shamrock.

There’s an open house scheduled for January 11, 4-7 pm, at West Side Christian (big round church catty-corner from the Shamrock) about the overall plan.

From Kansas.com…

A chance conversation launched the Scanga family into the bicycle business ? although 37 years later, that chance seems more like fate.

“My father was in the brokerage business,” recalls Mike Scanga, owner of Bicycle X-Change. “He was on a plane talking to a guy. Somebody had backed out of a shipment of bikes. So my father made a deal, and we were in the bicycle business.”

Read more

From the Wichita Eagle…

A bicycle shop that collects and repairs Christmas bicycles to give to needy children says donations are down this year and is asking people to dig out their children s old bikes.

Ruth Holliday, co-owner of the Bicycle Pedaler, figures she and her staff have collected and repaired more than 6,000 bikes for donation at Christmas over the past 20 years.

Full story here.

From Kansas.com…

By STAN FINGER

Officer Steve Jerrell was walking along the bike path next to the Little Arkansas River when he came to an abrupt halt.

“Look at that view,” he said, pointing.

The golden leaves of a tree branch stretching over the water provided an artistic frame for the blue water stretching toward the horizon, the colors vibrant in the autumn afternoon sunshine.

Read More…

My photo of the path 11-27-2010

Construction on the Redbud Trail at Grove street.

Construction has begun on Wichita’s Redbud Trail. This will be a 2.5-mile paved trail that will run from the I-135 bike path starting between Central and Murdock, Northeast to 17th and Oliver.

The original date of the 12th has to be changed to the 19th due to rain.

From Lee’s Bike Shop…

As winter approaches, the days will be getting shorter and colder but we STILL want to ride our bicycles!! So what’s a cyclist to do??

Ride Anyway.

On the Winter Moon Twilight Rides we will cruise, as a group, at night by the light of the moon, sort of. The rides will take place at parks and paths on the west side of Wichita and may stretch down the river path to downtown, depending on the starting location. During the rides we may stop at a restaurant to eat, if it is desired!! We are very excited about these night rides and look forward to seeing everyone there! It will be mandatory to have front and back lights mounted on your bicycle or helmet! And please remember to dress accordingly.

Our First Twilight Ride:
November 19, 2010
Location: Sedgwick County Park (South Parking Lot)
Starting Time: 6:00 p.m.
Route: Park Paths

All types of “bicycles” are welcome. We will be traveling at a slow to moderate pace.

Distance of rides will be from 5 to 15 miles depending on the route. Some of our routes will be at Sedgwick County Park, along The Arkansas River and other scenic locations. Check our website for monthly details and weather caused cancellations.

Over the Summer Lee’s Bike Shop hosted the Third Friday Family Restaurant rides.

2nd Street Bike Lane

Both the 1st and 2nd street bike lanes are now complete from the Canal bike path (I-135) to Edgemoor street. 1st street is one-way East and 2nd street one-way West.

From the City of Wichita’s website…

The Delano West Douglas Avenue Bicycle Plan will be a guide for the provision of public bicycle parking in the plan area generally located east of Maple Street, west of McLean Boulevard, south of the former railroad corridor, north of the alley between Texas Street and Douglas Avenue, and including the Lawrence-Dumont Stadium property.

Click here for more info.

Congratulations to Tom Sawyer bicycle shop for being voted Best Bicycle Shop by readers of the Wichita Eagle.