University Daily Kansan, August 20, 1981
A
Page 9
Incomplete bike paths frustrate cyclers
By BRENDA DURR Staff Reporter
Mount Oread has challenged many bikers struggling to the top.
But the physical demands of Mount Oread seem insignificant compared with other problems that face Lawrence bikers, including the lack of a comprehensive biking network throughout the city.
In 1976, the Lawrence City Commission approved a system, called Pedalplan, that would build bike paths and lanes across Lawrence with funding from a Federal Highway Department grant.
The grant was to be used to build
music bike programs in cities across
the country.
The plan would have cost $230,920 over the next 20 years. However, the city did not receive the federal funds, and the plan was incorporated into Lawrence's Capital Improvements Plan, which provides funds for city improvement.
"It was done in a piecemeal fashion and never was a comprehensive network," said Lawrence City Commanter Nancy Shontz, who is also a biker.
Instead of an intricate network of bike paths, the city pieced together a series of paths, routes and lanes across the city.
But Shontz said bike paths were being built.
"Sooner or later, we're going to complete this program," Shontz said. "Every year, a section gets added."
"The city has to implement a logical and comprehensive plan," said Michael Almon, a member of the Appropriate Technology Resource Center, 1101 Queensburgh St., which promotes conserving and finding renewable energy.
All future biking plans, he should be based on providing bike paths instead of bike route signs on side streets.
Part of the biking problem centers on the city's structural design, Shonzit
"The problem is that the city's old and there's not much room to put in separate bike paths," she said. "We've parked them with park and development areas."
Two more bike paths opened last year, located along both sides of the Clinton Parkway from 23rd and Iowa Streets to Clinton Lake.
One of the newest bike paths is a 10-mile stretch of crushed limestone on the north bank of the Kansas River levee, and the Rivertower Park development area.
But even though the Clinton paths are face to face, they are already facing some problems.
The $260,000 Riverfront plan, which
will cover several years ago, will be
completed in 2018.
"It's really an expensive white elephant," said Bruce D. Epperson.
He said the conditions of the paths have led some bikers to ride on Clinton Parkway, even though it's illegal to drive street when a bike path is provided.
member of the Mount Oread Bicycling Club. "The paths are covered with dirt and glass and are washed out in some places."
Epperson said the person who had the most information about the poor condition of the Clinton bike paths was Stanley R. Pittman, the Lawrence graduate student who was killed on June 19 in the Lawrence tornado.
Besides the lack of leadership, Epperson said, the prospects of a continued bike network looked dim because of the lack of funding.
"He had a presentation of pictures and slides of poor conditions," Epperson said. "There's a huge void now. I don't know what's in the future or who'll carry on. Any kind of action is doubtful and questionable at best."
"It's pretty bleak without aid," he said. "The city had to scrape the barrel to finish the South Park program. That is too much, but not as gass. I don't see anything in the future."
Shontz agreed that federal money for bicycling facilities was driving up.
"There used to be a fair amount of money for bike paths, but I'm not aware of anything now. I'm expecting it to get worse than better," she said.
Almon said that the city of Lawrence should place more emphasis on biking as a way of commuting rather than as just recreation.
"State and federal government would be wiser to promote transportation that allows travel between cities."
"Areas don't emphasize biking as a means of commuting. Most are in parks and very few serve shoppers," Almon said.
But Shontz was optimistic that bikes booming with new models in many houseboats with two-car gearboxes.
"I'm just amazed at how many people are riding bikes," she said. "It just used to be teen-agers, but now I just use a slew of bikes. I think it's great."
Wee said the club would be celebrating its 10th anniversary by inviting all its past presidents for the October Octakitts, an 80-mile bike ride to the Lawrence area. Last year, he said, 350 people participated in the ride.
M. Otre. Bicycling Club member and SUA programming assistant, Gene Wee, said that the club averaged 150 members a year.
But if more people are participating in biking, some Lawrence bike store owners have not noticed an increase in business. Two bike stores reported that business was down from previous years.
"A certain person can get hooked on an activity, and we get a hard-core one, a member since 1971."
"There's a peak in, a lot of people are actively involved."
"Our business is down a little from
last year," an employee of Mick's bicycles, 1339 Massachusetts St., Kurt Stockhammer, said. "Gas prices are higher, and seems to be as scary as last year."
He said lower gas prices caused the slow sales.
"If the Reagan administration isn't worried about gas prices, then the people aren't worried," Stockhammer said.
George O. Latham, owner of Gran Sport, 1228 W. 7th, st.ated that were down, but he didn't attribute the slow sales to gasoline prices.
"I find no correlation between bike
gifts and gas prices; think that's
wouldful thinking."
Latham said a shortage of money may have lowered his sales.
"I talk to a lot of people, but no one he said." "A lot of lookers and no takers."
The bike shop employees said they try to cater to everybody's needs, but rising prices have forced some buyers to look for a less expensive bike.
"We start at $185 for a decent 10-speed, said Stockhammer, whose prepaid bike in stock costs $450. We try to buy bikes like bikes for persons of average needs."
"A $170 is about as low as you can go for a good 10-speed," he said. "The sort of car that most people like to have and want to have falls in the cost range of $200 to $250."
Latham's bike prices range from $170 to $400 for a 10-speed.
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