New bike lane opens in NE OKC
08/22/2024
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A new 3.3-mile bike route is now open in NE Oklahoma City.
The lane connects neighborhoods such as Capitol View, Springlake, and Culbertson to resources such as Metro Tech’s Springlake Campus, Homeland grocery store and the MAPS 3 Community Health, Recreation and Wellness Center.
Part of the bike route includes a two-way bike lane along N Kelley Avenue. This lane lets cyclists travel in both directions and is separated by a curb to help protect them from car traffic.
The lane follows along Springlake Drive, N Laird Avenue and N Kelley Avenue, where it connects into Culbertson Drive and runs south to NE 13th Street.
The project’s budget was $505,600, and it was funded through the Better Streets, Safer City sales tax initiative. In 2022, this bike route was also included as part of the national US Bike Route 66 designation by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Learn about safety on city streets at watchformeok.com. Take a survey to help Oklahoma City reduce traffic-related deaths at vision.okc.gov/vision-zero.
bikewalkokc updated
In June, the City Council approved an update to Oklahoma City’s comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian master plan, bikewalkokc. This was the first plan update since it was approved in 2018.
“This update continues our momentum toward making Oklahoma City more walkable and bikeable and will bring sidewalks, trails and bike lanes to more neighborhoods,” Transportation Planner Justin Henry said.
Thanks to funding through Better Streets, Safer City, MAPS 3, and state and federal grants, Oklahoma City has added 9.53 miles of bike lanes, 15.69 miles of trails and 176.48 miles of sidewalks since the plan was adopted in 2018.
Major updates to the plan include:
- The addition of 10 new ‘Pedestrian Priority Areas,’ which are neighborhoods and commercial areas that will be prioritized for further sidewalk and crosswalk investments.
- Reprioritization of bike facilities to improve connections to existing facilities and trails.
- A new approach to connectivity around public transit routes that prioritizes serving whole routes with sidewalks.
- Two new trails along abandoned rail corridors.
- Discussion on a variety of lessons learned and new best practices.
The plan’s four overarching goals have stayed the same since 2018:
- Walking and cycling are safe in Oklahoma City.
- Greater numbers of people are walking and cycling for transportation.
- Neighborhoods are connected to jobs, public transit, commercial districts, schools, and parks.
- Barriers to walking and cycling are removed.
An advisory group including three Council members, two Planning Commission members, two Traffic Commission members, a Trails Advisory Committee member, and several other appointed officials and representatives from other organizations interested in biking and walking, along with public input over a two-year period helped shape the updated plan.
About bikewalkokc
bikewalkokc is a plan designed to implement planokc, the City’s comprehensive plan for our community's growth and development.
Data analyzed as part of bikewalkokc includes employment and population density, existing infrastructure, the location of vehicle collisions with cyclists or pedestrians, demographics and opportunities for connectivity. Using that data, bikewalkokc outlines specific locations for future investment in amenities like sidewalks, protected bike lanes, trails and more.
The goals, initiatives and policies related to walking and biking from planokc, as well as input from the public, stakeholders and the planning committee, shaped bikewalkokc’s priorities and recommendations.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov
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City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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