Advocacy
May is Bike Month
Topeka cyclists turned out in force for the Mayor's official proclamation of May as Bike Month in the capital city. Members of the Kaw Valley Bicycle Club were present, as were representatives from the Topeka Community Cycle Project. Both groups have planned bike month activities. Check out the list at the Bike Month Schedule.
Topeka Bikeway Master Plan
The City Council has approved the Topeka Bikeway Master Plan. The plan is a detailed approach to making the city hospitable for all cyclists. If you haven't yet familiarized yourself with the plan, it's over 200 pages long and is in pdf format--so allow for download time. Read the Topeka Bikeway Master Plan (large file--13 megs).
3 Foot Law
We'll be selling bumper stickers and magnets promoting Kansas's 3 Foot Law at Bicycle Across Kansas (BAK). Thanks to Randy Rasa (Kansas Cyclist) for providing us with the graphic.
HB 2735
We're proud to say we played a role in killing a bill before the Kansas legislature's House Transportation Committee. If passed, it would have threatened the future of trail development in Kansas by requiring trail owners to pay taxes on the property they currently develop. Here's the text of our testimony in opposition to HB 2735.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Transportation Committee:
During last year’s legislative session our organization came before you in support of 3-Feet passing legislation for bicycles. We thank you for your support in the successful passing of this legislation.
Today we come before you in opposition of HB 2735. We feel that passage of this bill would be extremely detrimental if not fatal to our recreational trail system. Frequently our members travel to Missouri and utilize the Katy Trail. This is money that could be spent in Kansas if our trail systems continue to be developed. This development would be greatly hindered by the passage of HB 2735 as it is presently drafted.
The Rails to Trails Conservancy has done a fantastic job with the development of both the Landon and Flint Hills Nature trails. This development is primarily done by private donations, grant money and volunteer labor. Presently the Landon trail is nearing completion into Topeka. As it currently stands, HB 2735 would undermine these efforts accomplished with little expense to the taxpayer; as well, we feel that private donations would be put in jeopardy for fear the money would go to pay taxes rather than for trail improvements.
In closing we would like to show our support of KanBikeWalk’s proposed amendment to HB 2735.
Read the bill as introduced (pdf).
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