Bicyclists and government officials met at Mokas Downtown. last Wednesday night at 6:30pm. In addition to the wide variety of bicyclists in attendance, also visiting were:
- Lt. Lamer, Salina Police Department
- Lt. Lytton, KS Highway Patrol
- Lt. Anderson, Saline County Sheriff’s Dept.
- Aaron Householder, City Commissioner
- Randy Duncan, County Commissioner
- Bill Hall, USD305 Superintendent
- Del Myers, Saline County Health Department
- Bob Ash, City of Salina, Parks Department
- Mike Fraser, City of Salina,
- Dennis Lauver, Chamber of Commerce
- Phyll Klima, Salina Downtown, Inc.
- Shaun Jones, BikeTek
The goal of the meeting was to discuss what it would take for Salina to become friendly to pedestrians (walkers/runners#, bicyclists, and motorists. Facilitated by Dr. Phil Black, Dir. of Communication for JRI Management #Mokas and Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers#, the attendees talked about the programs to get people to use seat belts as an example of a cultural shift needed to make Salina friendly to all forms of transportation. Obviously the shift in seat belt use did not happen overnight and that is the way this group approached our goal of making Salina pedestrian, bicycle, and motorist friendly. Taken a step further, the attendees talked about the idea not only making Salina friendly to all forms of transportation but how to get citizens of Salina/Saline County to be proud of it. The group felt that having these two goals in place would make it easier to address specifics like bike lanes vs. bike paths, and so on.
Dennis Lauver read from a study by a group that is otherwise extremely conservative politically but who suggested the future will have bike-friendly roads and bike paths as integral to quality of life issues. Lauver went on to say that quality of life is one of the four things a company looks for when considering a move to a city. They don’t want to get a call from a new general manager saying “Get me out of here!”
Shawn Jones, owner of Salina’s BikeTek said that he gets calls weekly from people visiting, asking if there are any safe places in Salina to ride their bikes. Lt. Lytton of the Highway Patrol says he lives in the area and no longer feels safe running or bicycling in the area.
As facilitator, Black kept the comments from the crowd positive, not allowing comments to become antagonistic. All participants agreed that pedestrians, bicyclists, and automobile drivers in the majority were already friendly but that each group has “bad apples.” However, as Black pointed out, in a collision between a car and a bike, the bike will lose as will the pedestrian in a collision between a pedestrian and a bike. Secondly, since there is no age limitation for pedestrians and bicyclists, we can’t assume adult behavior and care on the part of all bicyclists and pedestrians.
Talk turend to the current City Comprehensive Plan and what needs to be included. Mike Fraser from the City of Salina updated the group on the considerable progress in connecting all the dots. Bill Hall said the School District is working with the City to that end.
Del Myers from the Saline County Health Department described a grant that the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition is working on and that one of the requirements was that there be lots of community partnerships. Meeting participants felt the first part of the grant – planning – might be a good way to move forward.
The group decided to meet again Wednesday night, August 15th, 6:30pm at Mokas Downtown to go over the Comprehensive plan and make suggestions as to what should be added and perhaps to hear from the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition about helping with the grant.
The group has a Facebook page called Salina Bicycle Advocacy Group. Among the bicyclists last night in attendance were two who had complete the Bike Across Kansas tour #one had done it 13 times#, current and retired public school teachers, one current and one retired college professor, the Cruiser Cult Group #they ride Cruiser bikes#, Shawn Jones of BikeTek, a number of families with kids, some recreational riders, and several commuters #including the facilitator, (Phil Black#.)