We’re sure that you have seen recent opinion pieces published in the Wichita Eagle, criticizing the street improvements on Broadway and McLean. We’d like you to know that Bike Walk Wichita enthusiastically supports these improvements and similar changes throughout the City. We believe the criticisms are unfounded and inaccurate.
Projects turning 4-lane roads into 3-lane roads with a center turn lane are a dramatic safety enhancement for drivers, reducing excessive speeding and making turning much safer. More than that, reduced roadway width or a center median makes crossing safer for residents of all ages and abilities. These were leading reasons why we joined residents in endorsing the McLean project as it advanced through District 6 to City Council for approval.
The recent District 6 newsletter and city Q&A video do a great job of outlining these benefits. In fact, these projects have a consistent proven track record in Wichita and many other cities and have been widely endorsed by many organizations including the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of Retired People, and disability advocates. Mr Lefler’s criticisms of the changes are unfounded, relying on inflammatory language rather than reasoned arguments based on actual facts, crash data, and extensive experience from Wichita and other communities.
It is incorrect in stating that the main purpose of the project is to “slow you down”. The people it will slow down are primarily those who are driving above the speed limit. Excessive speeding has been an issue on McLean for years, accounting for numerous crashes. City staff measured traffic volume to ensure traffic flow remains steady. In addition, BWW volunteers recorded drone footage during “rush hour” while McLean was reduced to 2-lanes for construction. Traffic continued to flow steadily. City staff will continue monitoring. The primary goals of the project are to improve traffic safety and to create a safe crossing for pedestrians and people riding bikes to cross. There is no sidewalk along the West side to allow residents access to the Central or 13th Street crossings. 9th Street was already identified in the city’s Master Bike Plan as a good connector between the Zoo Blvd Path and downtown Wichita’s bike network, as it also connects to an Elementary school, senior living, and multiple neighborhoods.
The antiquated argument that the “intended purpose” and only permitted use for a road is for the “motoring public” ignores numerous resident surveys and data counts revealing increased utilization of bikes, pedestrians, and scooters in Wichita. This attitude ignores the need for pedestrians to be able to cross streets safely. Bicyclists are legally entitled to use local roads, yet we did not push for bike lanes as the Ark River Path runs parallel and there is not adequate space … bike lanes were never a goal of this project. A significant number of Wichita households, in some areas more than 20%, have no access to a car. It is essential that these households have a safe means of transportation. Safe walking and biking routes are critical for them. Over 150 people every year are killed or seriously injured while walking or biking in Wichita, including the two children that were recently hit and seriously injured. Wichita needs to do more to protect the kids who get hit by cars, the people who can’t afford a car and have to walk or ride, and the people who use their wheelchairs to go to the neighborhood store. The privileged attitude that the needs of anybody who is not driving at the moment are irrelevant is disheartening and dis-empowers anyone who, for any reason, is not part of the “motoring public” club.
It is inaccurate that these changes “create congestion”. In fact, they make the road safer by providing a dedicated turning lane that improves traffic flow. By preventing drivers who are slowing or stopped to turn from the inside lanes from slowing down pass-through traffic. Previously installed improvements across the city have not caused congestion. The opinion piece states that changes will add “10 minutes” to commuting times. According to the international traffic consulting company INRIX, Wichita was the least congested city in the United States for both 2017 and 2018. According to Phil Nelson, former Director of the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, drivers are delayed, on average, less than 30 seconds by congestion on any drive and the region has sufficient roadway capacity to accommodate another city the size of Wichita, and would still be able to adequately move traffic. Excluding trains, it is nearly impossible to add 10 minutes to one’s commute time in ICT…unless you are a pedestrian or person riding a bike, who is always expected to make detours, no matter how unsafe or how difficult, in order to maintain convenience for motorists.
It is inaccurate that the changes were imposed by the City “knowing better” how we should live. In fact, the McLean change was requested by residents more than three years ago and all the changes were approved by the City’s District Advisory Boards after input from multiple public meetings.
It is ridiculous to state that one can’t walk or ride a bicycle in Wichita 11 months out of the year. As a friend of Bike Walk Wichita, you know that many of us regularly ride and especially walk year round. The annual bicycle and pedestrian count conducted each year consistently shows that the number of people biking and walking in Wichita has increased 32% since 2012 and US Streets Blog ranked Wichita KS in the Top 10 US Cities for Increased Biking during the Pandemic. A growing number of residents who do not drive, whether due to income, health or ability, do not have many options to easily move around our city for work, errands, or pleasure. The bike racks on the front of the buses are full, even when snow is on the ground.
The main purpose of the articles seems to be to create controversy and generate more “clicks” for the paper, rather than to engage in any meaningful discussion of what is best for Wichita and its residents. Given the level of misleading and inaccurate statements made in the opinion articles, we are even afraid that some readers could come away more confused and less informed than when before they read the article.
The recent Broadway restriping between 13th Street and 21st Street North, that reduced the lanes to 3 with bike lanes, did not cost $61,000 as Lefler claims. The Broadway repavement and improvements were already planned, and included, as always, funding for the restriping. So technically, the bike lanes did not cost extra as implied.
Finally, encouraging residents to illegally destroy city property is disappointing.
Bike Walk Wichita enthusiastically supports the changes and believes that these improvements will continue to advance our mission to transform Wichita into a more livable, accessible, connected city by making biking and walking safe, equitable, and appealing. Thank you to ALL of the residents, city staff, and decision makers who work to balance the interests and needs of all residents.
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