Prairie Village mayor candidates on the issues: Improving bicycle friendliness

Photo via the Prairie Village Yacht Club

Today, our sixth and final question for the Prairie Village mayor candidates:

Prairie Village has an active cycling community (as evidenced by the large group ride that departs from the Blue Moose Thursdays). What steps can the city take to be more bike friendly? Would you support the addition of dedicated bike lanes on city streets and parks?

Councilman Michael Kelly:

As fuel prices rise, cycling is not just a sport: It’s now a common mode of alternative transportation. Cycling provides an excellent opportunity for Prairie Village to set an example for other communities.

Michael Kelly

As a councilman, I created and led the Tour de PV Committee. The race was to be a USA Cycling-sanctioned Criterium (closed loop) race that would have offered many flights for children, beginners, and professionals. It also would have served as a fundraiser for our Sister City Committee. We had support from local cyclists and the Prairie Village Police Department. Unfortunately, USAC has issues with our route that have not yet been able to overcome. As mayor I will work to make the Tour de PV a reality.

As mayor I will also pursue bike lanes, share the road signage, and secure bike parking — and newer ideas such as green boxes at intersections that direct cars away from areas where bikes can congregate, keeping everyone on the road safer.

As mayor, I will direct our staff to apply for recognition from the League of American Cyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Earning this designation requires that we implement economical features that make our roads safer for everyone. With simple planning we can cost-effectively implement many of the elements required for Prairie Village to earn this designation.

As mayor I will create a Prairie Village Cycling Advisory Committee. I will ask representatives of cycling clubs in our area to help us design a more bike-friendly Prairie Village. With minimal investments we can make Prairie Village a showcase destination for active adults across the region.

On April 5, please vote for leadership that is energetically committed to fulfilling Prairie Village’s potential. My goal is to knock on 2500 doors this month. I hope to meet you! Please visit www.mikeformayorpv.com. We need your support!

Mayor Ron Shaffer:

I support the Prairie Village Parks and Recreation Committee’s Master Plan that was adopted by the city council in 2010. The Master Plan was developed by a team of highly qualified individuals who surveyed, studied, reviewed and prioritized the city’s recreational needs. The plan identified a trail system to provide safe, accessible corridors for a walk-able city. These trails are for use by recreational cyclists, runners, walkers and families with children. The trails will ultimately be connected to our city parks as well as trail systems throughout the metro area. Our first segment of the trail system is planned to be built in 2011 from Mission Road to Franklin Park.

Mayor Ron Shaffer

The Master Plan also encourages the future study and development of dedicated bike lanes to serve serious cyclists, such as the group mentioned, as well as promote and increase daily bicycle commuting. Avid cyclists want to use the streets and should have the same rights as motorists. The Prairie Village Police Department has worked with cycling groups to protect them from injury and educate the cyclists in defensive riding. Dedicated bike lanes would provide the option for creating a safer experience for cyclists.

We are a fully built-out city, with established streets, sidewalks, street side amenities and rights-of-ways. The addition of bike lanes to our streets would require considerations such as street right-of-way width, street conditions, traffic patterns, safety and signage. As bike lanes are considered and an overall plan developed, each proposed dedicated bike lane would need to coincide with that streets schedule for renovation/replacement.

I would support a study by the Public Works Department to investigate the ways and means to become more bike friendly by facilitating dedicated bike lanes, if there is sufficient interest from our residents.  Ultimately, it is my wish for Prairie Village to be equally safe and enjoyable for all motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

Thanks to both of the candidates for their participation, and to everyone who contributed to the online discussion!