The Dirty Kanza has turned the Emporia area into a cycle-friendly community, and it certainly has become more bicycle-savvy since the DK began 14 years ago.
However, there are still safety concerns when it comes to bikes, pedestrians and vehicles locally.
Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch urged drivers and cyclists to be vigilant when it comes to traffic this weekend — and beyond.
Koelsch, a member of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, says everybody — cyclists, pedestrians and drivers — need to be more aware of their surroundings, and 2017 data from the Kansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan demonstrates why. Vehicle occupant deaths have declined the last eight years while cyclist and pedestrian deaths have increased in these types of crashes. The most vulnerable ages for fatalities or disabling injuries among cyclists and pedestrians are people under age 14 and over age 70. Most fatality or disabling crashes happen at places other than intersections.
Koelsch says the number of cyclists is increasing, but the state infrastructure has not kept up with that increase to make sure everybody is as safe as possible.
