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Cycling advocates ask Wichita to reinstate bike lanes on Topeka and Market streets
Summary
Bike Walk Wichita urged the council to restore on‑street bike lanes on Topeka and Market, citing repeated aggressive driving incidents; Public Works said downtown conversions and parking make full lanes difficult but that Broadway is the prioritized north‑south bike corridor and a Safe Streets for All grant was submitted.
WICHITA, Kan. — Bike Walk Wichita told the City Council Sept. 3 that removing bike lanes on Topeka and Market has made commuting by bicycle unsafe for many residents and urged reinstatement of protected lanes.
"Without a bike lane or space for protection... I was really scared for my safety," said Holly Terrell, executive director of Bike Walk Wichita, recounting repeated aggressive driving encounters this summer. Terrell said dedicated bike lanes reduce conflicts and increase confidence for older adults and people who rely on bicycles for essential travel.
Paul Gunsmond of Public Works said the city updated its bicycle master plan in 2024 and that Broadway is being developed as the primary north‑south corridor. He said the recent downtown conversion to two‑way streets and added diagonal parking constrained the space available on Market and Topeka for an on‑street lane in each direction. "I don't believe there's room for 1 lane each direction, parking on both sides, and an on‑street path," Gunsmond told the council, but he added staff will continue to evaluate options and pursue grant funding for protected lanes.
Vice Mayor John Stern and other council members acknowledged cyclist safety concerns and suggested maintenance issues such as sand in bike lanes should also be addressed. Staff said the city submitted a Safe Streets for All grant to pursue protected bike facilities on Broadway and will continue to examine alternative lane configurations downtown.
