Recently two van loads of trail enthusiasts took a tour of Leavenworth County to do some ground-truthing on the value and safety of our county roads and bridges for bike riding and walking.
We all agreed that Leavenworth County is a treasure full with bucolic country scenery and landscapes that would be enjoyed by any outdoor enthusiast.
The roads and bridges are safe enough for Roadies, that is, those of us who ride good quality road bikes. The traffic is really minimal compared to other roads in the Kansas City Metro region and the drivers are OK with bikers as long as the bikers follow the rules for good riding.
We all wished that the roads were wider and that they had hard shoulders with no rumble strips, though, because the county roads are not family-friendly. No one would suggest that you take your kids out on these roads for regular rides in the country because kids are more likely to wander away from the roadside.
The roadsides also drop into deep hollows on most of the roads, so someone crashing into the ditch could actually disappear for a long time in the summer. One suggestion from a military spouse who has plenty of experience outside of Leavenworth County was to add call boxes along the roadsides for emergencies.
The call boxes could be used by anyone having a problem, not just bike riders. I think that if they were placed so that they were not likely to be damaged by snow removal or other road maintenance work, that emergency call boxes would be a good idea to improve safety.
I get an adrenaline rush when I ride somewhere and I do not know for sure just where I am and how far it is to anywhere and it is getting dark on a road with no lights. If you are new to the county, this is a very likely scenario unless you are carrying a GPS-supported device to let you know your location.
There is a degree of safety associated with taking a ride and maybe making a wrong turn, even if you have a map. That is true even if you are in a motorized vehicle. Our county is not the open prairie where you can see into the next county from a hill top. You are more likely to be sitting on a road with trees or corn on both sides and visibility that only goes a few yards in the summer.
Better road markers that actually tell you what lies down that road at every intersection would lower the adrenaline rush that you get when you are lost, but it might make it safer, too.
One feature that our group wants to provide on a new county map is a rating for road and bridge safety. For example, a road may be rated well for Roadies, but poorly for family groups. This map will also include individual blow-up maps for each city so that walking trails can be highlighted.
Leavenworth and Lansing are already doing a great job of providing outstanding walking trails in the cities. Lots of folks use the new Three-Mile Creek Trail and Wagga Wagga sidewalk. I live in Lansing and regularly see folks running and walking on an assortment of nice wide sidewalks.
Newly-arrived residents will really appreciate such a map because it shortens the time that it takes to discover those safe walking areas to get exercise.
Next month we will explore the southern side of the county and check out Tonganoxie and Basehor to see what they have to offer.
Matt Nowak lives in Lansing and works as a natural resources manager.
