Keystone Trail Robbery

WOWT reports that at 2:30am, Friday, July 10, an Omaha man was beaten and robbed while cycling on the Keystone Trail near 68th and Q.

Personally, I wouldn't ride any trail during these hours (technically, these trails are operated as "parks" and are subject to hours of operation), but would rather ride the streets. With street riding, there are more eyes out, plus a cyclist has more opportunities for escape routes should the situation turn foul.

Just remember, if you are riding the streets at night, you need lights to see by, and more importantly, to be seen by. It's also the law in Nebraska to have a forward facing white light if you ride at night.


View Keystone Trail Robbery, 2009-07-10 in a larger map

Frustrated on Dodge? Ride a Bike!

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the two-lane restriction on the busy Dodge Street corridor could last two weeks. This construction is to repair the subgrade underneath the pavement that was damaged during a water main incident earlier in the year.

An estimated 50,000 motor vehicles pass along this section of Dodge Street each day.

If you've got a bike, and you need to move between midtown and downtown, I think now would be a great time to start riding it. Just watch out for frustrated motorists trying to detour along the auxiliary through routes that cyclists are already using.

The picture to the right (credit, Alyssa Schukar/The World-Herald) shows traffic crawling along in two lanes where there are normally five. Though I am not a proponent of sidewalk riding, I can imagine just how fun it would be to organize a bike ride up and down the sidewalks, passing people multiple times at they take 10 minutes to move 10 blocks between 52nd and 62nd Streets.

Omaha Cycling Issues Discussed on KFAB Talk Radio

On Monday, May 18, 2009, from 6pm to 7pm, Marty Shukert and Mark Siepker appeared on the Tom Becka radio show on KFAB. They spoke about bicycling issues, with a special emphasis on cycling as transportation, which unfortunately, seemed to be lost on the host.

Thanks to Marty and Mark for taking their time to talk about the issues on-air. Thanks to the Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club for organizing the coat drive leading up to the radio appearance.

The KFAB web site is difficult to navigate, so I present the direct link to the recorded interview here: KFAB 5/18/2009, 6pm (mp3)

See also:

• Mayors Ride Update - bring a coat!
• A note from the Omaha Pedalers