Lawrence’s Bike Plan Steering Committee is nearing completion of an updated plan that city staff say will shape bicycle safety and infrastructure priorities for the next five years. There will be an opportunity for the public to provide comments.
The plan isn’t intended to be a guide for cyclists to know where it is or isn’t safe to ride. Rather, it is to inform the city on where there should be an increase in bike infrastructure.
Staff emphasized that the map is not a route recommendation for the public, but rather a planning tool used to prioritize future bikeway improvements.
“It’s a way to check in every five years, make sure that the goals and policies and plans still represent the community’s values,” said Stephen Mason, a city transportation planner.
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The plan also incorporates crash data and route-comfort analysis to help guide future projects. Metropolitan Planning Organization staff said the city is trying to use that information to build a network that is more accessible for children, families and less confident riders, while still supporting everyday transportation.
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Mason said the plan is important because it gives Lawrence a regular chance to check whether its bicycle goals still match community values. They also said the update will help the city prioritize projects and support future grant applications and funding decisions.
One of the main points of discussion Wednesday was how the plan should define e-bikes, e-scooters and higher-powered electric motorcycles. Committee members suggested the draft should more clearly separate e-motorcycles from low-speed electric bicycles so the plan does not blur different vehicle types.
Jessica Mortinger, transportation planning manager, said the team would review the language and compare it with state law, local ordinances and regional guidance. She said broader questions about whether those devices can be ridden may need to be addressed through other policy channels rather than solely through the bike plan.
Committee member Jared Gab also questioned the updated Bicycle Level of Comfort map, which rates how comfortable streets are based largely on posted speed and traffic volume. Gab said the map does not always match his own sense of where biking feels safe or manageable, especially on roads they would personally let their children ride on.
The revised model aligns more closely with national All Ages and Abilities standards, which include children, people with disabilities and less experienced riders, and is designed to help planners identify where improvements are most needed.
“The biggest focus of this planning process has been meeting that NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials) All Ages and Abilities guidelines,” said Adia Witherspoon, a city transportation planner.
The update reflects more than a year and a half of work, along with surveys, focus groups and previous committee discussions. The draft responds to community concerns about safer crossings, better connections and more separation from traffic.
The committee is finalizing the draft after Wednesday’s meeting, and it will soon be posted online for a 15-day public comment period.
Community members can submit feedback by email to [email protected], by mail to Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, PO Box 708, or by attending relevant public meetings.
After the comment period ends, the committee will review feedback before the plan moves through the MPO and city approval steps ahead of implementation.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
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