A bill that would designate Route 66 in Oklahoma as part of the U.S. Bicycle Route faced skepticism from several lawmakers in the state legislature.
According to a report in the Tulsa World, the Oklahoma Legislature’s Transportation Committee advanced the bill “reluctantly”:
ODOT Director Tim Gatz and several legislators expressed concern about doing so given the general condition of the old highway.
“I’ve ridden on these roads,” said Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa. “They’re not bike friendly.”
“I’d be much more comfortable if we could approach this from a different direction until we can say, ‘Yes, it’s safe for bikes to be out there,’” said Gatz.
According to the committee report, it advanced by only a 7-5 vote.
House Bill 1706, introduced last month by state Rep. John Talley (R-Stillwater), would require the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to place “suitable permanent markers marking the route.” If it becomes law, it would go into effect on Nov. 1.
Missouri has all of its section of Route 66 designated as a U.S. Bicycle Route.
The Adventure Cycling Association has this explanation of the U.S. Bicycle Routes:
The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a developing national network of bicycle routes connecting urban and rural communities via signed roads and trails. Created with public input, U.S. Bicycle Routes direct bicyclists to a preferred route through a city, county, or state – creating opportunities for people everywhere to bicycle for travel, transportation, and recreation.
(Image of the U.S. Bicycle Route 66 sign via Wikipedia)
When one thinks of the way some cyclists go out of their way to find bad surfaces to ride over (notably mountain bikers), just what does the ODoT define as ” safe for bikes”? No doubt, being Usa (the United States of America), there will be a hundred lawyers licking their lips at the chance to sue the ODoT the moment a cyclist takes a tumble, no matter whose fault it is. How about another acronym: RAYOR – Ride At Your Own Risk?