By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Police Department is “excited” about the new Bike Hays program, according to bike patrol officer Cpl. Brandon Hauptman.

A new brochure, “Bike Hays Biking Guide,” promotes seven routes across the community ranging in length from 2.15 miles to 3.04 miles.  The bike routes use current street infrastructure, and environmental and open spaces to minimize hazards.

There is also a new 1.25 mile multipurpose path on West 41st Street, which is part of the recently completed reconstruction between Hall Street and the U.S. 183 Bypass.

Concrete paths are under construction as part of the Big Creek dike rehabilitation. Big Creek Trail will wind 1.70 miles between the U.S. 183 Bypass and Old U.S. 40 and include portions of Fort Hays State University campus and several parks in southwest Hays.

In all, there will be a little more than 2.75 miles of concrete path and 18 miles of on-street segments implemented this year to create the Bike Hays system.

Hauptman urged caution to both bicyclists and motorists in safely sharing the road.

“When the bike lanes are provided — such as on 13th Street east of Vine Street — state law requires bicyclists to use those lanes. On roads where there is not a bike lane, bicyclists have the right to use the lanes of the road just as motorists do,” Hauptman said. “So, we’re reminding people to be watching for each other — motorists watching for bicyclists, bicyclists watching for motorists — making sure everybody is safe.”

May is National Bike Month; Friday, May 15, is National Bike to Work Day.

The Bike Hays Biking Guide is available free at Hays City Hall and the Hays Welcome Center.

More information about Bike Hays is available online at www.bikehays.com.