Be the first to Bike new Olathe Overpass

When: 10:30 AM, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006

Where: 127th and Mur-Len (east side of the overpass) in Olathe, KS

The horse-drawn Mahaffie Stagecoach will be the first "Official" vehicle over the long-awaited 127th Street/I-35 Overpass in Olathe. Lets make bicycles the second to cross. (Well, we may have to wait for dignitaries and invited guests.)

While there is no documentation to prove it, I'd bet bicycles were travelling down the Santa Fe Trail and Kansas City Road before automobiles. After all bicycles, in one form or another, existed long before our gas guzzling roadway partners. Let's show our presence by respectfully showing the leaders of Olathe, Johnson County and Kansas, bicycles are a viable component of our transportation system. Does anyone ride a hgih-wheel? That would be even better!

The more the merrier.for a peaceful, respectful demonstration of bicyclist's presence and rights to the road and to show support for the Draft Olathe Bicycle Transportation Plan (www.olatheks.org - Click "More News")

This much anticipated addition to Olathe's roadway system is touted as saving the average Olathe resident 10-minutes a day from either direct use of the overpass or reduced traffic on other interstate crossings. For bicyclists the saving is even greater. The overpass will save bicyclists 5.25 to 5.5 miles (not counting the overloaded 119th st. and Santa Fe interchanges). In town, this averages 20-30 minutes of travel time for bicyclists.

See Olathe press release below.

Dale Crawford, JCBC Advocacy Chair

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The offical City of Olathe Press Release issued Today, Dec. 18:

Grand Opening of New 127th St. Overpass Planned for Thursday, December 21
Weather permitting, the City of Olathe will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 127th Street overpass over I-35 at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 21. The ceremony will be held at 127th and Mur-Len.

After cutting the ribbon, the Mahaffie stagecoach will be the first official "vehicle" to travel on 127th Street over I-35. The 127th Street overpass will help reduce east/west traffic congestion on Santa Fe and 119th Street. Studies indicate the new 127th Street overpass will reduce east/west travel times by 10 minutes for all drivers in Olathe.