City of Shawnee

Cycling

Shawnee was the first City in the Kansas City Metro area to adopt a bicycle transportation plan that incorporated on-road and off-road bicycle facilities.

Shawnee earned a Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and was specially recognized for engineering and encouragement.

With over 18 miles of on-street bike lanes, 40.8 miles of share-the-road lanes, and 27.6 miles of off-street recreational trails -- along with state and local laws that are observed and enforced to protect bicyclists -- Shawnee strives to enable safe and enjoyable bicycling experiences for residents and visitors.

Laws Governing Bicyclists in Shawnee

On the road, the same traffic rules and regulations for vehicle drivers apply to bicyclists.

Per Kansas statute, “Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.”

In general, when riding on roadways, a bicyclist must:

  • Ride on the right-hand side of the road, and with the flow of traffic – not against it.
  • Yield to crossing traffic.
  • Yield when changing lanes.
  • Be positioned in traffic according to one’s speed: parked/stopped next to the curb, slower-moving toward the right, faster-moving closest to the center line.
  • Control the lane. In a narrow lane, ride in the center of the lane or just to the right – this is legal in all states. In a wide lane (14’ or more) that you can share safely, ride about three feet to the right of the motorized traffic.
  • Be positioned carefully at intersections so as to avoid conflicts with the movement of other drivers. Most vehicle/bicycle crashes occur during turns. Think about where you would position yourself if you were driving a car. Be in the correct lane, and position within the lane, for each turning scenario.
Tips to Prevent Crashes

Bicyclist errors causing the most accidents include:

  • Wrong-way riding, facing traffic
  • Making a left turn from the right side of the road
  • Failure to yield from driveway
  • Running a stop sign or signal
  • Swerving in front of a car

The League of American Bicyclists recommends five steps towards crash prevention:

  1. Control the bike – about half of crashers are single rider falls. Skillful control when starting, stopping, signaling and turning smoothly will prevent single falls as well as collisions with other cyclists, animals and pedestrians.
  2. Obey the rules – about half of vehicle/bike crashes result from unsafe decisions. Following traffic laws and using correct lanes for turns and through movements reduces collisions.
  3. Choose the correct lane position – Know when to control and when to share the lane. Use lane position to tell drivers what you are doing.
  4. Learn hazard avoidance skills – bike safety information and training are available through local bike clubs and stores.
  5. Wear a helmet – sometimes all skills and techniques fail and there is a crash. Helmets have been likened to the seat belts and air bags in a vehicle.
Bicycle Awareness for Motorists

On the road, the same traffic rules and regulations for vehicle drivers apply to bicyclists.

Per Kansas statute, “Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.”

In general, when riding on roadways, a bicyclist must:

  • Ride on the right-hand side of the road, and with the flow of traffic – not against it.
  • Yield to crossing traffic.
  • Yield when changing lanes.
  • Be positioned in traffic according to one’s speed: parked/stopped next to the curb, slower-moving toward the right, faster-moving closest to the center line.
  • Control the lane. In a narrow lane, ride in the center of the lane or just to the right – this is legal in all states. In a wide lane (14’ or more) that you can share safely, ride about three feet to the right of the motorized traffic.
  • Be positioned carefully at intersections so as to avoid conflicts with the movement of other drivers. Most motor-vehicle/bicycle crashes occur during turns. Think about where you would position yourself if you were driving a car. Be in the correct lane, and position within the lane, for each turning scenario.

    Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.
E-Bikes in the Parks
Class 1 and Class 3 E-Bikes are allowed on Shawnee's trails. 

Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes are defined as low-speed bicycles with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one horsepower) . The top speed that can be generated by the motor is 20 miles per hour for Class 1, and 28 miles per hour for Class 3. E-bikes must be pedaled to activate the motor.

League of American Bicyclists