By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
Keep your eyes open for bicyclists when you are driving in Barton County. That's one of the messages Barton County Commissioners wanted to convey when they declared May as National Bike Month in the county. Motorists are urged to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities by being aware of cyclists.
Dale Hogg, a committee member of Be Well Barton County, is an avid cyclist. He gave the county good marks for improving the cycling experience.
“Over the years, Barton County has done a great deal to help cycling,” Hogg said. “They have this signage around many county blacktops. I’ve heard from cyclists and motorists. Both appreciate having that additional awareness of one another on the roadways.”
Hogg pointed out that a bicycle is a good mode of transportation to see the county close-up.
“B.J. Wooding, the county cartographer, has created a wonderful cycling map that has landmarks as well as suggested bicycling routes around the county. It's available on the Be Well Barton County website as well as the bike shop and other locations around town.”
Since 2019, Great Bend has been a stop on the Trans-America Bicycle Trail that stretches between Astoria, Oregon and Yorktown, Virginia. Hogg told commissioners that a campground on the lawn behind Central Christian Church on Harrison Street has been very popular with cyclists that travel on the cross-country trail. The church and the Be Well Barton County group have set up a bicycle repair area there as well as a charging station for cell phones.