Frequently Asked Questions
Where are bike lanes planned in Tulsa?
- In general, the City is adding bike lanes where the GO Plan calls for them (see map) when there is additional work on that road segment, and as funding becomes available. The GO Plan is a long-term vision dependent on funding, and so it will take several years before most of the proposed bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, and other projects are built or installed. Conditions, recommendations, and best practices could also change over time, so keep in mind that the plan could change quite a bit.
How will I know if new bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, or other projects are being installed near me?
- The type of advance notice depends on the type of work being completed, but in general, the City’s Engineering Services department will reach out to surrounding businesses and neighbors before any work begins.
- If part of a street reconstruction project, folks nearby can expect to participate early in the design process and then provide feedback on design options through public meetings. They will then receive mailed notice before any construction work begins.
- When a street’s lane markings are being re-painted and reconfigured to include on-street parking or bike lanes, Engineering Services will alert the area’s City Councilor, and spread the word to neighbors through local news outlets. There is usually little interaction with neighbors for a re‑striping project because the GO Plan was developed with community input on where new bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, and other projects should be built, but the City is working on increasing neighbor communications about these kinds of projects.
Why does Tulsa need bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails?
- Not everyone in Tulsa owns a car, and thousands of people rely on walking, biking, or transit to get around. Bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, and safe crossings make it safer, more comfortable, and more convenient for all our residents to get where they need to go. This includes the 14,000-plus households that do not own a car and the 68,000 that have only one car for the entire household. The City of Tulsa is committed to making our streets safer and more comfortable for every resident and visitor.
- A growing number of people want to bike or walk as their primary mode of transportation, and voters overwhelmingly approved funding for implementing the GO Plan in both Improve Our Tulsa sales tax packages.
- For decades, our streets have been designed only with high-speed car traffic in mind, with little or no thought toward other road users, leaving anyone without a car in a very dangerous situation. Beginning in 2012 with the adoption of a Complete Streets Policy, the City of Tulsa has been making strides toward improving conditions for everyone who uses our roads, including transit riders, bicyclists, pedestrians, folks in wheelchairs, and
- Tulsa is growing, and demand for infrastructure that makes it easier to bike, walk, and take transit is only going to increase, especially as new This Machine bikeshare stations and new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes are introduced, and as more mixed-use developments are built along those corridors.
- Separated bike lanes and sidewalks increase safety and reduce fatalities both for people riding bikes or walking and for people driving. Tulsa is the 47th largest city in the U.S. but ranks 26th in pedestrian fatalities, and between 2019 to 2020, pedestrian fatalities increased 66% in Tulsa. Tulsa pedestrians involved in a collision are nine times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than someone in a car, and Tulsa cyclists involved in a collision are five times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than someone in a car.
- Bike lanes are also good for business. Adding bike lanes has been shown to increase sales at shops and restaurants.
Does anyone use the bike lanes?
- Yes! The average person riding a bicycle for transportation is not clad in spandex, and mostly goes unnoticed. Just because you might not see someone using an existing bike lane when you step outside doesn’t mean the bike lane is going unused. More than 14,000 households in Tulsa do not own a car, and 68,000 households have only one car for the entire family/group.
- Cities also build neighborhood streets that look empty most of the time, but like bike lanes, they are critical to the people who use them. Imagine if the City decided to not build neighborhood streets to people’s homes because only a small number of people use them—it would be described as unfair because access to one’s home is a basic service everyone expects the City to provide. Everyone deserves safe, connected, comfortable access to home, jobs, shops, and services, regardless of the kind of transportation they use.
- Having separated or protected bike lanes can also encourage more people to try cycling in the first place because it is safer and much more comfortable than riding a bike in a lane with cars, trucks, delivery vehicles, and buses. Protected bike lanes also help parents feel more comfortable letting their kids bike to school.
I’m in a hurry and bike lanes slow down traffic. Can we fix that?
- Traffic sometimes moves slower on streets that have had a lane removed to add bike lanes, wider sidewalks, or parking. This can sometimes cause a delay at rush hour, but slower traffic helps save lives. The severity of injuries and the chance of a pedestrian dying from a collision increase dramatically as vehicle speed increases. Pedestrians are about 70 percent more likely to be killed if they’re struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 mph versus 25 mph.
- About 90% of pedestrians survive a crash with a passenger car at a collision speed of 25 miles per hour. At a collision speed of 50 mph, the chance of survival is less than 50%, and at a collision speed of 60 mph, only 10% of pedestrians survive. Survival rates are even lower for older adults.
- The risk of serious injury and death increases at higher speeds for passengers inside a vehicle, as well. Driving at slower speeds reduces stopping distances, making it easier for drivers to avoid hitting people or other cars in the first place.
There’s a street I think should have bike lanes but it’s not listed in the GO Plan. How do I make that suggestion?
Where can I ride a scooter/E-scooter?
- Scooters may be ridden all around Tulsa, with some rules for which portions of the rights-of-way they are allowed to be ridden on. Please note: private businesses may have their own rules regarding their sidewalks and parking lots
- Generally, scooters can be ridden on sidewalks in Tulsa, but they are not allowed on sidewalks in Downtown Tulsa within the IDL, on Cherry Street between 33rd and 36th Streets, and Brookside from Peoria to Utica. Violators may be fined or ticketed. In those areas, scooters should use the roadway, or where they exist, bike lanes.
- Scooter riders are encouraged to ride in bike lanes in Tulsa. Scooter riders must yield to cyclists in the bike lanes and yield to pedestrians whenever riding on a sidewalk (where allowed).
- Learn the rules around scooters in this City ordinance.
Who should I talk to if I’m concerned about a bike lane or other project in my area?
- For City Councilors, its best to reach out to Engineering. Should discussions with Engineering warrant action, please loop in the Communications Department.
- For residents with questions on bike lanes, it is usually best to talk to your City Councilor. Visit the Tulsa City Council to find the City Councilor for your area, along with their contact information.
Where do I report problems like cars blocking or driving in bike lanes?
- To report vehicles blocking or driving in bike lanes, call the non-emergency number for the Tulsa Police Department: (918) 596-9222, or report the problem via the 311 app, website, or phone number (dial 3-1-1).
- If the issue is in Downtown, you may also contact the Downtown Tulsa Partnership for assistance.
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