Manhattan to celebrate Bike Month in May
The city of Manhattan will be teaming up with local businesses to promote bicycle usage during Bike Month, which will take place throughout the month of May.
May 2015 was proclaimed as Bike Month by former mayor Wynn Butler earlier in April. Manhattan is ranked as a bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community and is one of only three communities in Kansas recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as being bike friendly.
Joey Lightner, city of Manhattan bicycle coordinator, said he encourages residents to become more active as bicyclists this spring.
“We live in a great community where people can bike from one place to another easily,” Lightner said in a Little Apple Post article Monday. “For residents looking to improve their fitness, lose weight and be healthier, now is the perfect time to start biking.”
Several events are planned throughout Bike Month, such as the Commuter Challenge – a competition between teams to see who can rack up the most mileage from walking and biking.
Manhattan has invested more than $90,000 in bicycle-related infrastructure projects and has $110,000 planned for projects through 2016, according to the Little Apple Post.
The city of Manhattan has several tips for motorist-bicyclist interactions, including leaving a minimum of 3 feet between a bike and a motor vehicle, checking for bicyclists when driving and not cutting them off when turning right, and checking for bicyclists before opening a vehicle’s door.
It should also be noted that harassing or endangering a bicyclist is considered reckless endangerment – a misdemeanor offense.
Cost to defend new anti-abortion law could cost state $450,000
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt told legislators that defending the recently passed anti-abortion law in court could cost the state of Kansas up to $450,000, according to KSNT.
The law, which takes effect in July, bans a procedure used in the second trimester known as dilation and evacuation. Critics of method refer to it as “dismembering a fetus,” according to the article.
Schmidt informed legislators of the potential costs after abortion providers said they are considering a lawsuit against the statute; anti-abortion leaders are confident the new law will withstand a legal challenge.
Schmidt’s office has paid outside attorneys $1.2 million to since 2011 to defend anti-abortion laws, and they have yet to lose a case. Kansas is the first state to enact a ban on this specific abortion procedure.
