Watch For Me OK
Feb 11, 2026
The planner Jeff Speck’s ‘theory of walkability’ proposes that people will only walk and bike when the walk or bike is safe, useful, comfortable, and interesting.Â
If we do a simple mental audit of our OKC metro streets, we can conclude that our scattered bike lanes are:Â
not safe for all ages and abilities as they are often only made of paint or sharrows, lack lighting, and abruptly end, forcing riders to make quick decisions;
often not useful for moving us directly to work, play, and other life essentials, as trails are often designed for recreation and as bike lanes are often built on routes with few destinations;
rarely comfortable due to the lack of shade, a smooth ride, lighting, and scenery;
often not interesting as they frequently lack art, nature, or connection to commercial districts and population centers.Â
The North American Council of Transportation Officials (NACTO) illustrates a true bike network (pictured below) that delivers on safety, usefulness, comfort, and interest in their network diagram, which connects people to all types of daily needs—work, home, play, dining, and friends—by way of principal routes or spines and neighborhood routes.
A cycling network, then, connects us with key origins and destinations. If the network does not get people where they need to go, they simply will not use it, and it should not be labeled a network at all.
Our Metro Network and Future Network Plans
As Central Oklahoma’s metropolitan planning organization (MPO), ACOG’s centralized bike network synthesizes the region’s cycling plans (below).Â
The OKC metro is massive, and simply biking alone often cannot get you where you need to go. Many people combine bus and bike trips to efficiently bridge gaps. Below are resources on current bike routes and facilities as well as transit options that can aid in getting around the region.Â
Edmond
Norman
Oklahoma City