Meridian Avenue, between 71st and I-235, used to be two lanes. In 2007, parts of it had posted speed limits of 35 mph. Further north, the speed limit was 40, but the road was shaded on either side by large trees, which narrowed the field of vision and naturally encouraged drivers to drive more slowly.

Wichita’s City Commissioners in the 1920s had an idea, one shared by many other city leaders across the nation. Wichita was going to create a zoning ordinance. It was a decision that would profoundly impact the city’s walkability.

Ugly strip malls and endless parking lots were being constructed, impacting farmland and water quality across the county. Core neighborhoods such as Delano suffered as a result.

“Revert multilane one-ways to two-way for safety,” argues urban planner Jeff Speck in Walkability City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places.[2] One-way, like First or Second, appears safe, Speck notes, because there are fewer chances for head-on collisions.

“Revert multilane one-ways to two-way for safety,” argues urban planner Jeff Speck in Walkability City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places.[2] One-way, like First or Second, appears safe, Speck notes, because there are fewer chances for head-on collisions.

Bike Walk Wichita to launch Walkable Wednesdays, a new blog series exploring what makes a city truly walkable—and how Wichita can rise to the challenge.