South side trails should dramatically improve with MAPS 4, and I'm looking forward to it.

Do you know if the plan is to complete the outer southside loop? And will it will be more than sidewalks and streets? It feels as if this portion of the trails is a decade behind where it should be.

Don't forget that the southside grand trail was one of the first in the network, and as such needs LOTS of work/updates/beautification. Personally I'd like to see some of that happen as well.

I've only seen a few things (and come to think of it, it was before MAPS4 stuff was getting organized, so it's probably actually BSSC funded) that I don't think were final, but I know one focus is connecting to OCCC and Draper from Grand trail, but there were other bodies of water/greenways that were being looked at on the South side for trail addition. Not sure where all that stands presently, but I'd bet the BSSC minutes have some of that info.

I didn't see a fee listed on the city's website. How does the fee work? Is their a portion of the trail you can ride for free? Thanks!

I am terribly disappointed in the trails network south of the river. Outside of Draper, it seems to be comprised of only sidewalks and streets.

There is no fee to use the lake Draper trail which goes all around the lake and is very nice. Lot of walkers, runners and bikers.

There is a $ 10 fee a year to use the Mountain bike trails on post road, on the north side of the lake. Most of the money goes back to OEF for the maintenance of the dirt trails.

Regards

There is no fee to use the lake Draper trail which goes all around the lake and is very nice. Lot walkers, runners and bikers.

There is a $ 10 fee a year to use the Mountain bike trails on post road, on the north side of the lake. Most of the money goes back to OEF for the maintenance of the dirt trails.

Regards

Thank you! I have just started riding again and it will be a while before i am ready to tackle mountain trails.

Thank you! I have just started riding again and it will be a while before i am ready to tackle mountain trails.

The Huff & Puff trail is a good start to get back on the trails... 1 mile... Nothing to technical.... Watch out for the handful of sandy spots... They can take you down.

There is no fee to use the lake Draper trail which goes all around the lake and is very nice. Lot of walkers, runners and bikers.

There is a $ 10 fee a year to use the Mountain bike trails on post road, on the north side of the lake. Most of the money goes back to OEF for the maintenance of the dirt trails.

Regards

To use the trails on the North Side of Lake Stanley Draper Drive the annual fee is $25, the daily fee is $2. There is no discount for either seniors or veterans. Permits can be purchased at the Marina office on S.E. 85th. To verify the cost and to get office hours to purchase call the marina @ 405.799.0870.

It went up ! I dont remeber what I paid last year but I think it was closer to $ 10.

You are corrrect so. Buy it online
https://access.okc.gov/aca/Cap/CapEdit.aspx?Module=Parks&stepNumber=2&pageNumber=1&isFeeEstimator=&TabName=Parks

They don't make that fee information very available.... I have ridden out there several times and never saw a sign saying anything about fees and trying to find a needle in a haystack is easier than finding it on the OKC website.

I bet most people riding out there aren't even aware there is a fee,... I was unaware until today.

There is a sign at the entrance of the parking lot on Post Rd saying permit required. It is for the MTB trails but I do not know if jogger or\and walker have to pay it too or just bike rider.

There is a sign at the entrance of the parking lot on Post Rd saying permit required. It is for the MTB trails but I do not know if jogger or\and walker have to pay it too or just bike rider.

Fyi: All users are required to purchase the permit, whether you hike or bike or even if you don't use the parking lot.

It went up ! I dont remeber what I paid last year but I think it was closer to $ 10.

You are corrrect so. Buy it online
https://access.okc.gov/aca/Cap/CapEdit.aspx?Module=Parks&stepNumber=2&pageNumber=1&isFeeEstimator=&TabName=Parks

doesn't work

https://access.okc.gov/aca/Cap/CapApplyDisclaimer.aspx?module=Parks&TabName=Parks&TabList=HOME%7C0%7CPERMITS%7C1%7CWorkZone%7C2%7CLI CENSES%7C3%7CGarageSale%7C4%7CPLANNING%7C5%7CFire% 7C6%7CEngineering%7C7%7CParks%7C8%7CCurrentTabInde x%7C8

Very unappealing route. Maybe we can find some junkyards and abandoned buildings to ride through.

Can’t we find routes that offer more than a flat surface? One of the reasons I like riding Hefner is that is a good ride in a pleasant environment. This just doesn’t look pleasant.

I know you're kind of kidding but you do realize there literally is a junkyard along the West River Trail? Plus several "storage yards" associated with various industrial businesses. So the new route is not really much of a downgrade. I will miss watching the bison just south of the Peterbilt/Ford dealership, though. :(

I have a general question for the mountain bikers here about the OEF Draper trails. I used to use them quite frequently as a runner but I got the impression that the bikers weren't too happy about any "non-bikers" being there, so when the City opened the regular Draper trails I switched to those instead. Am I off-base or is it best for non-bikers to avoid the OEF trails?

I thought the Buffalo was still there, it is the Elk that has passed? The trail has as much viewing of the Buffalo as always.

I have a general question for the mountain bikers here about the OEF Draper trails. I used to use them quite frequently as a runner but I got the impression that the bikers weren't too happy about any "non-bikers" being there, so when the City opened the regular Draper trails I switched to those instead. Am I off-base or is it best for non-bikers to avoid the OEF trails?

My understanding with some of the OEF trails, is that one of the requirements for them to have permission to build a trail is that the trail be open for pedestrian use. OEF spends a lot of time and money and then more time, building and maintaining mountain bike trails where they can engage in the sport they love. Having to share the trails with pedestrians is a necessary evil and I'm sure many are not too happy about it. If I were an mtb'er, I wouldn't be happy about pedestrians on trails, either.

As a pedestrian, I would leave the MTB trails to the mountain bikers. They did all of the paperwork and permits and physical labor to build it and then maintain it, so they deserve to be able to use it without having to slow down or even stop for pedestrians.

I don't know if this applies to Draper but it's something I read a few years ago on the OEF forum.

I thought the Buffalo was still there, it is the Elk that has passed? The trail has as much viewing of the Buffalo as always.

Yep.... Mott is correct... The Bison is still back there..... As cool as it is to ride by and see it.... Growing up on a farm I feel keeping a herd animal penned up by itself is kind of cruel.

I wish OKC was better at maintaining the trails. There is a collapsed bridge landing, west of Agnew, on north trail for 2+ years, and now on the newer west trail, a landing is starting to go on the bridge west of Crystal Lake.

I wish OKC was better at maintaining the trails. There is a collapsed bridge landing, wet of Agnew, on north trail for 2+ years, and now on the newer west trail, a landing is starting to go on the bridge west of Crystal Lake.

Have you contacted the Action Center (or the dept. responsible for the trails)?

Have you contacted the Action Center (or the dept. responsible for the trails)?

This is from the Oklahoma Bicycle Society website, April 22, condition of the trails...
The trail between Portland and the Chesapeake Boathouse has been mostly repaved. There is still one bridge that needs to be repaired, but the trail is open. No word from the City as to when the bridge repair might be started.

Have you contacted the Action Center (or the dept. responsible for the trails)?

This is from the Oklahoma Bicycle Society website, April 22, condition of the trails...

Oklahoma river trail north side..

The trail between Portland and the Chesapeake Boathouse has been mostly repaved. There is still one bridge that needs to be repaired, but the trail is open. No word from the City as to when the bridge repair might be started.

I have a general question for the mountain bikers here about the OEF Draper trails. I used to use them quite frequently as a runner but I got the impression that the bikers weren't too happy about any "non-bikers" being there, so when the City opened the regular Draper trails I switched to those instead. Am I off-base or is it best for non-bikers to avoid the OEF trails?

Speaking for myself and no one else. I have never had a problem with hikers or runners on the trail as long as they did their part as well. Walk or run counter to the flow of bike traffic so that the runner as well as the biker can see each other. Runners also need to take the buds out of the ears so you can hear a mountain biker say "trail". Heck even new mountain bikers can be problematic when they decide to stop in the middle of a trail and not move to the side when stopped.

I would encourge anyone interested in MAPS 3 fulfiling its promise of trails in southwest okc watch and act upon the May 27, 2021 Maps 3 Citizens Advisory Committe. Mike Adams makes a detailed presentation at time 59:30 of failure of Maps to deliver upon its promise to build a trail in southwest okc which was identified as a priority trail and was promoted in Maps 3 literature. Now it is 12 years late and no trail has been built and no funds have been committed to it. There are no funds for southwest okc trails in the 2017 bond issue and Better Streets Safer city. This is a disgrace!

Does anyone know when the Maps 3 Citizens Advisory Committee will vote on trails funding? I just finished listening to the June 24 and they didn't touch on it at all. Hoping but not optimistic they will fulfill the promise fo the Earlywine Trail.

The north trail bridge has been repaired, and new paving continues.

What's "north trail"?

Probably talking about north side of the OK River.

Good point, I did notice the new asphalt, super smooth ride now (but bridge wasn't repaired yet)

Plans are moving forward to connect the OK River trails to the First Americans Museum and the Eagle Lake / Katy Trail:

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I thought the Katy trail conneciton was hold. Is this being done with Maps 3 funds?

These plans were recently submitted.

Don't know the timing of making it happen.

I believe it's BCBS money, or at least one of the new trails was (between deep fork and greenway). I think the other (probably deep fork) is bond funded.

Based on the Maps 3 Advisory Board, it appears no trail even though it was part of the MAPS 3 implemenation paln will be funded for south west okc. I am so disgusted by this action.

My husband and I road our bikes from Wheeler to Will Rogers Park on the Will Rogers Trail last Monday. I really wish the trails had better signage. For example, it would be super helpful to have a sign at May on the north side of the trail to direct a rider to the Will Rogers trail. It would also be nice to have distances between landmarks such as for the Park, Lake Hefner etc. I get the feeling the trails would be used more if people knew how connected the city is by the trails. There are a few dated maps along the river but you have to get off your bike to actually read them. Does anyone know if there are any plans for something like that?

When Hal McKnight and a bunch of us in the Oklahoma Bicycle Society first met years ago to suggest trails nobody had any dreams they would become this big. I'm beyond happy and hope they keep expanding. I'm just an ordinary nobody so I take pleasure in having even a tiny part in anything like this.

Agree on better signage, throughout the system, especially for things like the trail connecting Lake O to Lake H, if you don't know the way, you'll miss it at first.

Agree on better signage, throughout the system, especially for things like the trail connecting Lake O to Lake H, if you don't know the way, you'll miss it at first.

This ^

We park at the Overholser Dam and ride our bikes up the river levee and what we call Stoner Road on the other side of the bridge then head up to 50th and turn around multiple times a week.... It wasn't until just a few days ago when I was looking on Google Map for other places to ride that I saw that if we just rode up 50th to Council we could ride all the along the canal to Hefner.

The city is in the process of a large wayfinding and signage project that is expected to be completed by Spring 2022. Hopefully, supply chain issues or cost overruns don't significantly delay it or scale it down (not saying I know of any issues for this project, but with current general market conditions, its always a concern).

Below is a link to the city’s Bike and Pedestrian News Bulletin (From May 2021) that discusses the project (not a ton of information, but there is a small rendering showing what the signage will look like). It looks like an impressive project that will greatly enhance the trail system!

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKOKC/bulletins/2d9ce95

AH HA! There's one of these going up at Will Rogers Park and there's no sign on it yet, just the stone base, which doesn't match any of the park architecture and I couldn't figure out what the heck it was going to be. I'll take a pic on the way home.

They've also been putting the in concrete for the in-trail signage all over the place and I couldn't figure out what the heck they were doing. Thought it was groundwater testing wells or something...

They've also been putting the in concrete for the in-trail signage all over the place and I couldn't figure out what the heck they were doing. Thought it was groundwater testing wells or something...

HA! Right there with ya! I was wondering the exact same thing about that work when I saw it.

I recently started cycling and use the trails multiple times a week. These trails are an amazing asset to our city. They’re safe, scenic, and fun. So, thanks to all who had a part in making these a reality. I think it would be awesome if we could connect the trails all the way to Norman and beyond.

This weekend I tried (and succeeded) going on my longest ride of 30+ miles and I ran into the problem mentioned above. Once I got to the north part of Overholser, I didn’t know where to go to continue toward Hefner. I stopped at the Wildlife Refuge, but it wasn’t clear if I had gone too far or if I missed a turn, so I think better signage there would be great. [EDIT: Looking at the city’s trail map now, it looks like I stopped and turned around exactly where I should have turned right on NW 50th and then briefly taken Council Rd north and then along the canal.)

Still, these trails are amazing and I’m very happy OKC has them. We need more of these types of options to get people active in the city.

Would like to see connections to Arcadia and Thunderbird (and then Edmond [I know it's planned] and Norman do trails around those lakes), but would also like to see a connection to Guthrie but that's beyond our control there. IMO we could easily mimic what NW Arkansas has done with trails connecting several cities. All of that said, the supposed plan to make all of Rt 66 bike friendly throughout the entire state could do this but I'm not sure to what extent that will be.

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/OKOKC/2021/05/4511014/wayfinding-signage_original.png

I think this will look nice and will be a great enhancement to the trail network.

The city is in the process of a large wayfinding and signage project that is expected to be completed by Spring 2022. Hopefully, supply chain issues or cost overruns don't significantly delay it or scale it down (not saying I know of any issues for this project, but with current general market conditions, its always a concern).

Below is a link to the city’s Bike and Pedestrian News Bulletin (From May 2021) that discusses the project (not a ton of information, but there is a small rendering showing what the signage will look like). It looks like an impressive project that will greatly enhance the trail system!

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKOKC/bulletins/2d9ce95

Thank you so much for posting this information. That signage is exactly what I was hoping for. And I got on the mailing list that I did not know existed!

Hello,

Do we know if the Katy trail on the NE of OKC has been reopened ?
The City website says it has been being resurfaced but there are hardly up to date.

It's been open for quite some time. Rode it back in April and again this past weekend.

Didn't stop to take a pic, but here's a super short vid of me riding by the new future signage at WRP.


https://youtu.be/0_oBfUZmOmg

E bikes are cleared to use on trails and parks: https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3937/18

17183

Status update on Deep Fork Trail from NE OKC Town Hall

Plans are out to bid for the river trail extension which will tie in the existing trail that runs east to the boathouse district, all the way to the Katy Trail, almost completing a huge loop that would encompass Lake Overholser, Lake Hefner and the OK River.

This would be directly north of the First Americans Museum and OKANA, which would be connected through a proposed pedestrian bridge.

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thanks Pete

Sadly Ward 5 has no trails. The promised trail in Map 3 has not been built and apparently the city has no plan to complete the southern portion of the outer trail ring.

The cycling advocates among us will not stop fighting for more, including the south side...

The cycling advocates among us will not stop fighting for more, including the south side...

It will be quite a battle given the AIrport trail was listed as a project in MAPS 3 and the committe chose to disregard it and spend the funds elsewhere.

NEW CITY TRAILS AND OTHER ENHANCEMENTS PROGRESSING
https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/inside-okc/new-city-trails-and-other-enhancements-progressing/

Wenger believes the biggest single impact for trail users will be the wayfinding system mentioned earlier. New signage will have smart phone capability that will allow trail users to track and find nearby locations when they are on the trail. The signage has yet to be erected on any existing trail, but Lake Hefner will be the first trail system in the city to see the technology integrated into the signage system, Wenger said. New mileage markers will also be installed on the trails

Interesting, I wonder how that will work.

Wow that article says all of the better streets safer city projects will be U/C or complete by 2022. I didn’t realize the initiative was that far along. Where has the time gone?

Any word on the NWE overpass?

PS, I wonder if the tax will be extended or if the RTA tax vote will come along the same time the current Better Streets tax expires. That would make sense to play it safe.

that tax took over where MAP3 left off, and ended when MAP4 took over. There's nothing to extend really. Tax collection stopped end of March I believe (since MAPS4 collection started 1 April).

RTA vote is not close so far as I can tell. I think they're working on federal funding first before asking citizens for a vote so they will know how much to ask for/what's needed. Total guess on my part.

It’s somewhat confusing and misleading. Better Streets Safer City is really a program with three different funding sources. There’s the permanent 1/4 cent sales tax for more police officers and fire fighters. There the temporary 3/4 cent sales tax extension (of the original MAPS 3 one cent tax) for streets, trails, sidewalks, etc., and then there’s the 10 year general obligation funds.

I would have to think that, in the article, Wegener says all projects should be under construction by 2022, he is actually talking about any project partially or completely funded by the 3/4 cent extension. There’s a lot of projects funded by just the bond proceeds and those won’t be started and completed for a long time. Ideally 2028 but we are still wrapping up the last of the previous 10 year bond package too. The reason I know this is because my whole neighborhood is supposed to have its streets resurfaced through the BSSC program and it’s definitely not starting in 2022 lol

It will be quite a battle given the AIrport trail was listed as a project in MAPS 3 and the committe chose to disregard it and spend the funds elsewhere.

Wait, you mean the credibility of future MAPS programs should be questioned? I thought that was a selling point at the voting booth.