New investments will hopefully result in safer streets
Oklahoma City is investing in safer sidewalks, better bike lanes, and new trails while also tackling broader infrastructure and housing needs. In August 2022, the Oklahoma City Council approved a revised $1.07 billion MAPS 4 package. One of its most visible components is a $96.5 million push to make walking and cycling safer and more appealing. An additional 1,000 streetlights will be installed to make evening walks and rides safer.
City planners used the BikewalkOKC plan to identify “Pedestrian Priority Areas,” focusing on corridors like Clara Luper, Capitol Hill, Stockyards, Windsor District, and Old Britton. The goal is to ensure students can walk to school and residents can reach groceries or transit stops without navigating hazardous traffic. New sidewalks will include curb ramps, drainage improvements, landscaping, and even public art. These developments can help prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents in the city's most risky areas.
On the cycling side, the $22 million investment will add protected lanes and modern amenities. The plan complements an emerging network that now includes nearly 700 miles of bike lanes and trails across central Oklahoma. One major project is a soon-to-open cycleway along SE 59th Street that links lower-income neighborhoods to job hubs such as Tinker Air Force Base and Boeing. It will feature some of the state’s first bike-specific traffic signals. These initiatives give people new options and connect communities that have historically been cut off from economic opportunity.
How do walkability and bike lanes boost neighborhoods and economies?
Building sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails pays off in more than one way. In Oklahoma City, these neighborhood investments helped signal that long-overlooked corridors are worth reinvesting in.
How this improves safety in OKC:
- Keeps people out of traffic lanes: Continuous sidewalks mean fewer pedestrians walking in the street, which reduces close calls and sideswipes.
- Gives bikes protected space: Buffered and protected bike lanes separate riders from moving vehicles, which can lower the risk of overtaking and right-hook crashes.
- Makes crossings clearer and more accessible: New curb ramps, smoother surfaces, and defined crosswalk approaches improve visibility and predictability for everyone at intersections.
- Improves night visibility: The addition of 1,000 streetlights increases the chance drivers see people walking or biking in time to react.
- Moves families off high-speed roads: The Lake Stanley Draper–to–Oklahoma River trail creates an off-street option so people can avoid fast arterials and wide intersections.
- Reduces crash severity through design: Street design that narrows effective lane widths, adds buffers, and clarifies space encourages safer speeds, which is the single biggest factor in how severe a crash becomes.
- Adds bike signals and wayfinding: Clear signs and dedicated bike signals reduce guesswork at tricky junctions and help everyone anticipate each other’s movements.
- Prevents slips and falls: Drainage fixes and smoother sidewalks reduce puddles and debris that can cause falls for kids, seniors, and people with mobility devices.
- Improves access for all ages and abilities: ADA-compliant ramps and smoother routes make it safer for parents with strollers, older adults, and people using wheelchairs to cross streets and reach transit.
- Puts more eyes on the street: Comfortable places to walk and ride bring more people outside, which can deter crime and increase the feeling of safety on everyday blocks.
What dangers do OKC bicyclists and pedestrians currently face?
Bicyclists often have to share lanes with fast traffic, and drivers sometimes pass too closely. Conflicts happen when a car turns across a cyclist’s path; left turns that misjudge speed, or right turns that cut off a rider going straight. Visibility is another issue: large vehicles and parked cars create blind spots at intersections, and “dooring” can happen when someone opens a car door into a bike’s path. Rough pavement, debris, drain grates, and rail tracks add slip or crash risk.
For pedestrians, many blocks still lack continuous, comfortable sidewalks, so people end up walking near moving traffic. Crossing wide, high-speed roads takes longer and increases exposure to danger, especially where crosswalks are spaced far apart or signals are timed for cars, not people. Poor lighting makes it harder for drivers to spot someone stepping off a curb. Tight corners aren’t the problem; wide ones are, because they encourage faster turns that put people in the crosshairs. Driveways and parking-lot exits are another hot spot, since many drivers scan for other cars, not for people on foot.
Safer streets help, but crashes still happen
Better sidewalks and bike lanes are a big step forward. But no amount of infrastructure can eliminate the risk when drivers act carelessly or break the law. That’s why these city-led improvements need to be matched with accountability. People walking or biking in Oklahoma City should feel confident that if someone hits them, there’s a path to justice.
Unfortunately, many victims are left with more questions than answers. Who pays for medical bills? What if the driver claims they didn’t see you? Can you be blamed for walking outside a crosswalk even when there wasn’t a safe alternative? These are the kinds of issues our Oklahoma City pedestrian accident lawyers handle every day. And when the law is used to its full advantage, victims have a much better chance at recovering the compensation they deserve for their medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.
What are my legal rights if I'm in a bicycle or pedestrian accident in OKC?
If you were hit by a car while walking or riding a bicycle, you may be eligible for financial compensation. At Lawter & Associates Attorneys at Law, PLLC, our lawyers have spent decades helping injured people after serious pedestrian and bicycle crashes in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and communities across the state. We investigate, secure evidence before it disappears, work with medical providers and reconstruction experts, and handle the insurance back-and-forth so you can focus on healing.
During your free case evaluation, we will listen to what happened, review any reports or photos you already have, and outline a strategy for recovering medical costs, lost income, and future care. You will leave that first call knowing who will do what, when to expect updates, and what a fair outcome could look like in your situation.
To see how we can help with your pedestrian or bicycle accident claim, contact us online or call us to schedule a free consultation. Let us protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve under Oklahoma law.
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