KALAMAZOO, MI — Officials in the city of Kalamazoo are asking for comments from bicyclists about how and where they want to ride.

In 2018, the city launched a bike survey to better understand the existing conditions of the city’s current bicycle network, and officials are asking for input on what the future of the bike network should look like.

Residents can give input through the Future Bike Network Input survey, which will be considered along with the city’s master plan, to make possible changes.

The deadline to complete the future bike network survey is Wednesday, Oct. 16. The survey asks people where they want to bike and for comments about biking challenges in areas of the city. The survey shows a map of existing bicycle routes through the city and asks for comments.

The city of Kalamazoo is working through a process to redesign its streets, after the city recently gained control of streets that were previously under control of the Michigan Department of Transportation. The roads include segments of Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo Avenue, Westnedge Avenue, Park Street, Riverview Drive, and Stadium Drive, which were formerly controlled by the state of Michigan.

This transfer creates the opportunity to redesign the streets, and organizers say it is a chance to redesign them in a way that is more aligned with community goals related to connectivity, safety, and transportation.

The process to redesign streets also includes considerations for pedestrian access and bicyclists.

The city is also hosting a series of walking audits, in which community members are invited to walk around neighborhoods and rank the safety, accessibility, appearance, and connectivity of the routes on a scale of 1 to 5. Participants are asked to identify spots that stood out to them, good or bad, and are encouraged to take pictures of those areas. Each route takes an hour or less to walk. The deadline for submitting walking audit input is Wednesday, Oct. 16.

City staff will be compile the data from the previous bike survey and this bike network survey, as well as the input from walking audits, for the Hands On Street Design Workshop from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at The Foundry, 600 E. Michigan Avenue.