Sapulpa City Council unanimously approved the proposed statewide bicycle route that will run the entirety of historic Route 66, a portion of which will run through downtown Sapulpa, starting at Oak street and continuing until it hits the Ozark Trail, by the historic Rock Creek Bridge.
The route will be the first of its kind in Oklahoma, which, until this proposition, had no U.S. bicycle routes that stretched across state lines. Last week, Sapulpa Times reported Missouri and Kansas designating bike routes, with the hope that Oklahoma wouldn’t be far behind in adding our own long-distance bicycle paths.
Sapulpa Director of Economic Development Mark Lawson presented the item before the City Council, and was grateful at the council’s unanimous approval. “I am thankful to have a council that values one of Sapulpa’s greatest assets: Route 66,” he said. “Their unanimous adoption of this resolution reflects our city’s commitment to attracting tourism and growing our economy.” Lawson added that cycling is a popular and growing activity, and said “our support of the US Bike Route 66 is a win for our city.”
The Board of Commissioners for Creek County already approved the hanging and maintenance of signage for the route, with the Route 66 Alliance agreeing to provide the signs. That approval happened a week prior to the item going before City Council.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation began meeting in March of this year to work out the details of the bike program. The final decision rests with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which meets in October. ODOT intends to submit letters of support and resolutions from political subdivisions in Oklahoma to gain the national designation for the trail.
