Tulsa's City Leaders Take Bike Tour For New Perspective

If you see Stephen Lassiter around Tulsa, he's likely going to be spinning on two wheels.

"It's very cost effective," Lassiter said. "I sold my car; I don't have to pay insurance on that and I don't have to buy gas."

He gave up his car last year, which makes his 6-mile commute downtown a little better.

"It's really a different way to see the city, and I also get a lot of exercise while I'm commuting."

But there are some bumps in the road, for Lassiter and other cyclists in the city.

"This city is pretty much designed for getting around in cars," Lassiter said.

Cars go really fast, sometimes people pass too close, and getting cars to yield to for someone in a crosswalk is difficult, Lassiter said.

That's why the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee invited city leaders to gear up for a tour of the town.

Some hit the pavement on foot, others hit the road on two wheels, like Tulsa's first lady, Victoria Bartlett.

"We're going to see how difficult it is to get around the city without particular areas designated for bicycles," Bartlett said.

"I haven't [ridden] a bicycle in years, but I do ride a motorcycle," councilman David Patrick said.

Patrick didn't have any trouble getting back in the saddle, but he doesn't expect his 4-mile journey around Tulsa will be so simple.

"I'm sure the traffic is one thing and stop signs and probably pavement conditions is a big thing, too," Patrick said.

Moving forward, city leader say they hope to bridge the gap in transportation.

"In the future, we're gonna be looking for alternate modes of transportation and bicycles is one of them, so we have to be prepared," Patrick said.

It's all a part of getting out from behind the windshield, with a goal of making Tulsa streets a little safer.