Making Oklahoma City Pedestrian-Friendly

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- To get around Bricktown and downtown, many people have to walk down busy roads, including Reno Avenue.

Prevention magazine recently ranked Oklahoma City as the nation's worst city for being pedestrian-friendly.

"It's hard to walk anywhere here," downtown resident Cary Baggett said.

Baggett is frustrated with the area, which is not suited for the pedestrians.

"Let's start building for people and stop building for cars," said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

Jeff Speck is studying how pedestrian-friendly Oklahoma City is and has major suggestions, including expanding sidewalks and shrinking roads like the four lanes of Broadway Avenue.

"According to traffic engineers, it only takes two lanes to handle 10,000 cars a day," Speck said.

According to Speck, the wide portion of Broadway Avenue only handles about half that, creating fast cars and fewer walkers.

"I do think Broadway needs something to slow cars down," Speck said.

Speck suggests changing parallel parking to angled spots. He thinks Sheridan Avenue could use major work too, since it's the best way between Bricktown and downtown. He's hoping changes will change current minds.

Speck believes the faster changes happen, the sooner culture can change as downtown population grows.

"We can get more and more residents who have fewer and fewer cars," Speck said.

Speck presented the results of his study to the city council Tuesday. He said it will be available online in the next few weeks.