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BikeMO--MoBikeFed's Fall Foliage Bicycle Ride Join us October 18th for BikeMO, the ride that supports bicycle advocacy in Missouri. Beautiful mid-Missouri roads, beautiful fall weather, beautiful fall leaves . . .
Today's Columbia Tribune has a bicycle history lesson:
Surprisingly, bicyclists were the ones who lobbied for, and finally got, good roads.
When cycles were introduced shortly before 1900, riders complained about the roads. City streets were rough enough to damage those big, high-wheel cycles of the late 19th century. Rough graveled roads helped give the two-wheeled machine the name of "Boneshaker." With a front wheel of 5 feet or more in diameter, and with fixed pedals, each revolution of the pedals moved the rider a long distance. Excessive speed on rough dirt or gravel roads caused many a nasty spill, but high speeds were part of the excitement of bicycling.
The sport of cycling spread like wildfire. It was fun, healthful and provided rapid transportation. Almost every able-bodied man rode a bike to work or for pleasure.
The roads were filled with them on weekends. . . .
Gradually bicyclists, including the ladies, brought enough pressure for smoother roads. Dunlop invented pneumatic tires for bikes even before automobiles used them. So who needed paved streets and roads? Bicyclists.
Don't think that you can do a long-distance bicycle ride with your kids? Think again! With proper planning and a flexible mind-set, the whole family can experience the fun of biking on rail-trails.
Last spring, my husband, two boys (ages 10 and 6) and I set out for Missouri wine country to resume a family goal—biking the entire 225-mile Katy Trail, the longest developed rail-trail in the country built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. Already, our family had bicycled 21 miles of the Katy, beginning at the eastern start point in St. Charles, Missouri. For this excursion, our first of the spring season, we planned to cover a 25-mile section over two days with an overnight at a bed-and-breakfast along the way.
Our children are good cyclists, having ridden on two-wheelers without trainers since age four, and riding an average of 10–15 miles per week.
Two candidates running for mayor of this Southern Illinois community are getting attention — and funding — from Springfield and Chicago.
Officials in both state parties say they're just supporting the candidate they like in the mayoral election, which pits Mayor Brad Cole, a Republican, against Democratic challenger Sheila Simon, a City Council member and daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon. . .
Simon describes her politics as "progressive'' in the tradition of her father, but with a heavier emphasis on environmentalism. Her campaign is rooted partly in intangibles such as "fostering more public participation'' in government.
She has a strict $50 campaign contribution limit that even those at her Chicago fundraiser were made to adhere to. She rides her bike to work almost year-round. She plays the banjo.
Her supporters say her quirky demeanor doesn't negate what they see as natural political gifts.
Anybody want to let the Post-Dispatch know that riding your bicycle to work isn't "quirky demeanor" but normal?
Snow can seem like an impassable situation for beginner and experienced riders alike. However, many cyclists love to ride their bikes in the snow. Even if you face snow only in your daily commute, there are skills that can help you be safe when riding your bicycle in the snow. . . .
Riding in the snow can be fun, a great workout and very challenging. Many cyclists find that their bike handling skills improve a lot after riding in the snow. This is because in many cases the snow can be more forgiving, allowing you more practice time. It also allows you to work hard whil trying out your skills, once the resistance of the snow is gone your skills are sharper with less work. Be safe!
Boonville is planning to erect signs and maps showing bicyclists using the Katy Trail how to get around Boonville's business area:
The proposed plan calls for a kiosk to be built at the corner of Main and High St. it also calls for signs to be placed around town that would notify bikers of alternate routes. This would help funnel them to downtown businesses.The plan has many business owners around town hoping for more growth in the future.
"I've been here three years and seen the business from the Katy Trail stay the same, it could increase a lot," said Painter.
The city of Boonville hopes it'll catch up to neighboring communities once bicyclists know where to go.
According to a recent article on Science News, more and more researchers are making the argument that urban design affects the activity level of citizens, and thus affects their overal health and wellness:
Lawrence Frank is no couch potato. Taking full advantage of his city's compact design, the Vancouver, British Columbia, resident often bikes to work and walks to stores, restaurants, and museums. That activity helps him stay fit and trim. But Frank hasn't always found his penchant for self-propulsion to be practical. He previously lived in Atlanta, where the city's sprawling layout thwarted his desire to be physically active as he went about his daily business.
"There was not much to walk to," says Frank, a professor of urban planning at the University of British Columbia. For example, he recalls that there was only one decent restaurant within walking distance of his old home. Many restaurants and other businesses in Atlanta cluster in strip malls that stand apart from residential areas.
According to a recent article on Science News, more and more researchers are making the argument that urban design affects the activity level of citizens, and thus affects their overal health and wellness:
Lawrence Frank is no couch potato. Taking full advantage of his city's compact design, the Vancouver, British Columbia, resident often bikes to work and walks to stores, restaurants, and museums. That activity helps him stay fit and trim. But Frank hasn't always found his penchant for self-propulsion to be practical. He previously lived in Atlanta, where the city's sprawling layout thwarted his desire to be physically active as he went about his daily business.
"There was not much to walk to," says Frank, a professor of urban planning at the University of British Columbia. For example, he recalls that there was only one decent restaurant within walking distance of his old home. Many restaurants and other businesses in Atlanta cluster in strip malls that stand apart from residential areas.
The Quad-State Trail plan moved into its second phase recently as planners met with bicyclists and trail advocates in many areas along the proposed Quad-State corridors.
Some of the highest level of excitement was in St. Joseph, MO, which has the potential to become a key connecting point in the system. According to the St. Joseph News-Press:
Quad States Trails Association organizers brought their dream of a 700-mile, four-state trail network to St. Joseph last week. But this is more than just a dream. The Katy Trail already runs from St. Louis across central Missouri and eventually will end in Kansas City. Other trails already link Nebraska and Iowa.
The linchpin to making this trail work for bikers and hikers from St. Louis to Omaha could be trails that run right through St. Joseph. Another configuration would bridge the two main systems with a new trail on the Kansas side of the Missouri River. . . .
Quad States officials, who also are working with grass-roots groups in Marysville, Kan., Beatrice, Neb., and Kansas City, recommend that local backers focus on committing or acquiring land for the trails - anything from abandoned roads to railroad and utility easements. The land can be used to offset the required 20 percent match for federal trail grants.
The bandwagon is loading. Chris Dunn, of St. Joseph, has agreed to take the early lead in organizing the local [St. Joseph-area] effort. People interested in participating or learning more can e-mail Mr. Dunn at cwdunn [at] gmail.com. Organizers here are looking for help with fundraising, planning, advocating, legal issues and accounting.
Note that many of the routes shown on an earlier map of the Quad-State vision (below) will be revised, some are eliminated, and many added. Among the most interesting additions is a potential Kansas link from Marysville to Topeka--allowing a connection from Omaha through Lincoln and Marysville to Topeka and from there to other cities south and west in Kansas.
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