tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38702362008-06-29T13:25:12.251-05:00BicycleNews-MoBikeFedBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comBlogger1696125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-5145625527097388192008-06-29T13:21:00.002-05:002008-06-29T13:25:12.325-05:00St. Louis adds 150 new miles of bike trails and on-street routesGreat Rivers Greenway District recently announced the opening of over 150 new miles of trails and on-street bicycle routes--including the fact that St. Louis is only the third city in the world to convert an elevated railroad trestle to a multi-use trail. The trestle connects to the new McKinley Bridge Bikeway, which creates another great bicycle and pedestrian link across the Mississippi River Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-79679620813676960022008-06-26T19:12:00.002-05:002008-06-26T19:18:24.313-05:00Trial for driver who killed Larry and Sierra Gaunt set for July 14thThe trial of the driver who killed Larry & Sierra Gaunt is set for July 14th, 2008, in Independence. Larry & Sierra were killed last August by a driver who was speeding and veered off the road.
Thanks to the persistence of the family, who worked closely with the Jackson County prosecutor's office, the prosecutor has charged the driver with the the most severe penalties applicable to this Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-18823984439979714492008-06-24T08:28:00.002-05:002008-06-24T08:32:59.994-05:00Bicycle Friendly State program--new from the League of American BicyclistsThe Bicycle Friendly Communities program is an important part of MoBikeFed's Vision of Active Transportation in Missouri.
But what about something similar on a STATE level?
Here it is--and we need to be working to make sure Missouri measures up to the rest of the nation:
A Bicycle Friendly State promotes cycling through legislation, policies, programs, and by creating new places to ride, Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-61410432266263783632008-06-24T00:18:00.005-05:002008-06-25T09:49:28.181-05:00Conference of Mayors Adopts Bicycling ResolutionAccording to the League of American Bicyclists:
This morning, June 23, the Conference of Mayors passed and adopted a resolution that bicycling should be integrated into the United States’ transportation, climate, energy and health policy initiatives. It got widespread support from the mayors, including more than 25 mayors who signed on to co-sponsors the bill. Chris Koos, the mayor of Normal, IllBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-38018630048039001352008-06-22T11:36:00.002-05:002008-06-22T11:40:57.685-05:00Joplin looking at improving city for bicyclingAn article in the Joplin Globe looks at some of the things Joplin is considering to make the city friendlier for bicycling:
[Bicyclist Jim] Collins has noticed a change in Joplin with regard to the status of bicyclists.
“I bike every day,” he said. “I try to get in 20 to 30 miles a day. I still drive, but you can get around town on a bike fairly easy. It’s really improving quite a bit. We have Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-31678633319144855972008-06-20T14:45:00.002-05:002008-06-20T15:17:22.963-05:00Miles driven in U.S. down even moreSince about 1980, miles driven in the U.S. has increased at an amazingly steady rate of about 3% per year--until 2006, when miles driven rose by under 1%, then held steady through about November 2007.
Since November 2007, miles driven has taken a sharp nosedive.
All that is according to figures collected by the Federal Highway Admnistration.
In the North-Central region, which includes MissouriBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-18528354590932780862008-06-20T00:49:00.002-05:002008-06-20T00:58:46.918-05:00GetAbout Columbia--federal nonmotorized pilot project now moving forward on many frontsThe news from Columbia's Nonmotorized Pilot Project--now dubbed getabout Columbia--has been coming so fast and furious this spring it is hard to keep up.
The city has moved forward with bicycle education, promotion, Bike Month activities, trails, bike lanes, and of course had a bit of controversy (no trail project is complete unless neighbors worry incessantly about the "disruption" to their Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-62459140220683793302008-06-20T00:32:00.003-05:002008-06-20T00:45:33.828-05:00Share the Road specialty license plate in Missouri dealt a setbackMoBikeFed has been working for over a year towards creating a special "Share the Road with Bicyclists" license plate in Missouri.
We have gathered signatures from over 2000 citizens interested in purchasing the plates, held a design competition, and were prepared to apply for the plates by the annual deadline of June 30th, 2008.
Corresponding with the Missouri Department of Revenue about the Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-11391362556946753362008-06-19T23:31:00.003-05:002008-06-19T23:47:53.178-05:00Recent bicycling incidents in Kansas City area lead to concernA streak of collisions and incidents across the Kansas City area, including four bicycle injuries within the space of a week, have caused concern throughout the metro area.
Among the concerns is the response of officers from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department to an incident that involved two cyclists who were bumped and then involved in an altercation with an driver. The cyclists felt Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-40986768372076878962008-06-19T22:48:00.003-05:002008-06-19T23:51:03.812-05:00Katy Trail connection to Kansas City budget approved by Missouri General AssemblyThe KCStar's Mike Hendricks wrote:
If things work out, Missouri’s cross-state hiking-biking path will reach the Kansas City area three years from now, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. That’s figuring in time to schmooze adjoining landowners and to plan and build a trail alongside the former Rock Island tracks between Windsor and Pleasant Hill.
Finally.
It looked as if itBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-28781092762437847152008-06-19T18:13:00.003-05:002008-06-19T23:53:05.269-05:00Springfield's Bike, Bus, Walk Week Challenge doubles mileage in 2008Bike Month and Bike to Work Week activities broke records around Missouri this year--and Springfield's Bike, Bus, Walk Week was no exception. According to a Springfield News-Leader article:
Nearly 800 people participating in Ozark Greenways’ Bike, Bus, Walk Week Challenge in May doubled the mileage using alternative transportation over the previous year’s event.
Employees of over 100 businesses Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-3543284760016407032008-06-18T23:24:00.007-05:002008-06-20T00:10:16.286-05:002008 Missouri legislative roundup for bicycling and walkingWe saw some good positive movement in support of bicycling and walking in the 2008 Missouri legislative session, but it is clear there is still much work to be done on some important issues.
Moving legislation forward is always a long-term process of developing legislative initiatives and priorities, developing relationships with legislators and committee chairs, developing language that is Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-62138437723340384692008-06-11T10:58:00.002-05:002008-06-11T11:01:29.733-05:00St. Louis named "All American City"--for regional trails systemSt. Louis was recently named an "All American City"--the the "river ring" trails system being planned and built by the Great Rivers Greenway District was one of three projects cited as the reason for the honor:
St. Louis (the region) was cited for three projects: Downtown Now, the public-private partnership created in 1997 to revitalize downtown St. Louis; the Great Rivers Greenway District's "Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-31961236717731238682008-06-05T22:40:00.003-05:002008-06-05T23:06:52.288-05:00Kansas City, MO, forms citizens bike/ped committeeOne of the first and most important steps in creating a Bicycle Friendly Community is to create a citizens committee in the city to work with staff and elected officials in the city to move bicycle and pedestrian issues and policy forward.
Today Kansas City, Missouri, took that important step by adopting an ordinance that creates a citizen's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee. The Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-71776060040480332672008-06-01T22:57:00.003-05:002008-06-01T23:05:36.971-05:00Gas prices leading to higher bicycle sales across MissouriAccording to an article on KOMU TV, Columbia:
Pump prices put sales in overdrive at this bike shop.
"Compared to last year we're up about 25 percent." said Eric Bunch of Tryathletics bike shop.
To gauge spending drivers are looking for a cheaper way to commute.
"I'm looking to get a new bike to do more commuting riding to and from work, " said Bunch. "when they come in the store they say I Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-16660891944891698152008-05-30T14:03:00.005-05:002008-05-30T15:54:14.910-05:00St. Louis and Kansas City rank among worst U.S. cities for carbon emissionsAccording to a recent study by the Brookings Institution, St. Louis ranks 7th worst and Kansas City 17th worst among the 100 largest U.S. cities in average greenhouse gas emissions per resident.
According to an article about the report in Wired:
The authors attributed the variations between cities to efficiencies generated by density and compact development, weather and access to mass Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-28350981256918034682008-05-26T18:21:00.003-05:002008-05-26T18:27:37.400-05:00Springfield's Bike Bus Walk Week gets people movingSpringfield's Bike Bus and Walk Week, May 12-16, encouraged Springfield residents to enjoy the spring weather by walking, bicycling, and using the bus for commuting and errands. According to the News-Leader:
Not that riding a bike on city streets is easy, especially compared to a city like Portland, Ore., where he lived before moving to Springfield recently, Webb said.
But efforts like Bike BusBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-66767519245810056262008-05-24T19:25:00.007-05:002008-05-26T18:40:10.390-05:00Missouri's Report Card and Bike to Work Week hit front page of St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TrailNet's Ann Mack and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay with the St. Louis Bike Month Proclamation Photo courtesy Trailnet - more Bike to Work Day photos here During National Bike Week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had front-page stories about Bike to Work Week and MoBikeFed's Report Card on Walking and Bicycling in Missouri.
Bike Week:
To celebrate, The Great Rivers Greenway District, the YMCA of Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-88988737247185579862008-05-24T16:49:00.002-05:002008-05-24T17:43:11.076-05:00Kansas City's Bike Week wraps up--participation doubled in 2008MoBikeFed Board Member Eric Rogers played a key role in developing the web site for and promoting Kansas City's Bike Week 2008. The Liberty Tribune covered Bike Week 2008, which included over 60 events across the metro area and doubled participation in this year's Car Free Challenge:
Hundreds of residents from across the Kansas City area left their automobiles in the driveway last week, opting Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-56312810841553190442008-05-24T15:02:00.002-05:002008-05-24T15:12:46.903-05:00KC & Joplin editorial pages support bicyclingSpurred on by high gasoline prices and the celebration of Bike Month nationwide, editorials in the Kansas City Star and Joplin Globe have recently come out in support of bicycling initiatives in the two cities.
Kansas City Star:
Kansas City isn’t a bicycle-friendly community. That’s dismaying, particularly now that gas prices are soaring and more people are riding to work.
Mayor Mark FunkhouserBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-13459860035210455062008-05-24T14:57:00.002-05:002008-05-24T15:00:57.969-05:00St. Louis Great Streets initiative to target four streetsThe Great Streets initiative of East-West Gateway Council in the St. Louis area is set to transform four streets in the St. Louis metro area.
According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article:
Several decades ago, a transformation began along Delmar Boulevard in University City, turning it into the destination it is today. More recently, it has happened along Manchester Road in Maplewood and Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-10600931301124960702008-05-24T13:15:00.002-05:002008-05-24T13:38:51.740-05:00Negotiations over Boonville Bridge continueBoonville area residents who support keeping in the Boonville Bridge in place have asked Senator Claire McCaskill to help them negotiate a solution to the bridge problem with Union Pacific, which owns the bridge. The bridge is part of the Katy railroad corridor but is not currently used as part of the Katy Trail.
According to a Columbia Tribune article:
One day last month, U.S. Sen. Claire Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-12166196750425845592008-05-24T13:10:00.002-05:002008-05-24T13:15:43.997-05:00Boonville Bridge continues to be center of controversyAccording to a Columbia Tribune article, the disagreement between Missouri Attorney General and the Department of Natural Resources over the Boonville Bridge issue continues:
Doyle Childers, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, is accusing Attorney General Jay Nixon’s staff of using state computers and e-mail to send messages intended to gain support for Nixon’s political Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-50669775517523562392008-05-23T11:35:00.002-05:002008-05-23T11:48:46.892-05:00Miles driven in Missouri down 6.1 percentThe Federal Highway Administration has released a report showing that the number of miles Americans drive is decreasing by the largest amounts recorded since the 1970s:
The FHWA's "Traffic Volume Trends" report, produced monthly since 1942, shows that estimated vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on all U.S. public roads for March 2008 fell 4.3 percent as compared with March 2007 travel. This is the Brent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870236.post-51662468003810820472008-05-22T21:43:00.002-05:002008-05-22T22:05:11.734-05:00Bicycle Friendly Workshop held in Kansas CityOver 50 bicyclists, staff, city officials, and other interested citizens attended the Bicycle Friendly Evening and Bicycle Friendly Workshop organized by the cities of Kansas City, Missouri, and Shawnee, KS, Wednesday and Thursday.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Mark Funkhouser recently announced that Kansas City's goal is to reach platinum level Bicycle Friendly Community status by 2020.
ShawneeBrent Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10000423050344799018noreply@blogger.com