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Missouri Bicycle Federation
Missouri Bicycle News ArchivesBicycle-related news stories from around the region. |
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Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871 MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed .org Board info |
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Click here to receive Bicycle News items by email  News items represent the views of the original writer or publisher, and not necessarily those of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
Thursday, July 31, 2003
A variety of articles have appeared about proposed cuts to Enhancements funding. Transportation Enhancements are the main source of federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Here are couple of articles about the proposed cuts:
Unfortunately, MoDOT roads are the major arterials cutting through every Missouri city and town. Typically, such roads are the main commercial centers. Making these major roads unbikeable and unwalkable meant that, from the bicyclist's and pedestrian's point of view, every Missouri city was cut into small, disconnected pieces and access to important commercial areas made difficult or impossible. Since federal guidelines and funding have changed in 1992, the attitude in Missouri has slowly changed. If federal guidelines revert to pre-1992 status, don't be surprised if MoDOT's policies revert, too. Your senators and representatives need to hear from you now about your support for bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly policies and funding.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Tom Yarbrough, one of the moving spirits behind the Missouri Bicycle Federation, the St. Louis Bicycle Touring Society, the Bicycle Fun Club, and Trailnet, passed away Saturday.
From a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article: Over 25 years, Mr. Yarbrough organized hundreds of bike rides, attracting as many as 1,000 bicyclists for a single event. He was bicycle program manager for Trailnet, a nonprofit group that promotes walking and biking. He was chairman of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.From Tom's obituary published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: YARBROUGH, THOMAS G. 'TOM', 56, passed into the arms of our Lord, Saturday, July 26, 2003 after a valiant battle with cancer; dear beloved husband of Gail E. Yarbrough (nee Fletcher); beloved father of Anne Marie 'Annie' and Paula Jeanne Yarbrough; dear beloved son of Wilson H. and Clara Yarbrough; dear brother of James (Audrey) Yarbrough and Sharon (Timothy) Brennan; dear son-in-law to Leah and the late Thomas A. Fletcher; dear brother-in-law, uncle, and cousin.
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
A St. Joseph News-Press article reports that construction on St. Joseph's long-delayed Riverwalk can proceed:
In his decision, Mr. Kellogg ruled that St. Joseph Riverboat Partners Inc. does have a lease on the so-called Weaver Tract and a right-of-first-refusal on riverfront land north of the tract. However, the “Riverwalk” trail doesn’t violate the lease agreement and isn’t subject to the right of first refusal because it isn’t development within the meaning of the original lease.The Dale Carnegie Hiking/Biking Trail in Maryville is also moving forward.
Sunday, July 27, 2003
According to an article in the Jefferson City News-Tribune, a Department of Revenue program that allows citizens to send confidential complaints about Missouri drivers, if they have first-hand knowledge that the driver may be unsafe, has resulted in 2300 letters to drivers asking them to take steps to prove they are still able to drive safely.
About one-third of those who receive the letters end up losing their driving privileges. Some additional percentage receives driving restrictions. Safety of older drivers has been a national focus since an elderly driver crossed into the opposing traffic lane and drove through a group of bicyclists in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a 86-year-old man drove through an outdoor market, killing ten and injuring more. The Dept. of Revenue has a page with information about the program and a downloadable form to report unsafe drivers. The AARP has a Driver Safety Program.
The July 18th St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an interview with David Fisher, who leads St. Louis's Great Rivers Greenway:
David Fisher was recruited in 2001 from Minneapolis to lead the new Metropolitan Park and Recreation District. He was charged with building a connecting web of trails and greenways. Last week, the district renamed itself Great Rivers Greenway, a moniker it hopes will become a mind-set, redefining this Midwestern industrial region as "clean, green and connected." . . .
Saturday, July 26, 2003
The federal government's Transportation Enhancements program is currently under attack in the U.S. House of Representatives. Enhancements currently helps pay for most bicycle and pedestrian projects and improvements.
Enhancements came into being with the passage of ISTEA and continued with its re-authorization, TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century). During the time period 1992-2002, Missouri had approximately 474 projects funded by Transportation Enhancements with a total federal contribuation of $115 million. Highlights: Katy Trail--including many phases and associated projectsA complete list of Enhancements projects in Missouri, 1992-2002, is available in Excel 97 format and in Word 97 format. The list of projects (which can be searched by project type and by state) comes from the Project page at Enhancements.org.
Friday, July 25, 2003
The KCStar's Mike Hendricks wrote a column Monday about speaking at an awards ceremony for winners of the Bike to Work Week competition the same week four KC-area cyclists and pedestrians were killed in hit-and-run collisions:
As I've told you before, KC is the 26th largest metro area in the United States, yet ranks No. 20 on a list of cities most deadly to pedestrians.
MoBikeFed, along with most bicycle advocacy organizations across the country, has been involved in the effort to restore the funding for Transportation Enhancements in the federal transportation re-authorization. The funding was cut by a House subcommittee.
Transportation Enhancements help fund most bicycle- and pedestrian-specific plans and projects across the country--everything from "Share the Road" signs, to state and regional bicycle coordinator positions, to bike lanes, bridge access projects, dangerous drain grate replacement projects, creation and implementation of state, regional, and municipal bicycle plans and bicycle-friendly roadway specifications, bike lanes, sidewalks on major streets, and bike paths. Here is the latest development in the fight to retain Enhancements funding, from BikeLeague News: On July 24, 2003, the House Appropriations Committee failed to pass an amendment offered by Congressman John Olver (D-MA) to fully restore enhancements funding by a vote of 29-33. While this is a setback, it is not a complete loss. The vote was closer than we expected and sets the stage for a battle on the House floor when Congress returns from its August recess. The KCStar carried an Associated Press article on this issue today. To find out what you can do to help, visit MoBikeFed Advocacy Alerts.
A judge has heard arguments about a dispute over land owned by St. Joseph City, on part of which is planned a riverfront trail. The city is planning to move forward with the trail before the ruling, moving the trail if necessary if they lose the case, so that the trail has a chance to be completed in time for the Lewis & Clark bicentennial in 2004. An article in the St. Joseph News-Press has details.
From BikeLeague News:
Today the Senate unanimously approved the Conserve by Bike Act (http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/durbin_amendment.pdf) as an amendment to the Senate Energy Bill. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Act.
A St. Joseph News-Press article has details about several new multi-use trails planned in St. Joseph and other northwest Missouri communities.
Remember that the Enhancements funding that helps create these trails is now under attack in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
An anti-bicycling letter appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this week. Some excerpts:
Post-Dispatch Letter 7/20/03: Bob Foster, Chair of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, responded with this letter that was published Tuesday in the Post-Dispatch: Sharing the road |