Missouri Bicycle News Article

The op-ed in today's STL Post-Dispatch "TRANSPORTATION MESSAGE TO MODOT: COMPLETE OUR STREETS" gives me a good excuse to remind you about MoBikeFed's "Print & Mail for a bike/ped friendly MoDOT leadership" campaign.

**ACTION STEP!*******
Please, if you have not done so already (or even if you have--because now we have a fresh editorial to send), take a moment to print two copies of the Post-Dispatch editorial and send them to the addresses at the end of this message.
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This campaign is so important because it is a rare chance to influence transportation policy across the ENTIRE state of Missouri, right from the top. MoDOT directly controls a huge network of roads cutting through every community in Missouri and MoDOT's policies have a strong influence on the policies of every city and county (because MoDOT often must approve funding on major projects, even on non-MoDOT roads).

So here's a chance to change things right from the top. If we win this battle, we have won 1000 battles at one stroke.

Missouri bicyclists and pedestrians represent 10% of trips, 10% of roadway injuries, and 10% of fatalities. 10% of Missouri households own no automobile. This 10% of Missouri's transportation story deserves representation at the very top and 10% representation on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (1 commissioner of 8 is very close to 10%).

WHAT YOU CAN DO
STEP 1: Print two copies of this editorial:

"TRANSPORTATION MESSAGE TO MODOT: COMPLETE OUR STREETS"

STEP 2: Mail it, along with a brief note, TWO places:

#1: Missouri Governor Bob Holden
Missouri Capitol Building, Room 216
PO Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0720
Telephone: (573) 751-3222
FAX: (573) 751-1495
Email: mogov@mail.state.mo.us
MESSAGE: BOTH new members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission should be bike/ped friendly. ONE member should be a representative of the bike/ped/transit community (10% trips=10% representation).

#2: James B. Anderson, Chair of Director Search Committee
Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission
POB 1687
202 S John Q Hammons Parkway
Springfield, MO 65806
Email submission form
1-888-ASK-MODOT
NOTE: When emailing comments, include a note that they are "ATTN: James B. Anderson, Chair, MoDOT Director Search Committee"
MESSAGE: Bike/ped represents 10% of Missouri transportation; this means MoDOT's new director must be bike/ped knowledgeable and friendly AND Bike/ped groups need a seat at the table in the MoDOT director selection process.

More information on this campaign is in MoBikeFed Advocacy Alerts.

More editorials encouraging bike/ped friendly MoDOT leadership:

Kansas City infoZine
Kansas City Star (also PDF version)

Thank you. Your efforts help move bicycling forward in Missouri!

Related:

News: Ride of Silence May 19th in Kansas City, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Louis

News: THE VOTE: Amendment 3 debate heats up

News: MoBikeFed Editorial: Amendment 3 will affect Missouri's transportation future

News: Harkin "Complete Streets" Amendment fails; MO Sen. Bond speaks against

News: MBF campaign for bike/ped awareness in new MoDOT leaders hits the KCStar