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Missouri Bicycle Federation
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posted by Brent Hugh at 2/23/2006 10:43:00 PM
Missouri Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Runners,
MoDOT is currently working on their long-range (30 year) plan. The planning process is now nearing its end. Several of us representing bicyclists and pedestrians in Missouri have been on citizen committees that have worked through a whole process to develop major areas of focus and possible solutions. Of course, we (bike/ped advocates) have been only a small percentage of the total participants. Now I think MoDOT needs to hear from a number of people from around the state who support better bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the future, and maybe even a completely different understanding of what our transportation system could be (see below). They have promised that they are taking this planning process seriously and that they WILL listen to citizen comments. You can send comments here: Eric.Curtit@modot.mo.govOr play the "funding allocation" game here: http://www.mapourfuture.org/Some possible comments (assuming you agree with them, of course!): * You support routine accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians. This can usually be done very inexpensively, especially if designed in from the beginning. * Better bicycle & pedestrian connectivity and other alternatives like transit can be an important part of the effort to reduce congestion and pollution and make our cities more liveable. * You are concerned about rising fuel prices and believe they will increase demand for bicycling and walking. * Fuel prices may or may not reach $5 or $10/gallon over the next 30 years. But what if they do? Shouldn't MoDOT at least do some contingency planning for this possibility? * You are concerned about land use, planning, and sprawl. MoDOT should adopt policies to reduce sprawl. * We have been talking with MoDOT about the 30-year plan embraced by several European countries starting in the 1970s. They decided to re-make their transportation systems to make them more bicycle, pedestrian, and transit friendly. 30 years later, their proportion of bicycle & pedestrian trips has grown from less than 10% (just were we are now) to about 40%. There is no reason we couldn't do the same--if we have the vision to make it happen. * Taking a broader look, the long-range planning has talked about issues like transit, freight, rails, rivers & ports, demographic issues (aging population), and funding (MoDOT's main source of funding is the fuel tax which is NOT indexed to inflation, so it continually decreases in buying power). Funding Allocation Game On the Funding Allocation Game, currently bike/ped spending is about 1% of the total. Bicyclists & pedestrians represent about 13% of fatalities and 14% of injuries nationwide--so maybe that is a starting point. And it would take 60% of MoDOT's budget simply to keep up with regular maintenance (currently only about 40% is devoted to regular maintenance). --Brent 
posted by Brent Hugh at 2/02/2006 11:48:00 PM
Click here to use MoBikeFed's 2-minute action form on this issue.
Background Bridges across the Missouri and Kansas Rivers in the Kansas City area remain a major impediment to safe bicycle and pedestrian access in the region. Where a city like St. Louis has numerous Missouri and Mississippi River bridges that are accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians in various ways, the Kansas City area has not one single Missouri River crossing that is bicycle and pedestrian accessible. Catalyzed by the upcoming construction of a new Paseo Bridge near downtown Kansas City, Missouri, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups, including the Kansas City Bicycle Club, the Johnson County Bicycle Club, the Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation, the Missouri Bicycle Federation and others, successfully lobbied for consideration of bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on this new bridge. In taking up this issue, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) decided that a region-wide policy for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on major river bridges is needed. The KC River Crossings Task Force, with representatives of many area communities, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups, political leaders, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Community leaders are unanimous in their support for the thrust of this policy, which requires bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on new bridges, except where the cost is prohibitive, the bridge is in a remote location, or bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited from using a roadway (like an interstate freeway). KDOT, however, has reservations. They are not sure the public supports bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. They are not sure the bicycle and pedestrian facilities will receive enough use to justify their cost. They need to hear from many citizens, persuading them in a positive way, that bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on Kansas bridges is needed and will be used. What you can do Click here to use MoBikeFed's 2-minute action form. Or, do it the old fashioned way: Email these two KDOT representatives and ask them to support the new policy on bicycle and pedestrian access across river bridges in the Kansas City area: Jerry Younger
5 FEB 2006: Ask MoDOT director to mention bike/ped issues in Tuesday's State of Transportation address
posted by Brent Hugh at 2/01/2006 12:56:00 AM
[RESULT: Director Rahn did mention bicycling incidentally during his speech--an improvement from last year when there was no mention at all. Next year, though--we demand substance.]
Expires: Tuesday, February 7th, 2006 Want a little advocacy challenge to go with your Super Bowl Sunday? Shoot MoDOT Director Pete Rahn a quick email asking him to mention--just MENTION--bicycle and pedestrian issues in his State of Transportation address next Tuesday. His email: Pete.Rahn@modot.mo.govDetails MoDOT Director Pete Rahn is giving his yearly "State of Transportation" address to the MO legislature Tuesday Feb. 7th. I looked over his address from last year, and there is something important missing. He talks a lot about highways of course. And he mentions all the alternatives, like transit, airports, bus, freight, rail, ports, etc. But NOWHERE, not ONCE, does he mention bicycling or walking. Over 25% of Missourians do not have a driver's license. Over 8% of Missouri households have no access to a motor vehicle. More Missourians walk or bicycle to work than use transit. 27% of Missourians bicycle regularly (at least once a month in good weather months). Almost 10% of roadway fatalities and 14% of roadway injuries in Missouri are bicyclists and pedestrians. What does all this add up to? Well he doesn't have to spend his whole speech on us, but he could afford a lousy sentence or two. MoBikeFed has written asking him to cover bike/ped, as has a representative of the KC-area Sierra Club. At least one member of the Missouri General Assembly has officially asked. If you would like to add your voice to the chorus, a short email is all it would take. As always, please be positive and persuasive: Pete.Rahn@modot.mo.govMoDOT really does have some positive things to talk about this year: 1. $25 million Columbia Non-motorized Pilot Project will put Missouri in the national spotlight. 2. The new Safe Routes to Schools program has the potential to positively impact every Missouri community. 3. MoDOT has an active bike/ped program and is doing a much better job of listening to their constituents about bike/ped needs. 4. A small but significant portion of their budget is spent on bike/ped, mostly through the federal Transportation Enhancements and CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality) programs. Pete.Rahn@modot.mo.gov
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