KCStar: MoDOT to design bike/ped lane on Paseo Bridge

According to a KCStar article:

In a concession to the community, Missouri’s highway department will include a bicycle/pedestrian lane in the design of an upgraded Paseo Bridge.

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s commitment covers only the design of a bike lane and does not guarantee one will be built. And the bike lane design won’t extend beyond the span. Bike and pedestrian advocates wanted a lane linking the Isle of Capri Casino to North Kansas City, but department engineers deemed the longer option too costly because of the land purchases that would be required. . . .

Engineers won’t necessarily draw up a plan showing a bridge with a bike/pedestrian lane. But they are hopeful that they can design a landmark bridge equipped to handle a bike lane in the future.

The bike/pedestrian lane will be part of the criteria for potential design teams that submit proposals.

For more than a year, cyclists and pedestrians have sought a dedicated lane on the Paseo Bridge, saying they did not have a safe way to cross the river.

Read more details here--it's quite a good, brief summary of the situation.

Why do area bicycle and pedestrian advocates feel bicycle/pedestrian accommodation on the bridge is necessary?