25 SEP 2007: Thank Sen. Bond for supporting bike/ped river crossing

Missouri bicyclists,

You may know that Senator Kit Bond of Missouri has not always been the best friend of bicycle and pedestrian issues.

However, recently on the floor of the Senate, Bond strongly defended funding for retrofitting Kansas City's Heart of America Bridge to create the first good, safe safe bicycle/pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River in the Kansas City metro area.

Just a couple of days after he spoke on the floor of the Senate, I was able to meet Senator Bond just after he gave a speech in Lebanon (starting point of Stage 4 of the Tour of Missouri) and thank him personally for his defense of the bicycle/pedestrian river crossing.

If you would like to email Senator Bond and thank him for his support of this important bicycle/pedestrian project, you can do it in two minutes at the Rails-Trails Conservancy web site.

More details (based on material from the Rails-Trails Conservancy)

On Tuesday, September 11, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) introduced an amendment on the Senate floor “to prohibit the use of funds … for bicycle paths so that the funds can be used to improve bridge and road safety.” This measure was soundly defeated by a vote of 80-18. However, this misguided attempt at scapegoating bike paths for the collapse of the Minneapolis bridge on August 1 is unacceptable.

Following Sen. Coburn's speech, Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) spoke on the Senate floor and noted that he objects "strongly" to such an amendment. He pointed out that many in the Kansas City area commute by bicycle, whether for exercise or to conserve energy. He also pointed out that there is HUGE public support for the bicycle/pedestrian river crossing--support organized by the Missouri Bicycle Federation in cooperation with local clubs and organizations, like the Kansas City Bicycle Club, Johnson County Bicycle Club, Mid-America Running Association, Kansas City Track Club, EarthRiders, and others.

To ensure their safety, Bond encouraged the Senate to defeat the amendment.

Please join us in thanking Sen. Bond for his courageous speech in defense of bicycle paths. Take action to let him know his trail- and bike-friendly stance is important and appreciated.

Thank you! Citizen feedback really DOES make a difference in making our cities and state friendlier and safer for walking and bicycling.

It is over 2000 of YOUR signatures and email messages that has made Senator Bond a support of this project.

--Brent
Dr Brent D. Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
director@Mobikefed.org

Related:

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

News: St. Joseph citizens support bike/ped friendly parkway standards

News: Bicyclist killed crossing Paseo Bridge near downtown Kansas City

News: Missouri is Bicycle Friendly, says MoDOT

News: Closing some streets in a city decreases travel time