Missouri Bicycle News Article

Yesterday the Columbia City Council approved what will become the first bicycle boulevard (that we know about!) in Missouri.

A Bicycle Boulevard is a low-traffic street that been engineered to become an attractive through route for bicycling. The street is still shared with automobiles but the design of the street discourages large amounts of through traffic and encourages slow vehicle speeds compatible with the neighborhood.

For those reasons--and because a bicycle boulevard typically involves minor retrofits to existing streets, and so is very inexpensive--bicycle boulevard designs are almost always popular with residents and businesses along the boulevard.

The proposed bicycle boulevard is on Ash Street and Windsor Street between Tenth and Ann streets in Columbia.

An article in the MU Maneater summarizes the City Council discussion about the bicycle boulevard:

Mayor Darwin Hindman said he was proud of the neighborhood for being receptive to the new idea of the bicycle boulevard and he said though it focuses on cyclist safety, eliminating it would create a safer driving environment.

Several neighborhood associations were in attendance for the vote on the issue and members stood up during the public hearing portion of the meeting in a show of support for the resolution. Supporters of the project said the median would stop dangerous and high volumes of fast moving traffic on their streets.

"The modification to the crossing will add safety to that site and eliminate confusion and blind spots with cars," said Adam Saunders, who lives off Ash Street.

Linda Roots, president of the North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association, said the bicycle boulevard would attract traffic beneficial for businesses in her neighborhood, located in the North Village Arts District. She said only one business felt it would be negatively impacted by the boulevard.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser and Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade were the two dissenting votes on the resolution. Both cited the large number of city projects as the reason for their votes.

"This may be one project too many without letting social change in the community catch up to it," Wade said.

First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz, who used to live off of Windsor Street, said the resolution is a win-win solution. Sturtz said the boulevard will make the roads safer for bicyclists and for cars no longer making dangerous left turns.

Related:

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

News: Closing some streets in a city decreases travel time

News: Columbia to create bicycle boulevard

Tips&Stories: Bicycles as the disruptive technology of the 1880s

News: Columbia's Rangeline St project finally finished--with bike lanes, sidewalks