Capitol Day 2014: Friend of Missouri Bicycling and Walking Awards

As part of the 2014 Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, we are honoring a number of Missourians who have done amazing work to promote bicycling and walking in their communities, across the state of Missouri, and nationwide.

Please join us on the beautiful South Steps of the Capitol at 12:30pm on Monday, April 7th, 2014, as we honor these outstanding Missourians, immediately prior to the Legislators Ride.

Our Annual Awards Ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the progress Missouri has been making to become a state that is more welcoming to those of us who walk, run, bicycle, and use trails.

We appreciate everything our award recipients and thousands of ordinary Missourians across the state have done to make Missouri a better, safer place to walk and bicycle!

• Download the Awards Booklet in PDF form
• Nominate an award winner for the 2015 Friend of Missouri Bicycling and Walking Awards
• See honorees from previous years

2014 Award Recipients

Governor Jay Nixon

After Missouri was named "Best Trails State" in 2013, Governor Jay Nixon responded by creating the Governor's 100 Missouri Miles Challenge.  The Governor and First Lady have criss-crossed the state, talking with Missourians about the importance of trails and leading many walks and hikes on trails across Missouri. Governor Nixon has also encouraged Missourians log their miles spent bicycling, walking, hiking or doing other outdoor activities on the 100MissouriMiles.com web site. To date, over 14,000 Missourians have logged over 1,250,000 miles.  This program establishes Missouri as one of the premier states and Governor Nixon as one of the leading governors in the nation, in promoting trail use, health, fitness, and outdoor recreation on a statewide basis.

Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks

In April 2013, Missouri was named "Best Trails State" by American Trails. From the award text: "Missouri’s comprehensive recreational trail system, maintained by federal, state and local agencies as well as private organizations, offers trails for all users, including hikers, backpackers, bicyclists, equestrians, paddlers and off-road vehicle riders. Missouri recognizes that trails are an important component of an outstanding and strong state, and vital for recreation and health, to connect people with nature, and to protect and manage Missouri’s natural resources. Missouri includes numerous significant trails. . . . Lewis and Clark, Trail of Tears and the Santa Fe National Historic Trails pass through Missouri and the Pony Express, California, and Oregon National Historic Trails begin on its western border. Other nationally significant trails include the Mississippi River Trail, TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft Route, Historic Route 66, and the Katy Trail, the longest developed rail-trail in the nation."

We want to recognize all of the dozens of agencies and organizations who build, maintain, and support trails in Missouri. We want to recognize Missouri State Parks as one of the leaders in the statewide trail effort.  State Parks offers almost 1,000 miles of managed trails and 2,900 acres of motorized riding areas in 87 state parks and historic sites. State Parks has innovated with the creation of a cutting-edge Trail Inventory Database for all trails in the state park system. They and other trails agencies across the state are cooperating to create the Missouri Trails Alliance and its web site, VisitMissouriTrails.com, which has the ambitious goal of making information about all trails in Missouri easily available to the public.

Ryan McKenna, Crystal City, Missouri Senate (retired); Director, Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Ryan McKenna was Senate Co-Sponsor and one of the key supporters of one of the most important pieces of legislation for bicyclists and pedestrians in Missouri history: A proposal for a constitutional amendment that will, for the first time, allow state transportation funds to be spent on all forms of transportation, including bicycling, walking, trails, and transit.  This is a breakthrough and much needed, very significant development for bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri. For his willingness to tackle one of the most difficult issues in Missouri in an open and bi-partisan way, and for his vision and farsightedness in including all forms of transportation in his proposal, we are very pleased to call Ryan McKenna a Friend of Missouri Bicycling and Walking. 

 

Senator Mike Kehoe, Jefferson City, Missouri Senate

Mike Kehoe has for two years been the Senate Sponsor of one of the most important pieces of legislation for bicyclists and pedestrians in Missouri history: A proposal for a constitutional amendment that will, for the first time, allow state transportation funds to be spent on all forms of transportation, including bicycling, walking, trails, and transit.  This is a breakthrough and much needed, very significant development for bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri. For his willingness to tackle one of the most difficult issues in Missouri in an open and bi-partisan way, and for his vision and farsightedness in including all forms of transportation in his proposal, we are very pleased to call Mike Kehoe a Friend of Missouri Bicycling and Walking.   

 

Representative Dave Hinson, St. Clair, Missouri House of Representatives

Representative Dave Hinson has for two years been House Sponsor of one of the most important pieces of legislation for bicyclists and pedestrians in Missouri history: A proposal for a constitutional amendment that will, for the first time, allow state transportation funds to be spent on all forms of transportation, including bicycling, walking, trails, and transit.  This is a breakthrough and much needed, very significant development for bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri.For his willingness to tackle one of the most difficult issues in Missouri today, and for his vision and farsightedness in including all forms of transportation in his proposal, we are very pleased to call Representative David Hinson a Friend of Missouri Bicycling and Walking

Jonathan Gano, Springfield Public Works

Jonathan is a regular bicyclist and has encouraged placing bike lanes and marking for shared lanes on streets in Springfield.  Jonathan has proposed and supported projects that benefit bicyclists and pedestrians.  Design and implementation of bicycling facilities on streets in Springfield and The Link, a route for pedestrians and bicyclists on low volume, slow speed streets connecting greenway paths and activity centers is under Jonathan's supervision.  The City of Springfield administration is supportive of improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Springfield, and Jonathan has taken the initiative to see that the policy can be seen on streets in the city.