Bicycle-related projects, legislation, funding requests, that would benefit from your action in contacting public officials, media, and other cyclists.
Send an email message in support of these issues in as little as two minutes:
Advocacy:
Paseo Bridge Bike/Ped Access: MoDOT is building a new quarter billion dollar bridge in the heart of Kansas City. It could provide the first safe bicycle/pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River near downtown Kansas City. We've been working on this for years and now it's going to move or die forever in the next month or so.
Advocacy:
Hwy 45 Bike/Ped Access: MoDOT is building a new highway through Parkville, Missouri. Guess what--their plans for accommodating bicycling and walking are inadequate, plus they forgot to include any funding for them.
Advocacy:
Bicycling License Plate: Many other states have 'Share the Road with Bicycles' license plates. Why not Missouri, too? In 1 minute you can show your support.
29 APR 2009: Urge Congress to set a national bicycling policy
The House Congressional Resolution on Bicycling (H.Con.Res. 305), introduced in February, calls on the United States Congress to adopt a national bicycling strategy to fully realize the incredible benefits of getting more people bicycling, more safely, more often. There is a "sense of Congress" that complete streets policies are essential to ensure wise use of considerable Federal investment in transportation infrastructure, and that expanded funding for bicycling and walking programs is desirable and appropriate.
As we celebrate National Bike Month in May, cities and organizations throughout the country will be hosting events promoting bicycling as a healthy, fun, and viable form of transportation. This is also a perfect opportunity to contact your Congressional Representatives to thank those that have signed onto the Resolution and urge those that have not to so.
A good showing for the Resolution is essential as this would serve as the first ever comprehensive bicycling policy statement and would serve as an important policy statement guide for the next transportation reauthorization which begins next year (2009).
16 APR 2008: Hwy 45--Stop MoDOT from building another road without good bike/ped accommodations
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bicycle and pedestrian groups, including the Missouri Bicycle Federation, have been working with MoDOT on the design of the propose Highway 45 upgrade in Parkville, Missouri, for a couple of years. Hwy 45 will be the only through road in this part of the county.
Keep in mind that, according to a recent article, "MoDOT . . . includes community feedback in setting priorities and providing input for its projects, [MoDOT spokesman Jeff] Briggs says. 'Typically, bike-ped needs rank pretty low . . . '"
In plain English, that means MoDOT says people are not asking for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation at public meetings and through public response opportunities (like email).
And since people are not asking, MoDOT does not need to provide.
Once Hwy 45 is built, development will proceed around it and we will be "locked in" to what is there.
So this is our one and only chance to build Hwy 45 right.
And MoDOT is projecting huge amounts of growth in this area--meaning the amount of automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on Hwy 45 will increase several times over the life span of this project.
At last report, MoDOT was relying on an inappropriate form of bicycle/pedestrian accommodation for this project: a 10-foot wide "sidepath" on only one side of Hwy 45. And they were relying on an inappropriate source of funding--an Enhancements Grant. Since this project is an inappropriate use of Enhancements Funding, the grant applications scored low and were not approved (according to MoDOT's own policies and their recent testimony before the Missouri Senate Transportation Committee, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are supposed to be routinely provided--and Enhancements funds are supposed to be used for something that is actually an "enhancement", above and beyond the norm).
So we have had a situation where MoDOT was planning inappropriate accommodations and relying on an inappropiate form of funding for them.
In addition, MoDOT was claiming there is not enough right-of-way to include sidewalks on each side of the road and appropriate shoulders or bicycle lanes. But the design includes a wide grassy median and wide utility zones, which could be narrowed or combined with sidewalk or path areas.
So it is not a matter of not enough room but not putting their priority on making bicycle and pedestrian transportation work in this part of Platte County.
16 APR 2008: Encourage Bike/Ped Access on New Quarter Billion Dollar Paseo Bridge
MoBikeFed and a coalition of running, walking, bicycling, trails, and community groups in the Kansas City area have been working for several years to create the first safe, accessible bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River in center city area of Kansas City.
Keep in mind that, according to a recent article, "MoDOT . . . includes community feedback in setting priorities and providing input for its projects, [MoDOT spokesman Jeff] Briggs says. 'Typically, bike-ped needs rank pretty low . . . '"
In plain English, that means MoDOT says people are not asking for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation at public meetings and through public response opportunities (like email).
And since people are not asking for them, MoDOT says it does not need to provide them.
It is important to see a show of numbers at the groundbreaking AND have a large number of supporting email messages, because MoDOT still does not want to include a bike/ped river crossing when the Paseo Bridge is built.
MoDOT wants to wait until later--some future, indefinite time (when it will only be harder *and* more expensive than now).
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Funkhauser will be speaking and particularly mentioning KCMO's support of bike/ped on the Paseo.
Building a bike/ped path as part of the Paseo Bridge now is both the cheapest and the quickest possible way to get downtown Kansas City's first safe bike/ped river crossing.
After years of work, now several decisions and actions must be taken in the next 30-120 days or the opportunity for a bike/ped path on the Paseo Bridge may well be lost.
14 MAR 2008: Ask Congress to Support Resolution in support of a National Bicycling Strategy
Friday, March 14, 2008
Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists sends the following request for help:
Thanks to everyone that made it to the National Bike Summit this year – we had record attendance, a strong program, and some good specific asks of our elected representatives.
Even if you weren’t able to attend this year, I’d still encourage you to ask your members of Congress to support the congressional resolution that was introduced for the Summit (H.Con.Res. 305) with the remarks below from Rep. Earl Blumenauer. A good showing of support for the resolution is essential. Similarly, I’d urge you to write your Senators and ask for their support for the Complete Streets Act of 2008, introduced by Senator Harkin.
Members of the Missouri delegation met Rep. Blumenauer (in bowtie) on the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the National Bike Summit 2008
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
This week, hundreds of cyclists from around America will descend on Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of America’s 100 million people who enjoy bicycling for recreation, for their livelihood, and some for basic transportation.
With 176 members of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus, I know there will be great receptivity in many offices, but it is time for everybody to take these men and women very seriously when they bring their message to Capitol Hill.
Yes, bicycling is fun. We know that from our youth. Everybody seems to have a bicycling story that they love to tell. However, there are many reasons why bicycling should be taken very seriously by policymakers. Consider the times. Remember last year when oil averaged $72 per barrel and gasoline averaged $2.81 per gallon and how people were deeply concerned about those increases over just the year before? Well, already oil is significantly over $100 a barrel and rising gasoline prices are expected to perhaps reach as much as $4 a gallon this summer.
There is also an emerging consensus on global warming that it is not just an urgent problem, but that transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions that we can manage quickly to reduce. The carbon emissions from riding a bicycle to work or to the store or for exercise are zero.
Consider the livability of our cities and neighborhoods as we are struggling with traffic congestion, air pollution, and the quality of life in every neighborhood and downtown and everywhere in between. Bicycles, obviously, make a huge difference there.
Last but not least, impacts on our health. There is great unease about soaring health care costs. There is a childhood obesity epidemic. The bicycle is the simplest, most cost-effective way to be able to enhance our health as we enhance the quality of life for our young people. Think for a moment right now how many people somewhere in America are stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike at a health club. These are all initiatives that can be dealt with by taking over 100 million bicycles that are stored in our garages and basements and locked to a back porch and putting them to use. The role for the Federal Government is not to tilt in favor of cycling, although I could certainly make that argument, but just to level the playing field.
Why do some Members of Congress think it’s all right to give tax benefits to commuters that burn gasoline to help them cushion their costs, but are against providing modest tax benefits for those who burn calories instead? Three times the House of Representatives has passed a modest reform for bike commuter equity, but it has yet to be enacted into law.
Mostly it’s time to set the table for the massive transportation reauthorization that will be before us next Congress. I have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 305, which would be the first comprehensive bicycling policy statement as a guide for authorization and beyond.
I urge my colleagues to look at it. It’s the simplest, most cost-effective direction the Federal Government can give to make more transportation choices for Americans, to provide safer opportunities for our children to get to school, to deal with health and climate change, and to heal our communities while we strengthen our bodies and improve our spirits.
Bicyclists are an indicator species of a livable community, a place where our families are safe, healthy and economically secure. It’s time for the Federal Government to step up and do its part.
20 FEB 2008: Ask your legislator to support two key bills for Missouri Bicycle Day at the Capitol, February 26th
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Over 40 Missourians are planning to come to Jefferson City February 26th for Missouri Bicycle Day at the Capitol.
Our goal is to personally talk with all 197 Missouri senators and representatives February 26th to build support for our legislative initiatives for 2008:
Bicycle Day at the Capitol is February 26th, 2008. I live in your district but I can't attend Bicycle Day in person this year.
I hope you can take time that day to meet with citizens from across the state who are traveling to Jefferson City that day to talk about the importance of making Missouri a better, safer place to walk and bicycle.
Over 2 million Missourians bicycle each year and every Missourian is a pedestrian!
Can I ask your help in moving two important pieces of legislation forward this year?
Complete Streets (HB 2206): This bill will ensure that every street MoDOT builds in our cities is safe for bicycling and walking, for transit users, for the young and the old, for the able and the disabled, for those who can drive and those who can't.
Safe Streets (HB 2205): Over 40,000 Americans are killed and 2.9 million injured every year on our streets and roads.
Too many careless or dangerous drivers injure or kill people and face no consequences. They are back driving a few days later, just as dangerously and just as carelessly. HB 2205 will provide appropriate penalties for drivers whose bad driving injures or kills others, encouraging them to becoming better, safer drivers and more responsible citizens.
That will help make our roads safer for everyone.
Sincerely yours,
Things to consider:
Your letter doesn't have to be long or complex. Shorter is better!
Mention Bicycle Day, Complete Streets (HB2206), and Safe Streets (HB2205).
Mention your connection with the legislator's district--you live, work, bicycle, or drive there, for instance.
A quick phone call is easy and makes a big impact. A written letter takes more time but also makes more impact than either email or phone.
Please do write only your own Missouri Senator and Representative at this time (if you have a personal connection with a senator or representative from another district, that would be OK, too).
We would like to reach *every* Missouri legislator--so please forward this message to friends and neighbors throughout the state. (It is especially difficult for us to cover outlying and/or rural districts--if you know anyone who lives in an outlying area please do send them a copy.)
THANK YOU!
As you know, many states across the U.S. have better facilities for bicycling and walking than Missouri. That is because citizens in those stateshave stepped up and asked their elected representatives to do better.
It really does work when citizens talk to their legislators!
Bicycle and pedestrian groups, including the Missouri Bicycle Federation, have been working with MoDOT on the design of the propose Highway 45 upgrade in Parkville, Missouri, for a couple of years. Hwy 45 will be the only through road in this part of the county.
MoBikeFed and a coalition of running, walking, bicycling, trails, and community groups in the Kansas City area have been working for several years to create the first safe, accessible bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River in center city area of Kansas City.
Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists sends the following request for help:
Over 40 Missourians are planning to come to Jefferson City February 26th for Missouri Bicycle Day at the Capitol.