MoBikeFed Cycling News, Tips, Advocacy Alerts

The American Discovery Trail announces the America 250 Relay - Summer-Fall 2026, in Missouri Sep 29-Oct 2

Brent Hugh — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000

The American Discovery Trail Society has announced a nationwide relay event to take place summer and fall of 2026, starting July 4th, 2026.

The relay will be in Missouri from September 29th to October 2nd. You can join the relay as a participant or spectator on the Relay Page.

American Discovery 250 Relay - Sep 29-Oct 2, 2026 in Missouri

As part of the America250 celebrations this year, the American Discovery Trail Society will be coordinating a nationwide relay event along the entire 6800+ mile American Discovery Trail (ADT) from California to Delaware. The event is entitled “American Discovery 250 Relay: One Trail · One Nation· 250 Years in Motion” and is scheduled to take place in the summer and fall of 2026.

The Society aims to recruit thousands of people to pass the baton across our land, and through a variety of non-motorized means including running, walking, wheelchair, biking and horseback riding. Individuals, families, groups and businesses will be encouraged to take part. The map below shows the route of the ADT and of the relay. The relay will split into two from Denver, CO and reunite in Cincinnati, OH.

Currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, the American Discovery Trail goes from sea to shining sea, and one can enjoy the trail in any of the fifteen states that it traverses, seeing many ecosystems, historic sites, cultural venues, and local communities, ranging from large metropolitan areas to small towns and wilderness areas. Long-distance travelers may see and experience over 1,000 species of plants and animals, while local users can see hundreds of species. All also benefit from amenities along the way and contribute to local economies, be it eating at restaurants or sleeping in campgrounds or hotels.

Join us in uniting the country with a coast-to-coast event that starts on the 4th of July and ends by Thanksgiving. We are seeking participants, sponsors, donors, and local hosts. To keep up with details on the event, please visit our website: discoverytrail.org.

In Missouri the American Discovery Trail crosses the Mississippi River at St Louis, follow the Katy and then Rock Island Trails to the outskirts of the Kansas City metro area, then through Lee's Summit, Raytown, and Kansas City before joining the Blue River and Indian Creek Trail systems to enter Kansas.

You can download the full American Discovery Trail route files here - FREE in 2026 in honor of the 250th anniversary.

Link:

The American Discovery Trail announces the America 250 Relay - Summer-Fall 2026, in Missouri Sep 29-Oct 2

ALERT: Ask MoDOT to support wayfinding signage for U.S. Bicycle Routes 51, 251, and 66 across Missouri

Brent Hugh — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:44:00 +0000

Help us get wayfinding signage for U.S. Bicycle Routes 51, 251, and 66 in Missouri.

Go to this page on the MoDOT web site, fill out name, address, organization (if applicable), choose AREAS "Statewide" and "southwest", "Kansas City", "Northwest", "Central", and "St Louis". TIER is "multimodal".

Suggested message:

I (and/or my organization) strongly supports adding standard AASHTO wayfinding signage to U.S. Bicycle Routes 51, 251, and 66 in Missouri.

Wayfinding signage will help raise the visibility of these routes, help promote tourism and economic development in the communities along the routes, and is very helpful for the thousands of people who bicycle these routes each year.

Background information about USBR 51, 251, and 66 - and why we need wayfinding signage installed on these national bicycle routes through Missouri

Why is wayfinding signage important for national bicycle routes in Missouri?

Adding wayfinding signage to our existing national bicycle routes is one of the most cost-effective ways to support bicycling in Missouri while also supporting tourism and economic development in dozens of communities along these routes.

Wayfinding signage helps people find and use the routes, and feel comfortable riding them.

Wayfinding signage improves safety, because riders are easily able to follow the route without getting lost and wandering onto other, less suitable routes for bicycling. The signage also helps inform motorists that bicyclists regularly use the route, and that it is a recognized and designated national bicycle route.

USBR 66

USBR 66 in Missouri has been a designated route since 2018. However, although it is an officially designage national bicycle route, there is currently no wayfinding or identification signage install on the route.

It is particularly important to install wayfinding signage on USBR 66 soon for a couple of reasons:

2026 is the Historic Route 66 Centennial celebration. That will bring tens of thousands of people to Missouri to explore Route 66. Exploring the route by bicycle is one of the most common and popular ways to explore the route. Thousands bicycle the entire route each year, but even more ride various sections of the route, or drive between major destinations but then bicycle portions of the route along the way.
USBR 66 is already the second most popular cross-state bicycle route in Missouri - behind only the Katy/Rock Island Trail cross-state route. If you look at the Strava Cycling Heatmap for Missouri, you will easily see the Katy/Rock Island Trail route as the most popular and well used, then USBR 66 stretching from St Louis to Springfield and Joplin, and then further south (and third most commonly used) USBR 76/Transamerica Trail.

USBR 51 and USBR 251

USBR 51 and 251 are new this year. We have been working with communities along these routes since 2018 to develop the routes - and it is just this year that we have finally reached the point of official designation by MoDOT and AASHTO.

USBR 51 and 251 (and alternate/loop route in the Springfield/Cassville/Pea Ridge region) are exciting new bicycle tourism routes that bring riders a real slice of Americana and some of the best Missouri has to offer. View or download the full routes here.

USBR 51 and USBR 251 Overview Map

Along the routes you will find:

Jesse James and other Missouri Civil War history
Missouri's quilting headquarters
Missouri Mormon/LDS history sites, including a number of sites in northern Missouri (including an optional loop route that, together with USBR 51, encompasses nearly all important Mormon/LDS history sites in Missouri, as well as the Santa Fe Trail and other historic sites)
Civil War battle sites, history, and more in Lexington, Higginsville, and Warrensburg
Enjoy a section of the Spirit Trail near Warrensburg, visit Knob Noster State Park and Whiteman Air Force Base (home of the B-2 stealth bomber), and the Katy Trail at Sedalia
The beautiful, scenic, and remote Truman Lake and Pommes de Terres district
Parallel a lengthy segment of the historic Butterfield Overland Stage National Historic Trail and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail through Warsaw, Wheatland, Bolivar, Springfield, and Cassville
Visit Historic Joplin and connect to the Razorback Trail in northwest Arkansas
Visit top Civil War history sites Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and Pea Ridge National Battlefield (along USBR 251, which also parallels the Butterfield Overland Stage route from Springfield to Pea Ridge)
Several spur, connecting routes, and loop routes give you routing options and access to various destinations near the official USBR 51/251 route.
USBR 51/251 connects to numerous other statewide and cross-state routes: The Katy Trail, the Rock Island Trail (forthcoming), Adventure Cycling Lewis & Clark Bicycle Route, MoBikeFed's Lewis & Clark Missouri River Adventure, USBR 50 (forthcoming), USBR 66/Bicycle Route 66, USBR 76/Transamerica Trail, and others
You can connect to Amtrak Stations on the trail at Warrensburg and Sedalia. The Amtrak Station in Osceola, IA, is near the north terminus of the route (and is on Iowa's planned portion of USBR 51 - not yet officially adopted)
Much more - see the full map here.

What USBR wayfinding signage looks like and how it helps

We have wayfinding signage on USBR 76 - Transamerica Trail in Missouri, and the thousands of cyclists who ride the route each year really appreciate it. Each turn or intersection is marked in advance (signs with arrows) and then a confirmation sign follows each turn. All this means you can ride the route with confidence and without getting lost. The signs also raise the community awareness of the routes, and that they are official designated routes that cyclists are following:

You can see all the national designated routes in Missouri and how they fit into the national system on the Open Street Map (cycling version):

https://www.cyclosm.org/#map=7/37.684/-91.505/cyclosm

Sampling of some of the best Missouri gravel cycling, bikepacking, singletrack, and Katy/Rock Island Trail connector & loop routes - for a day trip, overnighter, or several-day bikepacking or bicycle tour

Brent Hugh — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:06:00 +0000

Let's take a look at some of the best gravel cycling, bikepacking, singletrack, and mostly off-road, trail, or gravel bicycle routes Missouri has to offer.

Missouri has miles and miles of beautiful gravel and bikepacking routes

These routes include many connecting and loop routes with well known Missouri routes like the Katy Trail, Rock Island Trail, and Ozark Trail:

Butterfield Stage Experience Gravel Route - 250 miles Jefferson City-Springfield, with maybe 800 miles of connector and loop routes to nearby communities also available. This was just rolled out this Summer, in cooperation with a large number of communities up and down the route. FYI the main 250-mile route is 50% gravel, 16% multi-use trail (mostly soft-surface), 34% paved (mostly low-traffic "country lanes" or city streets in small rural communities), 0.6% (1.5 miles) single-track.
Ozark Trail Mountain Bike/Bikepacking Route Network - somewhere north of 1000 miles of singletrack, gravel, and some connecting low-traffic paved routes through the entire Ozark Trail region. Particularly:
- GOTE 300 is checked, ridden, and ready to go.
- The eastern side of the OTMB Main Loop--say Cuba to West Plains--is about 300 miles, mostly singletrack Ozark Trail with gravel connectors, and a very few paved roads to make needed links. See notes on the map however--the Huzzah CA section needs a re-route (which is pretty easy to do via nearby gravel roads).
- Those two are probably the closest Missouri has right now to a really awesome, remote, lengthy, and mostly-singletrack bikepacking adventure route.
Lewis and Clark Missouri River Adventure - mostly gravel except for relatively short portions in the STL & KC metro areas. ~1400 miles St Louis-Sioux City. Very remote; make sure to plan your resupply points carefully. Many loop opportunities thanks to routes north/south of the river through MO.
Bike MOPAC - Follows the historic Pacific RR route across Missouri--first railroad west of the Mississippi. Again the portion through the STL metro has a few trails where available, but otherwise paved. But starting about Labadie and on west, it's mostly gravel.
Missouri Trail of Tears Bicycle Route - long stretches of this are mostly gravel, for example the Northern route Caledonia-Marshfield through Mark Twain Natl Forest. Which is some 200 miles.
Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Tour - The portions through the KC metro area are not what one would normally describe as bikepacking, but that leaves:
- Boonslick-Arrow Rock Gravel Loop - ~70 miles, probably one of the closest matches to what they're asking for here--a nice Overnighters route
- Santa Fe Trail Boonville-Independence - 140 miles, mostly gravel.
- Parting of the Trails Loop - 77 miles, mostly gravel. Takes you along the historic Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trail routes just past the point where they parted, and also visits a number of Bloody Kansas/Civil War era historic sites.
And of course the Katy and Rock Island Trails - which create MANY options for connections to nearby or distant communities, loop routes, and other options
The Kansas City Airport-Rock Island Trail route is 51 miles of trails and low-stress roads and streets taking in the best Kansas City has to offer, including views of the beautiful riverfront
- ALL ALONG THE TRAILS:
  - GREENWOOD GAP: How to connect the missing link in the Rock Island Trail from Greenwood to Pleasant Hill (near the western end of the RIT)
  - The Lewis & Clark Missouri River Adventure includes continuous routes on both sides of the Missouri River throughout Missouri - creating many natural loop routes with and alternate routes to the Katy Trail
- WESTERN END OF THE TRAILS:
  - Connecting from the Katy or Rock Island to the Flint Hills Nature Trail in Kansas
  - Get to the Rock Island Trail from anywhere in the Kansas City metro area (including Kansas City Amtrak-Rock Island, Kansas City International Airport-Rock Island, Independence Amtrak-Rock Island, and Lee's Summit Amtrak-Rock Island connectors)
- CENTRAL MISSOURI CONNECTORS, DAY TRIPS, AND LOOP ROUTES WITH THE MAJOR TRAILS:
- EASTERN END OF THE TRAILS:
  - Routes from most anywhere in the St Louis metro area to the Katy Trail - including Kirkwood Amtrak-Katy, St Louis Amtrak-Katy, and St Louis Lambert International Airport-Katy
    The Rock Island, Katy, and Butterfield Stage routes with many connecting routes and loop routes
  - The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tour includes connecting routes from the Katy Trail to destinations in the St Louis area, including the Illinois side, focusing on points of interest related to the Lewis & Clark expedition

Additional resources for those interested in gravel cycling, bikepacking, singletrack, and low-traffic connecting routes to the major Missouri Trails

Other bikepacking and multi-day gravel/singletrack type touring options in Missouri:

GravelMap.com for Missouri, which shows many, many more miles of gravel routes in the state - and where you can easily add your own gravel routes
Mentioned above is the Ozark Trail - overview map here. The difficulty is that some sections are open to mountain biking and some not. You have to check carefully each section's map here (for example this - that's where you find no mountain biking allowed in Huzzah CA).One way around this is to use MoBikeFed's Ozark Mountain Bike Trail network routes, which connect the mountain bikeable singletrack with (mostly) gravel road connectors
Sample overnighters in the Ozark Trail system (using only segments where bicycling is allowed):
- Berryman Trail - The Berryman Loop itself is just 26 miles, but lends itself nicely to overnight camping with Brazil Creek & Berryman Campgrounds right along the route (plus primitive camping allowed in areas, perhaps).
- If you want to stretch it out a bit further there are tons of potential starting/end/camping spots in between the Berryman Trail area & the Council Bluffs Lake area. You could easily start at say Butts or Hazel Creek Campground, ride out to your campsite, complete the Berryman loop and ride back to the starting point for 40-50 mile rides. For more like 70 miles, Council Bluffs Lake-Berryman & back.
You can find singletrack/mountain bike trails in Missouri on SingleTracks, MTB Project, and TrailForks.

More from MoBikeFed about Missouri bicycle routes, gravel, trails, bicycle route mapping, and more

Missouri Bicycle Maps & Routes for mostly on-road bicycle routes & maps
Missouri Bicycle & Touring Routes page for cross-state, touring, regional, connector, and local bicycle routes created by MoBikeFed and our partners across Missouri, including immediate download of GPS files for these routes.
Missouri Trails Page for off-road trails, rail-trails, and single-track mountain bike trails.
Missouri Gravel Grinder and Bikepacking page for gravel grinder and bikepacking routes featuring Missouri's amazing system of gravel roads.
Resources for planning Missouri bicycle and trails trips and routes for more information about bicycle and trails route and trip planning.

Creating a world-class bicycle, pedestrian, and trails transportation network across Missouri is one of the four major goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Creating, promoting, and encouraging the implementation of the statewide trails vision along with major trails and trail connections like the Katy and Rock Island are a vitally important parts of that plan.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support help turn our Vision into reality!

Springfield begins repair of historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, closed for almost 10 years

Brent Hugh — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:45:52 +0000

The City of Springfield has begun construction on reconstruction and repair of the historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge. The bridge has been closed since 2016.

The historic Jefferson Ave Footbridge in Springfield has been closed since 2016

The bridge is a historic structure that crosses a railroad yard with 13 tracks, connecting residential and downtown business districts, and allows pedestrians to avoid an approximately 1.5-mile detour.

More about the project from the City of Springfield:

The City of Springfield, alongside project partners Historic Commercial Street, BNSF Railway, Branco Enterprises and Great River Engineering, is embarking on the long-awaited construction phase of the rehabilitation of the historic structure.

The project will consist of the complete rehabilitation of the existing steel bridge structure, involving the repair and replacement of existing deficient structural members, removal and replacement of wood decking, replacement of stairs, application of a new paint system and installation of lighting. Two elevators will be installed on the north and south approaches to bring the bridge into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide equitable access to all. . . .

ABOUT THE FOOTBRIDGE

Built in 1902, Springfield's Jefferson Avenue Footbridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 562-foot-long steel bridge allows pedestrians to cross 13 tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard between Chase Street and Commercial Street.

The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge was the first of its kind to be built in Missouri and is unique in engineering and historic significance. The footbridge was built at public expense by The American Bridge Company of Pennsylvania. Its innovative multi-arched cantilever design made it possible for workers to construct the bridge by spanning out over the railroad tracks, thereby minimizing impacts to the rail lines below. The bridge also represents the history of two cities coming together – North and South – and the community’s connection to the railroad and the commercial growth opportunities it provided.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge continues as a symbol of growth and opportunity today. Prior to its closure, the bridge served as a vital pedestrian and bicycle connection, linking the booming Commercial Street Historic District to the Woodland Heights Neighborhood and helping to spur growth of the Moon City Creative District across the tracks to the north.

Closure and Structural Evaluation

The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge was closed March 1, 2016 after Public Works inspectors found corrosion and steel loss in the north support column. Due to safety concerns, it was deemed in the public's best interest to close the bridge to conduct a full evaluation and determine repair options.

The City hired Great River Engineering (GRE) to conduct an in-depth structural evaluation of the bridge. GRE is a Springfield-based civil engineering firm that has rehabilitated several bridges in the region – Riverside Bridge and Mill Pond Bridge in Ozark, Devil's Elbow Bridge in Pulaski County and the Meramec River U.S. 66 Bridge in Eureka.

Link:

Springfield begins repair of historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, closed for almost 10 years

Phase 1 of St Louis Tower Grove Connector construction to begin next week

Brent Hugh — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:51:00 +0000

The Tower Grove Connector is a planned cycle track (separated bicycle route/path) located in St. Louis City between Tower Grove Park and Cortex. It passes through the neighborhoods of Forest Park Southeast, Botanical Heights, and Shaw. Phase 1 of the Connector will be built along Tower Grove Avenue and South Vandeventer Avenue. Phase 2 will extend along Sarah Street to Forest Park Ave.

The Connector has been in the works for many years. Just this week the City of St Louis sent the following announcement about construction for Phase 1 of the Connector:

Phase 1 of the Tower Grove Connector Construction will begin next week! Here’s what to expect:

Monday, June 16 — Tower Grove Avenue: On-Street Parking & Bike Lakes Will Be Temporarily Removed for Construction

Work will begin along Tower Grove Avenue between Magnolia Avenue and Shaw Avenue.

On-street parking will be eliminated on Tower Grove Avenue from Magnolia to Shaw.

Traffic lanes on Tower Grove Avenue will shift to the east side of the street.

West sidewalk on Tower Grove Avenue will be closed to make room for construction activities.

On-street bike lanes on Tower Grove Avenue will be removed for construction activities.

Construction Timeline

The project will take about a year to complete with construction continuing through the summer of 2026. Construction is expected to progress from south to north in phases.

Be Alert & Safe As construction begins, please be aware of trucks entering and leaving the roadway and drive safely in the work zone.

Stay In Touch

We'll continue to share quarterly project updates. If you'd like to receive additional construction updates from the City of St. Louis, please email Larry Neuhaus: neuhausl@stlouis-mo.gov.

Link:

Phase 1 of St Louis Tower Grove Connector construction to begin next week

Major study: Biking (or walking) to work will halve your risk of early death

Brent Hugh — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:58:00 +0000

Does Bike Commuting HALVE early death? That's what a peer reviewed scientific study recently found.

This video looks at that study, but digs deeper:

What if you have an easy commute?
What about walking instead of cycling?
What about the dangers of cycling bringing down the average?
What about ebikes?

The original study is a massive longitudinal study from Scotland involving 83,000 particants over a 17-year period.

Summary of the study results:

Major study in the British Medical Journal underlines the health benefits of commuting to work by bicycling and walking

Results Compared with non-active commuting, cyclist commuting was associated with lower all-cause mortality risk (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.73), lower risk of any hospitalisation (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97), lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalisation (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.91) and of having a CVD prescription (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.78), lower risk of cancer mortality (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.82) and cancer hospitalisation (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.98), and lower risk of having a prescription for mental health problems (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.89). Pedestrian commuting was associated with lower risk of any hospitalisation (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.93), lower risk of CVD hospitalisation (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96) and of having a CVD prescription (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.93), and lower risk of a mental health prescription (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.97).

In plain English, for bicycle commuters that amounts to:

47% lower all-cause mortality
10% lower risk of any hospitalization
24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalization
30% lower risk of having a prescription relative to cardiovascular disease
51% lower risk of cancer mortality
24% lower risk of cancer hospitalization
20% lower risk of having a prescription for mental health issues

For people who commute to work via walking, the results are similar:

9% lower risk of any hospitalization
10% lower risk of cardiovascular hospitalization
10% lower risk of having a cardiovascular prescription
7% lower risk of having a mental health prescription

Conclusion Active commuters were less likely to suffer from a range of negative physical and mental health outcomes than non-active commuters. These findings strengthen the evidence for the health benefits of active commuting.

This study was undertaken some years before the real advent of ebikes, but as Seth points out in the video above, there have been several studies showing that the health benefits of ebike riding are close to those for regular bikes - so every indication is that the results from commuting by ebike will be very similar to commuting by regular bike.

Again, view the full study in the British Medial Journal here.

Major study in the British Medical Journal underlines the health benefits of commuting to work by bicycling and walking

Link:

Major study: Biking (or walking) to work will halve your risk of early death

How a HAWK crossing for pedestrian helps improve safety - and how it can be even better - Evan Edinger

Brent Hugh — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:00:55 +0000

Youtuber Evan Edinger breaks down what a HAWK pedestrian signal is, how it works, where it came from, and how it could be better:

Link:

How a HAWK crossing for pedestrian helps improve safety - and how it can be even better - Evan Edinger

What's new with BikeMO in 2024 - our annual fundraising ride coming up August 24th in Boonville

Brent Hugh — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:03:07 +0000

Early Bird registration for BikeMO ends TODAY, Monday, July 15th at midnight. BikeMO, our annual ride in mid-Missouri, is in its 19th year.

====> Register for BikeMO now - last chance at the Early Bird rate!

WHAT'S NEW with BikeMO this year?

Boonville

New start location just off the Katy Trail in downtown Boonville
An amazing and generous new host location, Afterparty location, host hotel, and sponsor - the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville
Beautiful paved route options - any distance 5 miles up to a metric century (62 miles)
Katy Trail route option - any distance 5 miles up to 43 miles
NEW Guided History Tour of Boonville route option (or take a self-guided version of the tour any time ride day at your own pace)
Great rate the host hotel (thru July 26th)
BikeMO is the same weekend and location as our annual Missouri Active Transportation Summit.
- Special rate when you attend both the Summit & BikeMO (you'll see it when you register for either event)
- BikeMO packet pickup will be during the Summit Expo - vendors, clubs, groups, businesses from around Missouri will be on display
  Arrow Rock
With our new start location, many more riders will have the chance to visit some of the historic highlights of the area, including:
- Historic Blackwater - a quirky little town well off the beaten path, with a telephone museum, old west-style saloon, old railroad depot (where our ride SAG Stop will be located), and some of the best pies in Missouri. And it's a National Historic Landmark.
- Arrow Rock - one of the founding cities of the Santa Fe Trail, a living history village with literally dozens of historic buildings and locations to visit, a State Historic Site, anda National Historic Landmark all rolled into on.
- A half dozen remarkable historic sites along the route between Blackwater & Arrow Rock - see the paved route map here for details.
- The Lamine River crossing, site of the Imhoff archaeological site
- Katy Trail riders have some interesting destinations as well - Pilot Grove, the Pleasant Green Plantation, and for the very adventurous, the Clifton City Cliffs. See the Katy Trail Route.
- All these sites were on the route before, but now they are 15 miles closer to the start line - meaning that more riders will get to see them, and you can take some more time to explore historic Blackwater, Arrow Rock, and other historic points if you like.

====> Register for BikeMO now - last chance at the Early Bird rate!

Just a reminder that BikeMO is just one of FOUR great MoBikeFed events coming up:

Blackwater - pies and lots more!

Missouri Active Transportation Summit WITH BikeMO, Boonville, Aug 23, 2024 - Sponsor the Summit or Exhibit at the Summit Expo!
BikeMO, Boonville, Aug 24
Urich Bike Fest - full weekend + bands + amazing location, Urich, Sept 13-15, 2024
Tour de Wildwood, Oct 6, 2024

*** NEW: Season Pass - and you can still take advantage of the Season Pass for the final 3 rides + Summit

*** NEW: Every 2024 ride registration includes LUNCH and an amazing ride Tshirt - a full $35 value for each ride.

*** NEW for 2024: Exhibit Space and Advertising Space for Summit Sponsors! Visit the Summit Sponsor Page for details. Nonprofits & businesses can have vendor space the Summit Expo at a special rate.

*** NEW for 2024: BikeMO & the Active Transportation Summit TOGETHER the same weekend at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville. You can do one or both!

*** The 2024 Summit is going to include an AMAZING full slate of sessions. Preview of sessions & presenters is now online here. Summit Keynote is Lisse Regehr of Thrive Allen County - a small rural county Kansas that has made hay with bicycling, walking, trails, and outdoor recreation.

BikeMO Route & Highlights

BikeMO starts & ends at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel just off the Katy Trail in historic Boonville

The BikeMO route is lined with historic sites, buildings, cemeteries, and more.

Many of the sites date to the early 1800s and the founding of the Santa Fe Trail

African Americans built much of the Arrow Rock we see today, and their history is celebrated at a State Historic Site along the route between Blackwater & Arrow Rock

Arrow Rock is a living history village with dozens of buildings and historic sites to visit - including many dating to the early 1800s and the time when Arrow Rock was a river port and one of the birthplaces of the Santa Fe Trail.

====> Register for BikeMO now - last chance at the Early Bird rate! <====

Riding the Rock Island & Katy Trail from Kansas City to St Louis (video)

Brent Hugh — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:30:00 +0000

Cyclist Palmer Bowles videoed his Katy and Rock Island Trail trip from Kansas City to St Louis. Watch the whole trip here:

Link:

Riding the Rock Island & Katy Trail from Kansas City to St Louis (video)

Join Ian Mackay, quadripeligic cyclist and advocate for accessible outdoor activities for everyone, as he rides across the Katy Trail June 21-28; Special Event Mon Jun 24, 9:30am, N Jefferson Trailhead

Brent Hugh — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Ian Mackay suffered a spinal cord injury 16 years ago and is a quadriplegic. Since then he has worked to promote accessibility to the outdoors for people with mobility issues:

Ian MacKay - advocate for accessible outdoor recreation for everyone

Four years or so after the injury, I rekindled my passion for being outdoors. . . .

We live blocks away from a wonderful bike path called the Olympic Discovery Trail. I soon found I could go further and further on this trail where I would see wildflowers blooming, birds migrating, and see stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. I loved it out there and soon found myself putting 10, 15, 20 miles a day on my chair. I downloaded an app called Strava which tracks your distance, route, and speed using GPS so that I can keep track of my rides. I’ve put nearly 10,000 miles on my chair since then and am a well-known feature on the trails near my home.”

All of this lead to a desire to take a lengthy wheelchair ride and perhaps benefit a good cause at the same time....

Join Ian any day of his Katy Trail Ride June 21-28 (east to west across Missouri) or for a special presentation Monday morning, June 24th, 9:30am at the North Jefferson Trailhead

Ian will be riding the Katy Trail across Missouri the week of June 21-28, 2023. You are welcome to join Ian for all or part of any of his daily rides on the Katy Trail. He welcomes cyclists with a disability or without to join him. His planned daily schedule is below - check his Katy Trail Ride web page for more details.

Monday, June 24 at 9:30am at the North Jefferson Trailhead of the Katy Trail, Ian will be joined by several Missouri organizations and cyclists for a presentation and Katy Trail ride. We welcome everyone to attend this event, hear more about Ian's ride and projects, and to ride out with him that morning if you like.

Ian's Katy Trail Ride Schedule

June 19-20 - Arrive in St Louis & prepare
June 21 – Machens, MO to Augusta, MO – 40.4 miles
June 22 – Augusta to Rhineland – 38.7 miles
June 23 – Rhineland to North Jefferson City – 38.6 miles
June 24 – North Jefferson City to Rocheport – 37.7 miles
June 25 – Rocheport to Clifton City – 37.5 miles
June 26 – Clifton City to Leeton – 42.3 miles
June 27 – Leeton to Pleasant Hill – 38.5 miles
June 28 – Packing day and cool down
June 29 – Fly from Kansas City to Seattle

More info about Ian's Ride:

The Buffalo Bicycle: A bulletproof bicycle built to be an everyday workhouse in less developed parts of the world

Brent Hugh — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:30:56 +0000

Seth Alvo of Berm Peak gives a thorough review of the Burly Buffalo Bicycle - a $160 bicycle specially designed to be an everyday workhorse of a bicycle in parts of the world that have little infrastructure or existing resources for maintaining bicycles:

Link:

The Buffalo Bicycle: A bulletproof bicycle built to be an everyday workhouse in less developed parts of the world

ALERT: Public Meetings for I-70 Corridor starting May 1st - your feedback needed on important bicycle & pedestrian elements by May 23rd

Brent Hugh — Sun, 19 May 2024 01:00:00 +0000

[[[[UPDATE MAY 18th: The public comment period for the Columbia-Kingdom City Section of Improve I-70 is now open - through May 23rd. Go to this page and scroll down about halfway to find "The Online Comment form for the Improve I-70:"]]]]

Public meetings on the I-70 expansion that will happen over the next few years, are happening across the I-70 corridor in the next couple of weeks. Details from MoDOT below and on the MoDOT web site.

MoDOT is working to expland I-70 across Missouri - a project that has important implications for bicycle and pedestrian access and safety. Please take a few moments to contact MoDOT and ask them to design for needed bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on this project.

Improve I-70 is a $2.8 billion project that will impact communities all across Missouri. Because restricted-access multilane freeways are such significant impediments to safe access and contiguous routes for people who travel by bicycle and on foot, and opportunities for the project to help - or hurt - bicycle and pedestrian connectivity are huge.

In the meetings and when you submit comments online (which you can do via this MoDOT web page - about halfway down the page, search for "The Online Comment Form for the Improve I-70:" -May 1st through May 23rd) please consider commenting on these issues, which have been raised by the bicycle & pedestrian community for around 20 years now:

Please include appropriate bicycle & pedestrian accommodation on all bridges & overpasses that will be constructed or reconstructed. Minimally, a bicycleable & walkable width shoulder on all overpasses, but overpasses closer to population centers and traffic generators should have appropriate accommodations at the expected level of service for the life of the facility - which will be 50-70 years most likely.
Please include continuous frontage roads - on at least one side - along the entire corridor. The issue here is that the freeway is a formidable barrier to bicycle and pedestrian travel across the entire corridor. Routine bicycle & pedestrian travel is not appropriate on the freeway itself, so people who walk and bicycle need alternate routes to travel parallel to the freeway and to access crossing points at overpasses.
Consider the impediment the freeway itself creates for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and in your design and construction, look for ways to ameliorate the negative effects.
Consider the opportunities and the need for creating bicycle & pedestrian connectivity along the I-70 corridor. Particular because the freeway itself presents such an impediment to nonmotorized traffic, it can be very important to provide bicycle and pedestrian connectivity parallel to the corridor - either in the corridor itself or nearby. This connectivity could take the form of multi-use trails, bikeways on or adjacent to roads (ie, freeway frontage roads), sidewalks where appropriate, and so on.

The freeway corridor is essentially a permanent transportation corridor across the state. For that reason, short term, medium term, long term, and even very long term needs for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity must be considered. For example, and area that does not currently require a trail or bikeway connection along the corridor could very well need one in 20, 40, 75, or 100 years. The action we take now to preserve these future options may be quite simple - such as preserving contiguous areas within the freeway right-of-way that could, in the future, serve as trail connections.

Other areas may require more short-term bicycle/pedestrian accommodation in or along the corridor. For example, Columbia and Fulton are among two of the cycling hotspots in mid Missouri, yet there is not a good bicycle route connecting them. The most practical way to make a bike/ped connecting route from Columbia to Kingdom City, then south to Fulton, Holt's Summit, and the Katy Trail, may well be along the I-70 and U.S. 54 corridors.

Other state DOTs around the country have recognized the impediment to non-motorized traffic that multilane highway type project represent, and have begun to make continuous trails, bikeways, or routes along such corridors routine.

SUBMIT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT via this MoDOT web page - about halfway down the page, search for "The Online Comment Form for the Improve I-70." Comments due by May 23rd, 2024.

Multi-use trail along the corridor of a multilane divided highway project

A well-used multi-use trail along a new divided highway project in Utah

Planned trail alongside a multi-lane divided highway in California

Another trail along a divided highway

SUBMIT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT via this MoDOT web page - about halfway down the page, search for "The Online Comment Form for the Improve I-70." Comments due by May 23rd, 2024.

MODOT PRESS RELEASE FOR IMPROVE I-70 PROJECT PUBLIC MEETINGS

Public hearings scheduled for first Improve I-70 construction project in mid-Missouri

Open House Public Hearing May 1 in Columbia and May 2 in Kingdom City

JEFFERSON CITY – The public is invited to public hearings regarding the Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City project from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, in Columbia and on Thursday, May 2, in Kingdom City. This is the first construction project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program and will add a third lane of travel in each direction to Interstate 70 between U.S. 63 in Columbia and U.S. 54 in Kingdom City. The contract also includes improvements at the I-70 interchanges at U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 54. These meetings will highlight the basic design plans, traffic control plans, schedule, and anticipated construction impacts of the project. Construction is expected to start summer 2024 and be completed by late 2027.

The open house-style hearings will provide the opportunity for nearby residents, businesses, and travelers to learn about and provide comments regarding the planned improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The public can attend the meetings any time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Engineers from the Missouri Department of Transportation and the contractor Millstone Weber and their designer Jacobs Inc. will be on hand to answer questions. The information will be the same at each location.

Written and recorded oral statements and exhibits can be submitted at the hearing. People can also review materials and make comments at starting May 1 on the website at www.modot.org/improvei70/columbiakingdomcity. All comments must be received by May 23, 2024.

The meeting details and locations are:

Wednesday, May 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Boone Electric Cooperative located at 1413 Rangeline St., Columbia, MO 65201.

Thursday, May 2, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at City Hall located at 5584 Dunn Dr., Kingdom City, MO 65262.

The planned improvements from contractor Millstone Weber and their designer Jacobs include new concrete pavement on all three lanes of I-70 in each direction for the 20-mile section between Columbia and Kingdom City, and improved interchange designs at the U.S. 63 and U.S. 54 interchanges at I-70. Additionally, throughout construction two lanes of travel will be available for both directions of I-70 during peak hours.

Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly signed into law by Governor Parson provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs to build a third lane of I-70 across the state. The program will plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and add a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville.

People with disabilities who require special services at the public meeting should notify Improve I-70 Communications Coordinator, Lairyn McGregor, by Wednesday, April 24, so arrangements for those services can be made. For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.

SUBMIT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT via this MoDOT web page - about halfway down the page, search for "The Online Comment Form for the Improve I-70." Comments due by May 23rd, 2024.

Present a Session or be an Exhibitor at the 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville - call for sessions now open!

Brent Hugh — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:00:19 +0000

We invite you to join us for the 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit--Friday, August 23rd in-person in Boonville at the Island of Capri Casino Hotel OR online via Zoom--where we will be sharing ideas for making our communities more active, vibrant, healthy, and economically sustainable through bicycling, walking, and trails.

The 2024 Summit Call for Session Proposals is NOW OPEN - submission deadline Tuesday, June 4th.

Submit your 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit Session Proposal here

New location, expanded venue, exhibitors, and a little bit of glitz for 2024 - at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville...

With our move to the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Event Space in Boonville we have some really exciting new opportunities for presenters, exhibitors, advertisers, and partipicants - taking the Missouri Active Transportation Summit to a new level:

Isle of Capri Casino Ballroom - we'll have space for large keynote gatherings, smaller break-out sessions, and exhibitors

Display Space for Exhibitors - which can augment your session presentation if you wish
Ad Space for Summit Sponsors in the Summit Program
In-person Sessions at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Event Space in Boonville
Selected sessions (one session per breakout) will be broadcast to a virtual audience
The Summit is now combined the same weekend with BikeMO - our long-standing annual bicycle ride in mid-Missouri. BikeMO will start at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, with packet pickup immediately following the Summit program, and the bike ride taking place Saturday morning. Two of our best annual events together will build audience and draw for both events.

Excellent host hotel and facilities for both the Summit and BikeMO at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel.

Registration is now open!

Visit Boonville and Enjoy the Ride!

Boonville is a vibrant town on the Katy Trail that has built an identity around being friendly to cyclists and trail users. Boonville is a historic Missouri community on the banks of the MIssouri River with much to offer the visitor. We will see how the city has connected the community to the Katy Trail and built the trail into and economic anchor.

Conveniently located right off I-70 in the heart of the state, almost half-way between Kansas City and St. Louis, Boonville has a lively, stimulating cultural scene combined with small-town charm and hospitality.

Time, Location, Details

2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit, August 23th, 2024, 9:00am-5:00pm in Jefferson City

Summit Registration is now open!
Call for Summit Session Proposals is now open! Session proposal deadline: Tuesday, June 4th
Summit Exhibit and Ad Space is now available to Summit Sponsors

Location:

In-person location:
Isle of Capri Casino Hotel - Boonville
100 Isle of Capri Blvd
Boonville, MO 65233.
Virtual attendees via Zoom: Note that the broadcast will include the Keynote Session and ONE selected breakout session from each period (the session held in in the main meeting room).

>> Call for Summit Session Proposals Now open! Proposals Due June 4th, 2024

>> Summit Exhibit and Ad Space now available to Summit Sponsors - details here

>> Summit registration is NOW OPEN - Click here to register!

Present a Session at the 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit

Brent Hugh — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 07:07:00 +0000

The 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit is Friday, August 23rd, 2024 at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville!

Would you like to tell the story of your bicycle, pedestrian, active transportation, active tourism, outdoor recreation, or trails program, project, or success? Or present on any topic related to bicycling, walking, trails, or active transportation/active tourism in Missouri?

Submit your session idea or proposal below!

Looking for suggestions and ideas for your session - read here. In short:

You're welcome to cover a brief topic for 5 minutes, a full session at 45-50 minutes, or anything in between
We welcome any topic related to trails, bicycling, walking, active transportation, active tourism, and related areas

Note that all sessions will be presented in person at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Event Conference Center in Boonville.

Contact director@mobikefed.org - 816-695-6736 with any questions.

Your Contact Information

Information for the primary presenter/primary contact for your presentation.

Email: *

Phone Number (including area code): *

Preferably the phone you will have with you the day of the Expo.

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Street Address: *

City: *

State/Province: *

Postal Code: *

Country:

Session Title: *

What is the proposed title of your session?

Session information: *

Tell us about your session--what is the topic, what will you talk about, why is it important, how will you engage your audience?

About you: *

Tell a little bit about yourself (primary presenter/contact for this presentation), who you work for or represent, and what you interest and expertise in bicycle, pedestrian, and trails issue is. This may be used as the basis for your bio in the program.

Other presenters:

Please list name, affiliation (if applicable), email contact info (if possible), and bio information for any co-presenters besides the primary presenter/contact for your presentation.

Preferred amount of time for presentation: * minutes

Preferred amount of time for your presentation, EXCLUDING Q&A. Sessions run 40-50 minutes; we may combine two or more presentations into one session if possible, so submitting proposals designed for shorter time periods is encouraged.

Minimum amount of time needed for presentation: * minutes

Depending on the number of quality presentation proposals, we may ask presenters to condense their presentations so that we can combine two or more into a single session. What is the minimum amount of time you need to cover your most important points?

Image:

Bridge connecting Katy Trail to Hermann to be closed M-F 7am-5pm starting April 22nd, 2024

Brent Hugh — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:18:00 +0000

MoDOT has announced that the bike/ped path connecting the Katy Trail to Hermann, MO (the path on the Christopher S. Bond Bridge that carries Hwy 19 into Hermann) will be closed temporarily during bridge maintainance, starting as soon as April 22nd, 2024.

The Christopher S. Bond Bridge bike/ped path, connecting the Katy Trail across the Missouri River to the city of Hermann, will be closed temporarily weekdays Spring 2024 for construction & maintenance.

The work also affects the Loutre River Bridge on Hwy 19, which is just south of the Katy Trail at McKittrick. Katy Trail riders visiting Hermann typically ride the shoulder of Hwy 19 south of McKittrick to the Christopher Bond Bridge, then use the bike/ped path to cross the Missouri River. So maintenance work on the Loutre River Bridge may disrupt bicycle use of the shoulder there, requiring bicyclists to ride with other traffic through the construction zone.

Closures will continue 7am-5pm Monday-Friday as long as work on the bridge continues - which could be into May or possibly even June depending on whether an other factors.

The path will be open before 7am and after 5pm daily, as well as on weekends. Also, starting in May work will end, and the path will be open, by noon Fridays.

Traveling cyclists needing to visit Hermann during this period may be able to use the Hermann Trolley.

It sounds as though closures will be only when work is ongoing, so they will be temporary and may be sporadic.

Here is MoDOT's press release about the closure:

Temporary Closures Scheduled for Katy Trail Over Missouri River Bridge at Hermann

HANNIBAL – Two bridge rehabilitation projects began earlier this month on Missouri Route 19 in Montgomery County, located over the Missouri River and the Loutre River north of Hermann.

As work progresses on the bridge rehabilitation projects, cyclists and pedestrians wishing to access the Katy Trail on Missouri Route 19, over the Missouri River at Hermann, will be impacted by temporary closures of the shared use path. As early as April 22, painting and deck sealing operations will necessitate daily closures of the path, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Temporary traffic impacts will continue between Missouri Route 94, south of McKittrick, and Missouri Route 100 in Hermann. Traffic will remain reduced to one lane during the day, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the exception of Fridays in May, when all lanes will be open by noon). Flaggers will direct motorists through the work zone. For the duration of the project, a 12-foot width restriction will remain in place while workers are present. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

For the safety of the crews and the traveling public, we would like to remind drivers to be attentive in work zones and make smart, safe driving choices behind the wheel, including putting down your cell phone to eliminate distractions.

Thomas Industrial Coatings, Inc. was awarded the contract earlier this year in the amount of $1,694,448. Work is scheduled to be completed by mid-summer.

For more information on this and other projects in your area, please contact MoDOT’s Customer Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK MODOT (275-6636).

Work Zone Awareness Week is April 15 – 19. Work with us in the work zone! Please remember to obey all work zone signs and personnel. With an increased number of highway work zones in Missouri, we urge all drivers to pay attention every second while driving, especially through a work zone. Be informed of your route by checking the MoDOT Traveler Information Map before you leave to see if you will encounter any work zones.

Link:

Bridge connecting Katy Trail to Hermann to be closed M-F 7am-5pm starting April 22nd, 2024

Cole Camp Rock Island Trail Fundraiser - Italian Dinner Apr 21st

Brent Hugh — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Help raise funds to defray the matching cost for the Rock Island Trailhead and 1.7 miles of trail in and around Cole Camp!

Italian Dinner Fundraiser

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Seatings at Noon and 5:30 p.m.

The German Table

107 E. Main Street in Cole Camp, MO

$30/ person

Menu options: Chick Parmesan or Salmon with Dill Sauce; includes appetizer, dessert, beverage, and choice of wine or special cocktail.

For tickets, contact: Marge Lumpe (660-221-1226), Sam Cole (660-221-3278), or Susan Kyle (660-668-4416)

This is a Walk Bike Cole Camp and Cole Camp Community Betterment event.

MoBikeFed note: Cole Camp is one of a whole series of communities up and down Rock Island Trail State Park that are working to develop their portions of the trail. 2024 will see groundbreaking and ribbon cuttons on several sections of the new 144-mile section between Windsor and Beaufort. Rock Island Trail current status & updates here, or visit the Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park and the official Rock Island Trail State Park web site.

Link:

Cole Camp Rock Island Trail Fundraiser - Italian Dinner Apr 21st

Mid-America Regional Council unveils major update to the regional Complete Streets plan for the Kansas City region

Brent Hugh — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:09:33 +0000

The Mid-America Regional Council, which is the regional planning organization for 8 counties in the Kansas City region, has announced a major update to its regional Complete Streets Policy:

Complete Streets are advanced in this policy so that transportation investments may result in a rising quality of mobility for everyone. . . . this policy intends to enable Complete Street treatments to the maximum extent possible.

Complete Streets are streets that provide a complete and safe transportation network for all modes of transportation - from motor vehicles to public transit to walking and bicycling - and for people of all ages and all ability levels.

The update took about eight months, involved extensive input from area communities, leaders, citizens, and MARC committees, and is the fourth major update to the region's Complete Streets Policy.

One reason a Complete Streets Policy is so important at the Metropolitan Planning Organization level is the MPO administers most federal transportation grants for the region. Complete Streets priorities are then built into the scoring criteria for the grants - changing the types of projects that are submitted and encouraging inclusion of more bicycle & pedestrian elements within all road and street projects. MARC has seen the quality of grant applications rise dramatically as the Complete Streets policy was introduced and then refined over the years.

More about MARC's new Complete Streets policy:

New Complete Streets Policy
Complete Streets Handbook (2018)
Complete Streets Network Assessment (map showing regional corridors and connectivity)
Complementing this, the region has a Major River Crossings policy, providing for bike/ped accommodation when major river bridges in the region are built or updated

From MARC's Complete Streets page:

WHY DESIGN COMPLETE STREETS?

Improve public safety

By making roads more accessible for all modes of transportation, complete streets provide safe and convenient travel for persons of all ages and abilities, including children and the elderly.

Promote good health

Complete streets make active living easy by providing streets and sidewalks that encourage walking and biking. They build a physical environment where residents are connected and mobile.

Provide economic benefits

Complete streets create attractive transportation corridors that make businesses both inviting and easily accessible. Attractive corridors increase property value and visibility for both homes and business owners.

Enhance environmental quality

Not only do complete streets improve air quality by providing space that encourages low-emission travel, they include effective green infrastructure that retain and treat stormwater runoff and improve water quality. Also, complete streets provide landscaping elements that can reduce the heat island effect in urban communities.

Ensure long-term savings

Costs for complete streets might be more initially, but are offset by the many long-term benefits they bring. Complete streets may reduce construction and maintenance costs when roadways are narrowed and stormwater is more efficiently managed.

Find out more about Complete Streets, sample Complete Streets policies from around Missouri and the U.S., and how to incorporate Complete Streets into your city, county, or region, on MoBikeFed's Complete Streets page.

Increasing the number of Complete Streets policies in Missouri is one of the top goals in MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Your ongoing membership and generous financial support help turn our Vision into reality!

A Day in the Life of a Bicycle Traveler: What 'they' don't tell you in the guidebooks by Bill Poindexter

Brent Hugh — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 12:30:15 +0000

A Day in the Life of a Bicycle Traveler by Bill Poindexter - from his Bikepacking School substack:

I start riding usually heading into a town if there’s a town around or I’ll stop somewhere to have breakfast number two usually a couple hours after I start riding because you always need a second breakfast as the first breakfast is just to lay a base, the second breakfast is to get you through the day. Those breakfasts are the most fun though and usually the main meal of the day especially if you’re in a town you want a lot of calories for the rest of the day. My favorite is the traditional breakfast of coffee, hash, brown potatoes, and Two or three eggs I prefer them over easy with either sausage or bacon and perhaps a side of Johnny cakes if they’re available basically cornbread type pancakes but they’re hard to fine except on the East Coast -then you have to find somebody who can really make a true johnnycake Which is basically just water cornmeal bacon fat slathered with butter and syrup, real syrup and perhaps I have a glass of milk in an orange juice or just stick to the traditional breakfast.

One of my secrets, I order extra bacon and toast and then make a bacon sandwich with strawberry jam that can always get me over the next mountain.

Kansas-photo by Randy Rasa

I ride until early afternoon perhaps 2 or 3 and have lunch number one- usually that bacon sandwich or something else perhaps usually on the road if I’m in a fast wilderness area are usually stop right in the middle of a road if there’s no cars around or on the side of the road really doesn’t matter nothing fancy pull out my food bag and see what I have and eat what I have. Food on an expedition usually consists of a frozen burrito, thawed, or maybe a tortilla with peanut butter and banana and some honey or perhaps a tortilla with some foraged greens with tuna fish and cheese slathered with mayonnaise, perhaps some chips sprinkles on top and you just want high density food lots of calories and then I’ll take a quick nap usually about 15 minutes laying on my back on the ground directly.

Somewhere on Kansas Gravel-Photo by Randy Rasa

Usually on the road.

The gravel road or the shoulder so as to let the body reset and then get up and ride two or three more hours.

Time and space sometimes transcend as I watch the sun arc across the sky.

Read Bill's full article here.

Keep in mind that you can find thousands of miles of amazing bikepacking, singletrack, gravel, and paved bicycle touring routes in Missouri on MoBikeFed's Bicycle Routes & Maps pages.

MoBikeFed members get first class access to our entire catalog of Missouri bicycle routes on RideWithGPS!

Link:

A Day in the Life of a Bicycle Traveler: What 'they' don't tell you in the guidebooks by Bill Poindexter

Apply now for new Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) grants - due June 17th, 2024

Brent Hugh — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 21:57:00 +0000

Kevin Mills of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy gives the lowdown on a major new program to fund bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Please share the word to your local city, county, metropolitan planning organization or regional planning commission, or any other agency that is looking to fund their bicycle and pedestrian needs.

Federal Highway Administration

ATIIP is new program designed to fund large projects - it will fund infrastructure projects $15 million or more in total project cost, or planning initiatives of $100,000 or more. See the Federal Highway Administration announcement of the program here.

Kevin Mills' information about ATIIP:

Applications are now open for the first ever funding round of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP).

This unique program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), strategically invests in projects that connect active transportation networks and spines, accelerating local and regional plans to create safe and convenient walking and biking routes to everyday destinations, and to fill gaps between communities.

$45 million is available for active transportation projects or groups of projects with a total cost of at least $15 million or planning and design grants with a total cost of at least $100,000.

The following are eligible project sponsors or applicants:

Local or regional governmental organizations (including metropolitan planning organizations or regional planning organizations and councils)

A multicounty special district

A state

A multistate group of governments

Tribal governments

Learn more about ATIIP and apply now.

ATIIP will enable communities to build on existing infrastructure for walking and biking to safely connect people to the destinations they travel to routinely, while also creating opportunities for sustainable transportation and recreation.

This initial funding round is an excellent opportunity to secure funding to plan your system, pursue your infrastructure gap-filling strategy or make key connections to neighboring communities. Even unsuccessful applicants will gain advantages for future rounds, and strong demand for ATIIP will help to grow the program.

Applicants must submit their applications through grants.gov. Applications are due by Monday, June 17, 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) will be hosting a webinar on Monday, March 25 at 1 p.m. Eastern to provide more information on the notice of funding and share guidance on how to strategically apply for this opportunity.

Learn more and register for our webinar.

I hope you will be able to take advantage of this unique funding opportunity to connect trail and active transportation networks in your region.

Sincerely,

Kevin Mills
Vice President of Policy
Rails to Trails Conservancy

MoBikeFed's 2024 Events - Rides, BikeFest, Summit and more

Brent Hugh — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 21:58:00 +0000

MoBikeFed's 2024 events

Queen City Century, Springfield, June 15, 2024

Elmwood Bike Rodeo, Kansas City, August 3rd, 2024

Missouri Active Transportation Summit, Friday, August 23, 2024

BikeMO, Saturday, August 24, 2024

Missouri Bicycle Festival in Urich, Fri-Sun, Sept 13-15, 2024

Tour de Wildwood, Sunday, Oct 6th, 2024

2024 SEASON PASS option - show your support for MoBikeFed and save when you ride 3 or 4 of our annual rides

Join MoBikeFed for our 2024 events! Help move forward our 2024 legislative agenda, learn about how to make bicycling, walking, and trails better in your community, or join us for a fun ride - with proceeds benefiting our statewide advocacy work.

NEW FOR 2024: Check out our new SEASON PASS option - show your support for MoBikeFed and save when you attend 3 or 4 of our rides this year!

BikeMO August 27th in mid Missouri

Click the name of any event to find out more:

Capitol Day & Ride with Legislators, Monday, April 29, 2024 - Jefferson City

Join MoBikeFed and Missouri State Parks in Jefferson City for our annual Ride with Legislators from the Capitol to the Katy Trail. Then visit your legislator to talk about priorities for better, safer bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri.
Queen City Century, Springfield, June 15, 2024

Join us in Springfield, the Queen City of the Ozarks, for some of the best riding southwest Missouri has to offer. Afterparty at Mother's Brewery in Springfield's famed Brewery District.
Elmwood Bike Rodeo and Bike Giveaway, Kansas City, August 3rd, 2024

Help us give over 150 bikes to kids who need them.
Missouri Active Transportation Summit, Friday, August 23, 2023 - Boonville

We invite you to join us for the Missouri Active Transportation Summit at the Isle of Capri Casino & Conference Center in Boonville - for the first time, held in conjunction with BikeMO. We'll be sharing ideas for making our communities more active, vibrant, healthy, and economically sustainable through bicycling, walking, and trails with a mix of ordinary bicycle and trail users, advocates, and bike/ped professionals.

You can register for both the Summit and BikeMO and save - just click the registration page for either event.
BikeMO, Saturday, August 24, 2024

BikeMO is back for 2024! Great ride, great roads & trail, amazing afterparty - with a NEW route and NEW start at the Isle of Capri Casino/Hotel in Boonville.

The road route passes several historic towns in mid Missouri, including Boonville, Blackwater, and Arrow Rock. There is a Katy Trail option for those riders who would prefer a trail ride. Celebrate the joy of bicycling and the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation’s many successes on our annual fundraising ride, as we enjoy the beautiful scenery mid Missouri has to offer.

Missouri Bicycle Festival in Urich, Fri-Sun, Sept 13-15, 2024

A whole weekend of bicycles, bands and fun - our 2023 riders RAVED about t his event. You won't want to miss it!

Choose your paved OR gravel route of 5 miles to a metric century - or mix'n'match paved & gravel routes if you like.
Missouri Bicycle Festival in Urich, June 17-19

Make it a full weekend at our beautiful, secluded ride headquarters, with dinner, breakfast, campfires, fishing, winery and local history excursions, music (8 bands), and more. Dinner & campfire Friday - 3 meals & ride afterparty Saturday - breakfast & explore on your own (with on-call SAG support) Sunday. Camp or glamp on-site, or enjoy the comfort of one of the area hotels.

OR just come for the main ride day on Saturday.

Tour de Wildwood, Sunday, Oct 6th, 2024

Ride a section of historic Route 66, visit Babler State Park and Rockwoods Reservation Conservation Area, and enjoy the beautiful fall leaves as you ride the low-traffic roads through the hills of Wildwood

Don't forget to check out our new SEASON PASS option - show your support for MoBikeFed and save when you attend 3 or 4 of our rides this year!

Tour de Wildwood, October 6th

Capitol Day & Legislators Ride, Monday April 29th

Missouri Active Transportation Summit, Friday, August 23rd at the Isle of Capri Hotel/Conference Center in Boonville

MoBikeFed Cycling News, Tips, Advocacy Alerts

The American Discovery Trail announces the America 250 Relay - Summer-Fall 2026, in Missouri Sep 29-Oct 2

ALERT: Ask MoDOT to support wayfinding signage for U.S. Bicycle Routes 51, 251, and 66 across Missouri

Background information about USBR 51, 251, and 66 - and why we need wayfinding signage installed on these national bicycle routes through Missouri

Why is wayfinding signage important for national bicycle routes in Missouri?

USBR 66

USBR 51 and USBR 251

What USBR wayfinding signage looks like and how it helps

Sampling of some of the best Missouri gravel cycling, bikepacking, singletrack, and Katy/Rock Island Trail connector & loop routes - for a day trip, overnighter, or several-day bikepacking or bicycle tour

Additional resources for those interested in gravel cycling, bikepacking, singletrack, and low-traffic connecting routes to the major Missouri Trails

More from MoBikeFed about Missouri bicycle routes, gravel, trails, bicycle route mapping, and more

Springfield begins repair of historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, closed for almost 10 years

ABOUT THE FOOTBRIDGE

Built in 1902, Springfield's Jefferson Avenue Footbridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 562-foot-long steel bridge allows pedestrians to cross 13 tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard between Chase Street and Commercial Street.

Phase 1 of St Louis Tower Grove Connector construction to begin next week

Major study: Biking (or walking) to work will halve your risk of early death

How a HAWK crossing for pedestrian helps improve safety - and how it can be even better - Evan Edinger

What's new with BikeMO in 2024 - our annual fundraising ride coming up August 24th in Boonville

Riding the Rock Island & Katy Trail from Kansas City to St Louis (video)

Join Ian Mackay, quadripeligic cyclist and advocate for accessible outdoor activities for everyone, as he rides across the Katy Trail June 21-28; Special Event Mon Jun 24, 9:30am, N Jefferson Trailhead

Join Ian any day of his Katy Trail Ride June 21-28 (east to west across Missouri) or for a special presentation Monday morning, June 24th, 9:30am at the North Jefferson Trailhead

Ian's Katy Trail Ride Schedule

The Buffalo Bicycle: A bulletproof bicycle built to be an everyday workhouse in less developed parts of the world

ALERT: Public Meetings for I-70 Corridor starting May 1st - your feedback needed on important bicycle & pedestrian elements by May 23rd

MODOT PRESS RELEASE FOR IMPROVE I-70 PROJECT PUBLIC MEETINGS

Present a Session or be an Exhibitor at the 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville - call for sessions now open!

New location, expanded venue, exhibitors, and a little bit of glitz for 2024 - at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville...

Visit Boonville and Enjoy the Ride!

Time, Location, Details

Location:

Present a Session at the 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit

The 2024 Missouri Active Transportation Summit is Friday, August 23rd, 2024 at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville!

Bridge connecting Katy Trail to Hermann to be closed M-F 7am-5pm starting April 22nd, 2024

Cole Camp Rock Island Trail Fundraiser - Italian Dinner Apr 21st

Mid-America Regional Council unveils major update to the regional Complete Streets plan for the Kansas City region

WHY DESIGN COMPLETE STREETS?

Improve public safety

Promote good health

Provide economic benefits

Enhance environmental quality

Ensure long-term savings

A Day in the Life of a Bicycle Traveler: What 'they' don't tell you in the guidebooks by Bill Poindexter

Apply now for new Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) grants - due June 17th, 2024

MoBikeFed's 2024 Events - Rides, BikeFest, Summit and more

MoBikeFed's 2024 events

Missouri Active Transportation Summit, Friday, August 23, 2023 - Boonville

BikeMO, Saturday, August 24, 2024

Missouri Bicycle Festival in Urich, Fri-Sun, Sept 13-15, 2024

Tour de Wildwood, Sunday, Oct 6th, 2024