News items represent the views of the original writer or publisher, and not necessarily those of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
Kansas City to go "from worst to first" in bicycling
Friday, July 25, 2008
Kansas City's Fox 4 News has a followup today on a recent incident where a driver allegedly followed two bicyclists, bumped them with his vehicle, and then assaulted one of the bicyclists.
The driver was charged with assault and the trial will be held in Kansas City, Missouri's, Municipal Court Monday. Bicyclists from the metro area are planning to attend in support.
The report goes into some detail about the current state of affairs for bicyclists in the Kansas City Metro area. KCMO Mayor Mark Funkhauser is interviewed, acknowledging that there are problems but also outlining the city's current moves to address those problems.
In Funkhauser's words, Kansas City is planning to go "from worst to first" in bicycling.
With a new bike club in Maryville, seeing 20 or more bicyclists riding along 71 Highway may not be such a strange phenomenon at all.
The Maryville Bike Club kicked off in April –– that is when nearly 40 members started riding as a group every Tuesday evening and Friday morning. . . .
All ages and riding abilities are welcome to join the Maryville Bike Club. At this point, the oldest member is in their 70s and the youngest is 21.
"We get together twice a week to ride," Anderson said. "We meet at 9:30 a.m., Fridays and 5:45 p.m., Tuesdays to start our rides. We leave from Donaldson Westside Park, ride down Icon Road, across V east to 71 Highway and south to Pumpkin Center. It's around 23 miles and takes between an hour and an hour and a half to ride it. It's fun to ride with a large group and safer, too." . . .
Some goals for the bike club are: • To promote good bicycle awareness. "It's important for the public to understand the rights of bicyclists," Anderson said. "They have the same rights as other motorists. Bicyclists need to show the same respect to motorists." • To promote good health "Biking is a good, long, sustainable low impact form of exercise," Anderson said. • To give more support to the Nodaway County Trails program. . . .
Anyone interested in more information about the bike club can e-mail Anderson at maryvillebike@hotmail.com to receive postings, reminders and upcoming rides.
Tacks placed on road at Show-Me Games--and now RAGBRAI
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Someone--apparently purposefully--placed tacks on the road to flatten bicycle racers' tires at the recent Show-Me Games held in Callaway County, Missouri.
Now dozens of riders are reporting tacks thrown on the ride during a stage of RAGBRAI held in Story County, Iowa. Law enforcement officials believe those tacks were placed on purpose as well.
. . . someone apparently tossed a handful of thumbtacks along the Missouri Show-Me State Games bicycle race course on Route DD near Hatton in Callaway County. . . .
The white thumbtacks ended up flattening the tires of about a dozen of the 50 bikes competing in the 19.6-mile, six-category race.
Participants suspect the tacks were thrown into the road sometime in the middle of the three-hour event.
"The first three groups didn’t have any problems at all," race organizer Raymond Sapp said.
"From that point on, it seems like everybody starting having flats. We got to looking at the tires and found white-headed tacks in them.
"You always want to think it was accidental, but the tacks were on both sides of the road, so we know somebody had to actually throw them out," he said.
Dozens of Iowa cyclists were sidelined by a possible prank during their ride Wednesday morning, reported KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. . . .
Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald said tacks were dumped along the white lines of the eastbound lanes in three different stretches of old Lincoln Highway.
"Bikes have been falling off left and right with tires. I've come across some people who have had gone through three or four tubes on their bike tires already," Fitzgerald said.
Dave Hendricks, who was fixing the trashed tires, said his crew had pulled at least 50 tacks out of tires in just a couple hours. . . .
"It's too bad that some people are inconsiderate of others, but we riders still go on. (It) doesn't stop us from riding," Sherman said.
GetAbout Columbia settles on priority project list
At a publich hearing Tuesday night, Columbia, MO, city council members heard public testimony and narrowed down a list of projects that will received funding through the federal Nonmotorized Pilot Project.
The project is designed to give four cities/regions around the country a funding boost for bicycle/pedestrian projects, proving that such an effort can be a realistic part of addressing the nation's transportation, congestion, emissions, and energy problems.
The hearing was meant to provide an opportunity for residents and interested parties to weigh in on the proposals before the city arrives at a refined list that suits GetAbout Columbia’s budget requirements. The decision means that GetAbout Columbia has the green light to move the projects in the refined list forward through a series of further planning procedures. Each project is still subject to final approval by the city.
The projects include construction and improvement work on bike trails, sidewalks and shared-use paths, as well as improvements to major intersections. A priority list of 18 projects had been submitted by the advisory committee to the council on July 1. By the time the list was brought before the hearing, another project had been added, along with some modifications to the listed plans.
Two of the most hotly debated issues during the 4½-hour hearing were a proposed connection between Bluff Dale Drive and East Campus, as part of the proposed Hinkson Trail, and a connector linking South Garth Avenue to the Grasslands neighborhood. Both connectors were voted off the priority list.
Not Guilty verdict in the Gaunt double fatality case
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Kansas City Star is reporting today that the jury in the Gaunt double fatality case has returned a verdict of "not guilty".
William Johnson was charged with two counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors maintained that Johnson was driving 54 MPH in a 45 MPH zone and saw the bicyclists at least 12 seconds before hitting them. Rather than moving into the adjoining lane, which was empty, he drifted onto the shoulder.
Johnson claimed that the bicyclists swerved over in front of him, and although he saw bicyclists in the area frequently (he lives near the area the collision took place, and it is one of the most popular bicycle routes in the metro area), he didn't move over when he saw a bicyclist because that wasn't his driving style.
Johnson, 49, tried to remain stoic after the verdict. But he soon pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. As the Gaunts filed past, one of Johnson’s supporters began to cry.
Those emotions had been building since Aug. 6, when the elder Gaunt was helping Sierra prepare for an MS-150 bike ride, a long-distance ride that benefits victims of multiple sclerosis. It was her first. An avid cyclist, her grandfather had pedaled through about a dozen of the events.
The two were nearing Harry Truman Drive when Johnson’s blue 1985 Chevrolet pickup slammed into their bikes, throwing them to the pavement. Larry Gaunt died at the scene. Sierra died at a hospital.
The question was whether the collision constituted a crime. Prosecutors said yes, and called Johnson’s actions reckless.
They pointed to police calculations that determined that Johnson was going at least 54 mph in a 45 mph zone. They called witnesses who testified that the road was flat, straight and dry. They continually went back to evidence that showed the left lane next to Johnson was completely clear.
KSHB TV showed a report with the reaction of Sierra Gaunt's father and bicycle shop owner Chris Smedley, a friend of the Gaunts. The report summarizes a discussion with a juror, who indicated that from his point of view, "prosecutors made several detrimental mistakes":
Regardless of any mistakes that may have been made, the prosecutors took a rare and courageous stand in bringing such serious charges in the case. In most similar cases, no matter how egregious the circumstances, the driver is charged with nothing more serious than a simple traffic infraction.
Ken Cobb, a lawyer and avid bicyclist who is active in the Johnson County Bicycle Club, analyzes the outcome:
As the law now stands, a motorist is guilty of a crime only if he does something worse than being careless or negligent. Running a stop sign, crossing a center line, or blatantly running down two cyclists is not a crime by itself, unless there was some added element of recklessness involved. Common reckless elements are speeding or drinking. Talking on a cell phone may be another.
In the Gaunt case everything hung on whether Johnson was speeding. There were no other known reckless elements involved. The defense attorney was able to convince the jury there was reasonable doubt about Johnson's alleged speeding.
We don't know if any cyclists were on the jury. We also know that a certain percentage of people don't think that cyclists should be on streets in the first place, which may have been a factor in the jury room, too.
Many advocacy groups in various states are pushing for a change in law, that would make it a crime to hit any pedestrian or cyclist in a car, where the pedestrian or cyclist was obeying the law and was in clear view. Until that happens, there will be a lot of verdicts like this one.
Here the road was four lanes, was nearly deserted, and had a shoulder. Visibility was excellent. Johnson got a 12-second look at the cyclists, according to the testimony. Yet he neither slowed down nor changed lanes. That is considered only negligence. His insurance is responsible to pay damages, but he gets only a traffic ticket for careless driving.
MoBikeFed will continue to work with the Missouri legislature to develop appropriate tools to help police and prosecutors keep dangerous drivers off the road and require bad drivers to take training proven to help them become better, safer drivers.
The outcome of this case makes it clear that we still have important work to do.
Prosecutors charged Johnson, 49, of Grandview, Mo., with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of Larry Gaunt, 59, and his 14-year-old granddaughter, Sierra Gaunt.
The two were cycling on Raytown Road last August when they were struck and killed by Johnson's pickup.
Prosecutors argued that Johnson could have avoided hitting both cyclists.
One of their witnesses was a Grandview police accident reconstruction officer who said that the grandfather and granddaughter were heading the same direction as Johnson's pickup. That officer said Johnson veered off the road, and when he tried to get back on the road, he overcorrected.
Defense attorneys argued that Johnson could not have avoided them because the two cyclists pulled out in front of him. Lester Dickey, a family friend, said he could not understand why prosecutors filed a criminal charge against Johnson.
Johnson claims the two bicyclists swerved in front of him, but witnesses who took the stand Tuesday morning said that wasn't the case.
In fact, one of them testified that he thought William Johnson was going to drive off because he started up his truck again.
"i asked him, I said 'Man, what are you doing?' and he said, 'I'm trying to turn my truck around.' I said, 'Man, it's too late for that,'" said Eugene Looay.
Johnson is expected to take the stand in his own defense as is his 12-year-old son who was with him at the time.
Greer also said that Johnson, of Grandview, will take the stand Wednesday and testify the Gaunts were riding on the shoulder and swerved in front of his truck. Johnson will testify that he braked but was unable to avoid striking them, according to Greer’s opening statement.
Edwards, however, said that evidence will show that Johnson was speeding and that he never changed lanes to avoid the collision.
Witnesses this morning included three motorists who witnessed the collision or happened on it immediately afterward. Several police officers also testified, as did Brad Gaunt, son of Larry Gaunt and Sierra’s uncle.
Funding for Chain of Rocks Bridge under discussion
Sunday, July 13, 2008
TrailNet has been in discussion with the city of Madison over ongoing funding needed to keep the Chain of Rocks Bridge open. According to an article in the Granite City Press-Record:
Funding cutbacks for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge have Madison Mayor John Hamm concerned. . . .
At this time, Trailnet opens the bridge in the morning and Madison police close it in the evening. The money for closing comes out of Madison's coffers.
On Tuesday, Trailnet Executive Director Ann Mack addressed the City Council with further concerns about the bridge related to a revenue shortfall that the organization has experienced.
In an interview later, she that the shortfall occurred after funding from Great Rivers Greenway, a publicly funded park district which services St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, dried up. . . .
According to its Web site, Green Rivers Greenway District spearheaded the development of The River Ring, an interconnected system of greenways, parks and trails around the St. Louis Region. Great Rivers Greenway spokeswoman Robyn Franel confirmed that the funding was cut off. She said that the end of the funding, in December, was scheduled and was not a surprise.
With three more sections of St. Joseph’s hiking and biking trail system set to open later this summer, things are looking up for recreational bicyclists and those trying to save money.
“We’ve seen commuter cycling go up, like, 1,000 percent,” said Sean Force, owner of Forces of Nature Cycling & Outdoors. “Before, it would have been for exercise, but now we actually see those trails becoming more of a link across the city for people going to and from work.”
Nearly four miles of family-friendly hiking/biking trails in all will be added to the existing network of concrete paths that generally parallel parts of the city’s renowned parkway system. The additions, which began with some clearing work last fall, have been delayed by a harsh winter and early spring. . . .
Clements said these trails are a small part of what it takes to make St. Joseph a “bike-friendly” community, and the city has far to go in reaching that goal. “It carries a lot of things with it — road design, subdivision design.”
While he believes St. Joseph has a lot of catching up to do, these projects and two more scheduled for next year should do a lot to improve the situation. Next year another phase of the Riverfront Trail will be funded, extending that path northward to the northwest corner of the Heritage Park parking lot. Eventually, that should tie into the sidewalk system of the Cook Road extension project.
St. Louis adds 150 new miles of bike trails and on-street routes
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Great Rivers Greenway District recently announced the opening of over 150 new miles of trails and on-street bicycle routes--including the fact that St. Louis is only the third city in the world to convert an elevated railroad trestle to a multi-use trail. The trestle connects to the new McKinley Bridge Bikeway, which creates another great bicycle and pedestrian link across the Mississippi River near downtown St. Louis:
As the cost for a gallon of gasoline continues to soar to historic heights, St. Louis area residents can enjoy more economical transportation options for commuting, shopping and recreational activities, with more than 150 miles of recently completed trails and on-street bicycle lanes.
The most recent developments include nearly tripling the number of dedicated on-street bicycle routes and shared traffic lanes for the Bike St. Louis program from 20 to 77 miles. In addition, the McKinley Bridge Bikeway and Trestle at Branch Street has been completed, making St. Louis only the third city in the world, after the High Line in New York City and the Promenade Plantée in Paris, to convert a historic elevated steel trestle into a linear urban recreation amenity.
Both projects were led by the Great Rivers Greenway District, the public organization developing a unique, 600-mile web of 45 interconnected greenways, parks and trails, known as The River Ring, that will encircle and crisscross the St. Louis region. The River Ring was instrumental in the region’s winning nomination earlier this month (June 6) for the All America City Award, presented by the National Civic League in Tampa.
Widespread support from residents, local government officials, city staff and the regional transit and planning agencies have been instrumental in expanding the network, including The Metro East Park and Recreation District in Illinois.
Elevated Recreation Area is “Crown Jewel”
The “crown jewel” of recent projects is the McKinley Bridge Bikeway and Trestle at Branch Street, which opened June 7. The Trestle, a former rail corridor, has been converted into a 2,400-ft. long by 24-ft. wide paved path that rises from street level at Branch Street to the height of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway. In addition to spectacular views of the Arch and the downtown skyline, it provides a direct connection to the popular 11-mile Riverfront Trail along the Mississippi River shoreline.
The McKinley Bridge Bikeway features a 2,600-ft. long by 14-ft. wide cantilevered lane that is completely separated from vehicular traffic lanes. Offering dramatic views of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis, the bikeway is the most unique and distinctive feature of the reconstructed bridge that was reopened for vehicular traffic last November after being closed since 2001. The McKinley Bridge Bikeway is only the second bicycle/pedestrian bridge to open over the Mississippi River in St. Louis, preceded by the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
“In just a few short years, I have seen an important change in residents’ attitudes about bicycle trails and lanes,” said St. Louis City Mayor Francis G. Slay. “What was suspicion and resistance five years ago is now enthusiastic support. A nearby trail is viewed – and, more importantly for our physical fitness, used – as an important amenity for City neighborhoods.”
Bike St. Louis Expands Commuting Options
The Bike St. Louis program is operated by the Great Rivers Greenway District in partnership with the City of St. Louis and a variety of bicyclist advocacy organizations. The goal of the project is to develop a regional network of on-street bicycle lanes that provide safe and direct routes to the area’s major employment, residential, cultural and recreational amenities.
The newest 57 miles of on-street routes are the first major expansion of the Bike St. Louis network since 2005, when the first 20 miles of continuous on-street bicycle routes were dedicated and connected downtown St. Louis to surrounding neighborhoods. Nearly 50 miles of the expanded Bike St. Louis routes are located in the City of St. Louis.
“The Great Rivers Greenway District has demonstrated its commitment to the Bike St. Louis program by making the expansion of routes throughout the region a top priority,” said Joe Torrisi, President of the Missouri Bicycle Federation. “The routes are well-designed to make bicycle commuting as convenient as possible, while choosing streets that are best equipped to accommodate shared lanes.”
Safe Bicycling Posters Promote Awareness
With Bike St. Louis connections to St. Louis’ mass transit system, residents and visitors have many options for multi-modal travel to a variety of destinations. The new routes make it easy for people who choose to bicycle the entire distance to work. For those who prefer to bicycle to a MetroLink train station or MetroBus stop, bicycles can be transported to their final destination at no extra charge. Bicycle carriers are provided on every MetroBus in St. Louis City and County and MetroLink trains have designated cars for bicycles.
Along the entire 77-mile network, customized destination signage has been installed to help bicyclists anticipate distances to approaching mass transit stations, business districts and recreational amenities. In addition, federal transportation funding from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments has been used to initiate a bicycle public awareness campaign featuring a series of posters that have been installed at MetroBus and MetroLink stops. Posters not only promote the health and environmental benefits of bicycling, they also support the “rules of the road” with bicycles and vehicles sharing the road.
More than 30,000 Bike St. Louis maps of the entire route system, as well as important safety and resource information, have been printed and distributed to locations throughout the St. Louis region for residents and visitors.
Expansion of the River Ring and Bike St. Louis
In St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County more than150 miles of trails and on-street bicycle lanes have been completed and expansion of The River Ring continues. In 2008, the Great Rivers Greenway District is constructing approximately 20 miles of trails and future expansion of the Bike St. Louis network is on-going.
With a mission dedicated to building a regional system of greenways, parks and trails, the Great Rivers Greenway District is working with a variety of public, private and non-profit organizations to complete more miles of trails and on-street routes.
“Providing smart and simple transportation options for residents while educating the region on the many benefits of leaving your car at home will be critical as we work with our partners to develop more trails and on-street routes and attract more users,” says David Fisher, Executive Director of Great Rivers Greenway District.
About The Great Rivers Greenway District: The Great Rivers Greenway District is the public organization leading the development of a region-wide system of interconnected greenways, parks and trails, known as the River Ring. The River Ring will join two states and cover an area of 1,216 square miles. The Greenway District was established in November 2000 by the successful passage of the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative (Proposition C) in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri. For more information about Great Rivers Greenway District, visit www.greatrivers.info.
Trial for driver who killed Larry and Sierra Gaunt set for July 14th
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The trial of the driver who killed Larry & Sierra Gaunt is set for July 14th, 2008, in Independence. Larry & Sierra were killed last August by a driver who was speeding and veered off the road.
This is the information the family sent out. Those who would like to support the Gaunts are welcome to attend the trial or as much of it as you can.
The Gaunt family sent out this statement today:
The trial for the deaths of Larry and Sierra Gaunt is scheduled for July 14, 2008, at the Jackson County Courthouse Annex in Independence, MO. William K. Johnson is charged with involuntary manslaughter for hitting Larry and Sierra with his truck while they training for the MS 150 Bicycle Tour, August 6, 2007, on Raytown Road.
Since Aug. 6, 2007, our family has faced many challenges in dealing with our loss. The trial, when completed, will end one of the most difficult series of events we've endured. We will be relieved to have an end to the criminal part of this ordeal and pray for justice in the senseless loss of two precious people. Hopefully, this trial will bring closure for our family and justice for this horrible loss.
As we met the challenges of our loss we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and support from the community, in particular, the cycling community, Pleasant Lea Middle School, and Tall Oaks Christian Camp. This support has assisted us through many difficult days. We are grateful for the many dedications and honors presented in the memory of our loved ones. And, we are no less appreciative for every kind words and prayer of which there were so very, very many. It is the grace of God that sustains us.
Someone--apparently purposefully--placed tacks on the road to flatten bicycle racers' tires at the recent Show-Me Games held in Callaway County, Missouri.
At a publich hearing Tuesday night, Columbia, MO, city council members heard public testimony and narrowed down a list of projects that will received funding through the federal Nonmotorized Pilot Project.
The Kansas City Star is reporting today that the jury in the Gaunt double fatality case has returned a verdict of "not guilty".