Missouri Bicycling, Walking, Running, and Trails News

Death waits at this intersection

The KCStar's columnist Mike Hendricks wrote an article today about the recent pedestrian death of UMKC student Pei Chen:
College students I talked with at the corner think a stoplight would make them safer. There's resistance to that at City Hall. It would mean a light at every corner, from 55th to 52nd.

"It makes it very difficult to move traffic," says Jerry Tapscott, a traffic engineer.

Perhaps it would. Yet it's traffic moving too fast and far too carelessly that makes this city so dangerous for walkers and cyclists.

Kansas City is the 26th largest metro area in the country. Yet the Surface Transportation Policy Project ranks KC No. 20 on its list of U.S. cities most deadly to pedestrians.

The chances of someone on foot getting killed here is double or triple what it is in New York and Boston, where walkers are more common.


The Star also reports that UMKC students are raising funds to aid Chen's parents, who have been financially devastated by their daughter's death.

Star Reader Joseph Gardner pointedly comments that "A woman who is accused of speeding, driving through a crosswalk and hitting a UMKC student who eventually dies from her injuries, is charged with only a misdemeanor? Could somebody please tell me what's wrong with this picture?"
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The importance of walkable green spaces in cities

Researchers in Japan did a large study of elderly people living in urban areas. They found that "the probability of five year survival of the senior citizens studied increased in accordance with the space for taking a stroll near the residence, parks and tree lined streets near the residence, and their preference to continue to live in their current community."

"Living in areas with walkable green spaces positively influenced the longevity of urban senior citizens independent of their age, sex, marital status, baseline functional status, and socioeconomic status." To put it plainly: greenspace benefits everyone, rich or poor, male or female, married or unmarried, healthy or sick.

"Greenery filled public areas that are nearby and easy to walk in should be further emphasised in urban planning for the development and re-development of densely populated areas in a megacity."

It's difficult to argue that greenspace and walking space is a "frill" when it contributes to a longer, healthier life!

The research was published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
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Semi/tractor accident near Lone Jack presents issues

The fatal collision of a semi-truck and a farm tractor on highway 50 near Lone Jack, MO, presents some highway use issues familiar to cyclists.

The farm tractor was driving about 25 MPH. The semi hit the tractor from behind, killing the tractor driver.

The semi driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The family of the tractor driver is suing the driver, the trucking company, and others.

The trucking company maintains that the tractor operator should have known that it was dangerous to operate at such slow speeds on Hwy 50, and that he should have obtained a special permit allowing him to drive slower than 40 MPH.

According to Missouri law, there is no minimum speed limit on state highways.
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St. Joseph riverfront trail on hold, again

We have previously reported that the objections of a riverfront casino owner have delayed the construction of a planned riverfront trail in St. Joseph. Now it appears that the owner's objections are creating even more delay, despite city officials' efforts to work with him.

Andy Clements of St. Joseph city reports that other trails in St. Joseph were initially controversially but, now that they have been completed, are very popular. This is a very common situation when multi-use trails are created in urban and suburban areas--initial community resistance turns to overwhelming public support once the trail is in place.
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New mountain bike trail in St. Louis area

Trailnet announced the opening of a major new mountain bike trail this week.

According to the story in the Edwardsville Intelligencer:
The primitive trail is sanctioned by the National Off-Road Bicycle Association and is rated intermediate to expert level for competitive races.

The park owes its development to a partnership between Trailnet, Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) and the city of St. Louis. The 2.9 mile loop is on 72 acres of land just south of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge on the west side of Riverview Drive. . .

The Chain of Rocks Mountain Bike Park is located in the Confluence Greenway, a 200-square-mile urban riverside park and trail system now being developed in the heart of the bi-state St. Louis region, stretching from the St. Louis and East St. Louis riverfronts to St. Charles, Mo., on the Missouri and Grafton on the Mississippi.
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Major St. Louis-area road to get bike-friendly facelift

A six-mile stretch of Manchester Road, which runs through Maplewood, Brentwood, Rock Hill, Glendale, Warson Woods and Kirkwood, MO, will soon be getting a major facelift that will include bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly improvements.

Read the full story on STLToday.
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KC--Chouteau Trafficway to be turned into parkway

The Chouteau Trafficway bridge is one of two bicycle-able crossings of the Missouri River in the Kansas City area. South of the river Chouteau Trafficway is a four-lane roadway with much heavy industrial traffic, that is very difficult for bicyclists. North of the river it is a busy two-lane road with heavy, fast-moving traffic.

The Kansas City Star reports that MoDOT and other area officials are planning to widen Chouteau Trafficway north of the river, turning into a four-lane parkway with trees and green areas. This week, Rep. Sam Graves announced that $1 million in funding had been appropriated in a recently passed federal spending bill. The complete project will cost about $11 million.

Chouteau Trafficway has the potential to be the most bicycle-friendly route across the Missouri River in the Kansas City area. Bicyclists need to watch this project and insure that this vital link is designed in a bicycle-friendly way.
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KC Riverfront Heritage Trail prompts river cleanup

According to the Kansas City Star, a massive cleanup of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers is planned for September, 2003. Much of the work will be done by volunteers. The cleanup effort was prompted by the opening of the Riverfront Heritage Trail, a multi-use trail connecting Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.
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Important meeting about St. Louis-area cycling projects March 6th

The following is from MoBikeFed Chair Bob Foster:
East West Gateway Coordinating Council [St. Louis-area council that makes decisions about federal transportation funding] has selected the next round of "Enhancements Projects" which include bicycle/pedestrian projects as well as street lighting, landscaping and transportation museum type projects.

Unfortunately, the East West Gateway CC's Bicycle Pedestrian Committee is in a sort of limbo right now, and there was NO OPPORTUNITY to review the proposals prior to draft selection.

We can fix this! On March 6 at 4:00 ­ 8:00 the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council will be holding a public meeting to receive public comment on the draft projects. You are more than welcome to attend to lend your support! Their offices are located at 10 Stadium Plaza.

This is your opportunity to speak up on whether the federal funds that the area gets goes to Bike and Pedestrian projects or other "stuff."

Example: A proposal for St. Louis City to develop Bike St. Louis, a network of onroad bike routes has been approved in draft 1. We need to support it.

Example: St. Louis County submitted a proposal to review all its arterial roads and determine how to optimize them for bike travel! This needs to be approved! (I don't know if EWGateway signed off)

Example: St. Louis County also submitted a $1.1 million proposal to build little trams at the Museum of Transport. (I don't know if EWGateway signed off)

This is your chance to help shape the way bikes get around St. Louis or whether daffodils are planted along the roads. Mark your calendar. Bikes are allowed inside.
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Illinois needs help now getting "Boub" law past Senate committee

The following is from Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists:
ACTION ALERT - 1 short phone call to help bicycling!

Dear Metro East bicyclists,

Your help is needed now to pass a bill that affects bicycling conditions throughout Illinois. You may know of CBF and LIB's "Boub legislation" from past newsletters, e-mails, etc. We have new bills this year. House Bill 1248 and Senate Bill 275 would correct the negative impacts of the 1998 Illinois Supreme Court Boub vs. Wayne decision, which has been a disaster for on-road cycling in the state. Until the bill gets passed:

· Towns that want to improve on-road bike safety through signage or bike lanes are penalized with liability, towns that do nothing get immunity;

· Bicyclists do not have any liability protection, as motorcyclists and motorists do, and bicyclists in other states do;

· Long-distance bikeways like the Grand Illinois Trail and Mississippi River Trail, and MANY other local plans, are being stalled;

· We're the only state with this bizarre and powerful disincentive for improving bike safety.

Last week, our House bill won an impressive 13-4-1 victory in the House Judiciary Committee - thanks to lots of calls and faxes from cyclists which swung a number of the votes. Rep. Jay Hoffman was a big supporter.

THIS WEDNESDAY the 26th, we face our toughest test, in Senate committee. There are TWO key committee members from your part of Illinois. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Those opposed to the bill have mobilized and become very vocal after our House victory. If you live in the following towns, please call BEFORE THIS TUESDAY (the 25th):

Senator William R. Haine 618-465-4764 (Fax number 618-465-4816): Most or all of Alton, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Wood River, Roxana, East Alton, Madison, Maryville; north and east Fairview Heights; south Godfrey; north and east Granite City; west O'Fallon.

Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. 618-875-1212 (Fax number 618-274-3010): Most or all of East St. Louis, Caseyville, Belleville, Shiloh, Centreville; south Granite City; west and south Fairview Heights; south O'Fallon; west Mascoutah; north Millstadt, east Cahokia.

[If you're unsure, check www.biketraffic.org/boub_search.html If you have a different senator (not on the committee), a call there would be helpful, too.]

Identify yourself as a bicyclist in the district and ask for support of SB275. Use the points above if you wish. It's fine to call and leave a message (or fax) during the weekend or evenings.

Please make this very short call and forward this to your biking friends. The voices of individual bicyclists are very important in passing the bill, just as this bill is critical to improving bicycling in the state. THANKS!

Ed Barsotti, Executive Director
League of Illinois Bicyclists
2550 Cheshire Dr.
Aurora, IL 60504
630-978-0583
ed@bikelib.org


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BPCC: A fun way to help promote walking/biking in your KC-area workplace

Want to encourage your co-workers to walk and bicycle more?

During the week of May 19-23, 2003, MARC will team up with Kansas City Corporate Challenge to organize the first annual Bicycle and Pedestrian Commuter Challenge (BPCC)--a free, region-wide event open to all residents--in an effort to promote clean air and healthy lifestyles while reducing traffic congestion.

The idea is to leave your car at home for one week and bike or walk to work, keeping track of miles along the way.

The BPCC event is very simple—participants will walk or bike to work during the week of May 19–23, 2003.

Each team captain will record and report the miles walked or biked by members of the team. Individuals will do the same. If commuters wish to combine biking and walking with transit, each mile bused will count as one quarter of a mile walked.

To register, or for more information, contact Aaron Bartlett, Bike/Ped Transportation Planner, Mid-America Regional Council, abartlett@marc.org, 816/474-4240.

All commuters must by signed up by May 12th, 2003.

Companies and individuals in these counties are eligible to participate:
* Missouri - Cass, Clay Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray
* Kansas - Atchinson, Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte

MARC has produced a printable PDF flier about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commuter Challenge that you can post or distribute to your fellow employees.
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Motorist who killed UMKC pedestrian charged

According to the KCStar and the KMBC-TV, the motorist who struck and killed UMKC music student Pei Chen has been charged with one count, reckless and imprudent driving.

The driver struck Miss Chen, who was crossing in a crosswalk marked with flashing yellow lights in a school zone with posted 25 MPH speed limit. The driver changed lanes and drove past a line of cars that had stopped for Miss Chen, at a speed the police determined to be over 30 MPH.

The court has wide discretion in sentencing misdemeanors of the type the driver is charged with. But the maximum sentence is a year imprisonment.
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Join MoBikeFed's Advocacy Network

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