Missouri highways gain poor reputation among cross-country cyclists

John Oncken, a columnist for the Madison, WI, Capital Times, recently wrote an article about his recent bicycle trip across Missouri following the Lewis & Clark trail:

On several occasions we switched back to the highway running alongside and found ourselves the object of some rather strong language from passing motorists. "Get over on the [Katy] trail" was the gist of their comments, something we didn't understand in light of the few cars on the highway.

Another cyclist who recently rode up the Missouri River from New Orleans to Minnesota had this to say about Missouri's roads:

He said many of the roads he biked to Minnesota were dangerous and did not have shoulders. He said the highways in Missouri were the worst.

Worst of all, this cross-country rider wrote in his online ride log:

7/2/03 Dad had to go home, and that was really hard. Sometimes it just really hits, being alone
on this trip. Also found out that what bikers across the country had been telling him so far....."Missouri is the most unfriendly state to cyclists on this route!" The country is beautiful...but the road is narrow and there were no shoulders. The drivers let their feelings be known. Dusty had numerous objects thrown at him, including a M80 firecracker. ( He had heard that eveything from garbage to bottles would pelt you and found it to be true.) The highlight was the elderly lady in the car with the handicap sticker that flipped him off! He just put his head down and kept pedaling. Too bad the warnings turned out to be true...

Met some friends from Iowa that had driven down and stayed in Farmington, Missouri, where the hospitality was great. Was interviewed by the Farmington Paper! Said they'd send a copy. (Thanks folks for your interest and hospitality!)

Technical Talk: Day 25: Miles: 90.61, Avg: 14.54, Saddletime: 6h 13min 55sec, Max: 41mph.

It looks like we've got some work to do . . .