Kansas City Star calls for bike/ped access on new Paseo Bridge

A Kansas City Star editorial today endorses the idea of bicycle/pedestrian access on the planned Paseo Bridge replacement:

Missouri officials are debating what sort of structure should replace the current Paseo Bridge over the Missouri River, which recently reopened after an expensive refurbishing. Officials should make sure that pedestrians and bicyclists are accommodated on the new bridge. . . .

[S]tate officials should also recognize this is an opportunity to integrate the Paseo crossing with the growing network of riverfront trails. . . .

As the Missouri Bicycle Federation notes, "Every major [Missouri] river bridge planned and built in Missouri in recent years has included pedestrian and bicycle-transportation accommodations." . . .

Plans for a new bridge should not leave out pedestrians and bike riders.

This would create the first pedestrian access across the Missouri River in the Kansas City area, and the first really accessible bicycle accommodation (two current bridges are minimally accessible by experienced adult cyclists).

See evaluation of current bridges here.

See a summary of this issue here.