New Statewide Bicycle Map Being Developed; Public Comments Needed

A statewide set of bicycle road maps designed to help bicyclists choose their routes is now available for public review and comment. These maps, produced by the Missouri Department of Transportation, provide information for bicyclists planning to ride across the state or between two towns. The maps do not indicate where bicyclists must ride; they provide traffic volume and shoulder information to allow these travelers to make good route decisions.

"Missouri bicyclists and visitors to our state have been asking for this kind of information for a long time," said Machelle Watkins, MoDOT Transportation Planning director. "The maps are easy to use, have lots of information and will be a big help to Missouri’s bicyclists."

The public comment period runs through Dec. 1. The 10 maps are located on the MoDOT Web site at www.modot.org. [Direct link to the maps is here.] Comments can be e-mailed to state Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Caryn Giarratano at caryn.giarratan (at) modot.mo.gov.

The maps are in color and formatted for printing on six 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheets of paper. Each map encompasses one of the 10 MoDOT districts: Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Kansas City, Central, St. Louis, Southwest, Springfield, South Central and Southeast. Also included on the maps are locations of airports, state parks, some camping facilities, hospitals and Amtrak stations.

Funding for the department’s bicycle and pedestrian program is provided through federal transportation legislation that requires each state to establish a bicycle and pedestrian program. The MoDOT program is responsible for integrating bicycling and walking into MoDOT policies and standards to make Missouri a better place to walk and ride.

MoDOT works with local governments and communities, representatives from other state agencies and interested non-government groups to provide a valuable resource for the state in four areas of focus — engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement for walking and riding.