KC's "Bicycle Escorts" help people ride to work

A recent story in the KCStar by Ed Eveld tells about a local group's effort to help new bicycle commuters get started:

The matchmaker for this bicycling hook-up, this pairing of experienced and novice riders, was 30-year-old Jason Wingate, former Marine, former bicycle courier in Portland, Ore., and Chicago, and current Kansas City bicycle advocate.

Early this year Wingate was doing a little research on the Internet when he came across the ideas of Inge Hoonte. She grew up in the Netherlands, a place where bike-riding is an acceptable form of transportation, and moved to Chicago, where she felt suddenly disoriented on her bike. What helped were ride-alongs with a veteran Chicago bike rider.

The experience inspired Hoonte and a friend to create a free service, Bike Escorts, offering one-on-one assistance. The idea hit home to Wingate. When he chatted with Hoonte by phone in February, she suggested he create a Bike Escorts of Kansas City. . . .

Wingate recruited bicycling friend Grant Redwine to design a flier for the new effort, using the Chicago service as a template. They began distributing them in March.

"Unsure about the best bike route to your destination?" the flier asks. "Want on-the-road city riding tips? Or are you new to the daily bike commute and just need a bit of encouragement?"

See the photo gallery for the story here.