16 APR 2008: Encourage Bike/Ped Access on New Quarter Billion Dollar Paseo Bridge

MoBikeFed and a coalition of running, walking, bicycling, trails, and community groups in the Kansas City area have been working for several years to create the first safe, accessible bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River in center city area of Kansas City.

The afternoon of Friday, April 18th, bicyclists, walkers, runners, and transit users are gathering at the Paseo Bridge Groundbreaking.

If you can't make it in person, you can send a quick message using this online form.

Keep in mind that, according to a recent article, "MoDOT . . . includes community feedback in setting priorities and providing input for its projects, [MoDOT spokesman Jeff] Briggs says. 'Typically, bike-ped needs rank pretty low . . . '"

In plain English, that means MoDOT says people are not asking for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation at public meetings and through public response opportunities (like email).

And since people are not asking for them, MoDOT says it does not need to provide them.

Here is your chance to change that situation.

It is important to see a show of numbers at the groundbreaking AND have a large number of supporting email messages, because MoDOT still does not want to include a bike/ped river crossing when the Paseo Bridge is built.

MoDOT wants to wait until later--some future, indefinite time (when it will only be harder *and* more expensive than now).

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Funkhauser will be speaking and particularly mentioning KCMO's support of bike/ped on the Paseo.

Building a bike/ped path as part of the Paseo Bridge now is both the
cheapest and the quickest possible way to get downtown Kansas City's first safe bike/ped river crossing.

After years of work, now several decisions and actions must be taken in the next 30-120 days or the opportunity for a bike/ped path on the Paseo Bridge may well be lost.