Press Release: Missouri ranked for bicycle friendliness (9/2008)

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact information:
Dr. Brent Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
876-695-6736
director@MoBikeFed.org

Missouri ranked for bicycle friendliness
28th out of 50 states overall; 42nd out of 50 for roads & trails

Today the League of American Bicyclists launched a major effort to rank states for bicycle friendliness.

Missouri ranked 28th out of the 50 states.

“The good news is, the efforts of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with other bicycling groups and Missouri legislators has put Missouri near the top in bicycle and safety-related legislation—Missouri is tied for 3rd place in that category. Missouri law enforcement is doing a great job enforcing laws related to bicycling and bicycle safety and educating officers about bicycling, as Missouri is tied for 1st place in that category,” said Missouri Bicycle Federation Executive Director Brent Hugh.

“The bad news is, when it comes to infrastructure--adequate, safe streets and trails--Missouri is tied for 42nd place. With both gas prices and obesity rates going through the roof, we need to do much better in making Missouri a better and safer place to bicycle. Every level of government, from MoDOT to counties to cities needs to take a look at what they are doing to accommodate the two million Missourians who bicycle regularly. Complete streets and route networks are a must.”

The League of American Bicyclists is also launching an official recognition program for Bicycle Friendly States--similar to its Bicycle Friendly Community program.

“Our goal is to move Missouri from where it is now--terrible infrastructure and just below average overall--to become a Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly State,” says Hugh.

“28th overall and 42nd for infrastructure is nothing to be proud of. With the Tour of Missouri this week bringing hundreds of thousands of cycling fans to Missouri and putting Missouri out on an international media stage as a bicycling destination, we need to make Missouri a truly great state to bicycle.”

Among nearby states, Missouri at 28 ranks lower than Wisconsin (2), Illinois (8), Michigan (12), Iowa (21), Indiana (24), and Kansas (25), but higher than Kentucky (29), Nebraska (33), Tennessee (36), Arkansas (39), and Oklahoma (43).

The League of American Bicyclists’ state rankings were based on 74 questions across 6 categories, and look at all Missouri is doing for bicycling and bicyclists. In each of the 6 categories Missouri ranked:

3 (tie) in Legislation
24 (tie) in Policies & Programs
42 (tie) in Infrastructure
26 in Education & Encouragement
26 (tie) in Evaluation & Planning
1 (tie) in Enforcement

For a full listing of all 50 states visit http://bikeleague.org

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The Missouri Bicycle Federation, founded in 1994, represents the interests of bicyclists, walkers, runners, and trail users throughout Missouri. Through its network of affiliated clubs and groups, MoBikeFed represents over 15,000 Missouri citizens and speaks for the 2 million Missourians who bicycle regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation is working to realize its vision of active transportation in Missouri by creating a world-class bicycle and pedestrian network in Missouri, building a movement around walking and bicycling, encouraging more walking and bicycling, and increasing safety for all road users.

To see our Vision of Active Transportation in Missouri, visit http://MoBikeFed.org/vision

Find out more or join the federation at http://MoBikeFed.org

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