With new citywide bicycle route system, Carthage gears up for bicycling boom | Local News | joplinglobe.com

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“It’s very clear that this area is working diligently to improve,” he said. “Northwest Arkansas has seen its cycling culture go through the roof, and I think we’re on the way as well.”

Carthage, with a population of about 14,000, is smaller than other cities in the area that have invested in bicycle routes, but the new system there stands out for its ambition.

The city now has 16 miles of bike routes per 10,000 residents, more than any other city in Missouri, according to data compiled by the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation.

“It’s a large project — lots of bike symbols painted,” said Aaron Tate, a project manager at Streetwise, the contractor that directed projects in Carthage and Blue Springs. “That was surprising to us, for a city that size to do that large of a bike route project.”

The new routes in Carthage were championed by Carthage City Council members Brady Beckham and Jason Shelfer, both avid cyclists who bike to council meetings and take part in community rides.

Carthage built its lanes using $117,000 in city funds.

“We look for projects that provide a specific benefit for as wide an array of people in Carthage as possible,” Shelfer said. “While a park benefits one area, the lanes benefit the entire city.”

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With new citywide bicycle route system, Carthage gears up for bicycling boom | Local News | joplinglobe.com

MoBikeFed comment: For our comparison on the on-street bicycle route systems of various Missouri communities, include Carthage, which now sits at the top of the list, visit this page:

http://mobikefed.org/2016/09/major-new-bicycle-network-implemented-carth...