ALERT: Chesterfield City Council to vote on opposition to Baxter Road bicycle lanes; Citizen responses needed

St. Louis County is planning to install bicycle lanes on Baxter Road between Clarkson and Wild Horse Creek. This is one of the first projects implemented under St. Louis County's new Complete Streets Policy, passed in 2014. Trailnet championed the creation and passage of the new Complete Streets policy in Missouri's largest county and is now working hard to support its implementation.

St. Louis County adopted a county-wide Complete Streets Policy in 2014

Now the bad news: Tonight Chesterfield City Council is voting on a resolution to oppose the new bicycle facilities on Baxter Road.

How you can help:

Visit Chesterfied City Council Meeting tonight to support Trailnet, who is speaking in support of the bicycle facilities

Monday, Nov 7th, 7pm-8pm
Chesterfield City Hall, Council Chambers
690 Chesterfield Pkwy W, Chesterfield, MO 63017-0760

Trailnet is holding a coordination pre-meeting for anyone planning to attend the City Council meeting in support of the bicycle facilities. 5:30pm at Charlie Gitto's, 127 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield, MO 63017.

If you are planning to attend the meeting, please attend the coordination meeting or contact Patty Szymkowicz, Trailnet's Bike/Walk Ambassador for the area, who is coordinating this advocacy effort. You can speak if you like or simply attend to support other who are speaking for the bicycling community. chesterfieldtrailnet@gmail.com or 314-800-7397

Email or call Chesterfield City Council members

The City Council Meeting is Monday, 7 Nov 2016, but even if the meeting is past, it will still be helpful to contact the City Council in support of bicycling in the city. Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, Chesterfield City leaders need to know there is significant support for bicycling in the city.

A short, personal message carries the most weight. You could make just one or two of the suggested points below.

You can contact the City in support if you live, work, own a business, bicycle, drive, visit, or spend time or money in Chesterfield.

Suggested points to make in your message:

• SUBJECT: I support the Baxter Road bicycle lanes
• Explain your connection to the area - do you live in or near Chesterfield, work there, own a business there, shop or visit restaurants there, bicycle or drive there?
• Explain briefly why bicycling is important to you and/or tell a brief story the explains why bicycling is important to the area
• Baxter Road is an important connection for bicycling in the area
• The route is a vital connection between residential areas Chesterfield and throughout in west County to the Chesterfield business district
• The route is a vital connection between residential areas and the Chesterfield Monarch Levee Trail, which now connects across the river to the Katy Trail
• Working to create complete, connected on-road bicycle networks is fast becoming the norm across the St. Louis region, Missouri, and the Midwest. Chesterfield should be a leader in this movement. Opposing bicycle facilities will move the city in the wrong direction.
• Bicycle facilities improve health, the environment, create needed transportation options, and build property values and the local economy.

To email the Chesterfield Mayor, all Councilmembers, and the City Administrator:

  cityofficials@chesterfield.mo.us

To contact officials individually:

• Mayor Bob Nation: bnation@chesterfield.mo.us

Councilmembers:

• Barry Flachsbart: barryf@chesterfield.mo.us
• Bridget Nations: bridget.nations@chesterfield.mo.us
• Barbara McGuinness: bmcguinness@chesterfield.mo.us
• Guy Tilman: gtilman@chesterfield.mo.us
• Randy Logan: rlogan@chesterfield.mo.us
• Dan Hurt: dhurt@chesterfield.mo.us
• Tom DeCampi: tdecampi@chesterfield.mo.us
• Bruce DeGroot: bdegroot@chesterfield.mo.us

Patty Szymkowicz, Trailnet's Bike/Walk Ambassador for the area is coordinating this advocacy effort. If you have questions or you would like to help, contact Patty: chesterfieldtrailnet [at] gmail.com or 314-800-7397.

More information:

• Patty's work as a local advocate to support bicycle lanes on Baxter Road
• Post-Dispatch story about the Baxter Road project
• Trailnet's Bike/Walk Ambassador program
• About St. Louis County's Complete Streets program
• About Complete Streets in Missouri - and how to bring Complete Streets to your own community