Missouri Bicycling, Walking, Running, and Trails News

Missouri Chamber of Commerce writes about economic impact of Rock Island Trail

In a remarkable editorial by Dan Mehan, President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, published in Missouri Business Magazine this month, the Missouri Chamber gives a strong endorsement of the importance of outdoor recreation to Missouri's economy--emphasizing the impact of the recently opened 47-mile segment of the Rock Island Trail on Missouri's rural communities:

I love the outdoors. I realize this perspective is far from unique. Outdoor recreation is an $887 billion industry in our country, supporting 7.6 million jobs, according to the latest data from the national Outdoor Industry Association.

Missourians are blessed with incredible natural resources that enable us to experience the outdoors in many ways. Hunting and fishing are a big part of our state’s culture, as are canoeing, powerboating, bicycling and hiking.

Our outdoor resources are important tourism drivers. The most recent annual report from the Missouri Division of Tourism shows that 13 percent of the visitors to our state came to see our state parks. . . . .

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Missouri Trail Towns

Missouri is a leading trails state, with numerous statewide, regional, and local trails and trail systems.

But many times, cities and towns along our trails do not reap the full potential economic benefits of their trails, because they have not yet fully developed into "trail towns".

What is a trail town?

Simply put, it is a town the takes full advantage of their local trail system and connections to regional, statewide, and national trails to:

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Rock Island Trail Rally at the Capitol in Jefferson City - 8:00am Friday August 11th, 2017


Rock Island Trail Rally at the Capitol, 8:00am August 11th

MoBikeFed, the Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc, and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy are planning a rally in support of the Rock Island Trail on Friday, August 11th, at 8:00am on the South Steps, Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City.

Join us!

Please RSVP here if you plan to attend the rally.

Rally participants will gather 8:00-8:30am. Everyone who comes at 8:00am will receive a Rock Island Trail tshirt, and other cool giveaways.

Speeches and the rally will start at 8:30am.

The rally will end by 9:15am, when Missouri Active Transportation Summit participants can walk to the Summit at Jefferson City Hall, where Liz Thorstensen will be presenting the Plenary Address at the Summit at 9:30am.

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy VP, Trailnet CEO headline Missouri Active Transportation Summit August 11th

Liz Thorstensen, Vice-President of Trail Development with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Washington, DC, and Trailnet CEO Ralph Pfremmer are the headline speakers for the second annual Missouri Active Transportation Summit in Jefferson City on Friday, August 11th, 2017.

Find out more or register for the 2017 Missouri Active Transportation Summit here

The Summit  is an excellent opportunity for city and agency staff, organizations that support bicycling, walking, and trails, and citizens who want better walking, bicycling, and trails in their communities to gather together and learn from each other--and from our nationally recognized headline speakers.

The Summit runs 9:30am-5:00pm on Friday, August 11th.  Registration is just $20--we have been able to keep costs low thanks to generous support  from the Jefferson City and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

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Michael "Casey" Saunders, 1987-2017: Beloved Missouri cyclist and "Honest Racer"

Beloved and tenacious Missouri bicyclist and racer Michael "Casey" Saunders, 29, passed away Sunday as the result of injuries suffered at the Tour of Kansas City Criterium that day.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Casey Saunders at Sunday's race. His life touched so many in Missouri's bicycling community.  Our thoughts are with Casey's family, friends, teammates, and the many who knew him, raced with him, or followed his race career.

Saunders had a long history in Missouri's racing community, where he was known for his hard work, tenacity, friendliness, and competitive spirit. The Webster-Kirkwood Times wrote:

Saunders started racing when he was 15 years old. He worked his way up through the ranks and was competing at the top level among professional cyclists. He was working full-time as a bike mechanic at Big Shark Bicycle Company in St. Louis and racing on the weekends. Although he did a lot of road racing, Saunders also competed in cyclocross and mountain bike races, as well as track racing at the Penrose Park velodrome in St. Louis.

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ALERT: Missouri State Parks deciding fate of next 144-mile section of Rock Island Trail; your feedback needed now

[[VERY URGENT - PLEASE SHARE WIDELY THROUGH 30 AUGUST 2017]] 

Ameren is set to donate 144 miles of Rock Island Trail corridor to Missouri State Parks by the end of this year, to become Missouri's SECOND cross-state trail.

----> Click here to complete Missouri State Parks' Rock Island Trail survey
----> One simple message: "Please accept the Rock Island Trail."

But--Gov. Greitens and State Parks leaders have recently said the Governor and State Parks are UNDECIDED about whether or not to accept the trail--a gift to the state worth many millions of dollars.

The survey was created to help State Parks make his final decision about the Rock Island Trail. 

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ALERT: Contact Gov Greitens to ask support of the Rock Island Trail

[ALERT: Please share this message and invite citizens to contact Gov Greitens in support of the Rock Island Trail throughout 2017 - this is a long-term issue that will require a long-term commitment of support.]

Yesterday, the Gasconade County Republican published this important story about Missouri's Rock Island Trail State Park. The city of Belle was set to develop the first 1.1 miles of the Rock Island Trail State Park between Windsor and Washington.

But now Missouri State Parks has asked Belle to suspend trail development until next year:

State Parks, DNR ask Belle to suspend Rock Island Trail development

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MoBikeFed Events - Join us for rides, runs, races, and more in 2017!

The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation helps promote bicycling, walking, and trails and raises funds for our mission through an annual series of events around Missouri.  Please add them to your calendar and join us!

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What has MoBikefed done for you lately?

When we ask Missourians to join MoBikeFed or support our work, they often--and very reasonably--ask: Why should I support your work? What have you done recently that effects me and my community?

Here is a list of just a few of the most important campaigns and initiatives we--along with our many allies and like-minded organizations across Missouri--have worked to support over the past year or so:

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Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety launches Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is launching Pedestrian Safety Awareness Week today.

The Daily Star Journal talks about the reasons for the Safety Awareness Week:

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety will launch a new week-long campaign focusing on pedestrian safety Monday.

The campaign aims to educate pedestrians and drivers about safety.

Statewide, from 2013-2016, 347 pedestrians died and 1,021 suffered serious injuries. . . .

“We want to be sure that citizens are as safe as possible in all modes of transportation,” the coalition’s executive committee chairman, Bill Whitfield, said. “We encourage all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to make safe choices so everyone, no matter the mode of transportation, makes it to their destination safe.”

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Trailnet & MoBikeFed release joint letter in support of bike/ped accommodations on the MO 370 Bridge between St Charles & St. Louis Counties

Creating safe and accessible crossings of major rivers for Missourians who walk and bicycle is one of the top priorities of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation and our allied organizations across the state.

Recently we teamed up with Trailnet, the St. Louis regional advocacy organization that support bicycling, walking, and active living, to send a joint letter of support to MoDOT about a very important Missouri River crossing for people who bicycle and walk: The Missouri 370 bridge between St. Louis County and St. Charles County.

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Announcing the 2017 Missouri Active Transportation Summit August 11th in Jefferson City - Join us!

Bicycling, walking, and trails mean business in Missouri 

 

Friday, August 11th, 2017, 9:30am-5:00pm

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Join MoBikeFed's Advocacy Network

MoBikeFed is a statewide group of people like you, working together for better bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri. When you join our advocacy network you receive occasional important advocacy alerts and bicycle, pedestrian, and trails news from around Missouri.

Working together we make a real difference! Join our advocacy network: