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Missouri Bicycling, Walking, Running, and Trails News

Need some motivation? Try riding with your kid . . .

Mon, 03/03/2003 - 10:31pm
Yesterday's KCStar had an interesting article by Jay Kimcieky, who is an expert in exercise motivation:
Like the rest of us, Kimiciek loses his motivation to get up off the couch and out the door, particularly during the cold, wet winter months.

During those low points, he says, he relies on something beyond his empirical knowledge about exercise compliance. He just gets up and goes for an easy bike ride with his child. It's good for him and thrilling for his son, and the "fun ride" inspires both of them to approach their own physical activity with greater spontaneous enjoyment.

"The other day I needed to go to a friend's house to pick up something," he said. "I was ready to get into my car to drive when I realized I needed the exercise, and my boy Colin was just sitting in the house playing video games. So I went back in and invited him to ride his bike with me. He snapped up my offer, and we had so much fun in this spontaneous moment, just riding together.
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KC Walkability Plan, important hearing Wed, March 6th, 1:30PM

Sat, 03/01/2003 - 4:58pm
[Late addition: Here is the KCMO staff report on the Walkability Plan. It has all the details about what the plan is about, where it has been, and where it is going. MSWord format.]

Walkability Friends:

The public hearing before the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee of City Council on the adoption of the Kansas City Walkability Plan, Resolution # 030211, has been scheduled for:

Wednesday, March 5, 2003
26th Floor City Hall Council Chambers
414 E. 12th Street
(southeast corner of 11th and Oak; public garage across the street to the west)

The docket starts at 1:30 p.m. and the hearing on the Walkability Plan could happen anytime thereafter, though we are listed in the middle of the docket. That means that you may need to be patient (bring something to read), or they could take us early.

Please plan to attend this crucial Council hearing. In addition, you may e-mail the Council committee in advance of the hearing at:

planning@kcmo.org

You should address the body of your e-mail to: Councilman Ed Ford, Chairman of the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee, Councilwoman Bonnie Sue Cooper, Councilman Troy Nash, and Councilwoman Mary Williams-Neal, and note that it is in reference to Resolution # 030211 Kansas City Walkability Plan. The Secretary to the committee organizes the e-mails and presents them to the chairman at the hearing.

Find individual council email addresses on the KCMO city council web site.

[You can see a draft of the walkability plan on the KCMO web site (somewhat out of date, but gives you the general idea.]

The Plan for Council consideration contains two amendments recommended by the City Plan Commission:

The Walkability Plan recommends a policy of mandating completion of
sidewalks in new subdivisions by the original subdivision developers
or lot owners by a date certain or after a certain percentage of the
subdivision has been sold. City staff should develop a mechanism to
implement this policy.

Because Capital Improvements funding is limited, the City should
provide neighborhoods with planning assistance in forming a Community
or Neighborhood Improvement Districts to help finance walkability
improvements as identified through Neighborhood Walking Surveys or
Pedestrian Level of Service surveys.

The revised Walkability Plan also contains a revision to key recommendation # 1 that staff is proposing as a compromise solution to the concerns of residential developers. The new language, with undelines showing additions and strikeouts showing deletions, is as follows:

The Pedestrian Traffic Impact Analysis would be required in any of
the following circumstances:

a. When a Traffic Impact Study is required;
b. Where the proposed development is requesting City incentives;
c. When the proposed development includes commercial or
institutional uses of at least 15,000 square feet;
d. When the proposed development includes mixed uses
(commercial/residential/institutional uses in any combination);
e. When a proposed development includes an arterial or larger
street.
f. When the proposed development is located in or within ¼ mile of
Pedestrian-Oriented Zones, Great Street and Boulevards, Mixed Use
and Multimodal Transportation Centers, Transit Impact Zones as
designated in the FOCUS Kansas City Plan;

If a. - e do not apply, City staff shall use Pedestrian LOS
standards to evaluate and make recommendations on proposed
residential development consisting of at least 20 dwelling units,
which may reasonably regarded as a contiguous neighborhood or which
are part of a single subdivision, when such development is to be
located within ¼ mile of Pedestrian-Oriented Zones, Great Street
and Boulevards, Mixed Use and Multimodal Transportation Centers,
Transit Impact Zones, Schools/Parks/Community
Centers/Libraries/Hospital/Health Care facilities, transit stops or
commercial uses of 15,000 square feet or larger, or the land use
plan or zoning calls for those uses.

Please e-mail or call if you have questions.

Lynnis Jameson, Senior Planner
City Planning and Development Department
Lynnis_Jameson@kcmo.orgPZEDStaffReportWalkabilityPlan.DOC
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Death waits at this intersection

Fri, 02/28/2003 - 9:00am
The KCStar's columnist Mike Hendricks wrote an article today about the recent pedestrian death of UMKC student Pei Chen:
College students I talked with at the corner think a stoplight would make them safer. There's resistance to that at City Hall. It would mean a light at every corner, from 55th to 52nd.

"It makes it very difficult to move traffic," says Jerry Tapscott, a traffic engineer.

Perhaps it would. Yet it's traffic moving too fast and far too carelessly that makes this city so dangerous for walkers and cyclists.

Kansas City is the 26th largest metro area in the country. Yet the Surface Transportation Policy Project ranks KC No. 20 on its list of U.S. cities most deadly to pedestrians.

The chances of someone on foot getting killed here is double or triple what it is in New York and Boston, where walkers are more common.


The Star also reports that UMKC students are raising funds to aid Chen's parents, who have been financially devastated by their daughter's death.

Star Reader Joseph Gardner pointedly comments that "A woman who is accused of speeding, driving through a crosswalk and hitting a UMKC student who eventually dies from her injuries, is charged with only a misdemeanor? Could somebody please tell me what's wrong with this picture?"
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The importance of walkable green spaces in cities

Thu, 02/27/2003 - 4:40am
Researchers in Japan did a large study of elderly people living in urban areas. They found that "the probability of five year survival of the senior citizens studied increased in accordance with the space for taking a stroll near the residence, parks and tree lined streets near the residence, and their preference to continue to live in their current community."

"Living in areas with walkable green spaces positively influenced the longevity of urban senior citizens independent of their age, sex, marital status, baseline functional status, and socioeconomic status." To put it plainly: greenspace benefits everyone, rich or poor, male or female, married or unmarried, healthy or sick.

"Greenery filled public areas that are nearby and easy to walk in should be further emphasised in urban planning for the development and re-development of densely populated areas in a megacity."

It's difficult to argue that greenspace and walking space is a "frill" when it contributes to a longer, healthier life!

The research was published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
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Semi/tractor accident near Lone Jack presents issues

Thu, 02/27/2003 - 3:32am
The fatal collision of a semi-truck and a farm tractor on highway 50 near Lone Jack, MO, presents some highway use issues familiar to cyclists.

The farm tractor was driving about 25 MPH. The semi hit the tractor from behind, killing the tractor driver.

The semi driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The family of the tractor driver is suing the driver, the trucking company, and others.

The trucking company maintains that the tractor operator should have known that it was dangerous to operate at such slow speeds on Hwy 50, and that he should have obtained a special permit allowing him to drive slower than 40 MPH.

According to Missouri law, there is no minimum speed limit on state highways.
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St. Joseph riverfront trail on hold, again

Thu, 02/27/2003 - 3:20am
We have previously reported that the objections of a riverfront casino owner have delayed the construction of a planned riverfront trail in St. Joseph. Now it appears that the owner's objections are creating even more delay, despite city officials' efforts to work with him.

Andy Clements of St. Joseph city reports that other trails in St. Joseph were initially controversially but, now that they have been completed, are very popular. This is a very common situation when multi-use trails are created in urban and suburban areas--initial community resistance turns to overwhelming public support once the trail is in place.
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New mountain bike trail in St. Louis area

Thu, 02/27/2003 - 3:07am
Trailnet announced the opening of a major new mountain bike trail this week.

According to the story in the Edwardsville Intelligencer:
The primitive trail is sanctioned by the National Off-Road Bicycle Association and is rated intermediate to expert level for competitive races.

The park owes its development to a partnership between Trailnet, Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) and the city of St. Louis. The 2.9 mile loop is on 72 acres of land just south of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge on the west side of Riverview Drive. . .

The Chain of Rocks Mountain Bike Park is located in the Confluence Greenway, a 200-square-mile urban riverside park and trail system now being developed in the heart of the bi-state St. Louis region, stretching from the St. Louis and East St. Louis riverfronts to St. Charles, Mo., on the Missouri and Grafton on the Mississippi.
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Major St. Louis-area road to get bike-friendly facelift

Thu, 02/27/2003 - 3:03am
A six-mile stretch of Manchester Road, which runs through Maplewood, Brentwood, Rock Hill, Glendale, Warson Woods and Kirkwood, MO, will soon be getting a major facelift that will include bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly improvements.

Read the full story on STLToday.
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KC--Chouteau Trafficway to be turned into parkway

Tue, 02/25/2003 - 7:02pm
The Chouteau Trafficway bridge is one of two bicycle-able crossings of the Missouri River in the Kansas City area. South of the river Chouteau Trafficway is a four-lane roadway with much heavy industrial traffic, that is very difficult for bicyclists. North of the river it is a busy two-lane road with heavy, fast-moving traffic.

The Kansas City Star reports that MoDOT and other area officials are planning to widen Chouteau Trafficway north of the river, turning into a four-lane parkway with trees and green areas. This week, Rep. Sam Graves announced that $1 million in funding had been appropriated in a recently passed federal spending bill. The complete project will cost about $11 million.

Chouteau Trafficway has the potential to be the most bicycle-friendly route across the Missouri River in the Kansas City area. Bicyclists need to watch this project and insure that this vital link is designed in a bicycle-friendly way.
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KC Riverfront Heritage Trail prompts river cleanup

Tue, 02/25/2003 - 6:48am
According to the Kansas City Star, a massive cleanup of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers is planned for September, 2003. Much of the work will be done by volunteers. The cleanup effort was prompted by the opening of the Riverfront Heritage Trail, a multi-use trail connecting Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.
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Important meeting about St. Louis-area cycling projects March 6th

Sun, 02/23/2003 - 6:02pm
The following is from MoBikeFed Chair Bob Foster:
East West Gateway Coordinating Council [St. Louis-area council that makes decisions about federal transportation funding] has selected the next round of "Enhancements Projects" which include bicycle/pedestrian projects as well as street lighting, landscaping and transportation museum type projects.

Unfortunately, the East West Gateway CC's Bicycle Pedestrian Committee is in a sort of limbo right now, and there was NO OPPORTUNITY to review the proposals prior to draft selection.

We can fix this! On March 6 at 4:00 ­ 8:00 the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council will be holding a public meeting to receive public comment on the draft projects. You are more than welcome to attend to lend your support! Their offices are located at 10 Stadium Plaza.

This is your opportunity to speak up on whether the federal funds that the area gets goes to Bike and Pedestrian projects or other "stuff."

Example: A proposal for St. Louis City to develop Bike St. Louis, a network of onroad bike routes has been approved in draft 1. We need to support it.

Example: St. Louis County submitted a proposal to review all its arterial roads and determine how to optimize them for bike travel! This needs to be approved! (I don't know if EWGateway signed off)

Example: St. Louis County also submitted a $1.1 million proposal to build little trams at the Museum of Transport. (I don't know if EWGateway signed off)

This is your chance to help shape the way bikes get around St. Louis or whether daffodils are planted along the roads. Mark your calendar. Bikes are allowed inside.
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Illinois needs help now getting "Boub" law past Senate committee

Sat, 02/22/2003 - 5:57pm
The following is from Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists:
ACTION ALERT - 1 short phone call to help bicycling!

Dear Metro East bicyclists,

Your help is needed now to pass a bill that affects bicycling conditions throughout Illinois. You may know of CBF and LIB's "Boub legislation" from past newsletters, e-mails, etc. We have new bills this year. House Bill 1248 and Senate Bill 275 would correct the negative impacts of the 1998 Illinois Supreme Court Boub vs. Wayne decision, which has been a disaster for on-road cycling in the state. Until the bill gets passed:

· Towns that want to improve on-road bike safety through signage or bike lanes are penalized with liability, towns that do nothing get immunity;

· Bicyclists do not have any liability protection, as motorcyclists and motorists do, and bicyclists in other states do;

· Long-distance bikeways like the Grand Illinois Trail and Mississippi River Trail, and MANY other local plans, are being stalled;

· We're the only state with this bizarre and powerful disincentive for improving bike safety.

Last week, our House bill won an impressive 13-4-1 victory in the House Judiciary Committee - thanks to lots of calls and faxes from cyclists which swung a number of the votes. Rep. Jay Hoffman was a big supporter.

THIS WEDNESDAY the 26th, we face our toughest test, in Senate committee. There are TWO key committee members from your part of Illinois. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Those opposed to the bill have mobilized and become very vocal after our House victory. If you live in the following towns, please call BEFORE THIS TUESDAY (the 25th):

Senator William R. Haine 618-465-4764 (Fax number 618-465-4816): Most or all of Alton, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Wood River, Roxana, East Alton, Madison, Maryville; north and east Fairview Heights; south Godfrey; north and east Granite City; west O'Fallon.

Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. 618-875-1212 (Fax number 618-274-3010): Most or all of East St. Louis, Caseyville, Belleville, Shiloh, Centreville; south Granite City; west and south Fairview Heights; south O'Fallon; west Mascoutah; north Millstadt, east Cahokia.

[If you're unsure, check www.biketraffic.org/boub_search.html If you have a different senator (not on the committee), a call there would be helpful, too.]

Identify yourself as a bicyclist in the district and ask for support of SB275. Use the points above if you wish. It's fine to call and leave a message (or fax) during the weekend or evenings.

Please make this very short call and forward this to your biking friends. The voices of individual bicyclists are very important in passing the bill, just as this bill is critical to improving bicycling in the state. THANKS!

Ed Barsotti, Executive Director
League of Illinois Bicyclists
2550 Cheshire Dr.
Aurora, IL 60504
630-978-0583
ed@bikelib.org


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