Missouri Bicycling, Walking, Running, and Trails News

Touring across Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas to Colorado.

By Ken Kifer. By the time I reached Ava in the afternoon, I was very hot and tired. As I was riding along, a man drove out to stop me. Earl was 75 years old, and he had crossed the United States by bicycle when he was 70. He told me about the local bridges, about his travels, and about his philosophy of life. He and his wife gave me a plate of food to eat . . .

Click here to read the rest of Ken's cycling adventures across Missouri.
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Why is little Johnny obese?

Roadkill Bill has the answer . . .
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St. Joseph Hike-Bike Trail Delayed

The St. Joseph News-Press is reporting today that a planned hike-bike trail along the Missouri Riverfront has been delayed because a nearby riverfront casino operator fears that the proposed trail will limit his development options.
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2001 Katy Trail Ride Report & Photos

Read reports & see photos on the 2001 Katy Trail Ride. Also find information about future rides.
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Trees & Bicycles . . .

A place with trees, Silvia says, is more like a neighborhood. I'm on her side. But I tell her I think it's more than trees . . .

"All right then," she says. "Trees and bicycles."


Read more of Patrick Dobson's essay on liveable neighborhoods in Kansas City, in this month's eKC magazine.
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Johnson County Bicycle Club Rider Hit by Car

According to reports on the mid-america-mtb list, a cyclist on a ride with the Johnson County Bicycle Club was hit by a car yesterday. The cyclist had fallen behind the main group and was riding alone. Reports are that the injuries were scrapes and bruises and were not life threatening.
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MoBikeFed's Motorist Contact Program

Picture the perfect ride on a gorgeous Missouri morning spoiled by a frighteningly close encounter with a motorist who is angry just to see a bicyclist on the road. In the past, many of us were frustrated by our inability to take self-protective action or to incite others to protect us unless we were severely damaged by the encounter.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation offers its members (including members of affiliate organizations) an option that can be very satisfying...Report that safety threat! Find out the details of the motorist contact program here.
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KC: Bikes & Trikes for Tykes - 2002

Bikes & Trikes for Tykes is a 100% volunteer organization that receives donations of bicycles, repair and clean them, and give them to youth in the Kansas City area through any charitable organization.

Bikes & Trikes for Tykes takes whole bikes and bike parts, no matter what age or condition.

Our worksite is at 1021 Pacific, Kansas City KS in the back warehouse area. We have work parties on Saturdays from 9 to 5 and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5pm to 9pm. We usually have work parties from the first weekend in November, through the Saturday nearest the 15th of December. We have work for all skill levels, including cleaning bikes, moving bikes, stripping bikes for parts, or actually repairing bikes. Please schedule groups of more than 5 persons.

Bicycles can be donated at any of our work parties, or at various Hen House stores on the following schedule.

November 9th 135th & Blackbob (SW Corner), Olathe
November 16th I-29 & 64th Street (Just west of I-29)
November 23rd 1015 Rice Road, Lee's Summit
November 30th 119th & Roe (NE corner), Leawood

Inquiries can directed to kcbikeman@aol.com or if immediate response needed, call me during the day at 860-7689.

--Dan Rainford


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Cycle Montana

By Todd Blackwell, Lake of the Ozarks. To begin planning for a week perched atop a bike saddle, I put in anywhere from 50 to 150 miles per a week riding varied terrain and weather conditions starting in March. This training schedule was not any different from my normal riding routine as I ride as often as I can, whenever I can . . .
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Town of Kansas Bike/Ped Bridge Opens

The Town of Kansas Bridge is . . . a link in the planned Riverfront Heritage Trail, a nine-mile path that would run from Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park, to the market, through the West Bottoms along the Kansas River and into Kansas City, Kan.

Read more on the Missouri Bicycle News Page.
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Town of Kansas Bike/Ped Bridge Opens

The Town of Kansas Bridge is . . . a link in the planned Riverfront Heritage Trail, a nine-mile path that would run from Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park, to the market, through the West Bottoms along the Kansas River and into Kansas City, Kan.

Another branch of the trail could head south from the River Market through Quality Hill to the West Side and into Penn Valley Park.


I have visited the bridge several times and it really is fascinating. The stairs are open now so that it is possible to walk down to the river level (where the Riverfront Heritage Trail will run). If you are in the River Market area of Kansas City it is well worth a stop (the bridge starts near Main and 2nd Street).

Read more on the KCStar web site.
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Bike League Launches Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign

Washington, DC - The League of American Bicyclists has launched its Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign, a national grassroots effort to increase the number of trips made by bike, promote physical fitness, and help make communities more liveable. The Campaign works in the most effective way possible-town by town, city by city-to encourage bicycling and achieve a bicycle-friendly America. The Campaign is supported by a generous grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"As more people bicycle and walk, communities experience reduced traffic, better air, and improved public health," said Elissa Margolin, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists ( www.bikeleague.org). "Bicycle-friendly and walkable towns, like those with good schools and vibrant downtowns, are communities that offer a good quality of life for families, which can lead to higher property values, business growth and increased tourism," she added.

The League recognizes newly designated Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) with an awards ceremony, a BFC road sign, and a formal press announcement. Municipalities that apply for BFC status receive an abundance of technical assistance to help them improve cycling conditions and encourage residents to bike for fun, fitness and transportation. There are four award levels of the BFC designation to recognize model communities and those communities that are starting to make significant progress. The League and technical assistance staff work with awardees and municipalities that fall short to support continual improvements.

The League encourages community leaders seeking BFC status to complete and submit part one of the application on www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org . After reviewing this profile, the League will advise towns on whether or not they meet the basic criteria required and on the next steps in the application process.

# # # # #

For more information on the Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign, visit www.bikeleague.org
or www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org .

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of the nation's 42.5 million bicyclists. With a current membership of 300,000 affiliated cyclists, including 40,000 individuals and 600 organizations, the League works to bring better bicycling to your community.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org
), based in Princeton, N.J, is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grantmaking in four goal areas: to assure that all American have access to basic health care at reasonable cost; to improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse - tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

Michael Klasmeier
Program Director
League of American Bicyclists
1612 K St, NW, Ste 800
Washington, DC 20006
P 202.822.1333
F 202.822.1334
http://www.bikeleague.org

Is your town bicycle-friendly? http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
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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: