BikeMO Fall Foliage Tour in Mid-Missouri this Saturday +
MoBikeFed News
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Brent Hugh
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Oct 15, 2008 07:33 PDT
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BikeMO, MoBikeFed's annual fall foliage ride Oct 18th, leads off MoBikeFed's
monthly newsletter for October:
1. BikeMO, MoBikeFed's annual fall foliage ride in mid-Missouri, is October
18th. Hope you can join us in Holt's Summit for this year's ride. The leaves
are changing and the weather is looking good for Saturday. 17, 32, 60, and 100
mile route options. More info/pre-register:
http://BikeMO.org
2. MoBikeFed membership drive: We've already reached 284 towards our goal
of 800 new/renewing members by the end of 2008. Many thanks to the many of
you who have already joined or renewed! We're still looking for member
#285:
http://MoBikeFed.org/join
3. Nat'l Complete Streets Bill--2 of 19 co-sponsors are from MO. In 2
minutes you can contact your members of Congress to ask them to support:
http://tinyurl.com/completestreetsmo
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MISSOURI BICYCLE FEDERATION NEWS, OCTOBER 2008
Karta Purkh S. Khalsa, Kansas City, Editor
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IN THIS ISSUE
0. Executive Director's Note
1. October is International Walk/Bike to School Month
2. Pledge Drive: Put People on the Paseo Bridge
3. Missouri ranks 26th in Bicycle Friendliness--but 42nd in infrastructure
4. Columbia Police Department Implements Operation Share The Road
5. Children's Ride to "Put People on Paseo" in KC Oct 11th
6. Nat'l Bicycle Commuter Act Signed into Law
7. Kansas City to do bike/ped counts in October--how about the rest of MO?
8. MoDOT Grant Provides Bicycles for Safety Enforcement, Patrolling
9. Light Up at Night: Share the Road Safety Task Force October message
10. Ribbon cutting Oct. 17, first segment of Busch Greenway, Katy Trail
connection
11. Kurt Schaefer, negotiator for Katy Connection to KC, now running for
legislature
12. Share the Road signs installed in Hermann area
13. Bondon convicted of assaulting two bicyclists on popular bicycle route
14. Hearing held Sept 30ths about removal of Boonville MKT bridge
15. Complete Streets Bill: 2 of 19 co-sponsors are from Missouri (ACTION
ITEM!)
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S NOTE
It's been a really huge month for bicycling in Missouri--
- the successful conclusion of the Tour of Missouri with close to half a
million spectators this year
- recent passage of the national Bicycle Commuter Act
- momentum building on the national Complete Streets Bill
- Walk/Bike to School Month in October
- many wonderful new and renewing members in MoBikeFed's ongoing
membership drive (THANK YOU!)
- two presentations (MoBikeFed's Vision and Complete Streets) by me at the
Missouri Trails Summit
- two more (ADA compliance for sidewalks and shared use paths) by
MoBikeFed's NEW Development Director, Caryn Giarratano
- two convictions in key cases involving bicyclists
- the beautiful fall leaves appearing just in time for our one annual
fundraising ride, BikeMO Oct 18th
The weather really has been beautiful--hope to see you on the road or on
the trail!
--Brent
Dr. Brent D. Hugh
dire-@mobikefed.org
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OCTOBER IS INTERNATIONAL WALK/BIKE TO SCHOOL MONTH
This week is International Walk/Bike to School Week, with Walk to School
Day October 8th and October, 2008, Walk to School Month.
This is a great opportunity to get your own kids and the kids and parents
in your community or school out and active, enjoying the fall weather and
improving their community, the environment, and their health by walking or
bicycling to school.
It's not too late to plan a Walk to School Month event at your own school
or in your own community. It's not hard to do, and complete, detailed
instructions are available on MoBikeFed's Walk to School page.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/international-walkbike-to-school-week.php
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PLEDGE DRIVE: PUT PEOPLE ON THE PASEO BRIDGE
Let's Go KC in cooperation with the Missouri Bicycle Federation and many
other bicycling, walking, and trails groups across the region and state has
announced a new project to Put People on Paseo--to have MoDOT do the last
1% of work needed to actually build the bike/ped path they have committee
to creating "sometime in the future" on the quarter billion dollar Paseo
Bridge.
This is a project of statewide significance--the first safe bike/ped
crossing of the Missouri River west of Boonville, and one of three massive
"Design-Build" projects authorized for MoDOT.
What we would like to see is hundreds and even thousands of people making a
pledge. Even just a small amount helps--just $5 or $10. Or even $1:
http://PeopleOnPaseo.org
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MISSOURI RANKS 26TH IN BICYCLE FRIENDLINESS--BUT 42ND IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Today the League of American Bicyclists launched a major effort to rank
states for bicycle friendliness.
Missouri ranked 26th out of the 50 states overall.
Missouri is tied for 42nd place in infrastructure--exactly what we
bicyclists mean when you hear us say (as we so often do) that Missouri
isn't a friendly state for bicycling. It's exactly the missing
infrastructure--the good roads & trail systems--that other states have in
place and where Missouri is clearly playing catchup.
BikeLeague is also launching an official recognition program for Bicycle
Friendly States--similar to its Bicycle Friendly Community program. It is
our goal to get many Missouri communities to become Bicycle Friendly
Communities--and now our goal to move Missouri to the top level of the
Bicycle Friendly State rankings: Platinum.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/09/missouri-ranks-26th-in-bicycle.php
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COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS OPERATION SHARE THE ROAD
The Columbia Police Department (CPD) will be conducting Operation Share the
Road throughout the month of October. This campaign is a result of CPD
participation in a recent training session designed to clarify cyclists and
motorist rights and responsibilities as they pertain to joint roadway use.
Robert Johnson, LCI, Education Coordinator with GetAbout Columbia, provided
training for all 150 CPD officers. The GetAbout Columbia program is working
to decrease the number of motor vehicle trips and to encourage more people
to bike or walk as a form of transportation. "Both inexperienced and
experienced cyclists running red lights or riding on downtown district
sidewalks can make for a frustrating situation for motorists and law
abiding cyclists alike," Johnson stated. "My hope is that this campaign
will help educate cyclists and motorists that sharing the road is
everyone's responsibility."
http://mobikefed.org/2008/09/columbia-police-department-implements.php
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CHILDREN'S RIDE TO "PUT PEOPLE ON THE PASEO" KC Oct 11th
The Missouri Bicycle Federation is sponsoring a fun Children's Bicycle Ride
on the Riverfront Heritage Trail at Berkeley Riverfront Park near downtown
Kansas City, Missouri, 8:30 AM Oct 11th.
The ride is in support of the need for safe river crossings in Kansas City
for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The ride is free but children (and parents!) will be invited to donate
their pennies, nickels, quarters, or dollars to the new "Put People on
Paseo" campaign that will help MoDOT and KCMO fund that last 1% needed to
actually put the bike/ped path on the Paseo Bridge when it is built.
We'll have fun prizes for all participating children--and parents are
welcome as well!
Meet on the path directly under the Paseo Bridge at 8:30AM sharp on Oct.
11th.
Media will be invited--so we'd like to have a good showing of participation
(both children and adults--adults feel free to bring your bicycles as
well!).
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/childrens-ride-to-put-people-on-paseo.php
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NAT'L BICYCLE COMMUTER ACT SIGNED INTO LAW
Another win for the efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and those
who have attended the National Bike Summit in recent years.
One of the legislative advocacy priorities for the Bike Summit in recent
years has been the Bicycle Commuter Act.
The act is really on of those no brainers--it's a simple, inexpensive,
proven way to help encourage more bicycle commuting. It's not going to
solve our energy crisis, our healthcare crisis, our greenhouse gas crisis,
or our obesity crisis.
But it's a simple, sensible, inexpensive, reasonable step towards solving
all of those problems that will deliver a lot of bang for the buck.
And now it's been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/bicycle-commuter-act-passes-congress.php
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KANSAS CITY TO DO BIKE/PED COUNTS IN OCTOBER--HOW ABOUT THE REST OF MO?
Kansas City will be doing its first annual set of bicycle/pedestrian counts
in October 2008.
The counts will follow the national protocol outlined in detail here
(except that the counts will be conducted Oct 13-24, instead of
mid-September as the protocol specifies--because of interference from the
Tour of Missouri in September).
Other cities across Missouri are invited (and requested!) to participate
this fall also.
The initial counts can be done with as few as 2 or 3 volunteers in 1 or 2
locations in shifts of just a couple of hours.
In Kansas City, volunteers will attend a training orientation session for
45-60 minutes one evening, then do the counts the following day.
Getting better data on bicycling and walking, and usage counts, is one of
the main goals in MoBikeFed's Vision for improving walking & bicycling in
Missouri. Without hard data it is difficult to make our case for the need
for better walking and bicycling facilities and programs!
So MoBikeFed will support this as much as we can (need help finding
volunteers in your area?) and encourages you to do so as well.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/kansas-city-to-do-bikeped-counts-in.php
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MODOT GRANT PROVIDES BICYCLES FOR SAFETY ENFORCEMENT, PATROLLING
Steve Porter of MoDOT District 4 sends the following info about a new grant
to support bicycle and pedestrian safety in the Lee's Summit area:
Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Responsibility
MoDOT and the Lee's Summit Police Department are working together to
improve bicycle and pedestrian safety by placing officers on bikes to
enforce traffic regulations in the city's busiest areas.
The Lee's Summit Police Department's upgraded Bicycle Unit has purchased
six fully-equipped Trek bicycles, helmets and uniforms through a $6,000
grant provided by Destination: Safe, a MoDOT-funded partnership with law
enforcement, local governments and advocacy groups to reduce serious-injury
and fatal accidents.
The Bicycle Unit will educate and raise awareness for bicycles, pedestrians
and motorists to reduce cyclist and pedestrian injuries and fatalities. So
far this year, 11 pedestrians have been killed in the Kansas City region.
Officers will patrol as weather permits, focusing on pedestrians,
bicyclists and crime that may occur in their presence. The new bikes
replace worn-out bikes that have been in use since the unit began 10 years
ago.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/modot-grant-provides-bicycles-for.php
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LIGHT UP AT NIGHT: SHARE THE ROAD SAFETY TASK FORCE
Kansas City's Share the Road Safety Task Force (with MoBikeFed as a
supporting member!) is currently sharing its "Light Up at Night" campaign:
As daylight hours grow shorter, cyclists and pedestrians should consider
ways to light themselves up when out after dark. Wearing reflective
clothing, leg or arm bands or adding a light can greatly increase their
visibility and reduce the risk of being struck by a motorist.
The Share the Road Safety Task Force, a regional group of bicycle and
pedestrian advocates, transportation experts and local government
representatives, was created in 2006 in response to this alarming rate of
cyclist- and pedestrian-related crashes and fatalities in the region. The
task force aims to educate the public, encourage biking and walking as
forms of transportation, and enforce the laws relating to cyclists,
pedestrians and motorists sharing the road.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/light-up-at-night-share-road-safety.php
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RIBBON CUTTING 10/17 FOR THE FIRST SEGMENT OF BUSCH GREENWAY, KATY TRAIL
CONNECTION
According to Great Rivers Greenway, the first segment of the Busch
Greenway, a scenic connector between Missouri Research Park and the Katy
Trail State Park, will officially open October 17th, 2008:
The Great Rivers Greenway District, the public organization leading the
development of a region-wide system of interconnected greenways, parks and
trails known as The River Ring, has announced the completion of a new
three-quarter mile trail that connects the Missouri Research Park in St.
Charles County to the Katy Trail State Park. In addition to The District,
partners for the project included the University of Missouri, Missouri
Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources.
The ribbon cutting to open the trail is 12-noon, Friday, October 17, at the
boardwalk on the trail. Missouri Research Park is located at the Research
Park Circle exit from U.S. Highway 40/64, near Highway 94 in St. Charles
County (follow signs to event location).
Rick Finholt, Executive Director of Missouri Research Park, says the
finished trail is a "dream come true" after several false starts over the
past several years. "Thanks to the vision and determination of the Great
Rivers Greenway District to complete this project, Missouri Research Park
is now a more enjoyable place for workers, as well as a new destination for
visitors. We are grateful to the District and all the other partners for
working together to make our dream for this trail a reality," said Finholt.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/ribbon-cutting-oct-17-first-segment-of.php
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KURT SCHAEFER, NEGOTIATOR FOR KATY CONNECTION TO KC, IS RUNNING FOR
LEGISLATOR
Kurt Schaefer, who played a key role in negotiating the settlement with
AmerenUE that led to the agreement to connect the Katy Trail to Kansas
City, is now running for the Missouri Senate in the 18th District.
Schaefer, who worked on the Katy Trail deal during his tenure with the
Department of Natural Resources, recently rode a section of the Katy to
bring attention to the issue of the Katy Connection to KC, according to a
recent article in the MU Maneater:
On Saturday, Kurt Schaefer, the Republican candidate for the 19th state
senatorial district, biked the Katy Trail on a 25-mile trek from Hartsburg
to Columbia, to celebrate his negotiation which helped to secure expansion
of the trail
"One of my first priorities in the Senate will be to secure the necessary
legislative approvals to get the Rock Island extension completed," Schaefer
said in a news release.
"The Katy Trail is a vital recreational and economic asset and I am proud
to have played a role in helping expanding it for the thousands of Missouri
families like my own who take advantage of it each year," Schaefer said.
Schaefer's opponent in the 18th District is incumbent Senator Chuck Graham.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/kurt-schaefer-negotiator-for-katy.php
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SHARE THE ROAD SIGNS INSTALLED IN THE HERMANN AREA
According to Jeff Yielding's Hermann Cycling blog, MoDOT has installed
"share the road with bicycles" signs on several often-used area routes.
Jeff writes: Over the past few months MODOT has installed several bike
signs along many of the roads in the Hermann are. Hwy H, E, 100, J and 19
just to name a few. Little extra road awareness can't hurt.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/10/share-road-signs-installed-in-hermann.php
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$2 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN DEATH OF BICYCLIST JOHN TRIGGS
Pitch Weekly reporter Carolyn Szcepanski reports on the conclusion of a
civil suit brought by the family of bicyclist John Triggs, who was killed
by a turning cement truck in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, in June 2006:
ast year, Triggs' wife and two sons filed a wrongful death suit against
Driskell and the Overland Park-based business.
This month, just a few days before the trial was to begin, Fordyce and the
family reached a $2 million settlement.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/09/2-million-settlement-in-death-of.php
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BONDON CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING TWO BICYCLISTS ON POPULAR BICYCLE ROUTE
In an incident that reverberated around the Kansas City bicycling community
earlier this summer, a resident of the Longview Lake area, Johnny Bondon,
was charged with attempting to assault a bicyclist. The incident happened
after an argument that developed when Bondon passed two bicyclists in a way
the bicyclists considered unsafe.
Now Bondon has been found guilty of attempted assault in Kansas City,
Missouri, municipal court.
Kansas City area Cyclist Mark Breeding attended the court hearings and
filed a complete, very detailed report:
http://mobikefed.org/2008/09/johnny-bondon-convicted-of-assaulting.php
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HEARING HELD SEPT 30THS ABOUT REMOVAL OF BOONVILLE MKT BRIDGE
The U.S. Coast Guard has set a public meeting for Sept. 30 in the ballroom
at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville to review plans to remove the
bridge, which spans the Missouri River. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
and is expected to draw dozens of people still hoping to preserve the
structure.
The Coast Guard directed bridge owner Union Pacific to remove the bridge.
The bridge has not been used for rail traffic since 1986, and the Coast
Guard considers any unused bridge an obstruction, said Roger Wiebusch, a
bridge administrator for the Coast Guard.
Dozens of citizens attended the meeting, most speaking in favor of
retaining the historic bridge, which is part of the original Katy railroad
corridor.
http://mobikefed.org/2008/09/hearing-to-be-held-sept-30th-about.php
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COMPLETE STREETS BILL: 2 OF 19 CO-SPONSORS ARE FROM MISSOURI
One of the very positive results of our effort to improve Missouri's
representation at the National Bike Summit is that we have the ear of more
of Missouri's members of Congress on bicycling and walking issues.
One of the main issues Missouri's delegation talked about at the National
Bike Summit in March, was to ask our members of Congress to become
co-sponsors of the Complete Streets legislation introduced this spring in
both the House and the Senate.
On the House side, two of the current 19 co-sponsors of the bill are from
Missouri: Representative Russ Carnahan (St. Louis) and Representative
Emanuel Cleaver (Kansas City).
Now we'd like the other seven representatives--and two senators!--from
Missouri to become co-sponsors as well.
And of course if you live in Rep. Cleaver's or Carnahan's district, please
contact them to say THANK YOU for their support of this important
legislation.
ACTION ITEM:
The Complete Streets web site has all the information you need to contact
your members of Congress, including an online form letter you can easily
submit to your representative and both senators.
http://tinyurl.com/completestreetsmo
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MISSOURI BICYCLE FEDERATION NEWS, OCTOBER 2008
Karta Purkh S. Khalsa, Kansas City, Editor
http://MoBikeFed.org
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--
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The Missouri Bicycle Federation is a coalition of bicycling, walking,
running, and trails organizations representing over 15,000
Missourians and speaking for the 2 million Missourians who bicycle
regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation is working to realize its vision of
active transportation in Missouri by creating a world-class bicycle
and pedestrian network in Missouri, building a movement around
walking and bicycling, encouraging more walking and bicycling, and
increasing safety for all road users.
www.MoBikeFed.org/vision
====================================================
Dr. Brent Hugh, LCI #1335 Dire-@MoBikeFed.org
Executive Director --- Missouri Bicycle Federation
www.MoBikeFed.org 816-695-6736
====================================================
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