Winter Cyclist on Westport Road
Despite 24 hours of non-stop weather panic on the local TV news, most of the metro ended up with 3 inches or less. Nevertheless, it’s definitely time to brush up on our cold weather routine.
Pedal Pushers: Cold Weather [...]
On Tuesday, City officials and community leaders will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest segment of the Indian Creek Trail in southern Kansas City. This important new segment runs from 99th and Holmes to Bannister and Lydia. It gets the trail closer to the [...]
The first phase of Independence’s Rock Creek Trail is now open in the western part of the city. The first 1.5 mile segment runs from Rotary Park near 23rd and Northern to Country Club Park near 30th and Norton. It’s a small start, but the Rock Creek Trail will eventually [...]
This Thursday the regional Academy for Sustainable Communities will host another seminar in the Building a Healthy Heartland series. Thursday’s event focuses on the role of transportation policies in public health.
Event information and registration
December 3rd, 8:30 am – Noon.
Sylvester Powell Community Center.
6200 Martway, Mission, Kan.
[...]
Thursday’s weather looks to be clear and mild, and bicycling is a great way to beat the traffic jams at the Plaza lighting ceremony. While the Country Club Plaza isn’t ideal for bike parking, there are a few options besides trees and street lamps.
There is an indoor bike rack in [...]
The Wall Street Journal has a new feature of Joe Spear, founder of stadium and arena designers Populous architecture (formerly HOK Sport) in the River Market. The article describes how Joe got into cycling for weight loss and is now a regular bike commuter here in KC.
Some photos of construction progress on the eastern extension of the Indian Creek Trail, from 99th and Holmes to Bannister/95th and Lydia. The official opening is December 8th, but most of it is already usable. Over the next few years additional projects will connect to the Blue River and the [...]
This Sunday the annual Cranksgiving event returns to benefit a local food pantry. The goal is to see who can gather the most food in the least amount of time. Every participant will get a list of items to find, and a list of stores to visit. Be sure to [...]
KC’s local goldsprints/roller racing series kicks off tonight at 9:00 p.m. at Harlings Upstairs (Main Street at Westport Road). You have to see it to believe how much fun head-to-head roller racing is. And if you’re up for, you can join the competition.
Sign up at 8:00 p.m., race at 9:00 [...]
In case you haven’t heard yet, Sarah and Christi are closing down Acme Bicycle Company. There will be a blow-out sale Tuesday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. Lots of supplies, accessories, parts, etc.
[...]The Johnson County Bicycle Club is running a special right now. Join or renew and get an extra six months.
[...]Hopefully you have noticed that the days are getting shorter and darkness is creeping into the typical commuting hours. So if you haven’t done it yet, put some new batteries in your lights and break out the reflective gear.
Also stop by one of the Bright at Night events sponsored by [...]
Family Bicycles provides this video from Fox 4 News about the bicycle program at the Scuola Vita Nuova charter school in Pendleton Heights, Old Northeast KC. Students are given new bicycles and taught how to safely ride to school. The program culminates in an annual ride across Missouri [...]
The photo on the left is the bike room at The Hamilton apartments on Armour Boulevard in Midtown. It is just one of eleven historic Armour Boulevard buildings being renovated by MAC Properties, a bicycle-friendly business that [...]
Today the City of St. Louis was awarded a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists. St. Louis is the second Missouri city, Columbia was awarded Silver earlier this year. Some of the things that helped St. Louis get the BFC award include [...]
KCPT-TV 19’s series Generation XL covers the American epidemic of childhood obesity. Tonight’s episode focuses on physical activity and talks about getting kids walking and bicycling as a way to combat the sedentary lifestyles that lead to obesity. The episode includes local programs like Safe Routes to School, Walking [...]
Construction is in full swing on the first segment of the Line Creek Trail in Platte County. This segment runs along the east side of the Platte Brooke neighborhood, from NW 68th to about NW 75th. The entire trail [...]
Here is one more opportunity for a fall ride. This Saturday, BikeMO is the MoBikePed’s annual fundraiser set in the rolling hills and lush fall foliage of Mid-Missouri. The ride offers several routes between 17 and 100 miles, all over quiet rural roads of Calloway County. [...]
The Northland Nightmare is the KC Bicycle Club’s final organized ride of the year. The ride is very appropriately named considering the weather forecast and the Northland’s rolling terrain. The action begins and ends in Liberty. Get the details and pre-register at www.kcbc.org.
Maggi Hacker, President of the Johnson County Bicycle Club, has announced the details of an understanding with the Prairie Village Police Department that addresses issues with group rides and the law in that suburb. The agreement is meant to accommodate large group rides while still enforcing traffic laws. If [...]
Volunteers are needed this week to count bicycle and pedestrian traffic at several locations around Kansas City. Collecting this data is critical to getting better facilities like bike lanes, trails, bridge access, sidewalks, etc. Please consider volunteering if at all possible. This is one of those times where your actions [...]
During October Epic Bike & Sport is hosting Girly Rides every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The female-only casual, social rides have both easy and moderate options, followed by wine and snacks. Epic is in Tuilerries Plaza on NW 64th Street just west of I-29. More info at epicbikeandsport.com.
This is a weekend ride that I’ve been doing a lot lately from Westport to Budd Park in the Old Northeast. It’s almost entirely on boulevards and the BikeKC network, so the roads are good and most storm drain grates are fixed. The terrain is mostly flat, the traffic is [...]
Tour of Missouri officials have released an independent study showing a $38 million impact on Missouri’s economy, in return for a $1.5 million invest of taxpayers’ money. That’s more than a 25 to 1 ROI. $20 million of the impact was attributed to visitors from outside the state. Spectators were [...]
On Saturday a 65 year-old cyclist was injured in a road rage hit-and-run incident at the Downtown Airport. The road around the Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport is a popular spot for cyclists and runners – a flat, low-traffic loop in an otherwise hilly city.
KSHB-TV 41 reports that KCPD questioned [...]
Headstrong for Jake is looking for volunteers to help with a bike rodeo and helmet fitting in Shawnee this weekend…
HEADSTRONG FOR JAKE has been asked to conduct a bike safety rodeo & helmet
event for “Safety Day” at Home Depot- SHAWNEE! This is going to be a
HUGE event [...]
Volunteers are needed next week to count bicycle and pedestrian traffic at several locations around Kansas City. Collecting this data is critical to getting better facilities like bike lanes, trails, bridge access, sidewalks, etc. Please consider volunteering if at all possible.
From: Deb Ridgway, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Kansas [...]
September 30, October 7th, and October 14th at an undisclosed Midtown location. Keep an eye on swayzememorial.blogspot.com for the venue details on race day.
[...]Friday evening looks to be a beautiful evening to ride. As usual, Critical Mass will start in Westport at 6:30 pm. CM’s popularity continues to grow, with over 200 riders on most rides. While KC’s CM is generally fairly tame, there is a new alternative ride called Critical Pass [...]
Several local Democratic state legislators have signed a letter asking Governor Jay Nixon to support funding for the Tour of Missouri in 2010.
Senator Victor Callahan of Independence, Senate Minority Leader Representative Paul LaVote of Independence, House Minority Leader Rep. Jason Grill of Parkville Rep. Tom McDonald of IndependenceUnfortunately the tour has become [...]
Tuesday is World Car Free Day. It’s a great excuse to spend a day riding your bike to work, errands, etc.
[...]Johnson County Parks and Recreation has just opened a new section of trail that bypasses an infamous hilly section of the Mill Creek Streamway Trail (a.k.a. Gary L. Haller Trail). The new lowland option runs between mile markers 5.5 and 7 in the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Park. [...]
Earth Riders Trails Association has just released the fall schedule of work days at local mountain bike trails. Here in KC, we are very fortunate to have over a hundred miles of trails within a 30 minute radius. But those trails don’t build themselves. They [...]
This weekend the new Swope Park trails host the Kansas City Cup Challenge, a full weekend of cyclocross, trail running, and cross-country mountain bike racing. Saturday features trail running and cyclocross, while Sunday has the MTB action. Volunteers at Swope Park are rapidly developing an [...]
The Kansas City Bicycle Club and the Johnson County Bicycle Club will hold their fall picnic and ride this Saturday at Tower Park, site of the historic water tower at 75th and Holmes in Waldo.
See www.kcbc.org for details and registration.
Professor Robert Freilich, Ruby M. Hulen Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Professor Freilich will discuss the sustainability movement focusing on how the new Stimulus and Transportation Acts encourage states and localities to adopt sustainable energy policies. He will focus on specific state, city-county, and regional plans that [...]
Tonight the Plaza Branch of the KCMO Public Library hosts a lecture and book signing with Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic: Why We Drive The Way We Do. It’s a very interesting analysis of the psychological, physical, and technical factors of traffic. The book includes bicycling and walking, so this [...]
The Tour’s KC stage starts at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and is projected to end around 5:00-6:00 p.m. This year it’s a loop around the Greater Downtown area – including great neighborhoods of Quality Hill, Westside, Crossroads, River Market, Columbus Park, Power & [...]
The KC Star has an update on progress of the Katy Trail extension towards Kansas City. In summer 2010 the first 10 miles will open on either side of Pleasant Hill – from near the Cass/Jackson County line southeast to Route P. The full 46 miles to Windsor is [...]
Tour of Missouri officials have published a guide to media coverage of the Tour, including Universal Sports web site In addition to live online video, Versus and Fox Sports have expanded their television coverage to include daily 30 minute recaps. Stage 1 starts today at 2:30 p.m. in [...]
MoDOT is putting bike lanes and multi-use trails on the Chouteau Bridge over the Missouri River. Tuesday evening there is an open house where you can get the details and provide feedback. See our earlier post for more information.
[...]On Monday September 7th Bike 4 the Brain returns for another year. This charity ride benefits organizations that provide services to people with mental illnesses. The route is quite a tour of the city – starting in Johnson County and passing through Brookside, Midtown, Downtown, and into the Northland all [...]
Bike Messenger photo exhibit
Friday, September 4, 2009 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Pi Gallery – 419 East 18th Street, Kansas City, MO (Map)
During September the Pi Gallery features a photography exhibit of bicycle messengers by Kyle Shepard. The exhibit will be open for the First Friday gallery [...]
The city recently sent this update on progress on the Trails KC plan. Several trails projects are in various stages of design and construction, with a couple of trail segments schedule for opening this fall.
Since the adoption of the Trails KC Plan in Nov 2008, staff has been hard [...]
A recent KC Star editorial endorses the use of federal stimulus for the city’s bicycle, pedestrian, and ADA plan. Federal guidelines call for innovative transportation investments that transform communities by making them more sustainable, livable, and safe. The Star readily acknowledges that investments in bike/ped transportation facilities and programs [...]
Great news for Kansas Citians who need to cross the Missouri River on foot or bicycle. The Missouri Departmetn of Transportation has announced that it will retrofit the Chouteau Bridge with bike lanes and barrier-separated paths by the end of 2010. Combined with a similar retrofit of the Heart [...]
As we have mentioned before, the metro area is applying for another round of transportation stimulus funds from the federal government. After much negotiation, regional leaders have settled on $12.1 million in bicycle and pedestrian projects in the City of Kansas City, MO. The original proposal was for $35 [...]
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. community radio station KKFI will feature bicycle advocate Laurie Chipman talking about the local bicycle scene. Laurie has been active in bicycle advocacy for several years, lobbying the City Council and other officials for better facilities and more funding. She has served on the boards of [...]
Thursday evening the Tour of Missouri’s local organizing committee will have a party and fund-raiser for their expenses for putting on the Kansas City stage of the race. A $25 minimum donation gets you into the gig with food, drink, entertainment, and ToM swag. It goes down at the [...]
This week 75th Street Brewery is celebrating their 16th birthday, and Tuesday is cyclist appreciation night – 6:00 p.m. to closing time.
update: Details on the week’s specials.
[...]Want motorists to stop cutting you off, harassing you, not sharing the road? Well, obeying traffic laws goes both ways. The infamous Blue Moose group found this out the hard way when several of them recently received tickets in Prairie Village for blowing through stop signs – a behavior that [...]
Kansas City’s $35 million bicycle/pedestrian proposal for federal TIGER stimulus money would include a couple of very innovative programs with an intensive focus on promoting bicycling, walking, and transit in disadvantaged communities. Both programs compliment the Green Impact Zone, a program that focuses millions of dollars of stimulus [...]
KC Star reports a cyclist assaulted with a 2-by-4 and bike stolen at 5th and Oak in the River Market Thursday night. Unfortunately they don’t provide much information on this bizarre crime.
[...]Platte County voters recently renewed a 1/2-cent sales tax for parks and recreation. Over the next ten years the tax is expected to fund about 30 miles of new trail construction. Some key trails projects include extending the Missouri River Trail west to Parkville, extending the Southern Platte Pass (NW [...]
This week the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider two ordinances to fund new trail construction on opposite ends of the city. Both are key links in the Trails KC master plan and provide much-needed transportation and recreation facilities. Anyone who wants to support either trail [...]
The city continues to install new U-Racks around the Downtown Loop, using the design that originated on 12th Street back in 2007. The newest racks are along Broadway between the Quality Hill and Garment District neighborhoods, between 8th and 12th Streets. I have also heard that the Power & [...]
Local NPR affiliate KCUR stopped by Critical Mass last week and talked about the city’s proposal to jump start our bicycle/pedestrian plan with $45 million in federal stimulus funding. However that plan is competing with lots of other plans for the federal money – so be sure to [...]
The second weekend of the Tour of Kansas City is coming up, but shortened. Sadly the long-standing Cliff Drive Classic has been canceled this year due to road construction on the route. The rest of the event goes on with the KCK Criterium on Saturday and the Overland Park Grand [...]
Back in December of 2007 we reported on a 3.5 mile extension of the Little Blue Trace Trail from 39th and Selsa in Independence to I-470 south of I-70. After some delay the project has finally been approved by the Independence City Council. Construction is slated for fall of this [...]
Last week we mentioned a proposal to dramatically transform the local transportation system by spending a bit of the federal stimulus money on KC’s bike/ped program – bike lanes, trails, crosswalks, ADA, education, etc. This week local City Councilmembers and the local Congressional delegation are negotiating over what to [...]
Bicycle-themed SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza is adding a third weekly bike ride, this one on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from their location in the South Plaza neighborhood. Cyclists get a 10% discount on dinner after each ride. If you haven’t checked them out yet, do so. It’s [...]
Tour of Missouri organizers have just released detailed maps of each race stage. This year Stage 7 in KC will be a circuit race in and around Downtown. The course includes neighborhoods like Power & Light District, Quality Hill, River Market, Columbus Park, the riverfront, Crown Center, and the [...]
Leavenworth County in Kansas has recently re-formed an old group tasked with planning for trails in that county, spurred largely by a realization of transportation and economic benefits.
[...]Check out Monday evening’s special event for the 5th Annual AIDS Bicycle Challenge, which takes place on September 12th and is the official charity event of the Tour of Missouri KC stage. Monday’s kickoff party includes a training ride, food, drinks, and Missouri State Senator Jolie Justus. This [...]
Tuesday evening the Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Kansas City will hold an open house for the public to learn more about a new intersection at Hwy 150 and Botts Road in far south KC. The work is prompted by [...]
The KCMO City Council is currently considering what projects to include in an application for the next round of federal economic stimulus funds, which goes by the acronym TIGER. In addition to things like roads, bridges, streetcars and more MAX rapid transit lines, city staff is proposing $45 million for [...]
National bike/ped expert Mark Fenton will be the featured speaker at the first in a series of discussions on how the Kansas City region can become healthier by designing more walkable and bikeable communities. Mark Fenton hosts America’s Walking on PBS and is expert on the connection between urban [...]
Beardsley Road in Downtown is re-opened after being closed for several weeks due to construction on the 12th Street Viaduct above the road. Beardsley is a popular, low-traffic bicycle route between the Westside, River Market, and West Bottoms neighborhoods that skirts around the Downtown Loop and the bluff – so [...]
July 26th track bike racing comes to KC on a new grass track in Shawnee. Tonight there is a special clinic for folks who want to learn more and get ready for the race.
[...]The Johnson County Sun reports that Kansas Department of Transportation and the city of Lenexa, KS are working to close a gap in the trail along 95th Street. KDOT will soon add a barrier to the 95th Street bridge over I-435, and Lenexa will construct connections to the bridge [...]
It looks like last month we spoke too soon about De Soto, KS lifting the infamous ban on bicycles on 83rd Street. At the last minute the town’s City Council decided to delay lifting the ban until after the road is repaved this summer. It sounds like there is [...]
As predicted, the Lenexa’s decision move their big Midnight Bike Ride from closed and well-lit city streets to the dark wilderness of a park was a bust. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the supposedly family-friendly move had the opposite effect, while drastically cutting participation.
The highly successful Tour of Missouri could be in jeopardy as the State of Missouri struggles to balance its budget in the Great Recession. The state’s tourism agency provides $1.5 million of the Tour’s $3.3 million budget, and that subsidy is being consider [...]
The most recent edition of Urban Velo features Chris Thomas’ Kansas City Urban Cyclist Project, an ongoing project to photograph the city’s cyclists and their bikes. If you don’t subscribe to Urban Velo you can read it online or purchase a single issue. Congrats to Chris![...]
The suburb of Leawood, KS is looking to become more bike friendly and is planning to apply to the League of American Bicyclists for a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) designation. Leawood’s goal is part of growing local movement. Lee’s Summit, MO is also working towards a BFC application. Shawnee, [...]
This weekend the city of Lawrence, Kansas will hold its first professional bicycle race. The Tour of Lawrence is a three stage race July 3-5th in downtown and on the Kansas University campus.
Get all the details at www.touroflawrence.com
[...]Ladies, mark your calendars for this very cool event planned by the awesome Michelle Davis…
Eeeeeewwww!!! Boy Cooties!
* WHAT: All-women’s alleycat race (checkpoints staffed by dudes, guys welcome at after-party)
* WHEN: July 11 @ 3:00 p.m.
* WHERE: 412 E. 18th St. (ACME Bicycle Company)
* WHY: Because girls [...]
A few photos from today’s Cat 1/2 crit in Downtown KC. If you photos on flickr, be sure to tag them with tourofkc… Visit Localcycling.com for race results and news.
[...]Friday, July 3rd, 6:00 p.m.
KC Renaissance Festival site
628 North 126th Street, Bonner Springs, Kansas 66012
The memorial will be casual. Cameras are encouraged.
[...]The far western suburb of De Soto, KS has just lifted it’s long standing ban on bicycles on 83rd Street. The ban was instituted in the 1990s when some misguided folks on the town’s city council decided they didn’t like sharing the road with bicyclists on this particular road. [...]
We have two big events. On Sunday the Tour de Lakes ride takes in the scenic lakes and rolling hills of Eastern Jackson County. 10, 30, and 60 mile routes are available.
And then during the entire weekend pro racers will be here for the annual Tour of Kansas [...]
Today the City Council’s Planning and Zoning committee approved a compromise on angle parking along the 5th Street bicycle route in Columbus Park. The developer will make 5th Street wide enough to accommodate either the safer back-in angle parking or the more hazardous head-in angle parking, but will wait for [...]
Local cyclists are holding a rally and bike ride to raise money for a reward in the case of Joe Pace, who was recently harassed and hit by a motorist in North Kansas City. Money is needed for a reward for finding the perp who fled the scene.
Bike Safety Rally [...]
Wednesday afternoon the City Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee will vote on a new mixed-use project in the Columbus Park neighborhood. City staff have asked the developer change the angle parking design to increase safety for bicyclists (as well as pedestrians and motorists).
Unfortunately, Councilmember Deb Hermann is lobbying hard for [...]
Very sad news… Local bicyclist/photographer/activist Randy “Ranj” Niere has passed away, likely from existing health problems. Randy lived on Strawberry Hill in KCK and was a strong advocate for bicycling. He was a loud voice for the BikeKC plan back in 2002, and served on the [...]
Monday evening the Missouri Department of Transportation will host a public open house to preview the new bicycle and pedestrian path being designed for the Heart of America Bridge over the Missouri River. Drop in anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Mid-America Regional Council, 600 Broadway [...]
The Pitch’s Carolyn Szczepanski (who is cyclist) covers the controversy over MoDOT using the taxpayer’s money to lobby the General Assembly, especially against the Complete Streets bill.
Pitch Plog: Should state officials double as lobbyists? Cyclists say no.
[...]This weekend there are two great rides. On Saturday, the 3rd annual Bike the Dotte tours western KCK/Wyandotte County. This one looks like it will have lots of rolling hills and semi-rural landscape.
Then on Sunday the KC Bicycle Club presents the Fountain Tour, of the city’s premier organized [...]
A vote on the angle parking debate in Columbus Park has been delayed. Councilmember Deb Hermann was not able to attend the hearing, so a vote has been put off for a week so that she can testify against safer parking on 5th Street in Columbus Park. However, the [...]
There is a bit of an issue brewing Downtown in the Columbus Park neighborhood… A new mixed-use development proposed by architect Kite Singleton wants to use angle parking on 5th Street, which is a BikeKC route. The city’s Public Works Department and City Plan Commission have recommended reversing the [...]
Bike & Build is a cross-country bike ride where college students travel the country building houses with Habitat for Humanity. A group of 32 students is stopping in Kansas City this week, on their way from Virginia to Oregon. Tuesday evening the public is invited to hear about [...]
As if Kansas Citians need another reason to hate Johnson County Local blogger JoCo SOB (Schaun O’Brien, not Tony) proposes sanctioned killing of bicyclists by motorists.
Update: Schaun has removed the hateful post, but not before I got a screenshot…
Local organizers of the KC stage of the Tour of Missouri are soliciting public donations to cover their expenses. It costs about $150,00o for things like police, logistics, etc. While the race has attracted sponsorship from big national companies and St. Louis businesses, it has struggled to engage Kansas City [...]
The Kansas Department of Transportation is in the midst of a giant planning process for the future of transportation for KCK and the Kansas suburbs. Take this survey to let KDOT know what you think should be the priorities in the future. This is your chance to ask [...]
The local bicycling scene has recently seen the emergence of two good podcsts. Both are worth a listen and some space on your MP3 player.
Kansas Cyclist Podcast covers all things bike-related around the state of Kansas.
Limited Warren T – a local bike commuter provides regular news updates from [...]
The next monthly meeting of KCMO’s new Bike/Ped Advisory Committee will get an update from the Missouri Department of Transportation on the new bike/ped path planned for the Heart of America Bride. There will also be a presentation on plans for to upgrade the bike lanes over the Chouteau Bridge.
Monday, [...]
Work is now underway on the long awaited extension of Katy Trail State Park to the Kansas City metro area. The first five miles going eastward from Pleasant Hill in the southeast metro will open in 12-18 months. Eventually the new segment [...]
North Kansas City is planning for the future of the Burlington Street, and one of their main goals is to make the corridor safer and more accessible for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. The Burlington/North Oak corridor is one of the metro area’s primary north/south arteries, so it is great [...]
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