The term “jaywalking” originated here in KC when it was first published in the Kansas City Star. BikeWalkKC worked to decriminalize the simple acts of walking and biking, especially for Black and Brown people at the greatest risk of excessive stops and over-policing. This work was necessary to realize our vision of a Greater Kansas City where everyone moves through the city and its public spaces equitably, safely, comfortably, and sustainably.
Kansas City, Missouri
In 2021 we heeded Mayor Lucas’ call to repeal city laws and policies that subject Black and Brown people to over-policing and to police violence. We found several statutes that criminalized walking and biking, and developed a proposal to fix the problems.
A prime example is a law on the books in KCMO which allowed police to stop someone with dirty bicycle or car tires. This type of infraction has no connection to safety, but provides an arbitrary reason to stop someone on the street.
BikeWalkKC assembled a coalition of advocates and community organizations to successfully campaign for the decriminalization of walking and biking, culminating with a unanimous City Council vote in May of 2021.
Resources
- Read the legislation
- See our Frequently Asked Questions
- Read a legal memo from BikeWalkKC board member Ruth Anne French-Hodson
Our campaign was successful thanks to the strong support of many individual advocates and community organizations:
- Major Taylor Cycling Club of Kansas City
- Environment Missouri
- Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council
- Black Men Run KC
- Healing House KC
- Health Forward Foundation
- Riff Raff
- Thomas Hart Benton Group of Missouri Chapter of Sierra Club
- KC 4 Safe Streets
- Marlborough Community Coalition
- Bluehills Neighborhood Association
- West Plaza Neighborhood Association
- The Whole Person
- Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance
- KC Tenants
- Midwest Innocence Project
- KC Healthy Kids
- Paseo West Neighborhood Association
- Hoxie Collective