Vote “YES” on 1-2-3, April 4
Kansas City, MO voters will decide tomorrow, April 4th, on investments to repair and rebuild city infrastructure and public buildings via a package of three General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds totaling $800 million. Among those investments are ground-breaking opportunities to improve walking and biking over the next twenty years.
We urge voters to vote YES on 1, 2, and 3 for:
- $150 million for neighborhood sidewalks
- Ending sidewalk assessments and lifting the financial burden from homeowners
- $450 million to rebuild local streets, including sidewalks and bike lanes
- ADA improvements to make city streets and public buildings more accessible
- Workforce development and job training opportunities for local residents to do this construction work
Regardless of your stance on the GO Bonds, if you support the idea of Complete Streets, we invite you to join our Healthy, Sustainable Neighborhoods Coalition. Click here to learn more.
We are offering FREE BCycle rides on Election Day, Tuesday, April 4. Use code 4417 for a free 30-minute ride to/from your polling place!
National Public Health Week, April 3-9
The Kansas City Missouri Health Department is launching Public Health Week 2017 on Monday, April 3. This weeklong affair is a national movement of people, communities, and organizations working to ensure that everyone has the best opportunity to be healthy.
The public is also invited to join KCMO Health Department employees in the Walking Day Challenge on Wednesday, April 5. Participants are encouraged to take selfies using the hashtag #walkKC.
Follow the Health Department’s Facebook page to learn more.
Advocacy Alert: Rock Island Trail
The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Foundation is holding its annual Missouri Bike/Ped Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, MO, on Monday, April 10. Advocates from across the state will be there to speak up for the Rock Island Trial, as there are bills in circulation that will stop the State of Missouri from acquiring new park land, including Rock Island Trail State Park. This acquisition is critical to expansion of the Rock Island in rural MO.
- Click here to learn more about Bike/Ped Day at the Capitol.
- Click here to learn more about the bills under consideration, and how you can contact your legislators to speak up for the Rock Island Trail.
Join Our Board
BikeWalkKC’s Board of Directors is looking for people with a passion for making Greater Kansas City a safer and more welcoming place for people who walk and bike. The Board Nominating Committee is searching for director candidates with strong leadership skills and experience in helping nonprofit organizations execute strategy and development plans.
Candidates who are interested in exploring whether their skills and interests align with BikeWalkKC’s needs can learn more by clicking here.
Bike Plan Reboot Continues
The KCMO Planning & Development Department’s Long Range Planning and Preservation staff is currently working to rewrite the Bike KC plan along with multiple city departments, partner organizations and community members. The rewrite of the Bike KC plan is a chance to elevate the profile of the plan and ensure that Kansas City is improving the mobility of its citizens and visitors.
Please take a few moments to share your thoughts on bicycling in Kansas City, Missouri today and let them know what improvements the plan should address: Bike KC Plan Survey.
The City is also hosting a series of public meetings:
- Tuesday, April 18th, 2017, 6-8pm at Avila University
- Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, 6-8pm at Southeast Community Center
- Thursday, April 27th, 2017, 6-8pm at Northland Cathedral
- Saturday, May 6th, 2017, 9–12pm at Foreign Language Academy
Click here to learn more and get involved.
Volunteers Needed for Research Study
BCycle Board Chair and UMKC professor of Health Sciences, Amanda Grimes, PhD, has both personal and professional interests in health and bicycling throughout the lifespan. An upcoming research project will be focusing on those who are 50+ and who are any level of bicyclist. If this is you, she will soon be asking you to participate in a survey study. With your participation, she hopes to gain insight of the bicycling patterns, barriers and factors that promote bicycling of those 50+ in addition to overall health status. There is something in it for you, too: in appreciation for your participation, the first 300 to complete the survey will receive a $20 gift card! Watch for more details in the coming month.
May Is Bike Month
May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more people to giving biking a try.
- Bike to School Day: Wednesday, May 10
- Bike to Work Day: Friday, May 19
Schools, businesses, organizations, and individuals (including BikeWalkKC) are planning lots of fun and exciting events for Bike Month. You can find them all – and add your own! – on the KCBikeMonth website.
Tour de Bier is May 14
The 7th Annual Tour de Bier returns on Sunday, May 14! This casual, point-to-point ride explores Kansas City’s rich brewing history and tours some of the KC-area’s exciting new breweries. Registration includes lunch and drink tickets to the after-party; the ride starts and concludes at Knuckleheads Saloon.
Why do we do the Tour de Bier??
All proceeds from the Tour de Bier benefit BikeWalkKC’s Advocacy, Education, and Congregation (ACE) programs and services. When you ride Tour de Bier KC, you’re supporting these important efforts to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, and to make KC healthier and more economically competitive. The fabulous food and beverage and other components of Tour de Bier were provided by our great sponsors and partners, who — like all of us — are ready for KC to move forward!
Click here to register; BikeWalkKC members receive $10 off!
Women-Only Confident City Cycling Returns in May
BikeWalkKC’s popular Women-Only Confident City Cycling series returns for its first installment in 2017. Join us on Tuesday evenings in May for a safe and supportive place to learn bike handling skills, rules of the road, and other tips and tricks – by women, for women.
The series will be held on the following dates from 6:00-8:00pm at BikeWalkKC:
- May 9,
- May 16, and
- May 23
Click here to learn more. Classes fill up quickly so register today!
Begin or Renew Your BikeWalkKC Membership
BikeWalkKC is a member-supported nonprofit and we rely on individuals like you to help us fight for your rights at City Hall, raise motorists’ awareness, educate the next generation, and make KC a better place to walk, bike, live, work, and play. Please join, renew, or make a donation today.
