Survey says… protected bike lanes WORK!

By Tresa Carter, BikeWalkKC Director of Community Planning

After years of advocacy, neighbors along Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard have a bit more room to breathe, thanks to safety improvements that slow down drivers and protect pedestrians and bicyclists from car traffic.

"I've gone from actively avoiding the street to feeling like it's a lovely addition to my walk to and from work."

Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard was one of Kansas City, Missouri's 10 most dangerous streets. From 2018-2022, MODoT reported 30 crashes on just the section between Troost and Oak. Residents avoided walking down the street. Home owners complained that drivers crashed into their stone retaining walls so frequently that their insurance threatened to stop covering such incidents. There was a painted bike lane... in theory... but car traffic was so unpredictable that more bicyclists chose to ride on the sidewalk. Frustrated neighborhood organizers and community advocates turned up the pressure, and the City completed an ambitious road diet on Cleaver Boulevard this summer!

Grey dots represent minor injuries. Orange dots represent serious injuries.

What difference did it make?

The Cleaver Boulevard improvements are part of KCMO’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our streets by 2030 while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone. Before the construction began, City Hall staff evaluated traffic patterns along the route, counting pedestrians and bicyclists. Their observations reflected the dangerous conditions: despite the area being densely populated and popular with with visitors, walkers and bikers avoided Cleaver Boulevard. Once the dust settled and the project was complete, BikeWalkKC took over the evaluations to measure the impact of the new bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

What we discovered was truly remarkable: bike and pedestrian counts more than doubled after the new bike and pedestrian infrastructure was installed!

But what do people think?

"I greatly appreciate that this is a PROTECTED bike lane! Paint is not infrastructure."

While the numbers tell an amazing story, we also wanted to know the mushy gushy side of these improvements. Namely, how do these protected bike lanes and mid-block crossings make people feel? With two shifts of wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers, we spent time out on Cleaver Blvd. conducting in-the-moment surveys, as well as handing out QR codes for people to take the survey later. The survey - which almost 200 people took - told us that people DO feel safer with the new infrastructure!

This pie chart shows the answers to the question: “Have the new bike and pedestrian amenities made you feel safer?”

Get involved with BikeWalkKC and learn more about Gillham/Trolley Track Connector projects like this one:

Read how KC residents secured three big #ConnectOurTrails wins in 2023
See why BikeWalkKC supports protected bike lanes in general and a Gillham/TTT Connector in particular
Hear from advocates who want connected trails and residents who fought for a safer Emanuel Cleaver II
Dig into KCMO's Vision Zero Action Plan and view their Rockhill/Cleaver plans
Help us close the gaps in KC's walking and biking network

Survey says… protected bike lanes WORK!

"I've gone from actively avoiding the street to feeling like it's a lovely addition to my walk to and from work."

What difference did it make?

What we discovered was truly remarkable: bike and pedestrian counts more than doubled after the new bike and pedestrian infrastructure was installed!

Rockhill Road Pre & Post- Implementation Counts

Oak Street Pre & Post- Implementation Counts

But what do people think?

"I greatly appreciate that this is a PROTECTED bike lane! Paint is not infrastructure."

“I’m looking forward to seeing more pedestrian and bike amenities in the future.”

The work isn't over yet! A little gratitude can keep up the momentum for safer streets.