Happy Bike Month 🚲 May 2026 Newsletter (1 of 2)

Have you met our friend Mark? Mark Green has been supporting BikeWalkKC for a long time. He’s an advocate, a volunteer, and a member!

What brought you to BikeWalkKC?

A friend of mine served on the board in the early days. I had just purchased a bike and started bike commuting. My current councilman [Eric Bunch!] instructed my confident city cycling class. He showed me how to make a left turn from Main Street to 43rd street. The class gave me a lot of confidence.

Why do you care about the work that we do?

Riding a bicycle is like the fountain of youth. After losing 50 pounds I found that I had a lot more energy. If cycling were safer a lot more people would do it. In 2018, BikeWalkKC helped Kansas City develop a draft Bicycle Master Plan. It fell on deaf ears at the council, but my grandson Brody made it in the draft with a quote. My hope is when he is on the council it will be different.

What made you decide to give your first gift?

I don't want my grandsons to feel they are required to have a car, even in very car-centric KC. I also wanted to support the lessons in schools that BikeWalkKC provided. I first rode a bike to school in the 6th grade. The freedom I felt was amazing. I enjoy seeing the East High School Bicycle Club riding on their way to school.

I realized that the car industry spends like a million times more than the bicycle industry. I just started giving what I could monthly. It doesn't make up for the gap, but I feel it does make a difference.

For getting more people on bikes and riding safely... thank you, Laura!

After an 11 year career at BikeWalkKC, our former Director of Education, Laura Fox, is now working with schools across the US in her new role at the Safe Routes Partnership. More than 50,000 kids participated in our Safe Routes to School program during Laura’s time here! Click here to read more about Laura's impact

BikeWalkKC now operates one of the country’s largest Safe Routes to School programs thanks to Laura’s vision and leadership. While we will miss her in our office, we are thrilled that she will continue to get more kids on bikes - but now on a national scale!

Bike Month Special: 30% off Annual Memberships

May is Bike Month! To celebrate, Bike Share KC is offering steep discounts on our Annual Memberships. Bike Share KC Annual Members get 80 minutes of free ride time every day with no unlock fees!

How to get 30% off an Annual BSKC Membership:

1. Download the Bike Share KC app from your Apple or Google app store and create an account.

2. Redeem the BIKEMONTH26 code in "Coupons and Credits" before you select pricing and membership. Redeeming the code will automatically select an Annual Membership and activate the 30% discount.

3. To use your free ride minutes, select your membership when beginning a trip.

This offer is valid May 1-31 and is good for new and renewing members only. It does not apply to current members. Ride time beyond the 80 free minutes per day costs 25 cents per minute. Users may incur an extra fee for parking a bike outside a designated bike share hub, parking without ending their trip or using the lock, or for parking a bike in a manner that blocks an access point.

Questions? Email our customer service team at info@bikesharekc.com.

What's the plan for bikeways and trails in KCMO?

Kansas City is providing several community open house opportunities to discuss the future of bikeways and trails! At the open houses, residents can help the project team understand strengths and weaknesses in the current system, identify gaps in the system, and understand what current routes need improvement.

Did you miss the open house on April 30? No problem! You have two more opportunities to learn about the plan and give your feedback:

📆 May 4 at the Line Creek Community Center
📆 May 11 at the Hillcrest Community Center

Overland Park Safe Streets Plan

The City of Overland Park is developing a Safe Streets Plan! This plan will identify where crashes happen, then use that information to prioritize safety improvements and make streets safer for everyone.

They need YOU to tell them how Overland Park residents, workers, and visitors move around the city. Here's how you can help before the deadline on June 30:

📍 Mark the interactive map to show where improvements are needed
✅ Take the survey to share how you get around Overland Park and what improvements would make it safer

Advocacy Alert subscribers heard about these opportunities last month! Want timely news and action items just for your zip code? Click here to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts!

Welcome to our series, Rules of the Road with Popham Law! For the next few months, attorney Paul Anderson will answer common questions about bicyclists' rights and responsibilities.

Q: What should I do if I get hit by a car?

A: First, get out of traffic if you can and call 911. Let police and EMS come to you. Adrenaline hides injuries. Get the driver’s name, contact info, insurance, and plate number. Get a crash report and advocate for yourself when you are talking to law enforcement. If you’re able, take photos of the scene, the car, your bike, and your injuries, and get names and numbers for any witnesses. Even if you “feel fine,” consider seeing a medical provider. Then talk with a lawyer who handles bike crashes before you start giving statements or signing anything for the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Paul Anderson is a trial lawyer at Popham Injury Law in Kansas City, where his practice focuses on representing people injured by dangerous drivers and unsafe road conditions. As an avid cyclist himself, Paul has successfully represented numerous cyclists and pedestrians harmed in motor vehicle crashes, giving him a deep understanding of both the legal issues and the real world challenges vulnerable road users face. He is committed to educating cyclists, drivers, and the broader community about safety, insurance, and accountability so that preventable injuries and deaths never occur in the first place. Popham Injury Law is a team of dedicated trial lawyers who represent injured victims, on a contingency-fee basis, in Kansas City and across the country, fighting to ensure they receive full and fair compensation.

Many thanks to Paul Anderson and Popham Law for sponsoring our adult bike education series this spring!

What we're reading

Judge Blocks Trump Admin’s Attempt to Demolish D.C. Bike Lane | But advocates across America aren't letting their guard down about the future of sustainable infrastructure in their own communities. (Streetsblog)

Bus Fares Return June 1, 2026 | Here's the cost to ride beginning June 1, 2026. (KCATA)

Disability Rates Are Rising. Are Paratransit Services Ready? | To help fill the gaps in its paratransit services, one Kentucky city is investing in microtransit initiatives developed by local nonprofits. (Next City)