18 years after a harrowing report on cycling in KC, two BBC reporters came back to discover a changed city.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kansas City, MO (August 20, 2026)
In 2008, the BBC came to Kansas City, Missouri, to report on their experience biking in “America’s worst city for cyclists.” They came back this year, and their new story calls the changing landscape a revolution. Listen to “The Kansas City cycling revolution” from the BBC Documentary Podcast: https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0p4kh0f
Eighteen years ago, the reporters were warned to “get [their] affairs in order,” before bicycling in Kansas City because there were only six miles of bike lanes spread across the entire Kansas City metro. This time, the reporters found miles of new, protected bike lanes, ambitious programs like Vision Zero, energized ride groups, passionate volunteers and advocates, and happy teenagers riding bikes together after school.
And still there is work to be done. BikeWalkKC Executive Director Eric Rogers asks, “What do Kansas Citians want 18 years from now? Zero deaths from traffic crashes? A robust regional transit system? If these are the things we want, then our community leaders must have the courage to prioritize transportation for people, not just cars.”
BBC reporters interview East High School Bike Club students at BikeWalkKC
About BikeWalkKC
BikeWalkKC was founded in 2010 by bicyclists who answered the “wake up call” of the 2008 BBC story. It is the Kansas City region's first dedicated organization for bicycle and pedestrian education and advocacy. Our mission is to redefine our streets as places for people. We want a transportation system that prioritizes moving people, not just cars. Learn more about BikeWalkKC’s work at BikeWalkKC.org.
For press inquiries, contact Amy Scrivner, Director of Development & Communications, at amy.scrivner@bikewalkkc.org
Listen to the original 2008 BBC One Planet broadcast: https://bikewalkkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2008_One_Planet_Kansas_City_cycling_FULL_30_minutes.mp39