This FREE guide has everything you need to know before you give your kid an e-bike
With great power ⚡ comes great responsibility! Check if your child is ready for an e-bike and set expectations with the Family E-Bike Agreement, plus get tips on purchasing, maintaining, and riding e-bikes safely and legally for kids and adults.
Click to browse the guide and family resources
“Parents have every right to ask hard questions about whether an e-bike is appropriate for their child and we want to help them answer those questions thoughtfully, not reactively,” says BikeWalkKC executive director Eric Rogers. “This guide gives families, schools, and communities the accurate, detailed information they need. Good information is the antidote to panic.”
The Movement Builders series is inspired by "The Kansas City cycling revolution" episode of The Documentary Podcast from the BBC. 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.
🏆 Up first in the series: 816 Bike Collective and Major Taylor Cycling Club of KC!
Now hiring: Youth Education Instructors 🚸 If you want to make a positive impact on children’s lives, be an excellent role model, have a passion for bicycling, and work with a great team of people, then we want to hear from you! Compensation: $18.00 per hour
Nov. 11 & 14 Confident City Cycling
It's our most comprehensive bike safety class for teens and grown ups! Join us for a two-day class that covers rules of the road, lane positioning, basic skills and hazard avoidance drills, and wraps up with a supportive group ride to practice what we've learned. Register today!
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Oct. 1-31 The Green Commute Challenge is ON!
Walk, bike, take transit, carpool, or scooter through the month of October, and you will be entered to win prizes from local businesses! This friendly competition encourages community connections, active living, and cleaner air, and it's always fun to watch the points pile up. If your office doesn't field a team, you can join BikeWalkKC's Community Team! Click here to see GCC events and sign up now.
[UPDATE: $1400 left to go] Let’s buy a Bike Lane Sweeper!
The project is still on, but we hit a snag. Increases in shipping, handling, possible tariff costs, and the manufacturer's advice to purchase replacement equipment now rather than later means we need to raise an additional $1,400.
We're making one more fundraising push to raise the remaining amount so we can get the sweeper here in time for spring. How can you help? Let your bike buddies and friends know about the project and ask them to pitch in! If you are able to make an extra gift as part of your charitable giving plans, we would be so grateful.
📣 A brand new Annual Membership + Parking option now available
This exciting new membership will be a first of its kind in the United States, giving members the freedom to park outside of an official hub without paying the $2 Convenience Parking Fee. For $249, Annual Membership + Parking riders will have the ultimate amount of flexibility available in the bike share industry.
Watch your Bike Share KC app for the Annual Membership + Parking to pop up in Pricing & Membership on September 30! If you are not currently a Bike Share KC member, just tap the new option and check out. If you have a current Annual Membership, please email us at info@bikesharekc.com to inquire about a pro-rated Annual Membership + Parking.
▶️ The fine print
As always, bikes must be locked and parked in the public right of way in accordance with program rules. The Annual Membership + Parking does not exempt riders from fines for unlocked bikes, bikes blocking an access point or parked outside the service area, or vandalism. See our Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Our Bike Share mailing list subscribers get the freshest news first! Click here to subscribe now
KCMO Bikeways & Trails Plan Community Engagement
Kansas City is moving into Phase 2 of creating the Bikeways & Trails Plan, and YOU are invited to dig deep into the planning process! This is your opportunity to make an actual impact on the way bike lanes and trails are built in the future. If you missed the meeting in the Northland in September, you still have two more chances to dig deep with the planning team:
Oct. 1 Central KC at the Gregg/Klice Community Center
Oct. 5 South KC at the Southeast Community Center
My name is Shawn, and my wife and I are a single car family. We had already made it a point to start commuting more by bus and bicycle for economic, health, and environmental reasons, but in 2021 I was diagnosed with a detached retina and numerous degenerative genetic eye conditions that make driving less safe.
Having protected bicycle lanes, public restrooms, bus shelters with benches protected from the elements, and bus-only lanes on the road would make my daily life much safer, more predictable, and more comfortable.
🚸 Read Shawn's story on our blog
Oct. 1-8 How can you participate in Week Without Driving?
- Take transit, walk, roll or ride. Instead of driving yourself, try to figure out another way to get where you need to go for all of or some trips.
- Ask for a ride. You can ask or pay for rides from other people. What does it feel like to rely on others? Does it change what trips you take?
- Who has choices, what are your choices? It’s easier to give up your keys if you can afford to live in a walkable area well served by transit. Understand what choices you have and why.
- If you still have to drive, you haven’t “failed.” There may be trips you can only make if you drive yourself. Reflect on what someone who could not drive would have done in your situation.
Want timely news and action items just for your zip code? Click here to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts!
This spring, attorney Paul Anderson answered common questions about bicyclists' rights and responsibilities in our series, Rules of the Road with Popham Law. You can find the full set of questions and answers on our blog!
- Are bikes treated like cars or pedestrians?
- Do I have to stop at red lights, and how long do I have to wait?
- What should I do if I get hit by a car?
- Why do I need uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage?
- What do I do if a dog chases and bites me?
- What is a vulnerable road user (“VRU”)?
Paul Anderson and Mark Schloegel are trial lawyers at Popham Injury Law in Kansas City, where their practice focuses on representing people injured by dangerous drivers and unsafe road conditions. 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 Popham Law for sponsoring our adult bike education series this spring!
What we're reading
Talking Sidewalks: Why They’re Important, How They’re Overlooked, and What To Do About It | Sidewalks shape how we move and connect in our everyday lives, but they’re often overlooked and underfunded (America Walks)
What ‘A Week Without Driving’ Costs | What would taking a week off of driving cost you — and how much would you gain if your city made living car-free a realistic choice? (Bike Bike Nudge Nudge)
Your kid's e-bike might legally be a motorcycle | Some of the electric bikes kids ride around the Kansas City metro are legally motorcycles, and a new BikeWalkKC guide aims to help parents tell the difference. (Axios Kansas City)
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