During the first meeting of 2021, Trailnet’s board of directors approved seven principles to guide the organization’s advocacy and policy work. These policy principles were developed based on Trailnet’s Mission and Values, as well as the past policy work of the organization.
The purpose of the principles are to: 1) frame and communicate the organization’s motivating beliefs on legislation and regulations, as well as 2) lay out criteria to ensure consistent advocacy within the scope of our mission.
Policy Principles
Trailnet’s guiding principles and priorities for city, county and state policy are to:
Improve safety for people using core transportation: biking, walking, and public transit
Prioritize financially sustainable funding that supports core transportation
Advance racially-equitable transportation practices and increase equitable access to core transportation
Reduce transportation’s negative contribution to personal health outcomes, local environmental impacts and global climate change
Increase public and neighborhood-level engagement in transportation projects and policy decisions
Support fair enforcement of traffic laws that protect vulnerable road users
Support affordable, sustainable, and maintainable transportation-focused housing and economic development
NOTE: We use the term “walking” to encompass anyone who is primarily using the sidewalk to get around. By this, we mean people: on foot, in manual wheelchairs, in powerchairs, and using other mobility aids.
Principles and Explanations
Improve safety for people using core transportation: biking, walking, and public transit
Biking, walking, and public transit are at the heart of our history, mission, and vision as an organization. Advocating for and promoting safety of these core transportation modes are a key to a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future of the St. Louis community. When we say “walking” we also mean people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Prioritize financially sustainable funding that supports core transportation
We support an overall increase in funding toward core transportation infrastructure but that funding needs to be geared towards realistic long-term considerations of maintenance and predicted use. Core transportation is already significantly underfunded compared to car-focused projects and we do not support overall increases in transportation funding that perpetuates this status quo.
Advance racially-equitable transportation practices and increase equitable access to core transportation
We are committed to advancing racial equity and are focused on improving the mobility of Black, indigenous, and other people of color. Racially-equitable transportation practices must be present in all levels and phases. We believe that core transportation infrastructure should be fairly designed and built to address the needs of underserved communities; whether that is based on race, disability, gender, income level, or other factors. Transportation policies should counteract existing inequities and prioritize justice.
Reduce transportation’s negative contributions to personal health outcomes, local environmental impacts and global climate change
Car-centered transportation contributes to less-healthy lifestyles, reduces local air quality, and is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting to a low-carbon transportation system built around walking, biking, and public transit fights climate change, improves the local environment, and supports healthy, active lifestyles.
Increase public and neighborhood-level engagement in transportation projects and policy decisions
We believe that communities, neighborhoods, and the people who inhabit them possess the knowledge, experience, and capacity for decision making. As residents they are the experts on their communities, and they stand to benefit or lose the most from project decisions. We believe decision makers should listen to and elevate the voices of individuals in these communities, and we do not support projects that bypass community input.
Support fair enforcement of traffic laws that protect vulnerable road users
We support the review of traffic laws related to safety for people walking and biking. Fair enforcement should reduce traffic law infractions and specifically address behaviors that put vulnerable road users including but not limited to the disabled, elderly, children, people walking, and people biking at risk of injury or death.
Support affordable, equitable, sustainable, and maintainable transportation- focused housing and economic development
Transportation policy does not exist in a vacuum. In order to support mobility and enable a shift to core-transportation we support economic development and housing policies that promote the density, equity, and sustainability that makes core transportation most effective. We believe projects should account for maintenance cost and avoid disruption to existing communities.
Tucker Blvd. Bike-Walk-Bus Construction Update
Updated Jan. 8, 2021
This week, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) advanced a $1.1 million federal construction application for biking, walking, and bus stop improvements on Tucker Blvd. between Chouteau Ave. and Washington Ave.
The project is sponsored by the City of St. Louis and was developed by Trailnet and community partners. This key route is one step closer to seeing a protected bike lane and other improvements recommended by Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis Plan.
On Wednesday, the EWG staff recommended this project for funding, an important step in advance of a final vote from the EWG board.
The rail lines south of downtown are a major barrier for people on bike and on foot in the region. They have been identified in numerous studies including the Downtown Multi-Modal Plan and Connecting St. Louis.
The proposed two-way, curb-protected bike lane and numerous intersection safety improvements along the corridor will create a safer connection for people walking, biking, and taking the bus. These include bus islands, pedestrian refuge islands, crosswalk signal upgrades, and high-visibility crosswalks along this .9 mile stretch of Tucker.
Trailnet in partnership with others funded a preliminary engineering study — completed in March 2020 — to bring this project closer to construction.
The City submitted an application for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) under the US Department of Transportation. This is a competitive grant aimed at supporting smaller bike, pedestrian and other community-based projects. The next step will be a vote from EWG’s board to approve this recommendation.
This progress is thanks to the generous support of members and supporters like you, partners including The City of St. Louis, Downtown STL, People for Bikes, Alderman Jack Coatar, a number of family foundations, and area businesses who are making this effort possible.
St. Louis County Council Approves Bike Reforms
St. Louis County unanimously approved a new package of bike-friendly traffic rules that prioritize the safety of people on bikes, and other vulnerable road users.
The ordinance prioritizes people’s safety and judgement when using lanes, creates a 3-foot passing rule, spells out when people are allowed to ride side by side, creates protections for vulnerable road users, and updates rules for e-bikes.
Monday night, the St. Louis County Council approved County Bill 385, introduced by Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, which updates the county’s rules on how people on bikes can use roads in unincorporated St. Louis County.
Our streets belong to everyone and everyone should be free to safely use them. We are confident that these policies are an important step towards safer streets.
Trailnet and other advocates worked with Dunaway and the county council to include the needs and concerns of the community. These reforms are an important step to improving safety. Future work will need to ensure similar reforms are adopted by municipalities in the county, as well as St. Louis City and the surrounding region.
These changes highlight Trailnet’s stance that a road-design changes and infrastructure improvements are still necessary to improve safety throughout the region.
The new ordinance updates the county traffic code by:
Prioritizing people’s safety and judgement
Previously, the county has a one-size-fits-none approach, requiring bike traffic to stay as far to the right as “practicable” with no exemptions. If taken by the letter of the law, this means, riding in the gutter, in the door zone or on the shoulder. People riding bikes any other way could be cited for violating traffic law.
The new rules give people on bikes more flexibility under the law to use their judgment. It lays out different exceptions that more closely matches how people actually interact safely on the road.
The reforms create a default for people on bikes to ride in the same direction as traffic and to stay to the right side of the right-most lane. However, it prioritizes people’s safety and judgement when laying out conditions where people can use the full lane, shoulder, or change lanes to:
Avoid debris or other hazards
Avoid vehicles turning in right-turn only lanes
If the road is too narrow for bikes and cars to share the same lane
Preparing to make left turns
Avoid other unsafe conditions
If people follow these rules and obey other traffic laws, they would not violate rules against impeding traffic.
3-foot Passing
It also adds a 3-foot passing law for people in cars when overtaking people on bikes. It requires people driving to:
Change lanes to pass, if there is a passing lane.
If there is no passing lane, people driving must still give the person on the bike 3 feet of space while passing.
It allows people driving to safely cross over the middle lane, even in no-passing zones, in order to give 3 feet to the person in the bike.
Riding Abreast
The legislation would also update the law to allow people on bikes to ride side by side on the street, which was prohibited under the old ordinance.
People may ride abreast if:
They don’t significantly impede other traffic
They are riding on the shoulder, bike lane, or bike path
People riding side by side must switch to riding singe file when they encounter other vehicles.
Vulnerable Road Users
The new rules also define Vulnerable Road Users including:
People walking
People using wheelchairs
People riding bikes and using scooters, skateboards, roller skates, etc.
People working on the roadway: construction workers, first responders
People walking pets
People in animal-drawn vehicles
People on mopeds or motorcycles
People driving farm equipment
The ordinance prohibits people driving in a “careless or distracted manner” if it causes injury to a vulnerable road user. This creates a penalty for distracted driving if it causes a crash, hurting a vulnerable road user.
This falls short of an overall distracted driving ban, since Missouri state law currently prevents local governments from passing their own distracted driving traffic rules. This reality prevents counties and cities from exercising local control, blocking them from addressing this dangerous behavior.
E-Bikes
This bill also extends rules governing bikes to include e-bikes and motorized bikes. The ordinance adopts the three class E-Bike system being used in 22 other states.
Moving forward
These reforms to traffic laws show an important level of political will in the County to support safety for vulnerable road usurers and people on bikes. The soon to be completed St. Louis County Action Plan for Walking and Biking is another important step to prioritize infrastructure to prioritize safety as well.
This success is important and Trailnet is committed to pursue bike-friendly policy and infrastructure in individual municipalities across the region.
Beginning in the Spring of 2020, Trailnet began working with three St. Louis communities to improve walking and biking infrastructure and policies. Trailnet partnered with the Jeff-Vander-Lou and Ville/Greater Ville neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis and the City of Clayton to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety through improved infrastructure and policy.
Trailnet has been working with residents and community partners to plan and improve upon existing conditions within each community/neighborhood. This work was funded with assistance from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Read more about what Trailnet is doing to improve connections to everyday destinations in each community.
Proposed crosswalk safety upgrades developed through neighborhood planning and engagement
Jeff-Vander-Lou Neighborhood
Expanding upon the work done in 2015 as a part of a Plan4Health traffic calming grant, Trailnet has been working in the Jeff-Vander-Lou (JVL) neighborhood by planning for traffic calming improvements to curb dangerous driving habits which affect safety for people walking and biking. Trailnet staff has been working with JVL community organizations and residents to 1) identify areas that are in need of traffic calming improvements and 2) brainstorm solutions that will help slow down traffic and enhance pedestrian safety. Trailnet staff met with numerous JVL residents, the neighborhood association, and a JVL alderperson to discuss solutions, timeline, and funding opportunities to make significant improvements within the neighborhood.
In preparation to work with JVL residents and organizations, Trailnet staff also created a traffic calming guide that mentions characteristics, implementation costs, and 3-D renderings of numerous traffic calming solutions that have been used across the City of St. Louis. While the guide was created to help JVL residents visualize and understand the different types of traffic calming used throughout the City, the guide will also be available to residents and organizations in other St. Louis City neighborhoods who are interested in traffic calming solutions in their neighborhood.
Ville/Greater Ville Neighborhood
In the Ville/Greater Ville neighborhood, Trailnet is working with 4theVille to help develop the engagement around a neighborhood plan for walking, biking, and transit improvements. In addition to the strategy to get residents involved in the future neighborhood plan, including a phone survey of people’s current challenges with getting to their everyday destinations.
Trailnet is also providing the neighborhood with existing conditions maps and analysis. Trailnet is looking at several factors that impact walking and biking safety, these include: speed limit, street width, average annual daily traffic, bicycle and pedestrian crashes (and their characteristics), crime that would impact how safe someone feels walking, MetroBus service and associated stops, and vacancy. Trailnet is mapping these factors to help analyze if there are any trends that impact walking and biking safety in the neighborhood that could be addressed by infrastructure or policy recommendations.
City of Clayton
The City of Clayton has committed their DHSS funding to improving pedestrian signage around Shaw Park in Downtown Clayton. The addition of the pedestrian signage will enhance pedestrian crossing safety in and out of Shaw Park.
Trailnet has also been working with the City of Clayton to improve their Complete Street Ordinance. Adopted in 2012, the Complete Streets Ordinance encourages walking, biking, and other non-motorized forms of transit, in addition to typical motorized transit for all users regardless of age or ability.
The Ordinance sets out an ultimate goal to create streets that balance the needs of all users in order to achieve maximum functionality and use.
Now Trailnet and the City of Clayton are looking to improve several facets of the Complete Streets Ordinance including standards on equity, design standards, performance measures, project exceptions, and project selection criteria.
Join our team: Development Director
The Development Director conceives and implements a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
The Development Director supervises the Membership Coordinator and manages consultant relationships. This position also oversees corporate, foundations, major gifts, annual giving, special events, and all associated activities. Supervised by the Chief Executive Officer, the Development Director works closely with Trailnet’s Board of Directors.
This position will also collaborate with the Policy Director, Rides Manager, and Communications Specialist to develop overall communications and development strategies and key messages for external communications.
A successful candidate will be self-motivated, team-centric, strategic, charismatic, detail-oriented, and highly organized; and will possess the ability to solicit financial gifts of all levels. Excellent communication, interpersonal, analytical, and research skills are essential. Familiarity with the St. Louis civic community is a plus.
Responsibilities:
Design, implement, and evaluate Trailnet’s development strategy: Work with the CEO and team to identify funds needed, preferred funding targets, and strategic alignment of each ask.
Rides and special events: Collaborates closely with the Rides Manager to create and develop overall rides fundraising strategy. Collaborates with other team members to create and produce special events, as appropriate.
Fundraising: Perform ongoing research, cultivation, and solicitation as well as recognition of individual, corporate and foundation donors. Establish and fulfill annual fundraising goals and budgets for all contributed income categories.
Oversee ongoing development efforts: Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies that include membership campaigns, business memberships, nonprofit partnerships, reciprocal agreements, in-kind donations, special events, and cause marketing, ensure fulfillment of all promised recognition and benefits to donors.
Lead stewardship efforts: Grow and maintain a loyal donor base and provide necessary oversight: ensuring individual, corporate and foundation database records are current. Initiate stewardship actions to maintain key long-term relationships.
Grant Writing: Lead annual grant writing program, including the use of colleagues and contract writing resources to supplement capacity.
Collaborate: Oversight and interaction with program staff in the creation and solicitation of earned-revenue sponsorships and individual giving.
Coordinate marketing and communications: Leverage messaging to support every aspect of the fundraising plan. Including, public relations and community relations activities, which includes email fundraising campaigns, direct mail, grants, special events, social media, speaking engagements, donor and volunteer recognition, etc.
Board interaction: Support the CEO in the cultivating, selecting and managing of board-level volunteer resources. Serve as internal fundraising counsel to the Board. Support the Board Development Committee and the Board Nominating Committee.
Qualifications:
Fundraising: Proven success in fundraising for an established nonprofit. Experience producing events and success in stewarding relationships.
Project Leadership: Experience in planning, leading, and managing fundraising initiatives including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to CEO and Board of Directors
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Takes initiative, creatively explores fresh ideas, and actively seeks strategic opportunities to deepen current donor relationships and to forge new ones.
Communications: Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials. Experience and credibility when presenting materials to external audiences.
Influencing: Gets others to accept ideas by using convincing arguments, creates a win-win situation and responds appropriately to key stakeholders. Highly positive approach and enthusiastic style capable of motivating others
Collaboration: Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives
Work Conditions: Office Environment with work from home as the standard during the COVID-19 pandemic (frequent video calls via Zoom and Google are required)
The development director should have a presence at 15-20 outdoor events in the bistate region, including distance bike rides and community rides throughout Spring, Summer, and Fall. Barring COVID-19 restrictions on event schedule.
Fundraising and outreach events at variety of indoor and outdoor locations
Proficiency in G-Suite, Microsoft Office, and a fundraising CRM is assumed (Trailnet uses DonorPerfect).
Physical Responsibilities: Transport up to 25 lbs. of tabling or outreach materials to events Work at a computer Staff tables at outreach events Make solicitation phone calls
Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of direct fundraising experience, or equivalent experience demonstrated in the key job responsibilities, • Significant successful experience in gift solicitation, • Excellent written communication skills.
Salary & Benefits: Full-time, Exempt
Salary range: $57,000 – $65,000
Eligible for full-time benefits including Medical and Dental Insurance
Qualified candidates should send a resume and cover letter to hr@trailnet.org
Commitment to Equity and Equal Opportunity Trailnet is committed to support diversity and equal opportunity in its services, administration, and employment, as well as research and activities. We strive to foster a working environment that values contributions from team members including those based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation, sexual identity, mental disabilities, physical disabilities, or veteran status. We work with a wide range of external partners and stakeholders, and we seek candidates that are committed to their own cultural competency. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to apply.
About the Organization Trailnet is a not for profit 501 (c) 3 organization with a 31-year history of advancing St. Louis as a place where walking, bicycling, and the use of public transit are a way of life. By advocating for a network of safe, easy-to-access walking and bicycling routes across St. Louis, we aim to bridge transportation equity gaps and make it easier for all people to get from place to place. We work every day to make our region more sustainable by increasing active transportation options that curb greenhouse gas emissions. Trailnet brings people together throughout the bi-state region with a wide breadth of bicycle rides, educational events, and advocacy programs. Join our team and help make St. Louis a premiere city for walking and biking.
Pedego E-bikes, Trailnet’s Gala, and Why You Should Buy a Raffle Ticket
Electric assist bicycles, E-Bikes, have steadily grown in popularity over the past decade and have been discussed more frequently since pandemic stay-at-home order was issued. E-bikes are equipped with a built-in electric motor that provides pedaling assistance, making it easier to cover greater distances and allowing a larger population of consumers to enjoy cycling.
Cathy O’neil, age, won her E-bike in a raffle at Trailnet’s gala, last year. O’neil says she has always enjoyed riding bicycles. Growing up in Michigan, O’neil rode her bike as a child and enjoyed many biking trips to places including Wisconsin, Cape Cod, Denmark, France’s Loire Valley, and South Dakota’s Black Hills. O’neil shares,
“The last time I was biking in Wisconsin, the rolling hills seemed more difficult, and I figured that maybe age was telling me to slow down. Now with the E-bike, I can continue to travel and bike. When we no longer need to stay at home, I plan to put my e-bike on the car and enjoy more group bike trips across the country.”
“Pedego has been ever so supportive, and I am thrilled with the bike”
Rob Cantwell, 50, attorney in St. Louis, was gifted his first E-bike from a friend E-bike enthusiast. He now owns 2 E-bikes, the Giant Explore E+ 3 mountain bike and the Specialized Turbo S road bike. Rob easily rides his E-bike 5.8 miles to work and back everyday and often takes his nearly 4-year-old daughter on bike rides using his bike trailer attachment. His Specialized Turbo S E-bike reaches maximum speeds of 28 mph making long bike rides with his daughter a breeze.
In the St. Louis area, Bill and Carla Sauerwein own Pedego ST. Louis and are the experts on all things E-bike. When asked about how their sales were impacted during stay-at-home orders, Bill states that sales have increased but that could be due to several factors,
“As with all things in life, it is never just one thing. Covid has definitely contributed to an increase in sales as people work from home and search for ways to remain fit. But we expected some increase in sales due to seeds we planted last year by doing events and exposing hundreds of people to our technology. Likewise, people are not traveling this summer, so they search for activities to do around home outside. This helped sales also. And covid has also renewed people’s love of cycling. It has been, throughout this pandemic, the activity of choice for fitness enthusiasts, parents home with their children, the work from home crowd, and retired or homebound active people who want to increase or simply maintain their quality of life. Our sales of bikes have just about tripled from last year and we are sold out of popular accessories like panniers and bike carriers. “
E-bikes and related outdoor activities have grown tremendously in popularity since the pandemic started in early spring and stay-at-home orders were issued. The use of the pedal assist allows those who enjoy biking to go farther, longer and make more memories. O’neil shares,
Traditional bikes and E-bikes have many similarities, including multiple gears. Additionally, E-bikes have multiple levels of electrical assistance, generally four or five, so the rider may choose how assistance the bike provides. The ability to ride longer and farther with the assist is a popular selling point for first time buyers.
“Right now, most of my riding is trails. I love Creve Coeur Lake Park, and now I can zoom up those overpasses with the e-bike. Madison County has miles of trails, and I bike longer because I know that if I tire, I can use the power assist to get back to my car. Recently two deer crossed the trail, not far in front of me. One was a young buck with velvet antlers, and as I watched, other bikers stopped behind me, to enjoy the moment. It’s one of many good memories that I’m gathering from this new bike.”
George Napier, 30, employee of Clayton Parks and Recreation and avid environmentalist, enjoys riding his e-bike off road on family vacations.
“For a long time, I thought that E-bikes were a “cheat”- that they made riding a bike too easy but that was before I tried it. The pedal assist can be a game-changer when you are biking off-road trails with strenuous climbs.”
When asked about his experience with folks believing E-bikes to be “cheating”, Bill had this to say,
“The “cheating” line of thinking about E-bikes is now considered old school and narrow minded. I am quite sure you had a cup of coffee before beginning your work today – is that considered cheating because you were able to clear the cobwebs from your head? Is a rode cyclist cheating when he buys a carbon frame, or puts $1,000 worth of better components on his bike? Every person young or old, fir or not fit, has right to ride a bike. My wife and I are on our bikes all day and evening and use our cars infrequently. We run short errands on our bikes, commute to work, grocery shop, run to Target and Walgreen’s and the market in Kirkwood. Most cyclists ride their bike for an hour or two then put the bike away and get in their cars to live the rest of the lives. So, who is cheating? We have customers who have sold their car to buy an E-bike. Our technology also allows people who love cycling but have given up on riding (perhaps because they have a health condition) to ride again and live happy pleasurable, lives outside in the fresh air. Our customers remark often that their Pedego was “life-changing” and they have regained their health. With E-bike technology, you can remain mobile and independent.”
Pedego makes a complete line of 18 electric bikes so that you can easily find a perfect fit for your individual needs and personal style. E-bikes do tend to be heavier than regular bikes, due to the battery which adds much of the additional weight. An average non-electric road bike weighs 20-25 pounds, but most E-bikes weigh 45 to 75. E-bike also have wider tires. The tire on a traditional road bike tends to be less than 1 inch wide, but tires on an E-bike generally run 1½ to 2½ inches for road bikes, 3-4 inches for mountain bikes.
Pedego is committed to quality and offers 5-year warranty on all bikes. O’neil has owned her E-bike for a year and says,
“I’m enjoying my new E-bike, though there is a learning curve. This bike is two to three times heavier than my hybrid, and cornering is much different.The Pedego store people have been really generous with their time and tips, to get me up and riding comfortably.”
At Bill and Carla’s store, you can find all 18 Pedego electric bikes and accessories. Bill says,
“We sell only one brand, Pedego – the #1 brand in America. Prices range from about $2,000 to about $4,500. Most of our customers purchase because the bike is high quality, offered at a great price, and designed and built in America – but also because our bikes come with a 5 year industry leading warranty (far above any competitors’ warranty) and because our dealership is part of the community. They know we are 110% committed to service and making their biking experience a great one. Online bike manufacturers cannot make this guaranty.”
Some of the typical questions asked at St. Louis Pedego….
Probably the most-asked question is: “How far will the battery take me on a charge?” When I tell them our 48V 15A battery will take them up to 60 miles on a single charge, they are quite excited! The second most-asked question is: “Will the bike allow me to get exercise?” the answer is always, Yes! You can get as much exercise as you want with our pedal-assist software. Likewise, our technology allows you to ride farther and more often than you would on a traditional bike. Many of our customers were avid cyclists who stopped riding because of the hills near their home. With our technology, there is no more “hill anxiety” and the fear of returning from a long ride only to climb the hill to your home has disappeared.
The gaining popularity of E-bikes could bring about significant health improvements to bike enthusiasts and to those who were previously sedentary. Researchers in a 2016 University of Colorado study observed improvements in aerobic capacity and blood sugar regulation of those who had a generally sedentary lifestyle. Those who are considering using E-bikes for commuting can breathe easy knowing that riding an E-bike may be faster than traditional urban public transportation and would allow you to arrive less sweaty than riding a traditional bicycle to work. Reducing your carbon footprint has never been easier since E-bike batteries can fit in your bag and do not require a special charging station.
E-bikes are here to stay and there are several reasons why. Meaningful exercise can be achieved for many, including those with physical limitations and older age. Trailnet will be raffling another Pedego E-bike at the 2020 Trailnet gala.
We met up with Clint Mohs, a repeat participant in our 2020 scavenger hunts and community rides to ask him a few questions and see just what makes him such a radi-cool supporter of biking in STL.
How long have you been riding a bike in STL? I grew up here, moved around a bunch, and did a ton of riding all over where I was living, then moved back here when my daughter was born. So, I’ve been riding pretty consistently for the last four years around the city.
What got you into biking? Exercising and exploring. In highschool I played sports, but in college I stopped. I also didn’t have a car, so I got a bike to get around town and tapped back into that childhood sense of exploring and self-reliance, and all that stuff.
What kind of riding do you do? I use it mainly for exercise. With my family, we’ll ride to the park, the zoo, the store. I got a new job recently and my plan was to start commuting this summer now that I was close enough to do so, but then the CoronaVirus happened as my daughter was getting ready to be out of school. Priorities shifted to taking care of my daughter, working from home, etc.
How’d you get into doing Trailnet scavenger hunts? I found out after signing up for the Trailnet Classics. As these were getting cancelled, I went back on the website and found out about the scavenger hunts as an alternative and thought, “these seem pretty cool.” They’re up my alley with the whole exploring thing, learning new things, learning new routes. I started off with the Bike Month Challenge and had a blast – so much fun.
How has COVID changed the way you bike? I’m riding a lot more because I don’t have the rush to get everyone out of the house; I don’t have the long commute. Been waking up early and riding a lot in the mornings. Also doing so many of the scavenger hunts and learning new routes, or, piecing together new things – keeping it fresh. I knew point A and point B existed, but didn’t have a way to connect them or didn’t think about connecting them until recently.
Why are you such a radi-cool supporter of biking and Trailnet? First off, radi-cool is way cooler than I am – just getting that out there. One of the things that I struggled with coming back to STL was having lived and travelled around other more bike friendly places. I witnessed more openness to having bikes on the roads, which wasn’t my previous experience. Coming back to STL, it seems like a natural thing for me to want to support – people being on bikes in the city. There isn’t the same population density as most other big cities, we have a ton of sprawl, but if you live within the city you can get anywhere you need on a bike pretty easily. So, for me it’s super easy to want to get behind something like this, and it also makes me happy to see people on trails and on the roads.
Three big reasons you love biking?
Exploring.
Being outside. Riding the same routes over and over, you get a sense of place in seeing it change from day to day, week to week, month to month.
Just feels good. I don’t know… I just like it. It’s fun.
Missouri 2020 Primary Voter Guide
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020
St. Louis County Executive & Missouri Senate District 5
Transportation policy and funding impact numerous aspects of life in the St. Louis Region. This voter guide is Trailnet’s effort to educate voters on candidate’s positions on transportation issues in two races St. Louis County Executive and Missouri Senate District 5.
Trailnet is a 501(c)(3) charity and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on the behalf of any candidate for public office, but is permitted to engage in voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts.
News Release: Juneteenth community tour highlights music, history
Juneteenth community tour highlights music, history
ST. LOUIS – Trailnet and 4theVille are hosting a community bike ride and walking tour to celebrate Juneteenth and African American Music Appreciation Month. From June 20 through June 30, the self-guided tour takes participants through Downtown, Midtown and The Ville to explore historically significant sites.
The 2020 Juneteenth Celebration Community Ride, marks the third year of this partnership between Trailnet, 4theVille, and Missouri Historical Society. This year’s event focuses on the past and present of St. Louis’ rich history of African American musicians shaping our national sound. The self-guided tour also features recordings of local musicians paying tribute to the city’s continuing music traditions.
“4theVille is committed to the celebration of local black history through multi-disciplinary arts and tourism. We look forward to our annual Juneteenth partnership with Trailnet and Missouri Historical Society when we explore different elements of the continued black liberation struggle. This year, we are especially proud to support local African American musicians with our story about the St. Louis origins of black music,” Aaron Williams with 4theVille said.
“Trailnet’s community rides are designed to elevate the voices of our community partners and help tell the stories they want to share. We’re grateful to help 4theVille and Missouri Historical Society share these stories of Black creators and their legacy,” Cindy Mense, Trailnet’s CEO said.
Tour Platform
Originally created as a group bike ride, the event was changed to a self-guided tour to allow for social distancing. The event uses a GPS-based scavenger hunt smart-phone app to direct participants to each site, where they’ll be able to listen to original performances by local musicians, learn about Black creators’ history in our region all while biking or walking.
Participants can begin the tour at any of the stops and can complete the tour in any order, with suggested routes taking people on slower, low traffic streets.The app also allows participants to complete the tour at their own pace and over the course of several days.
Partner musicians and organizations
Local musicians were commissioned to record performances for the tour. These musicians include: Scooter Brown, Tre G, Tish Haynes Keys, DJ Nico Marie, Royce Martin, and Wil Robinson.
The 2020 Juneteenth Celebration Community Ride is sponsored by The Missouri Humanities Council. It was made possible through partnership with 4theVille, Missouri Historical Society, GirlTrek, Northside Community Housing, Black Girls Do Bike, and St. Louis Public Radio.
Details
DATE: Saturday, June 20 – Tuesday, June 30
TIME: The tour and app is available throughout the dates
LOCATION: St. Louis City: including Downtown, Midtown, and The Ville
COST: $10, free for Trailnet members
DISTANCE: Approximately 12-14 miles total by bike, with an individual’s flexibility to do less
Trailnet is the St. Louis Region’s nonprofit walking, biking and public transit advocacy organization. For more than thirty years, Trailnet has been working within the St. Louis region and across the state to respond to the demand for improved walking and biking networks that attract and retain talent, strengthen our economy, and connect people to the places they love.
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Key transportation reforms in national INVEST act
Proposed legislation in Congress has the potential to transform transportation funding and improve communities’ ability to prioritize walking, biking and public transit. Trailnet joined with Transportation for America and The League of American Bicyclists to support these vital reforms in the INVEST ACT.
We will keep you up to date on ways to help and how to add your voice as this bill advances.
Our letter of support to the leaders of the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee details why this legislation is so important:
Trailnet is writing to express our support for the INVEST Act introduced to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure last week. We believe this bill includes many key updates to our country’s outdated transportation policy, and takes many big steps towards aligning our federal funding with the outcomes Americans value. We are proud to support this bill and thank you for your work developing it, and urge you to keep advancing these reforms as the legislation proceeds. This bill is a vital improvement because of targeted changes to improve biking and walking as well as the systematic changes throughout, including:
Transportation Alternatives Program – Increases funds for this program (TAP) impacting the communities we serve. This program provides the bulk of the funding for walking and biking projects in our community and state. We hear from both urban and rural communities that there are not enough funds in this program to fill current needs. This legislation creates more local control and flexibility for local governments to fund these projects while still safeguarding them for appropriate bike, walk and transit projects.
Inclusive public process – Prioritizes equity and environmental justice for all grant programs.
Safety – Requires all states to do a vulnerable user assessment. For states with above average vulnerable road user fatalities and serious injuries, states will be required to spend on bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Complete Streets – Requires US DOT to write model complete streets policies and procedures to be used when building roads with federal dollars, this will help to ensure that when federal dollars are spent, the needs of all users are addressed – not just the individuals within a community that own a car.
Connection to jobs and services – Creates new ways of measuring and ensuring our system connects people to their destinations- especially non-car owning families and residents.
Climate – Includes new programs for states and communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. States who don’t reduce GHG emissions from transportation will be penalized by requiring them to spend additional funds to reduce GHG.
Trailnet is the St. Louis Region’s nonprofit walking, biking and public transit advocacy organization. We believe everyone should have access to safe low-stress walking and biking connections where we live, work, and play in our communities. For more than thirty years, Trailnet has been working within the St. Louis region and across the state to respond to the demand for improved walking and biking networks that attract and retain talent, strengthen our economy, and connect people to the places they love.
