This month, we’re excited to recognize one of our most dedicated advocates of all time. Former state Sen. Wayne Goode co-founded Trailnet’s board of directors in 2002 and has been critical in helping advance St. Louis toward being the best Bike City it can be. Wayne, 82, is pedaling his way through St. Louis with just as much spirit as ever on his new E-bike. You can meet him yourself at our upcoming Environmental History Ride with the Missouri Historical Society.
Wayne not only served on Trailnet’s Board from 2002 to 2007, he also served as Board President in 2006 and 2007. Wayne has always been a very active donor and supporter of Trailnet and began donating in 1997. Outside of directly supporting Trailnet’s misson, Wayne helped get the Katy Trail built when he was in the Missouri Legislature.
Wayne Goode is a Trailnet Active Living Award recipient for his dedication to improving bicycling in the region.
Wayne is now a Lecturer in Law and Environmental Engineering with the Washington University Law School’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic (IEC) since 2006. Prior to his clinic work, Goode worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for 13 years, where he was Chief of the NPDES Permits and Engineering Section in the Water Protection Program. Before joining the IEC, he was employed in various positions with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, serving as Chief of the Engineering Section for the Water Pollution Control Program; Policy Analyst for the Water Protection and Soil Conservation Division; and as an Environmental Engineer in varying capacities for the Air Pollution Control Program.
Trailnet is honored to offer enriching internships every year that allow people to gain experience building a better, more connected St. Louis. Trailnet interns come from dynamic backgrounds and are immediately plugged in to our exciting work. This month, we’re highlighting Kevin Hahn and Sam McCrory, our talented 2019 summer interns. Read on to learn about how these two are dedicated to working toward a more sustainable planet with active transportation options for all.
Kevin Hahn
Kevin joined us for the summer while on break from working toward a Masters of Energy, Environment, and Society at the University of Stavanger in Norway. We asked him a few questions about what makes him so awesome and so highly motivated.
What drew you to intern at Trailnet?
I was attracted to Trailnet’s mission and work to get more people riding bikes, especially its system-wide focus to advocate for infrastructure and policy improvements.
Do you have a specific area of sustainable development and/or government you want to focus on upon graduating?
I’d like my future work to focus on the intersection energy, user behavior and government, specifically incentivizing the use of renewables or decreasing demand for fossil fuels.
What about your time at Trailnet was valuable to your career trajectory?
I value the ability to work with and learn from community advocates focused on steady, incremental, and impactful improvements.
What has been the most fun trailnet project to work on?
Helping during the Women in the Arts Community Ride was a fun, amazing experience to see so many people on bikes, learning about and engaging with our city.
What do you think about Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis plan?
I think it’s the most important work Trailnet is doing right now. It is an evidence and community input-based plan that could have an incredible impact on our city.
What do you do for fun?
I’m up for most outdoor activities. I enjoy reading, performing improv, and of course I love riding my bike.
Sam McCrory
Sam joined us after completing his Bachelor of Science at the University of Iowa. He majored in Environmental Policy and Planning, with a minor in Cinema, and a certificate in Sustainability. Read on for a Q&A about how great he is!
What drew you to intern at Trailnet?
I knew after I finished college, I wanted to work for a nonprofit or a municipality doing active transportation work in a larger city. I looked around the country for active transportation nonprofits and Trailnet stood out the most. I was really fascinated with the Connecting St. Louis plan, the numerous different programs they had completed, and the different types of rides they did throughout the year. All those things, combined with the opportunity to work in St. Louis, a city that I believe is going through a lot of good change, drew me toward Trailnet.
Can you tell us about your bicycle encouragement involvement at University of Iowa?
I helped out with a lot of the big biking events the University of Iowa put on. We did bike challenges in the winter months and in April, as an effort to get students and Iowa City residents on their bikes and moving, whether that was to work, school, or community events.
Iowa also put on bike tune-up events, where local bike shops would tune-up students’ bikes for free. I helped put these events on and was able to tell other students about the great trails and resources available to them.
Can you talk about your involvement with film and climate change?
At University of Iowa, I was a part of a student film organization called Bijou Film Board. During my time in that organization, I always pushed to screen documentaries that had environmentalism as a theme. Our natural world has so much beauty and chaos in it, I really think it is important to show those things on screen. One of the movies I was able to screen was a documentary called Grizzly Man, which has some great commentary on human interaction in the natural world and is worth checking out for so many reasons.
What about your time at Trailnet was valuable to your career trajectory?
My time at Trailnet was incredibly valuable for my career trajectory. Working here taught me about all the details that go into being an advocate for better streets for all. I loved talking to passionate people about biking, walking, and how their communities can be improved by better biking/walking facilities. I hope to take the knowledge I’ve learned, and the recommendations given to me by powerful community voices and look to make bike/pedestrian improvements in the next community I may be in.
What do you think about Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis plan?
The Connecting St. Louis plan is great not only for proposing protected bikeways in key areas of the city but addressing a need for transportation equity across St. Louis. Other plans across the city are focused on connecting east-west (Forest Park to downtown). Connecting St. Louis does a tremendous job of looking to connect north-south St. Louis. These areas often aren’t serviced by Metro and areas where people have less access to vehicles. Focusing on these connections is crucial for getting people to the places they love, without a car, no matter where in St. Louis.
Where do you hope to guide your career in the future?
I’d love to keep working in active transportation in any form possible, whether that’s a nonprofit, municipality, or outdoor shop. Being around people who care about biking, walking, and general outdoor living would be amazing and it’s something I want to continue doing. I’m eventually going to go to graduate school, however I only have a few more states in the U.S. to visit before I’ve been to all 50, so that’s something I’d love to do first.
What do you do for fun?
Typically, during my free time I’m riding my bike, going to movies, and watching soccer. I’m an avid bike rider (as are most people at Trailnet) and I encourage everyone to check out the different trails the St. Louis region has to offer. As for movies, check out Booksmart and Blockers, those are the best two movies I’ve seen recently. And concerning soccer, I support PSG and Everton, and am frequently up early Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch them play.
A Look at the Featured Pieces – Women in the Arts Community Ride
Our Women in the Arts Community Ride was one of the most educational events we’ve had all year. For those who want to jog their memory from this awesome ride–or if you’re just curious–here is a recap of the pieces we visited with some interesting accompanying facts. Don’t miss the next ride in this series, the Literary Tour Community Ride.
1. The Reflecting Pool by Maya Lin, at Ellen S. Clark Plaza, BJC Medical Campus, unveiled June 2010
Maya Lin is an American architect and sculptor best known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Recognized as an artist, designer and environmentalist, she interprets the natural world through science, history, politics, and culture, creating a body of work that encompasses large-scale environmental installations, intimate studio artworks, architectural projects and memorials. Maya designed the focal point of this plaza, a water feature nearly 80 feet in diameter with a raised platform that provides visitors a vantage point to view the landscape. Fed by a large reservoir, the year-round pool is an “infinity pool” with a disappearing edge. The platform includes fiber-optic lighting made to look like twinkling stars at night.
2. Link Auditorium, commissioned by The Wednesday Club, Theodore Link architect, 4504 Westminister Place
The Link Auditorium was designed in 1908 for The Wednesday Club, a women’s education and social club. The building represents architect Theodore Link’s first foray into modernism.
The Wednesday Club, formally organized in 1890, was an important force for civic improvement in St. Louis. It was the first women’s organization in St. Louis to construct its own home. In 1900, the ladies formed a Wednesday Club Building Company, issuing 4,000 shares at $10 per share for raising $40,000. Theodore Link, who designed Union Station, was engaged as architect. The Wednesday Club remained in the building until it moved to new quarters in St. Louis County in the 1970s.
Today, the Link Auditorium is owned by the Learning Center and promotes an appreciation for various forms of human expression, critical thinking, alternative viewpoints, and a deeper respect for intellectual pursuits.
3.Pulitzer Arts Foundation building, commissioned by Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Tadao Ando architect
Walls of concrete and glass form the serene Pulitzer Arts Foundation, commissioned by Emily Rauh Pulitzer, art patron and granddaughter-in-law to the famous Joseph Pulitzer. Designed by Tadao Ando, the museum opened in 2001 and features artworks from this prestigious family’s private collection–considered one of the world’s finest collections of modern art. In 2014 the museum underwent renovations, overseen by Ando, to create two new public galleries which fit seamlessly with the existing building.
4. “Emmy” by Michael Atkinson, 3331 Locust
Michael Atkinson is an American artist born in Texas in 1946. A contemporary watercolorist and figurative bronze sculptor, he is known for his Western and Southwestern landscapes and often nude figures in athletic poses. His sculptures are first done in clay and then cast into bronze. A number of his works are featured on Saint Louis University’s campus.
5. “Bird” by Laura Ford, at Citygarden, completed 2007
Laura Ford was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1961. Ford creates playful and disturbing hybrid creatures. Part human and part animal, they are developed through observation of her children and recollection of her feelings growing up. As a child, she was introduced to the world of sideshows and fairgrounds which had an early and lasting influence on her view of the world. Ford’s sculptures are both intensely crafted and playful and she employs a wide range of media.
6. “Adam & Eve” by Kiki de Saint Phalle, Citygarden
Niki de Sainte Phalle was a French sculptor, painter, and illustrator, best known for her playful sculptures of brightly painted female figures called “nanas” or “babes.” Adam and Eve is a prime example of the New Realist art movement and is painted with decorative patters referencing the biblical story in a playful manner. The work was originally part of the Fontaine Stravinsky, a public fountain with sixteen sculptures by Saint Phalle and her husband Jean Tinguely located next to the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
7. “La Riviere” (The River), by Aristide Maillol, Citygarden
Aristide Maillol was a Catalan sculptor, painter, and printmaker born in 1861. He was influenced by his contemporary Paul Gauguin, as well as artists of the Nabis movement, and joined the group in 1894. La Riviere (The River) is a bronze sculpture completed in 1943. The female nude is Maillol’s predominant subject, devoid of any architectural context. Although most of his sculptures are characterized by stillness, serenity and emotional restraint, La Riviere departs from those ideals. Maillol creates the feeling of instability and movement by placing the figure low to the ground and extending the head and arms beyond the pedestal.
8. “Thomas Hart Benton” by Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, in Lafayette Park
Born in Massachusetts in 1830, Hosmer demonstrated artistic ability early on but her attempts to hone her craft by studying human anatomy were repeated rebuffed by medical classes open only to men. East Cost schools rejected the idea of a woman studying human anatomy or creating art from live nude models. In 1850, at age 20, she traveled to St. Louis and became the first woman to have completed a course of study at the Missouri Medical College, the school that eventually became Washington University School of Medicine. Hosmer said, “I honor every woman who has strength enough to step out of the beaten path.”
Traffic Calming at Miss Tillie’s Corner
Since 2015, Trailnet and the Plan4Health program have been active in ensuring safe and calm streets in the St. Louis region, and specifically in the JeffVanderLou, Ville/Greater Ville, Carondelet, and Dutchtown neighborhoods.
Recently, Trailnet conducted another traffic calming demonstration, adding onto its nearly 20 pop-up demonstrations completed since late 2015. On July 13, at the annual Miss Tillie’s Block Party and Health Resource Fair, Trailnet staff took to the streets of JeffVanderLou on the corner of Sheridan and Garrison Ave. to show how a simple pop-up can slow traffic and make streets safer for all users.
After hearing cars were rolling through stops signs on the corners of Sheridan and Garrison, Trailnet staff planned for cars entering the Fair to make left and right-hand turns and be separated using two different turning lanes designated by bright colored cones.
After noticing a few cars misinterpret the intersection, community members and Miss Tillie’s Corner staff took tactical urbanism into their own hands, recommending the two separate turning lanes become one. Used now as a shared space, with an added stop sign before entering each side of the intersection. The new design led to slower speeds and enhanced communication between drivers navigating the intersection.
Trailnet also conducted a pop-up parklet for block party-goers to use during the Fair. The parklet consisted of seating, plants, and lots of shading for residents to take a break from the hot summer day. The pop-up parklet was a success and was used by block-party-goers of all ages and mobility preferences. Residents using wheelchairs, bikes, and other mobility devices used the parklet to relax, talk, and enjoy lunch and ice cream provided by local eateries.
All the materials used for the Miss Tillie’s traffic calming and the parklet were provided through Trailnet’s Traffic Calming Lending Library. The Lending Library is available for other individuals and organizations to use for their own traffic calming and parklet demonstrations. A list of the materials in the lending library and a how-to guide to set up your own traffic calming demonstration can be found in the Slow Your Streets guide compiled by Trailnet.
Women in the Arts Community Ride Photos
Art and bikes came together during the Women in the Arts Community Ride this July. More than 60 people came out for the relaxed and informative ride through St. Louis to learn about how women have shaped the city’s art scene.
Dana Gray from Revitalize St. Louis guided riders through six stops reviewing the history and impact of art featuring pieces made or curated by women. The relaxed 12-mile route took participants on city streets and through neighborhoods exploring the art and architecture of the city.
Connecting Transportation to Land Use and Housing Policy
When looking at other cities around the United States and abroad, it’s apparent that comprehensive and interconnected walking, biking, and public transportation networks are vital to sustainable and healthy communities. But transportation doesn’t function in a vacuum. For these networks and systems to succeed, people of all backgrounds and incomes must have access.
Alongside Trailnet’s commitment to making walking and biking viable transportation options across age, race, gender, and income level, we are continuing to unpack how transportation infrastructure connects to other sectors. In this article we begin to explore how active transportation systems should exist alongside land use and housing policies.
“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” -Gustavo Petro, Colombian politician
If we build protected bikeways and greenways between our neighborhoods, it can lead to an increase in demand for housing parallel to that investment, and rightfully so. If built correctly, protected bikeways and greenways are fantastic amenities that prioritize people over cars, offer comfortable places to rest and connect with one another, and offer a healthy commuting alternative. So much so thatTrail-oriented Development is now national lingo.
However, in some St. Louis neighborhoods–specifically where vacancy rates are already low–it’s difficult to imagine that the supply of housing could meet the new demand without triggering an increase in rent and housing prices. That’s why modern transportation networks must be implemented alongside housing and land use changes–to avoid displacement. We don’t just need to build transportation networks in a way that creates environmentally sustainable places, we must also build networks that are socially and financially sustainable for current and future residents.
“History has repeatedly demonstrated that investment without protective equitable policy and process mechanisms leads to gentrification and the subsequent displacement of residents in low-income and communities of color.” (1)
The St. Louis region is becoming increasingly aware that policy and outcomes are linked in ways that make it impossible to address one topic or service in isolation without having unintended and often negative consequences somewhere else.
We must recognize that in order for St. Louis to be the healthy, active, and vibrant place we envision, we must team up and be prepared to support policies that aren’t always directly connected to pedestrians or cyclists.
When it comes to avoiding displacement as transportation infrastructure increases housing investment in low-income areas of St. Louis, Trailnet is exploring every angle to maintain and increase affordable housing.
One example may include Community Land Trusts. CLTs purchase and retain ownership of land to ensure ongoing use for community purposes. They promote long-term affordability for renters and homeowners by removing the price of land from the home’s cost, reducing the degree to which rising land values inflate the cost of the home.
In the future, you’ll hear more from us on these topics, and we’ll do our best to explain how the different land-use and housing policies that we are helping push forward work to accomplish our transportation goals, and our vision for a healthy, active, and vibrant St. Louis for all.
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Cycle St. Louis. This group is committed to building an inclusive cycling community in the St. Louis region by creating cycling opportunities for people with disabilities, and where everyone (all ages and abilities) ca n ride together. Read on for a Q&A about how Cycle St. Louis and Trailnet are working together to make bicycling more fun and accessible for everyone.
How have Cycle St. Louis and Trailnet worked together in the past? How did your relationship begin?
At one of our Cycle St. Louis meetings in late 2017, the partner organizations discussed the key stakeholders we needed to engage in order to be more effective in creating cycling opportunities for people with disabilities. Trailnet was at the top of the list because they’re key to making cycling a way of life in the St. Louis area and they host an amazing portfolio of community rides. In early 2018 we started a conversation with Trailnet and immediately we both realized our mission of developing solutions for people of all ages and abilities aligned perfectly. After discussion, we did a test ride at the 2018 Bridge Birthday Bash Ride by inviting people with disabilities to participate. It was a huge success and showed both organizations what was possible by partnering together.
What excites Cycle St. Louis about our collaboration as we explore new opportunities in 2019 and 2020? We’re very excited Trailnet has made all their rides “inclusive” for people with disabilities. That means a short route where cyclists can turn around at any point and head back to the start. For some people with disabilities, a mile or two is a long ride. In addition, Trailnet has very generously made their rides free for Cycle St. Louis participants.
Cycle St. Louis is now part of Trailnet’s Ride Committee and we’re thrilled to be at the table with the cycling community at large because we believe people of all ages and abilities should be riding together, whether it’s commuting on the streets of St. Louis or at a community ride for recreation. Given that 15 to 20 percent of our community has a disability, this inclusion is important.
What are your thoughts on our Connecting St. Louis plan?
We’re very pleased the plan includes “all ages and abilities” and we are committed to working with Trailnet and others to help make that a reality. People with disabilities face some unique challenges to cycling and mobility, and need access to cultural centers, neighborhoods and business districts, so having a voice in planning efforts is vitally important.
Trailnet’s mission includes accommodating people of all ages and abilities. What feedback are you getting from your partners and the people you serve?
Our partners are elated about Trailnet’s inclusive mission and this partnership. The alignment couldn’t be better. Also, Trailnet has an amazing network and influence that can help Cycle St. Louis achieve its vision and mission. We believe that integration is important, that we’re all one community and the needs of all of us need to be considered. We all ride the same road!
What are St. Louis’ biggest barriers to safer walking and biking and how can we work to overcome them?
The current focus of Cycle St. Louis is access to cycles, training, and cycling opportunities for people with disabilities. We fully realize that safety for walkers and cyclists is important for everyone. There are unique access and safety considerations for people with disabilities, such as wider cycling lanes and trails needed for adapted cycles. Addressing these considerations would also enhance safety for the general population. Other infrastructure challenges need to be addressed in planning new projects as the example below highlights.
-During a walk to a park last year with blind and visually impaired children, we encountered a light pole in the middle of a sidewalk, and occasionally no sidewalk at all, among other obstacles.
Why are you and your partners so passionate about transportation related work?
Our partners work with people with disabilities every day and realize they make up a significant part of our community. We believe people with disabilities should have the opportunity to realize the amazing benefits that cycling provides, including a sense of freedom and independence, fitness, opportunities for socialization, and an important mode of transportation, which connects people to services, social opportunities and communities to each other. And, cycling is simply fun – how many of us remember the thrill of our first bike ride and still get a thrill when cycling? Many people with disabilities simply don’t have the opportunities to even get on a cycle.
I’ve been volunteering with the Delta Gamma Center for 12 years, tandem cycling with blind and visually impaired children. I know first-hand how magical it is to share the joy of cycling, especially with people that don’t typically have the opportunity. Recreation and transportation/mobility work needs to be inclusive of this large community. The attitudes of others have the greatest impact on access to sports for people with disabilities. For too many years, “she has no business doing that” was an all too common refrain. We need to embrace inclusion, paving the way for others to do so as well.
In your opinion what makes a city thrive?
There are so many important ingredients that make cities thrive. I’ve traveled all over the world for business and have seen ancient cities (compared to US cities) that have been reengineered for active and public transportation. These cities are thriving economically, are culturally vibrant and the people seem happier and healthier. I believe active and public transportation is the right long-term investment, but we need to be inclusive in our policies and how we execute solutions.
Any other final thoughts or words?
Cycle St. Louis is grateful for our partnership with Trailnet and very excited about what we can accomplish together. We feel we’re just scratching the surface and through awareness building, communications and joint programs, we’ll have a huge impact on the entire community in the near future.
Juneteenth Photos
Check out the photos from our Juneteenth Celebration Community ride, part of Trailnet’s 2019 Community Rides Series. We visited important city landmarks where various storytellers highlighted the different aspects of the abolition of slavery and the significance of Juneteenth.
Trailnet is pleased to announce Cindy Mense as its new CEO.
For more than 12 years, Cindy has been an integral part of Trailnet’s mission to lead in fostering healthy, active and vibrant communities where walking, bicycling, and the use of public transit are a way of life. The expertise, experience, and passion Cindy brings to her new role will help advance St. Louis toward being a world class city for walking and bicycling. Keep reading for a Q&A with Cindy.
When and why did you come to Trailnet?
When I first came to Trailnet more than 12 years ago, I was thrilled to be coordinating Trailnet’s walking school bus program. My own kids were school-age and starting to explore the world as pedestrians. It seemed so natural as a dietitian to be working with schools helping them get more kids engaged in daily physical activity.
I quickly learned that the design of our streets and sidewalks plays a role in the decision to walk to school. The solutions for getting more children walking to school involved not only building their skills, but addressing safety through policies that prioritize pedestrians and make actual changes to the street. As CEO, I continue to be motivated by the challenges ahead and inspired by the staff who share the same values and vision for this organization and region.
What about Trailnet’s Mission motivates you the most?
Every day, Trailnet employees come to work motivated by the impact biking and walking can have on issues in St. Louis, whether we are focused on equity, economic development, or just overall quality of life. We love St. Louis, we seek data-driven solutions, try to provide equitable benefits, and we recognize the key role we play in addressing climate change.
Personally, I am motivated by the call to action for a more sustainable planet. In 2017 transportation overtook electric power as the biggest source of greenhouse gases in the U.S. Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising. Even as cars have become more fuel efficient, our street design and land-use choices continue to encourage and subsidize inefficient behaviors. We can, and must do better and it is my opinion that no city is more capable of reinventing itself around multimodal transportation than St. Louis. Our transportation and land-use systems can be redesigned to benefit everyone with seamless connectivity that supports using practical, sustainable, modes of transportation.
What do you want for St. Louis?
I want our streets to be places that welcome a new quality of life and embrace a personal experience. We are seeing small changes that bring our streets to life. These changes are carving out space for people, providing breathing room–so people can stretch their legs, pedal a bike, push a double wide stroller, or just sit outside. Adding places for people to become part of the street-scape is a great place to start.
How does Trailnet make that happen?
My greatest desire is to embed Trailnet into the fabric of our region. To fully understand St. Louis’ needs, we must get closer to those with the need. The staff are bursting with new ideas on how to foster and renew partnerships to advance our mission. I am open, listening and feeling their passion.
I plan to make the most of this new chapter, finding new ways to connect and deepen existing relationships. We can build mutually-beneficial partnerships that advance our region in ways that people will feel every day when they open their front door. When our streets are friendlier to all modes of transportation, we will have the choices that improve our quality of life and our air quality far into the future.
Trailnet will do what it’s done for 30 years. Foster partnerships and push to see our city and our region evolve. Smart. Vibrant. Sustainable.
Trailnet Champion: Bridget McAndrew
May’s Trailnet Champion is Bridget McAndrew, Clayton alderman and long-time advocate for safer biking and walking. She played a key role in the addition of protected bicycle lanes along one of Clayton’s downtown streets.
Check out this Q&A to learn more about Bridget’s dedication to transportation improvements.
How have you, Clayton, and Trailnet worked together in the past?
We moved to St. Louis about nine years ago and started going to Trailnet-sponsored events soon thereafter. My family enjoys being active outdoors so we are very supportive of an organization that strives to improve walking and biking in our region.
What work have you done, or are currently doing, to advance walking and biking in the region?
Approximately one year ago, I was elected to the Clayton Board of Aldermen. Around this time, the Board began to consider the addition of protected bike lanes along one of our streets in Downtown Clayton. Clayton adopted a Complete Streets Policy in 2012 that mandates we consider pedestrian and bike safety prior to approving new streets projects. After many public meetings and discussions, the Board did decide to add protected bike lanes down Maryland Avenue between Hanley and Forsyth.
Why are you passionate about transportation-related work?
I am concerned about both our environment and the health of our citizens. Multi-modal transportation is good for our world and supports healthier lives. If we can encourage communities to have safer streets, then I am confident that people will be more comfortable biking and walking to their destinations.
What are your thoughts on our Connecting St. Louis plan?
One of the arguments that I advanced in our bike lane discussions was that I wanted our community to be a part of St. Louis bike connections. Downtown Clayton is a very busy place during the weekdays, but I wanted to make sure that we did not remain an island. I wanted bikes to be able to safely travel through Clayton rather than around it. I am also encouraged by the street calming that is prevalent on streets with bike lanes–thus promoting a better pedestrian experience. I’m so excited by Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis plan. In St. Louis, we are so blessed by so many different neighborhoods. It would be so exciting to have a safe way to connect to all these great places by having protected bikeways and sidewalks.
What are some of the region’s biggest barriers to safer walking and biking? How can we work past them?
One of the biggest barriers I see is psychological. The majority of people in the St. Louis region love their cars and are not particularly open-minded when it comes to other types of transportation. People in cars honk at bikers and race in front of pedestrians who are trying to cross at pedestrian walkways. Pedestrians and bikers should be celebrated and the region needs to learn to be more tolerant of them. With the addition of more safe biking and walking options, I believe this psychological barrier will shift in a more positive direction.
Are you a bicyclist? If so, what keeps you pedaling?
I enjoy biking with my family and also go road biking when I am training for triathlons. Exercise is a huge part of my life and I am grateful for the health and adrenalin benefits that I get from a great bike ride!
In your opinion, what makes a city thrive?
That is a big question! There are many factors that make a city thrive. I think that a motivated, engaged, diverse, and happy citizenry at multiple generations is vital. We moved to Clayton because we wanted to be able to walk and bike to places, live in a safe neighborhood, and send our children to good public schools. We are blessed to have all of those factors in Clayton. Thriving cities provide residents with convenient places to shop, eat, recreate, go to school and work. It goes without saying that thriving cities have strong economies and are looking at ways to attract new residents and new businesses. Lastly, I believe thriving cities benefit hugely from respected cultural institutions likes major universities that offer unique ideas and shared knowledge.
What do you do for fun?
I love to watch my children play sports and get together with our friends and family. We enjoy exploring new restaurants in town and going on bike rides or hikes as a family. I also love to sit on my deck and read a book!
Any final thoughts or words?
As a region, St. Louis is lucky to have an organization like Trailnet working hard to making our communities safer, healthier, and more vibrant. I look forward to seeing how Trailnet will help continue to transform St. Louis as we move into the future!
This month, we’re excited to recognize one of our most dedicated advocates of all time. Former state Sen. Wayne Goode co-founded Trailnet’s board of directors in 2002 and has been critical in helping advance St. Louis toward being the best Bike City it can be. Wayne, 82, is pedaling his way through St. Louis with just as much spirit as ever on his new E-bike. You can meet him yourself at our upcoming Environmental History Ride with the Missouri Historical Society.
We’re very excited Trailnet has made all their rides “inclusive” for people with disabilities. That means a short route where cyclists can turn around at any point and head back to the start. For some people with disabilities, a mile or two is a long ride. In addition, Trailnet has very generously made their rides free for Cycle St. Louis participants.
Our partners work with people with disabilities every day and realize they make up a significant part of our community. We believe people with disabilities should have the opportunity to realize the amazing benefits that cycling provides, including a sense of freedom and independence, fitness, opportunities for socialization, and an important mode of transportation, which connects people to services, social opportunities and communities to each other. And, cycling is simply fun – how many of us remember the thrill of our first bike ride and still get a thrill when cycling? Many people with disabilities simply don’t have the opportunities to even get on a cycle.
When and why did you come to Trailnet?
May’s Trailnet Champion is Bridget McAndrew, Clayton alderman and long-time advocate for safer biking and walking. She played a key role in the addition of protected bicycle lanes along one of Clayton’s downtown streets.