Trailnet is honored to offer enriching internships every year that allow students 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 welcome Project Assistant Imani Holmes, Planning Intern Alexis Vidaurreta, and Policy and Advocacy Intern Rowan Poehler.
Imani Holmes, Project Assistant:
Where are you going to school? What degree are you going for?
I go to Parkway West High and I and I am working towards my high school Diploma
What drew you to intern at Trailnet?
I like to help people and I like teamwork and contributing to my community. Trailnet helps the people in my community and I really admire that.
What do you hope to gain from the internship? What do you hope to give?
I want to learn what a real work environment looks and feels like and gain experience. I want to help with everything so in the future I know what I will be capable of.
What do you think about Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis project?
I think the protected bikeways are a great idea! I bike to work everyday and I think that will make it safer for people like me and for kids and all to get where they need to be.
Where do you hope to guide your career in the future?
I have many ideas for what I want my career to be, but at the moment I have not picked a career I want for the rest of my life. And that is ok. I have time to figure it out.
Alexis Vidaurreta, Planning Intern:
Where are you going to school? What degree are you going for?
I’m a rising senior at Washington Iniversity, working toward a degree in Architecture with minors in Environmental Studies and Urban Design.
What drew you to intern at Trailnet?
I became interested in active transportation through studying environmental design. I also worked for WashU’s Office of Sustainability on alternative transportation for a year and a half. I was drawn to Trailnet by its mission, and the opportunity to broaden my understanding of mobility advocacy to include goals related to public health, equity, and community vitality.
What do you hope to gain from the internship? What to you hope to give?
As a Planning Intern, I hope to gain experience and familiarity with the mechanisms of collaborative planning and decision-making. My position is primarily oriented around working with Trailnet’s community engagement efforts and integrating the needs of desires of St. Louisans into the Connecting St. Louis recommendations and ongoing planning and implementation. I hope to use my skills in communication and visualization to express how the plan is fundamentally guided by input from the public.
What do you think about Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis project?
I am excited to have found myself living in St. Louis during a period with so much forward momentum around mobility. I am proud to be playing a role in Trailnet’s vision, as it boldly seeks to leverage connectivity to create a culture of health around active transportation and to bring out the latent vibrance of this city.
Where do you hope to guide your career in the future?
After I finish at WashU next year, I am hoping to pursue a career in public interest design and planning–working to address the urban issues of the 21st century.
Rowan Poehler, Policy and Advocacy Intern:
Where are you going to school? What degree are you going for?
I am a rising junior at Tulane University in New Orleans studying Public Health and Anthropology.
What drew you to intern at Trailnet?
I bike everywhere in New Orleans, so I was interested about learning more about the biking community in my hometown.
What do you hope to gain from the internship? What do you hope to give?
I hope to gain experience working in a non-profit that combines health, urban planning, and advocacy. I hope to give my willingness to learn and work hard.
What do you think about Trailnet’s Connecting St. Louis project?
I feel that these protected bikeways are very important for the health and safety of all St. Louis residents.
Where do you hope to guide your career in the future?
I hope to focus on improving both human and environmental health.
Trailnet Champion – Jacque Lumsden
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Jacque Lumsden, a Transportation Planner for CBB Transportation Engineers + Planners. Jacque was critical in re-launching Open Streets—an event that closed an eight-block section of Compton Avenue to vehicular traffic to re-envision the street as a community center with food, games, art, bicycling, and dental and health screenings. Keep reading for a Q&A between Trailnet and Jacque.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How would you describe your community?
I live in Southampton. I absolutely love my neighborhood, I am so close to both Francis and Christy Park, and within walking distance to all the great establishments on Macklind Avenue. A quick bike ride to Downtown, or the River Des Peres Greenway, and not too far from Metrolink Public Transit. The members of our community are great and we have a really active Southampton Neighborhood Association.
What makes you wake up everyday wanting work for CBB Transportation Engineers + Planners?
Transportation impacts every person on a daily basis. From walking to your car or the nearest transit stop, or hopping on your bike, getting places is key to opportunity. Supporting a transportation system that accommodates all modes, and better connects people with necessary goods and services keeps me inspired every day.
How have Trailnet and CBB worked together in the past? Plans to collaborate in the future?
Trailnet and CBB have worked together in the past on many of our projects involving Great Streets components or Multimodal Planning. When we work on projects that incorporate enhancing the walking and biking experience (which is ALOT!) we always bring Trailnet to the table as a critical stakeholder.
Are you a bicyclist? If so, what keeps you pedaling?
Yes. I ride my bike to work as much as I can, and often find myself attending one of the many great group rides (the Ghost Ride is my favorite), or trying out a trail on the weekends. I love to explore the city by bike–either trying out a new restaurant or just experiencing a new neighborhood. I keep pedaling because I love experiencing my city at the pedestrian scale. So many interactions you can’t have in a car. Also, incorporating exercise into your commute is a bonus!
What are some memorable biking cities, trails, or places you’ve experienced? What made them memorable?
Last year I finally made the venture to Indianapolis to see the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It was just as impressive as it is always referenced. The quality facility promotes biking for all ages and abilities, and connects some really great attractions. Des Moines, Iowa is pretty cool too. I went to an ITE Conference in that city and they have a trail system with local breweries/restaurants at convenient stopping places on the way. And of course the Katy Trail. I biked to Augusta, Missouri last fall with a group of friends. We spent the afternoon checking out the wineries, camped at Klondike Park, and biked back the next day.
What do you think could most improve transportation in St. Louis?
Better multi-modal connections. In general, riding your bike in St. Louis is a good experience. We have a strong grid system that supports alternate biking routes on local roads. However, there are many things we can do to support trips with better end-of-trip facilities (enhanced bike parking, unique public plazas, public art, etc.) as well as better pedestrian and bike scale wayfinding.
I am a strong supporter of the Connecting St. Louis. One reason I am in transportation planning is because I value the importance of designing roads for our most vulnerable users. The vision for these protected facilities ensures all users feel safe, from ages eight to 80.
What benefits do you see coming from having this sort of infrastructure in St. Louis?
Better connected communities and neighborhoods, increased access to goods and services, Healthier communities, economic development, attraction and retention of young talent for the work force.
In your opinion, what makes a city thrive?
The people. Cities with people that have a passion for making them better. This is another reason why I am a supporter of walking, bicycling, and public transit. Communting by these modes offers the unique opportunity for shared experiences with neighbors and friends that you may not have had other wise. You fall in love with your City when you experience it in this intimate manner.
Hobbies/Community Outreach you are involved with?
I was actively involved with planning the re-launch of STL Open Streets in June 2018 & look forward to continuing the strong program. I am involved with the Southampton Neighborhood Association. Hobbies include running (training for the 2018 Chicago Marathon in October) and spending time walking my dog, Cooper, all over the City.
Any final thoughts or words?
Thanks to Trailnet for all you do for the St. Louis region. Your visionary team advocates for important work on a daily basis – keep up the good work!
Trailnet Champions – Joe and Ian Cawein
Joe and Ian Cawein pedaled their first Trailnet Strawberry Ride seven years ago when Ian, Joe’s son, was only seven years old. They’ve done the ride every year since. Ian is now 14 and he and his father now both share a passion for bicycling.
They live in O’Fallon, Missouri and regularly put their tires to the road to maintain both mental and physical health.
“I got back into riding in 2011, at the age of 37, after many years of hearing from my older brother in California about his adventures in cycling,” Joe said, adding that, to get rolling, he simply put hybrid tires on an old mountain bike and began riding around the neighborhood.
That was around the same time Joe and Ian started doing Trailnet’s group rides.
“I thought Trailnet rides would be a good way to so something outside and active with my son, who was then seven years old,” Joe said.
The duo has now gone on many of Trailnet’s group rides as well as other group rides that meet casually. Joe eventually built up to racing criteriums and is now more interested in long-distance, gravel, and road racing. He’s gearing up for is second Dirty Kanza 200-mile gravel race.
Asked about Trailnet’s vision for a network of protected bikeways and walkways, Joe said he sees many personal and broader community benefits.
“One [benefit] that comes to mind is how Trailnet seems to be helping better the relationship between non-cyclists and cyclists throughout the community,” Joe Said.
Trailnet is honored to have such an energetic duo on our team. We’ve even designed a ride specifically for those who bike as a pair. Check out our TüFer Tandem Ride to learn all about it!
Trailnet Champion – Dave Wedemeyer
Dave Wedemeyer has ridden RAGBRAI, (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa), for 28 years. He is a member of the Team Stiff Biking Club, (located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa), where he serves as Vice President. Dave has completed a century ride in 46 states so far, and has ridden 112 century rides in his lifetime. Keep reading for a Q&A between Trailnet and Dave.
Tell us more about yourself.
I am originally from Adair, Iowa and have lived in St. Louis since 2000. I have been a Downtown St. Louis resident for 10 years, and I currently live in the Marquette Building.
It’s great to see organizations like Trailnet serving important purposes with lofty goals. St. Louis has everything it needs to engage and retain residents. I believe safe connectivity and more bike paths will only enhance our burgeoning city.
What do you do for work?
I work at Fontbonne University, as a Database Administrator.
At what age did you start biking? Why did you start biking?
In 1989 I was in graduate school at Iowa State University, and three fraternity brothers and I decided to ride RAGBRAI. So it all started with RAGBRAI, and I’ve been doing rides all over the place since then. It’s been a great way to see the country.
What keeps you cycling?
My goal is to do a century ride in every state. After that goal is complete, (hopefully this year), I have plenty of other century rides on my bucket list. I would like to complete 100 uniquely different century rides. I have repeated some century rides many times, such as Trailnet’s Ride the Rivers Century. So although I have ridden 112 century rides, they’re aren’t 100 different rides yet.
What are some memorable biking cities, trails, or places you’ve experienced?
The rides with the best scenery are the most memorable. To name a few, I loved America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Nevada. The scenery was spectacular and I was lucky enough to see a bear along the route. The Triple Bypass in Colorado was the toughest ride I’ve ever done. RAGBRAI is the most fun you can have on a bike. The longest ride I’ve ever done was the Ride Across Indiana, (160 miles in one day). I rode the Big Mick Century in South Dakota a few years ago. The Mickelson Trail thru the Black Hills is beautiful.
How did you discover Trailnet?
Some biking friends told me about Trailnet. Trailnet is very well known within the St. Louis biking sub-culture. I rode in the very first Ride the Rivers Century, and then started doing other Trailnet rides. I use Trailnet fun rides, as a way to stay in shape for my century rides.
Trailnet Champion – Courtney Cushard
Courtney Cushard runs The Monthly Cycle, a St. Louis bicycling group for women and gender non-binary people. The nonprofit empowers women and non-binary St. Louisans to thrive in a space that is often made up of men. We asked Courtney a few questions about how The Monthly Cycle fosters an inclusive and accessible bicycling community for women and non-binary people. Keep reading for a Q&A between Trailnet and Courtney.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Can you tell us about The Monthly Cycle?
The Monthly Cycle is a cycling community for women and gender non-binary folks. We started in 2013 because in the city of St. Louis, there was not a group for only women to get together and do group bike rides. Group rides were and still are majority men, so for women in cycling, it’s nice to have a ladies-only space to ride together, try new routes, and learn by asking and through experience without the feeling the nervousness and pressure that can come with a male-dominated group. We have our flagship ride on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., starting at Gelateria on south grand. We host social rides and events throughout the year like our upcoming Donut Ride on April 21. And we occasionally lead a fast ride, called The Quickie, and a slower ride for newbies, called the Light Flow. And, if you can’t tell by now, we love period puns and having a fun time on bikes.
We are a non-profit and our board of directors is making great strides in refining our annual programming, improving communications, and creating more partnerships in St. Louis. The current President is Aubrey Byron and VP is SJ Creek. I serve as the President Emeritus.
The mission of the Monthly Cycle is to foster an inclusive and more accessible bicycling community for women and non-binary St. Louisans.
We are committed to:
Helping more women and non-binary folks confidently ride bikes in a way that fits their needs and lifestyle;
Empowering women and non-binary folks to trust in the power of their own body as a form of transportation;
Increasing the number of women and non-binary people biking on the streets of STL;
Identifying and reducing the barriers women and non-binary people face while biking through encouragement, community, and advocacy;
Inclusivity across race, age, sexual identity, non-binary identify, socio-economic background, and fitness level.
What kind of impact would you say Monthly Cycle has had on St Louis?
Hopefully a positive one! We want to see more women on bikes, and every time I meet a new person at a ride, I feel happy that we are able to connect and support each other.
Can you paint a quick word picture of what it’s like to be on one of the rides?
It’s so fun, come try it! The type of ride depends on what we’re doing – Flagship, Quickie, Donut Ride, and Diva Cup are all different, but social, goofy, and welcoming!
How can other women get involved?
Start by coming to a ride! You can find all of our events on Facebook.
How did you discover Trailnet?
I used to work as an urban designer, so I learned about Trailnet through that work.
Having safer and more well-connected bike and pedestrian routes is paramount to improving sustainability and livability in St. Louis. St. Louis is slowly making improvements to our bike and pedestrian network, and planning and community engagement is a key component of that work. Getting the projects implemented is very important, so I hope that next step comes soon, with the support of our mayor, our bike and pedestrian coordinator, the streets department, our alderpeople, neighborhood associations, along with funding support from state and federal budgets.
What benefits do you see coming from having this sort of infrastructure in St. Louis?
There are countless benefits, but the main one I think is that this infrastructure gives people more choices about how to move around the city, from their school to their home and their job and the grocery store, etc. Building actual safe and convenient routes gives people more freedom to choose what works best for them and their family, instead of relying on cars or public transit 100 percent of the time. It’s proven that having safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improves community safety, livability, and the economy. We need to step up our game compared to other U.S. cities.
What’s your hometown?
Shelby Township Michigan, home of the original Jet’s Pizza!
Where do you currently live?
Fox Park, St. Louis City.
What do you do for work?
I am a study abroad coordinator.
At what age did you start biking? Why did you start biking?
Probably when I was 4 or 5, because it’s fun and my friends were doing it 🙂
What else do you do for fun? I race bikes, go camping, and we love having people over to our house to eat and drink and hang out.
Trailnet Advocacy – Manchester Road Bicycle Facilities
The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning to resurface a section of Manchester Road from Big Bend to Lindbergh Road in 2020. While we applaud their effort to increase the comfort of this road for people walking with new sidewalks and curb ramps, their draft plan does not include any bicycle facilities. This route is part of the adopted Gateway Bike Plan, which calls for a minimum of five-foot bike lanes in this section.
Given that this route is on the Gateway Bike Plan and the extent of the work that is to be performed, Trailnet feels justification needs to be provided to the public as to why MODOT is not recommending any bike accommodations.
From the plan itself: “Any deviation from designing and constructing bicycle facilities on streets identified on the Regional Bicycle Network should be justified with a design exception memorandum, with input from the appropriate bicycle advisory committee, and only if alternative facilities can be provided.”
Not having any accommodation for people biking for transportation is also counter to St. Louis County Complete Streets Ordinance and Adventure Cycling Association’s Bicycle Route 66 which prioritizes this route as a direct connection into Downtown St. Louis.
We know traditional guidance looks at four-lane to three-lane road diets as possibilities when the vehicles per day are 20,000 or fewer and peak hour volumes are 1,000 vehicles or less. We would encourage MODOT to look at the South Grand Traffic Analysis Report (attached below) where a recorded average daily traffic (ADT) of 25,408 was successfully reconfigured to a three-lane section. In fact, South Grand was recently recognized by the American Planning Association for this conversion, “Following a Great Streets Initiative Master Plan, South Grand Boulevard benefited from a road diet and improvements ranging from curb bulb-outs with native landscaping to new lighting. Since the improvements, South Grand has seen several new businesses open and a noticeable uptick in pedestrian activity.”
Trailnet feels every effort to incorporate bicycle facilities into this project should be taken, especially since there is a direct connection from an existing MetroLink stop into the edge of Maplewood’s strong business district—itself a strong existing three-lane section of this road. At a minimum we feel it is imperative that MODOT strongly consider providing a high-quality, low-stress connection for people biking from the Manchester MetroLink Station toward downtown Maplewood. This is a key connection to our region’s public transportation system and downtown Maplewood is a key destination that people would like to be able to walk and bike to more easily.
Trailnet Selects Community Champions to Advance Network of Protected Bikeways
Trailnet has selected five community champions to help usher forth our bold vision: connecting St. Louis with a network of on-street protected bikeways and sidewalks. These champions will act as expert informants on what their communities need for equitable transportation and be liaisons between our office and St. Louis neighborhoods. Together, we will transform our wonderful city by connecting neighborhoods, cultural districts, and business centers.
Here’s a bit about where they’re coming from:
Ronald Jones
As a St. Louis native, my investment in my community is immeasurable. I have had both the pleasure and misfortune of watching inner-city St. Louis flourish and decline. It’s this observation that has matured me to take an active role in stabilizing and rebuilding this city I call home. My most recent efforts include my diligent work with Neighborhood Leadership Fellows which is being headed by Dwayne James and Claire Wolff.
As a leadership fellow it has been my pleasure to partner with representatives from various struggling wards and aid them in implementing new and strategic ways to improve the quality of life of those who live in the Promise Zones.
I am a proud resident of JeffVanderLou, which sits in the 4th Ward and very instrumental keeping my neighbors informed on what’s taking place in our neighborhood. Having a bike trail go through Fairground Park and the North Grand Corridor will be an excellent way for the people within the community to get back to cycling and on the road to good health.
I am currently a supervisor at St. Louis Job Corps and responsible for 60 young adults in my residence hall who I mentor daily. Neighborhood Leadership Fellows has been an excellent training ground and I have welcomed every lesson, but just as every student must leave the classroom and venture out into the real world. I know my time has come to take that leap of faith from thought to action. Once we understand that the problem with St. Louis is “Everyone’s Problem” only then can we begin the healing process and move toward a better St. Louis.
Ramona Scott
I have lived by choice in north St. Louis all my life. I’m very invested and interested in the inclusion, engagement and improvement of North St. Louis. I commuted by bike for over seven years. When I first won a cool bike I reached out to Trailnet to learn more about cycling and have been connected ever since.
I have served on many Trailnet Advisory Boards to insure that African American and North St. Louis Citizens are represented. I’m also apart of the Bike Share Advisory Board. Often I’m asked whether I want St. Louis to become like Seattle. I say, “No. It will be better and with an STL flavor!”
Sara Levin
As a resident of the southern part of Fox Park for the last 10 years, I have seen a tremendous amount of positive change in the area. I have a strong commitment to improving the safety and fellowship of our south city neighborhoods. I am currently the Chair for the Fox Park Safety Committee and served the last three years on the board as Sergeant at Arms. I created the Call it Like a Cop Workshop, where our neighborhood liaison officer and I teach residents to be more comfortable calling in unwanted behavior and problem properties. We educate residents on how our city services operate and how their voice matters. Communication and empowering residents in the community works to build safer communities.
Making our streets safer comes from engagement like block parties and community events in empty spaces. When we foster communication among residents, we get to know each other better and therefore look out for each other more. I also believe that we need positive, innovative traffic calming that thinks beyond closing streets or installing speed bumps.
I am currently planning to paint and plant the recently placed Schoemel pots at the end of our one-way street. Together with my neighbors, we will beautify the street while bringing attention to the traffic calming initiative. When neighbors come together to do a project like this, even a small one, they build relationships and a sense of pride in the neighborhood – and keep each other safe.
Wendy Campbell
As a former Walk Bike Ambassador, Champion and forever volunteer of Trailnet, I will continue where I left off–informing the city about Trailnet’s mission, membership, and vision. I’m very involved in the south St. Louis and have created relationships with city officials, schools officials, business and community leaders, residents and children. As a crossing guard and block captain I am in constant contact with parents, pedestrians, drivers and students.
I enjoy telling people about Trailnet. When I ask a cyclist if they know about Trailnet and they respond “no,” that’s when I put my recruiter hat on. I’m excited to continue being a part of a project that will affect people’s lives and update the city in such a positive way. To see this project thorough and watch it grow is something my children and I can say we had a hand in and for residents to say ” I remember when they started that project, I had some verbal input at a few meetings.” That’s a good feeling for anyone involved.
Angela Mayes
My vision for a safer St. Louis includes activating or restarting established and proven methods that foster pride and involvement of residents such as block units, block parties, neighborhood watches, and promoting activities that local neighborhood associations are sponsoring. I would love to see police officers walk the beat to get to really know residents like in years past.
Being a Trailnet Community Champion goes hand in hand with my Americorps VISTA year of service. My duties this year are to attend neighborhood meetings and engage with the community to set up partnerships. I am also a resident of the Jeff Vander Lou neighborhood. I have great connections and love to meet and reach out to potential new connections.
Letter from the CEO, Ralph Pfremmer
These are exciting times for Trailnet and the entire region. As a grassroots advocacy organization, we have a 30-year history of pushing the envelope to make it safe and easy to bike and walk for transportation.
In February, we announced our bicycle and pedestrian study corridors: our Connecting St. Louis Vision. Through a multi-year process, we determined the optimum streets for a cohesive network. Our goal is to make cycling and walking a practical means of moving about the city while encouraging creative placemaking to build community. We are uniquely positioned to leverage the special people and places in our community.
Our Connecting St. Louis Vision will support a St. Louis where outcomes are not determined by race, zip code, or class. In terms of community outreach, design, destinations, routes, affordability, and land-use policy, the planning process has sought decisions that support a more just community. As our plan nears completion, we need your input. During April we have three more Connecting St. Louis community engagement opportunities.Click here to view the corridor map and open house locations.
As I reflect on the impressive work of my team, I am incredibly proud. The spirit of our 30th year, pays homage to our history, but is always looking forward. Looking back at our roots as trail-builders, it should come as no surprise that we want to see our plans and those of others come to fruition and get implemented. We will publish the final “Connecting St. Louis” master plan in June and when we do, we will need Trailnet Champions.
We cannot take our plan from paper to implementation without support. Please spread the word, and if you can, become a member. Click here to take and share our survey. Interested in becoming a social media brand ambassador, email lindsay@trailnet.org.
As always, I thank our members and stakeholders for your unwavering support.
Warm regards,
Ralph Pfremmer
Trailnet wraps up Florissant’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan
Since 2007, Trailnet has helped more than 35 communities develop plans for safe walking and biking. We secured federal funds to cover 80 percent of the cost for communities to plan for these changes. Most recently, Trailnet worked with the City of Florissant. Previous partners included diverse municipalities such as: Ferguson, the City of St. Charles, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Woodson Terrace, St. John, and Overland. Each of these municipalities applied to be part of Trailnet’s program and contributed up to 20 percent of the cost.
This spring Trailnet will present the bicycle and pedestrian plan to the City of Florissant, MO. The Florissant plan recommends starting with a few easy-to-accomplish improvements for the first year of implementation focused on pedestrian accessibility in Florissant. These include wayfinding and connections between parks and the Sunset Greenway, more walking and biking trails within parks, and sidewalk installation. The plan also recommends traffic calming measures to slow cars and improve bicycle and pedestrian safety. Once Florissant adopts the plan, residents should see incremental improvements for walking and biking as federal funding becomes available. Municipalities who have these comprehensive plans are more competitive when applying for federal funding.
If your community would like Trailnet to help you envision better streets, contact us at Planning@trailnet.org.
Trailnet Champion – Bob Lewis
Bob Lewis is Trailnet’s newest board member, but his involvement in helping us build for better walking and biking stretches back more than 20 years. Bob said he hopes to continue to use his expertise in city planning and urban development to advance Trailnet’s vision to build a network of protected bikeways and sidewalks connecting St. Louisans to the places they love.
“I was initially connected with Trailnet in the early days and primarily did pro bono consulting work to help with fundraising 20 years ago,” he said. “I’ve been a bike rider from age seven onward, so I thought, ‘hey, that’s something we need around here, so I got involved’.”
A city planner by education and blood, as well as an urban biker, Bob says he’s particularly intrigued with the planning process for protected bicycle routes. He advised Trailnet in the early phases of its vision for a network of protected bikeways, being one of the first to advise a primary focus on north-south connections. Bob added he’s excited to see the process through and help guide its installation.
“Most of my riding for years has been commuting. From home to my office is seven miles and I get to do that a few days a week,” Bob said. “I’m quite familiar with riding the streets of St. Louis. I’m one who will look out to 2050 and think about where this will lead us.”
St. Louis has a lot more road capacity than it has cars, providing an opportunity to build on-street bicycle infrastructure, Bob said, adding that dropping a lane from a multi-lane street is an easy way to add a bicycle path.
In Bob’s experience, cities with improved bicycle infrastructure also see improvements in general safety across multiple modes of transportation. By putting in more protected bikeways, he said, a developed culture of urban biking will follow, as well as more vibrant neighborhoods.
“What it brings to the city is a lot more active living, but also a lot more housing occupancy in already-developed areas,” Bob said. “St. Louis is a developed city, but we have too much vacant and underutilized real estate. Adapting to a multi-modal transportation culture will encourage redevelopment and building re-occupancy using existing infrastructure without further urban sprawl.”
Though retired, Bob keeps busy both on his bike and through improving access to bicycling in St. Louis. Alongside consulting for Trailnet, Bob worked on the business and citizen committee that helped to develop a strategic plan for bike share in St. Louis. The city of St. Louis is now implementing the plan, he said.
Bob also fills his time with woodworking; fixing cabinets, building furniture, and other projects. He frequently makes runs to the hardware store on his bicycle.
“I’ve always thought of biking as a means to accomplish something else. It’s a means of transportation, not just recreation,” Bob said. “For the most part, I like to squeeze in a ride for utility. I would love to see more people doing the same thing.”
Alexis Vidaurreta, Planning Intern:
Rowan Poehler, Policy and Advocacy Intern:
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Jacque Lumsden, a Transportation Planner for 
Joe and Ian Cawein pedaled their first Trailnet Strawberry Ride seven years ago when Ian, Joe’s son, was only seven years old. They’ve done the ride every year since. Ian is now 14 and he and his father now both share a passion for bicycling.
Tell us more about yourself. 
As a resident of the southern part of Fox Park for the last 10 years, I have seen a tremendous amount of positive change in the area. I have a strong commitment to improving the safety and fellowship of our south city neighborhoods. I am currently the Chair for the Fox Park Safety Committee and served the last three years on the board as Sergeant at Arms. I created the Call it Like a Cop Workshop, where our neighborhood liaison officer and I teach residents to be more comfortable calling in unwanted behavior and problem properties. We educate residents on how our city services operate and how their voice matters. Communication and empowering residents in the community works to build safer communities.
As a former Walk Bike Ambassador, Champion and forever volunteer of Trailnet, I will continue where I left off–informing the city about Trailnet’s mission, membership, and vision. I’m very involved in the south St. Louis and have created relationships with city officials, schools officials, business and community leaders, residents and children. As a crossing guard and block captain I am in constant contact with parents, pedestrians, drivers and students. 
My vision for a safer St. Louis includes activating or restarting established and proven methods that foster pride and involvement of residents such as block units, block parties, neighborhood watches, and promoting activities that local neighborhood associations are sponsoring. I would love to see police officers walk the beat to get to really know residents like in years past.
These are exciting times for Trailnet and the entire region. As a grassroots advocacy organization, we have a 30-year history of pushing the envelope to make it safe and easy to bike and walk for transportation.
Since 2007, Trailnet has helped more than 35 communities develop plans for safe walking and biking. We secured federal funds to cover 80 percent of the cost for communities to plan for these changes. Most recently, Trailnet worked with the City of Florissant. Previous partners included diverse municipalities such as: Ferguson, the City of St. Charles, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Woodson Terrace, St. John, and Overland. Each of these municipalities applied to be part of 
Bob Lewis is Trailnet’s newest board member, but his involvement in helping us build for better walking and biking stretches back more than 20 years. Bob said he hopes to continue to use his expertise in city planning and urban development to advance Trailnet’s vision to build a network of protected bikeways and sidewalks connecting St. Louisans to the places they love.