How does St. Louis rank in comparison to other metropolitan areas in terms of pedestrian safety? Where is the most dangerous place for pedestrians in the country? Answers to these questions can be found in the most recent Dangerous by Design report, released in January by Smart Growth America.
The report has been produced for several years and identifies metropolitan areas and states that are most dangerous for people walking. The January report uses pedestrian fatality data from 2005-2014 to rank cities and states by
pedestrian deaths per 100,000 in population
a “pedestrian danger index,” calculated as the share of commuters who walk to work and the most recent data on pedestrian deaths.
Of the 104 metro areas ranked in the report, the two largest cities in Missouri, Kansas City and St. Louis, rank 45th and 52nd respectively. Florida has been the most dangerous state for pedestrians for the past four years, and it now has 8 of the top 10 most dangerous cities for pedestrians. In the past decade, over 46,000 people have been killed by motor vehicles while walking. The poor, the elderly, and people of color – those who are less likely to own cars or drive – make up a disproportionate share of the victims.
The report emphasizes that better street design will play a critical role in improving safety for people walking. Arterial roads, such as Manchester or Kingshighway in St. Louis, are particularly dangerous for pedestrians. These roads were designed for fast moving vehicles, often have sections that lack sidewalks, and have limited safe crossing opportunities for people who are walking. Arterial roads consign people traveling on foot to second-class status.
Trailnet has worked tirelessly for passage and implementation of Complete Streets policies in our region. A Complete Street is one that is designed with all users in mind: motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, the elderly, and the disabled. Making streets welcoming and safe for all users promotes active lifestyles, and helps to build communities that are vibrant, economically strong, and appealing to residents and employers.
RFP for strategic planning for Missouri’s regional active transportation organizations
RFP for strategic planning for Missouri’s regional active transportation organizations
Trailnet and our peer organizations in Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia request proposals for strategic planning services to inform future collaboration between the four organizations and to further our shared goals to improve the health and livability of our communities.
RFP Issued: January 20th, 2017 Questions Due: February 3rd, 2017 Proposals Due: February 10th, 2017
Partner organizations include Trailnet in St. Louis, BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, PedNet Coalition in Columbia, and Ozark Greenways in Springfield. This work is supported by the Missouri Convergence Partnership, a funder’s collaborative that includes the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the Missouri Foundation for Health.
Thanks to generous funding from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust, there are now Pace Cars cruising the neighborhood around Froebel Literacy Academy in Dutchtown. Pace Cars serve as models of safe driving behavior and increase driver awareness of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles.
Students in Froebel’s Leadership Development Program composed a Pace Car Pledge that includes items such as:
I pledge to stop for people who are crossing the street.
I pledge to not use my phone to talk or text while driving.
I pledge to wear my seatbelt and to make sure that all of my passengers are buckled before driving.
Students also worked to recruit Froebel staff, family, and community members to sign the pledge. Pace Car volunteers receive a magnetic “Neighborhood Pace Car” logo to display on their car.
The program was officially launched on December 8 with a visit from Officer Patrick Clancy of the Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department. Officer Clancy answered questions posed by Froebel students and staff, and suggested ways in which the Police Dept. can help to reinforce the Pace Car Program.
Over twenty drivers have volunteered to sign the Pace Car Pledge and our goal is to increase that number to forty in the next few weeks. Because many Froebel students walk to and from school everyday, our hope is that Pace Cars will help to improve safety for the children and for the community as a whole. If you are a resident of Dutchtown, or frequently drive in the neighborhood, sign the pledge! Contact Ginny McDonald at ginny@trailnet.org for information.
If you’ve ever been on a Bicycle Fun Club ride, you have probably been a recipient of Andy Mayberry’s generosity. If you have ever had a beer at a Trailnet event, you have definitely been on the receiving end of this equation. At the annual chili party five years ago, Andy noticed that we were serving beer with a hand-pumped keg. At the time, he worked for Grey Eagle Distributing and pulled equipment out of his truck to pressurize our keg and install a tap. He has been a valued member of the Trailnet family ever since, helping out in numerous ways at rides and other events.
Andy has been an avid bicyclist ever since buying a used Schwinn Continental at Goodwill while in junior high. He first rode the length of the Katy Trail in 2005 and now rides with a group called the Landsharks, that includes local friends and cyclists that come from other states to enjoy the country’s longest continuous rail-trail. To date, he has ridden the Katy Trail twenty-one times, and has also ridden with the group in Nebraska, Illinois, and along the shores of Lake Superior. “It’s the journey, not the destination…the people you meet and the sights you see,” he says.
Andy also participates in numerous fundraising events, and initially joined Trailnet to train with the BFC for his long-distance charity rides. “You get into riding because you like to ride and then you find a higher purpose with the charities,” Andy explains.
One of Andy’s favorite causes is The Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. As a volunteer, Andy rides a tandem with a visually-impaired child so that they can experience the freedom and joy of bicycling. “They just want to be normal kids and get out on a bike, and that is something I can help with,” he says with a smile.
Andy has helped to raise money for a variety of health-related causes by participating in numerous fundraising rides, including the Tour de Cure and Bike MS. “I’m never going to be the fastest, the strongest, or biggest fundraiser,” he says, “but I can give of myself and my time.” He also encourages drivers to be courteous to cyclists who “may be out there training for a charity ride that will help someone that the driver knows.”
A ride that has particular significance for Andy is Pedal the Cause, which raises money for cancer research and support of individuals with cancer and their caregivers. Andy has beaten cancer twice himself and refers to people with cancer as “fighters, not patients.” He rides to “let them know that there are a lot of people out here who have beaten it and offer support.”
In 2015, Andy provided support for an 8-man racing crew in the Tour Across America. The cycling team won the race from Ocean Side, California to Annapolis, Maryland. They rode over 3000 miles in 5 days, 21 hours, and 58 minutes, raising $600,000 for the Fallen Heroes Fund.
“Once you ride, you get it. You can’t explain it to someone who doesn’t ride. For the time that you’re on the bike, you can put all that other stuff behind you.”
Andy has taken on many tasks to help Trailnet, including painting road markings for rides, driving SAG vehicles, and leading group rides. “As a group leader, you’re sometimes with people who haven’t ridden a bike in twenty years. You get to take them from zero to completing twenty plus miles,” he says.
The many ways that Andy Mayberry helps Trailnet have sometimes meant that he spends less time on a bike himself. “The more I’ve gotten involved, the more I am not on the bike,” he explains. “The satisfaction I get is to see the smiles on peoples’ faces when they come in, and I don’t care if the people know what I do at all.”
Shop with Trailnet Business Members this Holiday Season
Shop with Trailnet Business Members this Holiday Season
So you have someone special on your holiday shopping list who loves biking and walking? Or, how about a super-cool gift for yourself? Be sure to visit Trailnet’s Business Members for your healthy, active living gift giving.
Many of our business members donate a portion of their sales back to Trailnet throughout the year. Be sure to let them know that you are a Trailnet member.
Bike shops are a natural starting place for your holiday shopping. Mention Trailnet when purchasing a new MIP helmet from Swim Bike Run, and they will donate $10 to Trailnet. For hand-crafted and fair trade jewelry or other unique gift items, there is Zee Bee Market on South Grand or Chainspirations. Do you know someone who likes to walk in style and comfort? Check out the terrific shoes from The Walking Cradle Comany. How about a gift of a bike tune up that comes to you from Velofix or winter training with CycloSurf Studio spinning classes?
Whole foods has everything that you need for scrumptious holiday feast. Urban Eats is a great choice for holiday catering or hosting a gathering. Wine from Lost Creek Vineyard or Lake Creek Winery in Marthasville could be the perfect hostess gift. The Katy Trail also has Trail Smokehouse in Defiance for the barbecue lover. If St. Charles is a shopping stop, be sure to visit the Bike Stop Cafe.
All set with everyone on your list? Relax and spin around Forest Park on rented bikes from City Cycling Tours. Then, how about celebrating your shopping success with a tasty beverage at the HandleBar? Enjoy! For a complete list of Trailnet Business Members click here.
Trailnet Champion: Tom Seest
Trailnet Champion: Tom Seest
Tom Seest bares into the wind, riding tall over the frame of his Kona Sutra. He crosses the campus at SIUE on a warm Saturday, relishing the hills. When he bought the bike, he switched out the factory components in favor of mountain bike gears. Loaded panniers lay across a rack behind his seat and across the handlebars. He has toured with more than 70 pounds of gear strapped to that bike. A little extra weight on his bicycle does not bother him. In April of 2011, Tom Seest weighed more than 500 pounds.
As a young man, Tom enjoyed riding. He lived in Chicago with his wife Martha, he rode regularly. After a fall down a flight of stairs in 1998, he sustained a back injury. The pain persisted and he moved less and less. Working as a software developer, he was getting very busy at the same time. While working 80 to 90 hour weeks, he was sedentary at his desk and the weight started piling on.
“I was ‘fat-fit’,” says Tom. “When you’re getting heavy, especially when you’re busy, you don’t know what’s happening to you.”
Tom and Martha moved back to Edwardsville to start a family. He worked at Lambert Airport during its expansion in the early 2000s. His boss would pay him to stop at Krispy Kreme on the way into the office to pick up donuts. On this same commute, he regularly passed a Jenny Craig diet center. One day, out of curiosity, he stopped in. He says he didn’t want to lose any weight, but wanted to see exactly where he stood. When the meter pushed past 500, the scale registered an error.
“I knew that I was significantly heavier than other people,” Tom says. “But there were not enough physical symptoms to make me change.” He could still function working at a desk, and so he plodded on.
He began doing work for a grain storage company in Assumption, Illinois, and had to drive an hour and forty-five minutes each way. Returning home in the evening, he could not even take off his own shoes. His knees were on fire from constriction during the long commute. His children started peeling off his socks and shoes for him and he a had his wake up call.
“It was a phenomenal emotional battle to get off of the couch,” he explains.
He likens preparing to take a walk outside as a large man to covering an outdoor grill. It took 20 minutes just to get ready for a walk. His body tingled and he had all of the neuropathy associated with Type 2 diabetes. He started by walking.
“I didn’t care whether I lived or died, I just did the best I could adding steps,” he says.
He went on a Carnival Cruise with his son, determined that he was going to climb all of the steps on the ship. At every landing they took photographs and sent them back home to Martha.
“You have to give the spouse hope. There is a lot of emotional struggle and baggage because they’re taking care of you all the time. I couldn’t even do simple chores like changing a light bulb.”
By this point, Tom knew that he had to do more than just exercise. He started on the Atkins Diet. He packed a cooler full of diet shakes to take to work. The ice packs doubled as a salve, soothing his burning knees while he drove. He knew that he was making progress, but he still could not register any weight loss on a standard scale.
Just after New Year’s 2011, Tom got onto the scale and it finally registered 498 pounds. He decided that this was the year he would start riding again. He took his bike to The Cyclery and Fitness Center in Edwardsville to have it tuned up. On April 6, 2011, Tom Seest rode two miles on the Madison County Trails as a birthday gift to his wife. He told her that he would ride 20 before the end of the month. After eight attempts, Tom did just that.
“It was the love of riding that kept me going,” explains Tom.
In the first month, he blew out all of the spokes on his bike, so he upgraded to another. The spokes failed on that bike too. When the bike mechanics told him it would take a week to repair, Tom bought an identical one so he could keep riding. When it happened again, he bought a third. Tom rotated the bikes, two red and one white, through the bike shop and onto the Madison County Trails. When his rims gave out, he switched to cyclocross rims and he always carried extra seats in his bag, prepared for the next time one came loose from the post.
By the end of 2011, Tom rode 3800 miles on over 230 individual rides. He crossed the state of Washington, rode through Willamette Valley, and down the Pacific Coast Highway. He and his son cycled past a bank in Edwardsville that winter and the sign read eight degrees. He went on to complete over 6650 miles in 2012.
“I became what my kids call ‘useful daddy’, more helpful than I’d ever been in my marriage, but I was still heavy,” he says.
He explains that his diet took a bad turn. He started eating a lot of carbohydrates after listening to other riders. While maintaining 1800 calories a day, he ended up gaining 40 pounds that year. This was his first clue that something was wrong with his initial attitude about weight loss; you simply burn more calories than you take in.
“I decided that he was going to figure this nutrition thing out, ” he says. He learned about the Keto Diet while listening to podcasts on the MCT Trails. Ketosis is a metabolic process that occurs when the body does not have enough glucose. Stored fats are broken down for energy. Tom figured out that by eliminating carbohydrates, his body would start to burn existing fat.
“My body is eating the twinkies I ate 20 years ago,” Tom quips, and grabs his belly. “I have plenty of fuel.”
He started ‘fast-riding’ after hearing about other endurance athletes on the Keto diet. The last time he was in Oregon on business, he did a 21-day protein-sparing fast. He claims that he has not been hungry since 2014 and sleeps only four to five hours a night with more energy than ever.
Tom tours frequently and you can often spot him on the MCT trails. He has ridden from Santa Barbara to Mexico, from the mouth of the Mississippi to Edwardsville, and from the Mississippi River to the Florida Keys. On October 15, Tom rode on 120 miles on Trailnet’s Magnificent Missouri Bike Ride and slept in a tent. The last time Tom was in a tent, he required a weight-bearing chair to get up off of the ground. He did not eat during the ride, nor for 58 hours beforehand.
“Cyclists are not intentionally intimidating, but the culture is,” he says.
Tom is not concerned with speed. He readily admits that he would be left behind on most group rides. He insists that there is a huge demand in this culture to get people back out on the trails. He really enjoys the social aspect of riding, but admits that it can be daunting.
“My perspective of the world was a couch for the last 15 years,” Tom says. He thinks that people need someone like him there as an example. There needs to be a mentality change and he believes he is the person to show them how it can be done.
For Tom the best part of cycling is the social aspect. “That’s what is saving biking”, he says. “It’s fun and it’s fitness. People are learning of opportunities because of social media and they’re getting off of their couches and getting active.”
In January, Tom is planning to go to Florida to ride the eastern seaboard with his son. “The best bucket list item you can have is a new bucket,” Tom ventures.
He would like to ride the TransAmerica Bike Trail from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia. Meanwhile, he rides when he can. He hosts up to 50 cyclists a year as they pass through on Route 66. He offers a warm shower and lets them sleep in an airconditioned RV at his house. Martha cooks meals and Tom takes them to Ted Drewes for a frozen Concrete. An overnight at his house is now coveted by cyclists from across the country.
The results from his diet and his ride-fasting have earned him something of a following. Tom is a frequent guest on podcasts now and he has a network of people that he stays connected with through social media. New research is being conducted to see how the Keto Diet might be used to treat epilepsy and even cancer. He is taking part in some of the studies and attending conferences across the country.
Tom takes a bicycle with him on cruises and rides when the ship is in port. Recently he was in Cozumel, Mexico during a torrential downpour. Tom was the only passenger to get off of the boat. Shopkeepers watched him from storefronts and he saw an armadillo float. Both of pedals were underwater, but Tom kept on rolling.
Louisiana Avenue is a busy residential street that runs along several south city parks and connects to a variety of local businesses and neighborhood schools. It is also a pilot site for the City of St. Louis’ Calm Streets Concept, an initiative funded by the Environmental Protection Agency to create a network of Calm Streets in the city. Calm Streets are residential streets where the use of traffic calming features, such as curb extensions and speed humps, are used to reduce vehicle speeds and make the street safer for people walking, biking and driving.
The block of Louisiana between Osage and Gasconade Streets was the site of a Calm Streets pop-up demonstration on Thursday, November 17. Staff members from the St. Louis City Street Department and Trailnet staff and volunteers installed temporary crosswalks, a roundabout, and other items designed to slow traffic speeds. The traffic calming features remained in place throughout the day while driving behaviors were observed and feedback was collected from community members.
Many respondents were enthusiastic about the traffic calming measures and how they would contribute to safety for everyone using the street. One resident acknowledged that we “definitely need something to slow traffic.” Two community members were supportive because “there are lots of kids on this street.” One resident stated that “if you have to put a speed hump every six feet, I’m all for it!”
We look forward to continuing our work with the community, with elected officials and with other project partners to realize the vision of a network of calmer safer residential streets. To read more about Trailnet’s Calm Streets Project, click here.
Swim Bike Run Supports Trailnet
Buy a Helmet and Support Trailnet!
Swim Bike Run supports Trailnet and our vision for St. Louis. Mention Trailnet when purchasing a MIPS enabled Scott helmet, and they will donate $10 from each sale to us. These aren’t just any helmet! MIPS is the very latest in safety technology and they come in a variety of cool styles, designs and colors. Check them out.
What St. Louis can learn from the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis
What St. Louis can learn from the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis
In November, several Trailnet staff members decided to visit Indianapolis on their own time to check out the Cultural Trail and see how protected bikeways and walkways could help St. Louis. When they got back to work, the staff members pulled together several lessons learned from their vacation.
Here are a few highlights of what they learned:
The Cultural Trail is really two trails- a parallel sidewalk and protected bikeway, with landscaping and raingardens separating the routes in places. In St. Louis we need to make sure our design includes enough space for separate walking and biking routes, raingardens, and benches, public art, or sidewalk cafes.
Designing for everyone really does get everyone out walking and biking- people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds were enjoying the trail on foot and on bike.
The Cultural Trail has spurred development- for St. Louis, we need to make sure affordability and land use policy are part of the planning process so that our infrastructure is for everyone.
The trail was designed to make safe walking and biking a priority; at minor streets the trail was elevated to make sure cars slowed down. At stop lights the trail was marked with artistic and reflective crosswalks. All over the trail, public art celebrated the joy of walking, bicycling, and exploring the community.
At night the trail is well lit with lights that are designed to illuminate the paths for people walking and biking. The distinctive lights along the trail make it easy to navigate and increase safety.
Trailnet is moving forward with the first phase of the Master Planning Process for the new vision by determining the process for public input and feedback. To ensure our vision reflects the needs of St. Louis, Trailnet will be reaching out to key stakeholders in the next year. Trailnet will create a vision for everyone by gathering community input in many ways and working with residents, institutions, and local governments to answer difficult questions. This process will help our region make the important decision of determining routes, funding, and governance to make our vision a reality.
Starting in 2017, Trailnet staff and volunteers will be attending public meetings, distributing surveys, forming committees, conducting stakeholder interviews, and more in order to reach everyone in St. Louis to develop our vision into a master plan for connecting St. Louis.
Stay tuned for invitations on how to get involved and ensure your voice is heard.
Thanks to generous funding from the 
The program was officially launched on December 8 with a visit from Officer Patrick Clancy of the Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department. Officer Clancy answered questions posed by Froebel students and staff, and suggested ways in which the Police Dept. can help to reinforce the Pace Car Program.
Over twenty drivers have volunteered to sign the Pace Car Pledge and our goal is to increase that number to forty in the next few weeks. Because many Froebel students walk to and from school everyday, our hope is that Pace Cars will help to improve safety for the children and for the community as a whole. If you are a resident of Dutchtown, or frequently drive in the neighborhood, sign the pledge! Contact Ginny McDonald at 
ago, Andy noticed that we were serving beer with a hand-pumped keg. At the time, he worked for Grey Eagle Distributing and pulled equipment out of his truck to pressurize our keg and install a tap. He has been a valued member of the Trailnet family ever since, helping out in numerous ways at rides and other events.
One of Andy’s favorite causes is The Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. As a volunteer, Andy rides a tandem with a visually-impaired child so that they can experience the freedom and joy of bicycling. “They just want to be normal kids and get out on a bike, and that is something I can help with,” he says with a smile.
any ways that Andy Mayberry helps Trailnet have sometimes meant that he spends less time on a bike himself. “The more I’ve gotten involved, the more I am not on the bike,” he explains. “The satisfaction I get is to see the smiles on peoples’ faces when they come in, and I don’t care if the people know what I do at all.”
