In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. In April 2024, we featured Kara Burt.
Kara Burt grew up in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and now manages The Audubon’s Hotel & Restaurant at the heart of historic downtown Ste. Gen. Kara was instrumental in bringing Trailnet to Ste. Gen for the inaugural StG Gravel Classic in 2022, and Audubon’s continues to sponsor the ride and support our work.
“While planning the first StG Gravel Ride, we were without a Tourism Director, so a few of the merchants and I got together to welcome the riders and Trailnet to town,” said Kara. “After meeting with Corinne and Matt and seeing the passion for what they do I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I’m happy to help with the rider experience and host the after party for the StG ride…
It’s about getting riders out to enjoy our beautiful scenery and support Trailnet’s mission. Their advocacy & assistance in planning for safer streets is a vital part of creating safer communities. Who wouldn’t want to support that? It’s a win for everyone.”
In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. In March 2024, we featured Kelly McGowan.
If you are civically engaged in St. Louis City, you’ve probably heard Kelly McGowan’s name, or at least the name of the organization she founded—Transform 314.
“Growing up here, I immediately understood there were two St. Louises—The one my family and I resided in, with other predominantly Black families; and the other one with predominantly white residents,” said Kelly. “I also saw the differences in resources, opportunities, and transportation infrastructure. As I became older and learned why that was, and how components of our built environments play a role in adverse health outcomes, I knew I wanted to help mitigate those issues…”
As Kelly dove into this work, she realized how integral local government is when it comes to shaping the fabric of our communities, and yet, how few people engage with their local government. “With this realization, Transform 314 was created to support Black St. Louisans to drive the changes to create equitable built environments,” said Kelly.
Lately, Transform 314 and Trailnet have been working together to ensure that our audiences understand the proposed changes coming to the built environment in St. Louis. Kelly has a knack for making local politics approachable and easy to engage with—join her email newsletter at the bottom of this page to tap in!
Trailnet Champion: Dirk Sprogoe
In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. In February 2024, we featured Dirk Sprogoe.
Dirk Sprogoe, owner of Billy Goat Bicycle Company in Kirkwood, was born and raised in St. Louis and still calls it home.
“Born to European parents, my brother and I spent many summers in Switzerland and Germany and it was there that we saw cycling as something much bigger and more exciting than it was back home,” said Dirk. “That introduction to cycling inspired both of us to get racing bikes, start training, and then race our bikes all over the midwest… Back then, we dreamed of one day owning our own shop. We’ve owned [Billy Goat] now for 8 years, and absolutely love what we do.”
Dirk is now 30+ years into his career in the local bike industry, and as passionate as ever. He comes by his passion honestly.
“My 85 year old mother still prefers to walk a mile to the grocery store and back, rather than drive..so maybe it’s in our genes. I will always prefer riding my bike to work over driving, and that has been true for over 30 years now,” said Dirk.
Dirk and Billy Goat Bicycle Co. are perennial supporters of Trailnet’s work. Whether he is providing SAG support or sponsoring a ride (like the upcoming StG Gravel Classic), Dirk’s support is grounded in his belief in Trailnet’s vision.
“As a pedestrian, a cyclist, and a motorist, what excites me the most about Trailnet’s Streets for All vision is that it’s a plan with a 360 degree viewpoint. Regardless of whether I am walking, riding, or driving, I often see folks at odds with one another, and often without compassion for the other side. I feel that Trailnet is working to address the concerns from all sides, and to find legal and practical solutions with everyone’s best interests at heart.”
Trailnet Champion: Michael Schwartz
In each of our monthly newsletters, Trailnet features a member of our community who is working toward Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. In January 2024, we featured Michael Schwartz.
We want to recognize Michael Schwartz for nine years of dedicated service on Trailnet’s board of directors. Since joining Trailnet’s board in 2014, Michael—a mergers & acquisitions attorney and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright—has provided us with legal counsel, fostered partnerships throughout the region and most recently helped lead the 2023 Jewish History Community Ride!
Michael remains deeply committed to Trailnet’s mission and to supporting the Streets for All movement, even as his time on the board has ended.
“I know I don’t need to be on Trailnet’s board to make an impact,” he said. “We need folks in our community to advocate for pedestrians and cyclists—whether they are walking, running, cycling or otherwise getting around for enjoyment or out of necessity. I’ll continue to speak up, and I hope you’ll join me.”
Two Lifetime Advocates Making St. Louis Better for People Who Bike, Walk and Roll
Q&A with Bill and Carla Sauerwein, owners of Pedego St. Louis
Conducted by Trailnet Marketing & Communications Coordinator Justin Seaton
Justin: Hi Bill! I understand you and Carla have long histories as bike/walk advocates. Tell me about how you got involved in this world.
Bill: Both Carla and I have been cyclists all of our lives. Carla is a pediatric RN and for years ran the St. Louis SAFE KIDS Coalition. She led education and advocacy to prevent childhood injury, including supplying and promoting bike helmets and car seats. I served as Mayor of the City of Oakland form 1997 – 2001 and with the idea of providing safe streets and walkways for residents, constructed almost all of the sidewalks you see in the city of Oakland and redesigned many of the streets. As Mayor, our city-wide capitol improvements plan was nominated for a state-wide landscape architect design award.
J: How did you first become involved with Trailnet? Tell me about your partnership with us over the years.
B: I suppose my first connection to Trailnet came when I attempted to acquire a small strip of abandoned railroad property within the City of Oakland in order to construct a park. In that process, I met Ted Curtis, then the Director of Trailnet, who introduced me to Trailnet and its mission. Trailnet ended up completing the northern leg of the Grant’s Trail with the property and the City constructed a park around the trail. Our store is adjacent to the park. Thereafter, Carla and I became supporters of Trailnet, participating in Trailnet rides and learning about the many projects undertaken by Trailnet.
More recently, as we met the dedicated staff of Trailnet—Cindy, Corrine, Kevin and others—and witnessed firsthand their hard work and dedication, we knew that Trailnet was an important organization to support. We share its mission…. and over the years we have helped raise funds so that they can continue to make streets and trails safer and available to all.
J: When/How did you open Pedego St. Louis, and how has your business connected you to the St. Louis cycling community?
B: We opened Pedego St. Louis in June, 2019 by rehabilitating an old, run-down building adjacent to Grant’s Trail in Oakland. From our location, we meet and talk to cyclists and trail users every day. We have greatly expanded the cycling community by putting people back on bikes that had for one reason or another gotten away from cycling. We have gently introduced the St Louis cycling community to electric bikes which are now widely used for commuting, leisure riding, trail riding and for the all around enjoyment of bicycling.
J: Speak briefly about the E-Bike that you are contributing to Trailnet’s upcoming raffle (winner to be announced at the 2023 Paving the Way Soiree)
B: The bike we have donated to Trailnet this year is a Pedego Avenue. Since this model was introduced a year ago, it has become the number one selling Pedego Electric bike. The Avenue utilizes a “hybrid style” frame that is familiar to everyone and is a great bike for riding and commuting on streets and paved trails. It is quality-designed, lightweight and balanced. Like all Pedego Electric Bikes, it comes with a 5 year warranty that includes the electrical components. Everyone loves this bike.
