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.

Thanks to our partners: DotZack – .ZACK, 4theville, Northside Community Housing, Inc., National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Metropolitan Saint Louis Chapter, St. Louis Storytelling Festival, & The State Historical Society of Missouri

Trailnet Welcomes New CEO, Cindy Mense

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!

Trailnet Updates Laclede Intersection for a Day

Morning commuters who passed through the intersection of Laclede and Vandeventer on April 19 caught a glimpse of some proposed updates that will make St. Louis streets safer for all users. Trailnet’s pop-up demonstration utilized temporary materials to create a parklet that increased safety, comfort, and accessibility for those who walk and bike.

Trudy Luchini from Capstone Development LLC and Ronald R.Coleman, Neighborhood Improvement Specialist with the City of St. Louis, were among others who joined us to help evaluate and design spaces that prioritize transportation at a human scale.

“Thank you Trailnet for taking the lead on this creative popup parklet,” Coleman said. “The pop up provided a great opportunity to envision a permanent public space where people could pause from their everyday city bustle.”

The purpose of these pop-ups is to show people how improved walking and biking infrastructure will make their daily lives easier, safer, and more pleasant. By testing examples of on-the-ground implementation, we can deliberately plan for how people will interact with streets and walkways.

“I think it’s a great idea and it’s an inexpensive way to beautify an intersection,” Luchini said. “It adds life to the neighborhood.”

Stay tuned for more pop up dates so you can see low-cost, simple design changes to our streets that can transform the city into a place where people can utilize high-quality bike lanes and sidewalks to get to the places they love.

Trailnet Champion: Cara Spencer

Cara Spencer has been a long-time advocate for advancing multi-modal transportation access and increasing transportation safety. As Alderman of the 20th Ward in St. Louis, she’s worked closely with Trailnet to push forward policies that prioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety, advocated for better street designs through traffic calming demonstrations, and helped us out with community safety workshops. This year, we’re excited to continue collaborating with Cara as the region’s first Calm Street breaks ground in her district.

Read on to learn more about what Cara is doing to make St. Louis better for those who walk and bike.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How have you, the city, and Trailnet worked together in the past?

I’ve worked with Trailnet since the time I became an Alderman. I was lucky enough to participate in a three-day trip to Portland with several Aldermen, the Board of Public Service and Trailnet in 2015 to observe best practices in street design. Since that time, I’ve worked with Trailnet to lay the groundwork for the region’s first Calm Street: the Louisiana Project which will break ground later this year. Trailnet has been a great partner with the community at Froebel Elementary and I’ve worked with several Trailnet staff members to host workshops for students as well as implementation of recommended traffic calming measures to help students get to school safer.

What work have you done, or are currently doing, to advance walking and biking in St. Louis?

I’m pushing for a Vision Zero policy – I would love to see our City get serious about adequately funding a Streets Department that comprehensively reviews our streets and sidewalks for safety.

Why are you passionate about transportation-related work?

I use all modes of transportation to get around this city including walking, biking, and even scootering. Many of the residents I represent do the same, and some out of necessity. Many our families don’t have access to a car in their household and I strongly believe that getting serious about multi-modal transportation is an issue of social justice.

What are some of St. Louis’ biggest barriers to safer walking and biking? How can we work past them?

Two of the biggest barriers are a lack of funding and a lack of planning. With these two critical components, we cannot design streets that are safe for all. We need a dedicated funding stream and a commitment to safety as a priority.

Are you a bicyclist? If so, what keeps you pedaling?

Yes, I’m an avid cyclist—both on roads and on paths. This past weekend I biked from my home in South City to the riverfront trail, along the trail to the Chain of Rocks Bridge and back home—a 37-mile loop. Sometimes I bike alone and sometimes I haul my son Cy who still likes to join me in a trailer and sometimes we bike together. We love cycling – it’s a great way to see a neighborhood and/or nature, up close and while getting exercise.

What are some other initiatives you’re working on that you’re excited about?

Being a place people not just have to live, but want to live is what makes a city thrive. And that means at every stage of life. We’ve got to family friendly amenities, quality education for all and a robust economy for adults of all backgrounds to be able contribute and thrive. We need safe and accessible housing and a way for all residents, including those with mobility challenges, to be able to get around easily and safely.

What do you do for fun?

Fun! I love biking! I try to bike somewhere at least once a week, but I also run 3-5 times a week and spend a lot of time in my garden in the summer.

Women’s Bike Summit Panelists Talk Safety, Policy

Trailnet and some dedicated advocates participated in The St. Louis Women’s Bike Summit on Saturday, April 6. The event united a diverse crew of women with a shared interest in bicycling. Trailnet’s Deputy Executive Director, Cindy Mense hosted a panel discussion with Cara Spencer, 20th Ward Alderwoman in St. Louis, and Bridget McAndrew, Third Ward Alderwoman in Clayton.

Panelists spoke about the various ways recreational bicyclists can really benefit from having streets and sidewalks that are designed to support daily walking and biking in their community. Participants learned about  the successes and struggles when advocating for safer streets and meaningful ways that women can take part and make difference!

From left: Bridget McAndrew, Third Ward Alderwoman in Clayton, Cara Spencer, 20th Ward Alderwoman in St. Louis, Cindy Mense, Trailnet Deputy Executive Director

Why build for better biking and walking

Each panelist shed light on what improved bicycling and walking can do to advance the region as a whole. Making it easier for people to travel on foot and bicycle can have a positive impact on safety, economic development, social equity, and the environment, panelists said.

“I’ll bring it to social justice,” Cara said. “There’s a lot of people who don’t have a way to get around. Cindy mentioned our pedestrian fatality rate – three times the national average. There’s a real sense of urgency just to provide some safer alternatives for getting around. It’s important to change the culture and the mindset that we all have a right to access and use our roadways.”

Bridget spoke about how changing roads to accommodate bicyclists can boost a region’s economy and expand its population.

“One of the things that people look at when they’re moving to a community or city is its infrastructure,” Bridget said. “Millennials want to see alternative ways to get around and not be in their car. We need to think about how we can be more sustainable as a region and make sure there are reasons that we can get people to move here. That’s a big way to attract companies, to say, ‘hey look at this infrastructure we’re building, look at what’s in place,’ so that they can attract educated young people here to keep our city growing.”

With fossil fuel use being the absolute biggest contributor to global warming, panelists also discussed how building a community that supports active transportation can help protect the environment for future generations.

“I’ve got kids and they’re very concerned about the environment and how much time we’ve got left to really make a difference,” Cindy said. “Transportation is a key driver of pollution and if we can carve out some space for protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety features, people are more likely to leave their cars behind. Streets are public space and it’s right in front of us, there’s some urgency to do that.”

Safety

Those attending the panel expressed concerns over general safety when bicycling in St. Louis. People said they were not only worried about motor vehicle traffic, but about bicycling or walking in areas with high crime rates. Panelists said addressing safety at different levels is a long-term process, but solutions are underway. Cara noted her district is about to have the first Calm Street in the region.

“We’re doing the region’s first calm street in my district, which is the Louisiana project,” Cara said. ”It was born out of a Trailnet project where Trailnet paid for several elected officials and the board of public service to travel to Portland, Oregon to take a look at some of their infrastructure over there and explore making a safe roadway that is inclusive within a neighborhood.”

Calm Streets are residential streets where 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. In December 2016, Trailnet and staff members from the St. Louis City Street Department installed temporary crosswalks, a roundabout, and other items designed to slow traffic speeds on a stretch of Louisiana Avenue. Now those features will become permanent in 2020.

Cindy spoke about how Trailnet is working to bring safer transportation options and community events to St. Louis’ more challenged neighborhoods.

“We are addressing safety in different areas,” Cindy said. “Last year we did a Juneteenth Celebration Ride highlighting the end of slavery and we got our community partners involved. We had 4theVille, Girl Trek, and National Coalition for 100 Black Women and really got the community engaged in planning the route and the destinations. We’re doing it again this year. Last year when we road through the Ville, people were clapping and happy to see us. So, maybe there’s a little bit of change. Maybe getting the community to select ride destinations and historic things they want to highlight helps bring us closer together.”

Policy and advocacy

Panelists also spoke to the varying degrees to which they must engage the community and local leaders to acquire support for streets that feature safe bicycle and walking infrastructure. Cindy noted that complete streets policies or ordinances in St. Louis and Clayton dictate that every time a city designs, builds, or maintains a new or old street, they must think about all users—not just motor vehicles. Still, when it comes to carrying out these policies, there can be some resistance.

“Clayton has a complete streets policy that we adopted,” Bridget said. “Every 20 years or so, we kind of look at streets – Maryland Avenue between Hanley and basically where Clayton ends in Ladue – needs to be repaved. Part of our initiative is to look and see how we can make the street better for biking and walking. In looking at that we decided to institute protected bike lanes on either side going east and west. It  was a big undertaking because there was a lot of resistance within the community. People were very much for it or very much against it.”

Bridget said she had many public meetings about the protected bike lanes and educated residents about how accommodating bicyclists can have a positive impact on safety. “We’ll see how it goes,” she said. “The street will get repaved in the fall and finished in the spring.”

Panelists said one of the most effective ways for the community to lend a hand in optimizing St. Louis’ streets for those who walk or bicycle is by not only by voting but by staying in contact  with local officials.

“Supporting policies means communicating with elected officials on a regular basis,” Cara said. “Even just once in a while. It’s really important to connect directly with those who are representing you on issues. It’s incredible what five emails to an elected official can do.”

Trailnet Champion – John Lill

This month we honor all-star volunteer John Lill as our Trailnet Champion. John recently passed away after a long fight with type two diabetes, but we will always remember his dedication to making our rides run smoothly and his ability to put a smile on everyone’s face.

John came to Trailnet after the 2016 Tour de Cure, a nationwide bicycling event benefiting the American Diabetes Association. He both rode and volunteered for TdC before joining our gang of volunteers.

Due to the nature of his diabetes, John suffered from foot pain that eventually prevented him from bicycling. To stay active and involved, he volunteered—proving his adoration and commitment to the active living movement and social scene. John volunteered more and more often during the 2016 season and essentially full-time in 2017.

John was a regular at rides and events. At rides he was known as the beer man because his favorite job was serving beer to riders. He was a big fan of St. Louis Blues hockey and unexpectedly (for a man in his late 50s) heavy metal music.

To staff and volunteers John became known as “the curmudgeon” due to his wry wit and dry sense of humor. He was always great with customers. He was often first to arrive and always last to leave at events. He would help until he was covered with sweat and everything was done.

It’s not too often you come across a caring, generous person like John. We extend our condolences to John’s family and friends and hope his demeanor and charitable efforts continue to inspire those who met him.

Launching 2019 with the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo

A letter from Trailnet CEO Ralph Pfremmer

This past weekend Trailnet participated in St. Louis’ oldest and largest show of its kind, the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo.  It was produced by our friends and partners at Terrain Magazine and it was a wonderful way to get out of the house and see what’s happening outside.

Terrain Magazine, published six times a year, focuses on all things outdoors and is significant to our region. Trailent’s mission is to make walking and biking better in the St. Louis region and our alignment with Terrain is an important partnership. We’re proud of the magazine’s publisher Brad Kovach and applaud his team for their efforts in highlighting Trailnet’s work in their magazine.

Trailnet’s event calendar is also published in Terrain Magazine. If you are a Trailnet member, you receive a free subscription to Terrain through our partnership. Sign up here to be a member today.

This year the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo moved locations from the Gateway Executive Center in Collinsville IL, to St. Louis Union Station, Downtown. Also new to the event was the inaugural Gateway Outdoor Summit put on by our friends at Active Strategies. Deputy Executive Director, Cindy Mense, joined me to facilitate the day’s wrap-up, an hour-long craft beer inspired collection of ideas using an instant polling platform. Participants at the summit did exercises to explore the different challenges in improving outdoor recreation for all ages, abilities, genders, races, and ethnicities. Feeling welcome in outdoor recreation can mean different things to different people. Attendees were able to text opinions on how we can improve the region’s outdoor experience while seeing the results in real time. We had a good time and there were some important takeaways. More than 100 people braved the snow to spend the day celebrating the region’s achievements in outdoor recreation while imagining what’s possible when advocates work together toward, among other things, better transportation access for all.

While presenting that afternoon I couldn’t help but acknowledge the people participating seemed to be feeling something special–a warm connection to one another with a common bond. It was inspiring to see the diversity in the partners that were invited to join in on the conversation, particularly local advocates from Outdoor Afro and GirlTrek.

From the panelists who shared a wealth of lifetime experience to those who are just starting out on an active lifestyle, the opportunity to learn from each other while broadening their networks was front and center.

In the two days that would follow, we would see thousands of people walking through the doors of Union Station. What was once our region’s premiere transportation hub transformed, for three days, into a community asset focused on connecting people through the outdoor activities they love. While the purpose of Union Station has changed a bit, she is still connecting people. The ideas and connections forged last weekend certainly engendered a new camaraderie while setting an important stage for powerful acts of teamwork to come.

Cheers to you and the entire outdoor community!

Ralph

Trailnet Champions – Mark and Robyn Wittry

Mark and Robyn Wittry have helping improve bicycling and walking in St. Louis for most of Trailnet’s lifespan. They have been Trailnet members for 17 years and regularly participate in our community and long-distance rides. Now, with the emergence of our Connecting St. Louis plan, they are more hopeful than ever that the region can become a nurturing community for people who bike—something important to them as lifelong bicyclists.

“I grew up in a two-car, five-kid family where my only means of transportation to school outside busses and hitching a ride was a bicycle,” said Mark. “When I got into [medical] practice, I knew I needed to get back into exercise and knew I needed a bike that was better than a hand-me-down.”

It was during his search for a new bicycle that Mark discovered Trailnet. Walking into Maplewood Bicycle 17 years ago, Mark saw one of Trailnet’s fliers for Bicycle Fun Club. The first ride he and his wife did was Tour de Fat (we’ve since discontinued this ride). He noted that at the end of the ride you got a beer rather than just a shirt (we’ve held on to this element, for sure).

As Mark and Robyn begin to enter retirement, they are faced with a changing St. Louis—making them reconsider their plans to move out of the region for a more bicycle-centric culture.

“The vision is impressive,” Mark said. “It has us re-thinking our plans. We thought about moving upon retirement to central Michigan to do more bike riding. Now there are more plans to connect us to the city and elsewhere… I think with bike infrastructure more people will take advantage for the exercise and commute.”

Mark said that for him bicycling is part of a healthy-living routine; riding your bike to work may take a bit more time out of your day, but your mind and body see the benefit and when you arrive home, you don’t have to worry about cramming in a workout. Instead, he said, you have time to socialize with your family.

The bicycling community, he said, is a major part of why Mark and Robyn have been such stalwart Trailnet members.

“My attitude is: I don’t want to just sit on my tush. So besides doing the exercise bike or single rides, Robyn and I would go out and socialize,” Mark said. “Now Trailnet has more to offer like Bicrobrews and historic rides. There is more incentive to go out on a Saturday or Sunday and socialize.”

One of Mark and Robyn’s most recent rides was our Vision Ride—a tour of various areas that could be improved for bicycling and walking through Trailnet’s vision for enhanced infrastructure.

Mark is a physician in radiology and Robyn is a retired administrative assistant for orthopedic trauma. They hope to volunteer more with Trailnet in the coming years once they are both retired.

If you know someone who would make a good Trailnet Champion, email Robin at robin@trailnet.org.