Trailnet held its annual Movers & Shakers: Connecting St. Louis Gala on Thursday, November 1. More than 450 bicycle and pedestrian advocates joined the celebration to support our plan for a network of protected bikeways. Check out the photos here.
Emcee Eli Chen with St. Louis Public Radio, and Trailnet Board President, Michael Hickey with Lewis Rice, kicked off the event. Co-Chairs David Wolfe and Florian Kuplent, Co-Founders of UCBC, and their crew showed up in spirit by rolling up to the stage on bicycles to toast Trailnet’s 30th anniversary.
Phil Hulse with Green Street St. Louis, the organization behind the redevelopment of the Armory, and Trailnet Board member Peder Hulse, who is deeply involved in the Grove and central corridor, discussed Trailnet’s energizing approach of working collaboratively to accelerate progress. Our Keynote Marius Johnson-Malone, with Better Together, shared insights into the role that mobility plays in bridging St. Louis’ racial equity gaps, promoting health, and sparking economic development as we work together.
Trailnet’s CEO, Ralph Pfremmer, highlighted our Connecting St. Louis routes that link neighborhoods north and south to job centers and the places we need to go every day. View our network map here. We’ve also jump-started sections of the plan. Check out the updated Story Map on our website. A city that is safe to bike and walk is a thriving city
Together, we are St. Louis. Together, we can make this plan a reality. It’s truly achievable in the near-term and
now is the time. Thank you to all who joined us for our Gala! Let’s keep the momentum going!
Trailnet Champion – ITC’s Mike Burch, Dan Bussey, and Bryan Whitson
Trailnet is grateful to have the support of video production
experts from ITC who believe in our vision for a network of protected bikeways. ITC’s Bryan Whiston, Mike Burch, and Dan Bussey produced our Connecting St. Louis video, which debuted at our 2018 Gala. The team volunteered their efforts because they support Trailnet’s vision and wanted to lend their talents. That’s why they’re our Trailnet Champions this month.
“This is a great cause, more people need to know about this,” said Burch, Director of photography and editor at ITC.
“A couple people here were really big bikers, but more have taken it up… It has changed our culture here a bit,” Burch said, adding others at ITC have also make bicycling a bigger part of their lives.Not only did ITC’s team deliver a video that highlights the support our dedicated community and civic leaders have for Trailnet’s plan, they also enhanced the biking and walking culture in their office. Burch said he wasn’t a big bicyclist before working with Trailnet, but has since spent a lot more time in the saddle.
Burch explained ITC and Trailnet have something of a parallel message overall, working to enhance the narrative of St. Louis.
“St. louis needs to have this in its arsenal as far as keeping up with other cities, continuing economic growth, attracting young people and keeping them in the city, advancing diversity, and everything else,” Burch said. “Showing these things in a beautiful way, and talking about the mission and the progress is going to reach the average person. Someone who isn’t in the bicycling community can watch this video and say, ‘these are cool ideas from people I respect. I should get on board’.”
Burch added he and his team want to keep the project going because they believe in the cause. Watch the video here.
Trailnet Champion – Ericka Frank
Photo credit: Heather Roth Photography
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Ericka Frank, owner of The Cup and The Cakery where she releases her creative outlet through an obsession she’s been mastering since she was 14–baking and decorating the most stunning cakes. If you’ve been to the Chain of Rocks Bridge Bash or our Movers & Shakers Gala, there’s a good chance you’ve tasted the desserts she’s donated. In her own way, she’s helping Trailnet connect St. Louis by bringing people together over sweet treats. Check out this quick Q&A to learn what inspires her to feed her community. Not only can you find her treats at The Cup and The Cakery, if you attend our Gala in November, you’ll get to experience the awesome cupcake tower she’s designing!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
What makes you wake up every day inspired to bake and advance your business?
I am someone who finds great satisfaction in working with my hands and creating something beautiful. I am addicted to Instagram because I’m such a visual person. I spend way too many hours mesmerized by pictures of beautiful cakes, desserts, and fresh flowers.
How have Trailnet and The Cup and The Cakery worked together in the past?
The Cakery has been donating cake for the Chain of Rocks Bridge Bash for the past five years. The Cup donated the dessert for the Gala last year and will do so this year as well. Last year, The Cup made 29 nine-inch round cakes that were sliced and served. This year, we will be making cupcakes in a variety of flavors that will be displayed on a cupcake tower topped with a top tier cake for the 30th anniversary.
How did you discover Trailnet?
Trailnet’s director of programs Cindy Mense was actually my first boss when I was a dietitian! I came to St. Louis to do my internship in nutrition and dietetics and begin the Master’s program in Medical Dietetics at SLU. One of my community rotations during the internship was under Cindy at Family Care Health Centers. I applied and was hired by Cindy at the end of my internship. After that, I worked as a dietitian for three years, then I realized God did not create me to be a dietitian so I finished my Master’s Degree and eventually opened The Cakery in 2005 and The Cup in 2007. Later, I knew that Cindy was working at Trailnet and we re-connected. I have a strong foods background because of nutrition, but I definitely enjoy the “sweet” side of things much more. I’m not much of a “real food” chef!
What are your thoughts on our Trailnet Connecting St. Louis vision?
I am so thankful for the work that Trailnet is doing! I am particularly encouraged by the amount and types of education that Trailnet does, and I am really excited about Trailnet’s vision for the future that I learned about at the Movers & Shakers Gala last year. I believe in Trailnet’s mission and am so happy that we can play a part in supporting the organization with what we do.
What do you do for fun?
I hang out with my husband Kevin and our adopted Schnauzer Juli. I always say if I didn’t own a bakery, I would just hang out with a bunch of dogs every day. Over the last several years, we have adopted three senior dogs, all of them eight years or older and Schnauzers or Schnauzer mixes. I also keep bees! Since about age 12, I’ve been fascinated by bees and I finally decided three years ago that I could carve out the time to do it. I also enjoy being outdoors walking, mowing the yard, building a fire in the fire pit or going to art fairs, food festivals, or new restaurants.
In your opinion, what makes a city thrive?
Perpetual growth of opportunities–specifically opportunities for people to engage in culture.
Any final thoughts?
Everything in moderation, right? I might be a dietitian gone bad, but I still want to promote the health and well-being of our city!
Trailnet Champion – Liz Heller
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Liz Heller, Principal of Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli. Competition drives Liz Heller. Between her basketball career at Beloit College in Wisconsin where she scored more than 1,000 points, her bid to join the USA Olympic Cycling Team, or her successful law career as a principal with Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli PC, Heller has always been able to “mix it up competitively.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How would you describe your community?
I’m lucky because I live in the City of St. Louis in the Central West End, and I work in Edwardsville, which is right in the middle of a network of amazing bike trails. The park is my backyard and I love what is going on with the linking of the trails throughout the city.
What makes you wake up everyday wanting work for Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli PC?
I work with people who have terrible diseases, caused by exposure to toxins and they’re generally people who worked making $8/hour in terrible conditions. They’re wonderful people and the relationships we’ve built is absolutely the best part of my job.
What are some memorable biking cities, trails, or places you’ve experienced? What made them memorable?
I have competed all around the country and internationally, but the most eye opening experience was the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. We trained for about 6 months, the first year after law school. My firm actually gave me the time off to train and we went to Barcelona and won a silver medal.
What do you think could most improve transportation in St. Louis?
Creating safe bike lanes would help immensely. I love how other cities are keeping bikes and cars moving in the same direction, but safely separate.
I am a strong supporter of the Connecting St. Louis plan. To be able to safely connect from neighborhood to neighborhood, will be critical for growth. I recently met with Trailnet and they spoke about traffic calming, which is a phrase I had not heard before, but the safety behind it is absolutely imperative.
In your opinion, what makes a city thrive?
When I think of thriving cities, Denver and Seattle come to mind. In my opinion, they have what Trailnet is trying to promote, and that’s making it feasible and possible to move throughout the city without a car.
Hobbies/Community Outreach you are involved with?
I hang out on my bike when I’m not working. Training takes a great deal of time and I love to stay busy!
Any final thoughts or words?
If you’re biking, there is always the risk of getting hit by a car and I’ve been hit twice. I love what Trailnet is doing to make our streets and parks safer. Thanks to Trailnet for all you do for the St. Louis region!
Meet Trailnet’s newest interns
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 held its annual Movers & Shakers: Connecting St. Louis Gala on Thursday, November 1. More than 450 bicycle and pedestrian advocates joined the celebration to support our plan for a network of protected bikeways. Check out the photos here.
Phil Hulse with Green Street St. Louis, the organization behind the redevelopment of the Armory, and Trailnet Board member Peder Hulse, who is deeply involved in the Grove and central corridor, discussed Trailnet’s energizing approach of working collaboratively to accelerate progress. Our Keynote Marius Johnson-Malone, with Better Together, shared insights into the role that mobility plays in bridging St. Louis’ racial equity gaps, promoting health, and sparking economic development as we work together.
This month’s Trailnet Champion is Liz Heller, Principal of Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli. Competition drives Liz Heller. Between her basketball career at Beloit College in Wisconsin where she scored more than 1,000 points, her bid to join the USA Olympic Cycling Team, or her successful law career as a principal with Goldenberg, Heller & Antognoli PC, Heller has always been able to “mix it up competitively.”
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. 