Ride your bike between the Oak Bend and Grant’s View branches for prizes, kid’s programming, wellness activities, and more. In partnership with St. Louis County Library, Great Rivers Greenway, Historic Sappington House Museum, and Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. All ages. Learn more at https://ow.ly/BW5T50Ts7uR
Trailnet, the regional nonprofit dedicated to Safe Streets for All, has reviewed the newly-released design changes proposed by the City Board Of Public Service for Union Blvd from Delmar to West Florissant.
If well-executed, this ARPA-funded project could transform Union, helping connect people on bikes between Bellefontaine Cemetery and Forest Park. However, the majority of the currently proposed design changes are minor and would maintain the status quo on Union.
First, community outreach and engagement has fallen short for all of the ARPA-funded projects, and Union is no exception.
As to the design changes on Union: There is a new road diet proposed with buffered bike lanes between MLK and Natural Bridge. North of Natural Bridge, however, Union would remain essentially unchanged. There are numerous right turn lanes proposed throughout the road diet section, and in some cases, these dedicated right turn lanes are for streets that are only one block long. Dedicated right-turn lanes create dangerous conflicts between cyclists and drivers, and at their core, are the opposite of traffic calming. Right turn lanes serve solely to get slow-moving, turning vehicles out of the way as they turn. This allows vehicles behind the turning car to continue straight ahead without slowing down. When this is paired with Union’s very straight and flat nature, reckless, high speed driving is sure to continue.
As with previous traffic engineering studies of Kingshighway and Jefferson, the lack of protected bike lanes and continuation of unprotected, painted bike lanes is very disappointing. If the City is serious about championing Safe Streets for All, staff will change this design proposal, and others, to make all streets and sidewalks accessible for all residents.
Trailnet encourages you to provide your feedback on this plan by submitting comments here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MHWQRRZ
For more information concerning the traffic engineering plans, and Trailnet’s recommendations, please contact planning@trailnet.org.
[ST. LOUIS, MO/May 13, 2024] May 17 is National Bike to Work Day, the perfect occasion to see how the many benefits of biking can be a part of your regular work commute. Great Rivers Greenway, Metro Transit, Trailnet and Washington University in St. Louis have partnered to host “bike hospitality stations” at five MetroLink stations on National Bike to Work Day to support cyclists celebrating the holiday, promote biking and alternative transportation, and encourage more people to give biking a try.
“Our streets are for you. You deserve safe, convenient, affordable, environmentally sustainable and fun
options for your commute. That might mean biking, walking, scooting, or catching a bus or MetroLink,” said Cindy Mense, CEO of Trailnet. “Every May during National Bike Month, we celebrate biking as an important part of that equation, while continuing to advocate for streets that are safe for everyone.”
On Friday, May 17, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., bike commuters can visit any of five area hospitality stations
located at the Clayton, Skinker, Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Cortex and Stadium MetroLink Stations. Visitors will be able to enjoy free coffee, fruits, snacks and other refreshments, as well as a custom “I Biked to Work” sticker they can wear with pride. Cyclists can also receive a free Metro Transit Day Pass while supplies last, other giveaways and cycling information.
Combining your bike with MetroLink and/or MetroBus is a great way to extend the reach of the transit
system and make your commutes quicker and more convenient. All MetroLInk trains have designated areas for commuters to store their bikes during their train trips, and commuters can also store their bikes on special bike racks attached to the front of all Metro buses. Transit customers can learn more about how to easily load their bikes onto buses and trains by visiting MetroStLouis.org/Bike-and-Ride.
“Our region enjoys an integrated transportation network with trails and greenways, bike paths and walkways, safe streets, buses, trains, and more. Combining different elements of this network is one of the best ways to travel around town,” said Charles Stewart, Chief Operating Officer of Metro Transit. “National Bike to Work Day is the perfect excuse to stop procrastinating, get on your bike and see how you can incorporate cycling into your daily routine and enjoy more convenient, enjoyable and healthier commuting.”
For more information:
Justin Seaton, Trailnet | justin@trailnet.org
Jerry Vallely, Metro Transit | jmvallely@bistatedev.org | 314.982.1458
Get ready for a bone-chilling adventure on October 19th with our Community Ride departing from South Side Cyclery. Led by Amanda Clark from the Missouri Historical Society, we’ll explore the haunted history of former cemeteries in the South City area. Don’t miss this ride—it’s sure to send shivers down your spine!
Trailnet Community Rides, presented by the Missouri Historical Society, are guided, slow-paced, group bike rides that explore the history and culture of the St. Louis Community.
Community Rides generally last around 3 hours. There are no staffed rest stops on these rides, and we cannot guarantee access to restrooms or water. Please plan accordingly.
Community Rides registration is capped at 75 participants. A smaller group allows us to manage riders on open city streets safely; ensures our docents/guides can effectively deliver information; and guarantees that local stops (museums, churches, businesses, etc…) won’t be overwhelmed when we roll up.
Route:
Check-in: 9 am
Ride Start: 10 am
Additional Ride information can be found at http://www.trailnet.org/rides.
St. Louis, MO – As Missouri approaches its first Distracted Driving Awareness Month with a Hands-Free Law on the books, Trailnet is committed to educating our neighbors about the benefits of staying focused on the road. That’s why Trailnet is launching its Drive the Change: Buckle Up Phone Down campaign, fueled by General Motors, this April.
We all know that distracted driving is dangerous. Now, it’s also illegal, thanks to the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, which went into effect on August 28, 2023. The new law prohibits all drivers from using a handheld electronic communication device while driving. Learn more about the law here.
Starting this April, Drive the Change will recruit our neighbors to 1) sign the Buckle Up, Phone Down pledge 2) challenge friends and family to sign the pledge, and 3) display a car magnet and yard sign showing their support during April 2024.
The Buckle Up Phone Down pledge is a challenge initiated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to address the two most impactful actions a driver can take to prevent crashes or survive if one occurs.
Now is the perfect opportunity for Missourians to be a part of a changing culture around driving safety. By committing to driving distraction-free, you’re not just following the law — you’re actively contributing to a safer, more caring community.
Trailnet is partnering with other community organizations and businesses including the Hands Free Missouri Coalition, Alpine Shop, BWorks, Billy Goat Bicycles, Bike Walk KC, the Joplin Health Department, MoDOT, Ozark Greenways, Pedego St. Louis, and Southside Cyclery to spread the word about the campaign. Your organization or business can still get involved at trailnet.org/take-the-pledge.
Trailnet invites members of the public and the media to our Saturday, April 6 kick-off event outside Pedego St. Louis along Grant’s Trail, 801 S Holmes Ave, St. Louis, MO 63122. Stop by the kick-off event any time from 10 am to noon. Learn more about the campaign, take the pledge, enjoy a treat, take a ride or walk along Grant’s Trail, and pick up a car magnet and yard sign to show your support. RSVP at https://fb.me/e/6GmucysOM
Sign the pledge and learn more at Trailnet.org/take-the-pledge!
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Trailnet is the St. Louis-region non-profit advocating for better walking, biking and public transit. Founded in 1988, Trailnet’s vision is for Streets for All. Trailnet pursues this vision through four program areas: community planning, education, policy and bike rides. Learn more at trailnet.org or by following us @Trailnet on Facebook and X and @TrailnetSTL on Instagram.
Please reach out to Corinne Austin, Chief Operating Officer, corinne@trailnet.org or 314-520-2324 or Charles Bryson, Policy Catalyst, charles@trailnet.org or 314-560-8447 for more information.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in safety services and connected vehicle technology, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
For more information about MoDOT and the Buckle Up Phone Down initiative, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, signup for e-updates.
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!
Recently, Aldermanic President Megan Green, on St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking, spoke on the need to address traffic safety during the upcoming aldermanic session. Trailnet, the regional nonprofit dedicated to safe streets for all, has several recommendations for Aldermen to consider.
First, the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds in Ordinance 71650 must include community engagement and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The city cannot pave and stripe its way to safety for all; protective infrastructure changes must be made.
The aforementioned can be done by enacting new Complete Streets legislation. The City’s current Complete Streets guidelines were recently scored 30 out of 100 by Smart Growth America. A more rigorous complete streets policy, strictly adhered to by city officials, would increase safety for people walking, biking and driving.
Trailnet supports Board Bill#105 on automated enforcement and Board Bill#106 concerning surveillance and the establishment of a Neighborhood Traffic Safety Fund. We are, however, concerned with Board Bill #185 regarding surveillance. We recommend the establishment of a committee, made up of an equal number of residents and city officials, to create policies and monitor the implementation of all the bills.
Finally, keeping the public more informed on infrastructure changes and traffic safety is essential for a safer environment. Providing accessible updates on City infrastructure spending—perhaps on the City website—would promote transparency and allow the public to better understand how projects are progressing.
Trailnet stands ready to assist.
Sincerely,
Cindy Mense, Trailnet CEO
2023 was an outstanding year to be a “Trailnut”! (a nickname our team happily adopted following a cake decorating snafu at this year’s Ride the Rivers)
Together with our members, donors, sponsors, partners and neighbors, we celebrated some of the most significant wins EVER for people walking, biking and using transit in the St. Louis region.
We made a lot of progress, and we’re excited to move into the new year with a lot of momentum. Here’s some of what we accomplished:
Years of conversations at community meetings, public testimonies and outspoken advocacy in pursuit of safer streets culminated in the signing of the St. Louis Safer Streets Bill (Board Bill 120) on March 1, 2023. Trailnet CEO Cindy Mense stood by the mayor’s side and gave remarks on behalf of all of Trailnet’s neighbors and supporters who stand to benefit from this unprecedented investment!
Trailnet will continue to engage with the City to make sure that this money is put to use efficiently, effectively and in the interests of all road users.
For years, Trailnet and our statewide partners have recognized distracted driving as one of our most pressing problems. Along with other members of the Hands-Free Missouri Coalition, we have advocated tirelessly to get Missouri legislators on board with a hands-free driving law.
In July 2023, the Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law was passed, making Missouri the 49th state to ban texting while driving.
In honor of the memory of Randall Siddens and countless other victims of distracted driving in Missouri, we are proud our state has finally taken this step forward.
A decade in the making, the Louisiana Calm Street Project finished Phase 1 of construction in Spring 2023.
This 1.1-mile corridor is a pilot project for the City’s Calm Streets initiative. The construction of phase 1 was the result of years of hard work and collaboration across the City. We look forward to seeing how this project will progress—eventually connecting two of our City’s largest parks and paving the way for future infrastructure improvements across our streets network.
It can be hard to imagine what new infrastructure could look and feel like to walk, bike or drive through. That’s where traffic calming pop up demonstrations come in. We use temporary materials like brightly colored cones, tires and flowers to demonstrate a cross walk, bump outs, fewer driving lanes or a bike lane.
We hosted two of these this year: one for MODOT on Route D in St. Louis City and another on Park(ing) Day on Compton Avenue.
A team of Spire volunteers constructed an all new walking and biking path on the property of Bayless Elementary School this summer! The project was the result of a collaboration between Trailnet, Spire and Bayless Schools, funded by Spire Serves and carried out by volunteers through Spire’s Day for Good program. The trail is an asset to the school’s bike education programs.
7th grader Sudais Abdirahman reminded us of the importance of getting outside and being active, saying, “It… gets my mind clear because the breeze gets in my hair and it’s… relaxing,”
In our 35th year we tried something new.. and it was a rousing success!
Trailnet’s inaugural Paving the Way Soiree was a new take on our annual fundraising event—a night for us to celebrate with our friends and supports, to recognize the partners who make our wins possible and to raise a little money.
This year’s event also featured the presentation of our first ever batch of Members, Advocates and Partners (MAP) Awards. We can’t wait to build on this event and celebrate more deserving community leaders in the years to come!
Trailnet’s rides are a big part of how we carry out our mission. Rides provide a safe place for people to have fun on their bikes, meet other active people, explore their community, and make a statement with their presence that our streets are for PEOPLE!
The best part of our rides are the smiles! You can’t help but smile when you’re riding your bike. It’s just fun!