Help make sure that Congress doesn’t cut the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding in the next transportation bill. TAP helps local communities build sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails and more. TAP funding supports Safe Routes to School initiatives throughout St. Louis City and County.
Without TAP, hundreds of millions of dollars used to improve streets for walking and biking would evaporate. Some of these funds have been used to support youth programs like Trailnet’s “Steps in the Right Direction” at Froebel Literacy Academy to help make walking and biking a way of life in St. Louis.
Please follow the link below to ask Senators Roy Blunt and Senator Claire McCaskill to support bill S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act. Thank you for supporting legislation that will keep our youth walking and biking safely.
Properly fitted helmets are strongly recommended and are required by law in some of the communities in which we ride.
Bring at least one full water bottle or hydration pack.
Be sure that your bike is in safe working order. Trailers and trail-a-bikes for kids are welcome, but please, no training wheels.
Additional items that are helpful and easily stowed in a jersey pocket or seat bag are a spare tube, a set of tire levers, and a small pump or CO2 cartridge. Tire changing tools and a multi-tool that fits your bike come in handy and can get you back on the ride without waiting for a support vehicle.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Special clothing is not required but can make the ride experience more pleasant.
Padded shorts will alleviate pain in the rear and wicking garments will prevent overheating.
Wear or bring sunscreen.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO RIDERS?
Most BFC rides include a “no-drop” Group Ride on the short route that starts at 8:30 a.m. The Group Ride is for new riders or riders who would like to have an experienced leader.
Trailnet SAG (Support and Gear) vans cruise the routes until 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Vans are equipped with basic first aid, hydration, nutrition, and tools for minor repairs.
Phone 314.913.BIKE (2453) if you need assistance.
HOW DO I KNOW THE ROUTE FOR THE RIDE?
Route maps are not available until the day of the ride. Map preparation is time-intensive and our maps are created for an event experience.
Maps are available at ride registration and show route options, towns, attractions, and rest stops
In addition to the route map, pink arrows and dots on the pavement will direct you.
WHAT ARE THE ROUTES LIKE?
BFC rides are predominantly on roads; prepare to share with motorized traffic.
Most rides start on the short route and the longer routes branch out from there.
The longest route is designed for experienced riders and may have more hills or be routed on more heavily trafficked roads.
Terrain
Flat – very few small hills
Rolling – frequent small hills
Moderate – a mix of hills, with some steep climbs
Big – some hills over 150 feet
Very hilly – many hills over 150 feet
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A BFC RIDE?
Preregistration is available online at trailnet.org or you can register at the start location on the day of most BFC rides (exceptions are noted on the website). Online registration closes two days prior to the ride. Preregistration for the Ride the Rivers Century Ride is recommended.
Many rides have a “happy hour” at the sponsoring bike shop the week before the ride. This is an opportunity to preregister and learn about the ride. Check the website for listings.
Wrist bands will be distributed to all registered riders and will be checked throughout the ride at rest stops and by SAG drivers (riders without wristbands using the rest stop or seeking assistance during the ride will be charged $20).
Preregistered riders need to check in at the ride start to get their map and wrist band.
HOW MUCH DO BFC RIDES COST?
Online registration price for most rides is $8 for Trailnet members and $13 for nonmembers.
Day of ride price for most rides is $10 for Trailnet members and $15 for nonmembers.
Children under 10 riding with an adult are $3.
Summary of November 18 Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
The Planning Advisory Committee for the Kirkwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan met on November 18 at Kirkwood City Hall. The meeting agenda, summary notes, and meeting materials can be downloaded below:
The sun was shining and spirits were high as parents got to see their kids ride their bikes safely and confidently. The Bike Walk Kirkwood Neighborhood Tour, made possible by Great Rivers Greenway, was an opportunity for the students of Keysor Elementary to show off their new skills, having just finished their annual Bike Week festivities.
Trailnet has participated in Bike Week for three years, helping to teach bike safety to students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Our own Ginny McDonald and Rachel Sleeman spent the week with the kids, covering everything from helmet fit, to measuring tire pressure, to rules of the road. Ron Effland, from Missouri’s Dept. of Transportation, brought his “Walk and Roll” trailer filled with extra bikes, helmets, tools, and traffic signs. Kirkwood Police Bicycle Officers Ann, T.J., and Joe also worked with the kids, helping them to master bike handling skills. The entire week’s events were coordinated by Robin Ehrlich, Keysor’s Physical Education teacher, assisted by fellow teacher Drew Widamen.
The kids’ enthusiasm about Bike Week was shown by their smiles, laughter, and comments overheard during the week. One second grader declared one day midweek “the BEST day of my life!” Another student, hearing the whistle that ended his bike riding, wished that he “could do this all day.” Kids were obviously proud of their accomplishments, one overheard saying that she had “just passed an adult” on her bike. They were also encouraging to those who, for the first time that week, rode without training wheels. Thanks to the efforts of Ron and the bike officers, over a dozen kids shed their training wheels during Bike Week. This milestone was greeted with high fives and cheers from their classmates.
It was apparent during the Bike Walk Kirkwood Neighborhood Tour that the kids took away a lot from the Bike Week curriculum; they handled the ride like pros, and made their parents proud. Many thanks to Keysor Elementary for inviting Trailnet to participate in Bike Week and for helping to make bicycling such a visible part of the Kirkwood community.
We also discussed Trailnet’s Bike Walk Master Plan for Kirkwood, currently in the works. The plan was available for parents to peruse, as well as a sign-up sheet to join the mailing list for updates. If you are a Kirkwood resident and are interested in learning more about the Plan, contact Marielle Brown at marielle@trailnet.org
Despite the stormy weather, 37 people came out to learn about gender equity, biking, and walking. Atomic Cowboy created a warm and inviting space for us, with snacks and beer abound to offer reprieve from the chilly rain.
Trailnet’s TravelGreen Coordinator Molly Pearson opened the evening by discussing findings by the League of American Bicyclists’ Women Bike initiative, focusing on the Five Cs – Comfort, Convenience, Consumer Products, Confidence, and Community.
Urban designer Courtney Cushard discussed her expanding women’s group The Monthly Cycle. Faye Paige Edwards of GirlTrek addressed access to physical activity among women of color. Lastly, educator Leah Patriarco examined how street harassment affects if/how/when women choose to bike, walk, or take public transit.
Check out the slides below! Want to know more, or be put in touch with one of the presenters? Email Molly Pearson at molly@trailnet.org.
The streets are our largest public space. People riding bicycles and driving cars should be held accountable for following the rules of the road and ensuring that the streets are for everyone.
Summary of Missouri Bicycle Laws:
Bicycles are vehicles under Missouri law (307.180) and cyclists have the same rights and duties as operators of other vehicles (307.188)
Cyclists shall ride as far right as is safe except when making a left turn, when avoiding hazardous conditions, when the lane is too narrow to share with another vehicle, or when on a one-way street (307.190)
Cyclists may ride abreast when not blocking other vehicles (307.190)
Cyclists may ride on the shoulder of the road, but are not required to (307.191)
Cyclists shall ride in the same direction as traffic (307.191)
Cyclists shall signal when turning (307.192)
Bicycles shall be equipped with brakes (307.183), a white front light, and a rear red light or reflector (307.185)
Motor vehicles shall not park or idle in bicycle lanes (303.330)
Operators of motor vehicles shall maintain a safe distance when passing cyclists (300.347)
Cyclists shall not use the sidewalk in a business district (300.347)
If a red light does not change for a completely stopped cyclist after a reasonable time, the cyclist may proceed if there is no approaching traffic (304.285)
For a more comprehensive list of Missouri Bicycle Laws click here.
Shared Lane Markings are not bicycle facilities, they are pavement markings for designating shared space on low-traffic and low-speed routes. Currently, the Bicycle Friendly Community Application requires communities to report the number of separated facilities on arterials, as shared space is not safe or comfortable when cars are traveling fast. Using Shared Lane Markings on higher speed and higher traffic routes eliminates their value for wayfinding on low-stress routes.
Appropriate Contexts for Shared Lane Markings
Shared Lane Markings are used to mark mixed traffic facilities, where people driving and biking share the street. This type of facility is comfortable for a mainstream adult population when:
the speed differential is low. NACTO recommends 25 mph or less design speed for using shared lane markings (“Urban Bikeway Design Guide” 181)
there is no centerline in the street, thereby directing ALL users to share the space (“Low Stress Bicycling” 21)
Following these two guidelines implies:
shared lane markings are not appropriate on streets with ADT over 4,000, as traffic tends to channelize into two lanes at that threshold, regardless of markings (“Low Stress Bicycling” 21)
shared lane markings are not appropriate on streets with more than one lane in each direction, as such streets require markings
traffic calming devices should be used when the design speed of a road is over 25 mph
When Shared Lane Markings are used, the placement should follow NACTO recommendations to ensure that they encourage proper lane position for bicyclists, outside of the door zone. Markings should be placed frequently enough to provide wayfinding for cyclists.
Shared Lane Markings and Wayfinding
Shared Lane Markings are invaluable as wayfinding to guide bicyclists along low-stress routes. They are an essential part of Calm Streets design. When Shared Lane Markings are used on higher traffic and higher speed roads, users cannot rely on the markings to guide them along low stress routes. Where shared lane markings are used because of constrained right-of-way, centerline markings should not be used and traffic diversion should be used as appropriate to ensure ADT under 4,000. If these measures are not practical, advisory bicycle lanes or road diets should be considered instead.
The orientation of the chevron in a shared lane marking can be changed to indicate wayfinding. This design is used in many cities and is included in the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide (180). Such modified shared lane markings should be used to indicate turns in low-stress routes. Though it has not yet been included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, modified chevrons are used as a best practice throughout the country without controversy.
Shared Lane Markings and Network Design
Bicycle facilities and markings should be designed to reduce traffic stress to a level that will be tolerated by the mainstream adult population (LTS 2 as defined in the “Low Stress Bicycling Network Connectivity Report” published by the Mineta Transportation Institute). When facilities are designed to be comfortable for only a minority of the population, society and most individuals miss out on the benefits of cycling, including better health, reduced traffic congestion, and improved air quality.
Designing infrastructure on minimum standards creates the risk that the project will be outdated when standards change. Bicycle planning and design is a rapidly changing field, with standards increasingly favoring separation. Current projects should look to emerging best practices, to ensure that they are within guidelines for years to come.
Shared Lane Markings and Safety
Shared Lane Markings have the potential to inform road users of proper bicycle lane positioning and to alert drivers to the presence of cyclists. In 2010, the Federal Highways Administration evaluated the operating effects of shared lane markings, using 2-lane, 4-lane, and 5-lane roads. The study found that correctly placed shared lane markings increased operating space for bicyclists, and reduced sidewalk riding. The study focused on operating characteristics, not crash frequency (“Evaluation of Shared Lane Markings” 75).
In 2012, a case-crossover study looking at crashes and infrastructure type found no significant decrease in risk for major streets with shared lane markings. The researchers defined major streets as those with marked centerlines. In contrast, local streets without marked centerlines, had a significant and large decrease in crash risk (Teshcke et al. 2340) The findings underline the importance of wayfinding along local streets without marked centerlines.
Works Cited:
Mekuria, Maaza C., Peter G. Furth, and Hilary Nixon. Low-stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity. Rep. no. 11-19. San Jose, CA: Mineta Transportation Institute, 2012.
Teschke, Kay, and Et Al. “Route Infrastructure and the Risk of Injuries to Bicyclists: A Case-Crossover Study.” American Journal of Public Health 102.12 (2012): 2336-343.
Urban Bikeway Design Guide. New York: National Association of City Transportation Officials, 2012.
U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highways Administration. Evaluating Shared Lane Markings. FHWA-HRT-10-041. McLean, Virginia: Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center, 2010.
What to do if you’re involved in a car crash while riding your bike
Trailnet has League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors on staff to help you organize and produce a Bike Safety Rodeo for large events and summer camp activities (for a fee), but for smaller groups it can be more cost effective to organize a safety event yourself.
Generally a child should be at least 10 years old before being allowed to ride in the street, especially without parental supervision. However you should never allow your child to ride on the road without going over the basic bicycle skills together and assessing your child’s ability to react thoughtfully to vehicular traffic.
Help make sure that Congress doesn’t cut the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding in the next transportation bill. TAP helps local communities build sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails and more. TAP funding supports Safe Routes to School initiatives throughout St. Louis City and County.
Without TAP, hundreds of millions of dollars used to improve streets for walking and biking would evaporate. Some of these funds have been used to support youth programs like Trailnet’s “Steps in the Right Direction” at Froebel Literacy Academy to help make walking and biking a way of life in St. Louis.
Please follow the link below to ask Senators Roy Blunt and Senator Claire McCaskill to support bill S. 705, the Transportation Alternatives Program Improvement Act. Thank you for supporting legislation that will keep our youth walking and biking safely.
