Originally published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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.
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:
2023 Stats
2,919 riders ages 4 to 85 came from 21 states to join us at 11 bike rides
195 people learned new bike skills and explored the greenways through our bike education programs funded by Great Rivers Greenway
We analyzed 736 crashes throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County to produce our 2022 Crash Report
Our advocacy team attended 111 community meetings, reviewed 15 bills, and testified at 6 hearings.
Our planning team engaged 220+ people at two traffic calming demonstrations
Along with BWorks, we surveyed Aldermanic candidates, received 9 responses, and published their positions on mobility issues
8.41 miles of bike infrastructure is funded for construction in the City of St. Louis, much of it inspired by Connecting St. Louis and Trailnet’s other advocacy efforts
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.
Distracted Driving Banned
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 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.
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.
Pop-Up Traffic Calming Demos
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.
New Community Trail for South County Students
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,”
Trailnet’s First Soiree
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!
Miles of Smiles at Trailnet Rides
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!
Spire and Trailnet Collaborate on New Bike Path at Bayless Elementary
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 will connect the surrounding neighborhood with the school and provide awesome opportunities for bike education and recreation for Bayless students.
“We love opportunities like this,” said George Godat, Vice President and General Manager MoEast at Spire. “We provide opportunities for our employees to do a day of good in the community each year, and we also have dollars that we put into the community. Trailnet was able to apply for some funds from our Spire Serves program. We gave them $10,000 to provide the materials and labor, then our team came out and got to work. It was the perfect partnership for us and something we’re really excited about.”
Thanks to the Spire Team for cranking out a beautiful path that will result in years of recreation and bike education for our young neighbors!
Trailnet’s 2023 Ride the Rivers Presented by SSM Health is the most unique 100-mile ride in the Midwest. Challenge yourself on Trailnet’s flagship ride while experiencing some of the most amazing landscapes the area has to offer.
The route is the experience. Starting in the early hours of the morning, your adventure will take you all over the region. You’ll ride river ferries, rolling hills, and urban trails past orchards, prairies, small towns, and larger cityscapes. At your journey’s end, arrive at a block party at The Streets of St. Charles, featuring food, drinks, and a well-earned rest. This supported ride gives you a unique chance to crush 100 miles!
Want to join in on the century fun with fewer miles? The 100km Metric Century comes in at 64 miles! You’ll ride through many of the same landscapes as the 100-mile Century while enjoying the same benefits and support. The Metric Century isn’t lacking in beauty or difficulty.
What is included with my registration?
2023 limited edition Ride the Rivers socks
Chip timing
Professional photos
Rest stops and SAG support
Ferry rides
Goody bag with Trailnet stickers, local merchant coupons, and other fine swag
Post-event celebration including live music, award-winning food trucks, Urban Chestnut beer, and post-ride chiropractic adjustments by Logan University
Take advantage of early registration now, as prices will increase on August 1st.
Schedule
Check-in begins at 5:30 a.m.
Ride start time: 7:00 a.m. for full century | 7:15 for metric century
Start location: The Streets of St. Charles | 1520 S 5th St, St Charles, MO 63303
Routes Lengths: 104 miles, 65 miles (route may change slightly due to construction at the time of marking)
Terrain: flat, rolling hills | mixed pavement
A HUGE thank you to this year’s sponsors:
SSM Health, Streets of St. Charles, Logan University, Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., Pickle Juice Co., Kaldi Coffee
There is still time to join us as a sponsor! Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Don’t wait to sign up! The best pricing is early in registration. The cost will increase the closer we get to Sept. 30th.
Trailnet Members
Trailnet members receive a $15 discount on registration.* Members must claim their account in the Trailnet Members Club on Run Sign Up to receive the discount. Instructions here. Peloton Society members can register for 50% off. Check your email for a coupon code, or email memebrship@trailnet.org for assistance. Please note that free ride membership vouchers are not valid for the Century.
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you on Sept. 30th!
*Thank you for being a Trailnet member! Trailnet is a non-profit charity, so we rely on your generosity to give back to our community. Your membership comes with free ride vouchers, which can be used for any regularly-priced Trailnet Classics ride. Ride the Rivers is our premium fundraising ride, priced to provide a higher quality ride experience than our other Classics AND to generate critical funding for our mission.
For the third year, Trailnet is releasing a first quarter Crash Report, which compares the number of bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular crashes from January 2023 to March 2023 to the same time period in 2022 within the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
There are a few trends worth noting:
12 people were injured while walking or biking on Grand Blvd in the City of St. Louis in Q1.
Gravois Ave was the next highest crash corridor in the City. 8 people walking were injured. There were zero fatalities on Gravois in Q1.
A new high crash corridor emerged in St. Louis County. Clayton Rd, which was not a top crash corridor in either of our last two annual reports, has already been the site of three crashes in the County.
The Governors Highway Safety Association recently reported that, in 2022, the nation notched its highest number of pedestrian deaths since 1981. In St. Louis those numbers have continued to rise in 2023, with crashes in most categories increasing or holding steady in Q1.
The City of St. Louis’ BB120 funding has focused some of its attention on Trailnet’s previously-named high-crash corridors, which is a good start. We want to acknowledge the City for dedicating resources to this epidemic. Trailnet looks forward to learning more about how we can support the design and review of these infrastructure plans to help expedite the process towards construction.
In addition, we encourage both City and County officials to supplement infrastructure improvements with more urgent measures, including quick-build solutions, equitably implemented traffic enforcement and improved drivers education.
Trailnet will continue tracking this crash data—and regional leaders’ response to traffic violence— throughout 2023.
Try the Boschert Greenway with us! Family-friendly, slow, and social, all ages and abilities are welcome on this ride. Our “Try the Greenways” series of rides are intended to introduce local Great Rivers Greenways trails to folks who don’t know about or use them.
The Boschert Greenway is in St. Charles County and links the Missouri River and Katy Trail, goes through Historic Downtown St. Charles, through Fox Hill Park, and up to New Town, a planned community within the city of St. Charles. You can also connect to St. Louis County and the Missouri Greenway: Earth City Levee via a new protected walking and biking path on the 370 Discovery Bridge.
FREE. No registration is required.
Email Trailnet Bicycle Educator Sarah at sarah.heyman@trailnet.org with questions.
Fix-a-Flat – Join us for a Fix-a-Flat course—a condensed version of our basic Bike Maintenance Clinic that focuses specifically on… fixing a flat!
Our Bicycle Educator will walk you through removing and replacing a bike tire, patching and replacing an inner tube, and a handful of other tips and tricks to get you back on two (fully inflated) wheels in no time!
No registration is required. All ages, experience levels, and abilities are welcome!
Email Trailnet Bicycle Educator Sarah at sarah.heyman@trailnet.org with questions.
Trailnet‘s Free Adult Learn-to-Ride courses are a grown-up companion to our popular Bike Rodeos—geared toward adults with little to no experience who want to build confidence on two wheels.
We’re limiting this course to a maximum of four participants, so our Bike Educator can give each student the individual attention they need to leave steady on two wheels.
For more information, contact sarah.heyman@trailnet.org.
Again, space is limited, so reserve your spot via email^ today! Once you reserve your spot, you’ll receive an email with a specific location and more detailed instructions.
Bike Maintenance Class | University City Public Library
Bike Maintenance Class | University City Public Library – Join us for a basic bike maintenance course! We’ll cover: how to fix a flat, brake adjustments, shifting adjustments, fitting a bicycle, and any related topics that come up in questions from participants. We will be specifically working from the League of American Bicyclists’ Smart Cycling curriculum. The clinic will take place at University City Public Library. It will last no longer than 2 hours. With questions or to reserve your spot email sarah.heyman@trailnet.org
Family-friendly, slow, and social, all ages and abilities are welcome on this ride. Our “Try the Greenways” series of rides are intended to introduce local Great Rivers Greenways trails to folks who don’t know about or use them.
This section of the Dardenne Greenway parallels Dardenne Creek in St. Charles County, north of Highway 64.
While it extends through a residential area and is near some commercial development, it feels rural and offers lots of green, open space to explore and enjoy.
It is part of the surrounding 80-acre Barathaven Park. Part of the greenway winds around a 15-acre lake, and along the way, you will see new wetlands that have been created to enrich the habitat of native animals and plants.
You can enjoy quiet and calming views of Dardenne Creek, stop and have lunch at a picnic table or sit on a bench to relax and breathe in the fresh air. Be sure to pay attention to the lovely native Missouri plantings that were specially selected not only for their hardiness and beauty but also to provide privacy to neighboring homes.
FREE. No registration is required.
Email Trailnet Bicycle Educator Sarah at sarah.heyman@trailnet.org with questions.
