There is a project in the works for a new Missouri River bridge in downtown Kansas City. There is a problem though. The bridge doesn’t currently have any plans for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Kansas City doesn’t have any Missouri River bridges that allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross without getting into a lane of traffic. These bridges are busy corridors because they are natural bottle necks. There are only so many ways to get across the river.
Let’s Go KC
Let’s Go KC Alliance for Transportation Choice has a pledge drive underway to raise funding to get a bicycle and pedestrian trail added to the new Paseo Bridge that has already begun construction.
They need 5000 people to donate $20.00
Missouri as a state is not very pedestrian friendly with the exception of a few key areas. Columbia is at the forefront of bicycle and pedestrian access and Saint Louis has a very good program as well.
Kansas City is sadly lagging behind
The Missouri River divides the city and without a proper crossing, the citizens of KC will never truly have transportation choices. There are a lot of people that live North of the river that need to get downtown.
A safe pedestrian and bicycle trail across the river will decrease congestion for automobiles and make the trip safer for those that are forced to walk or bike.
This will be one big step closer to making Kansas City and Missouri more bicycle friendly. I think we can all agree that its a good cause.
Make A Pledge Today
Make a pledge to Put People On Paseo right now, the cycling community needs it. Show MoDOT that cyclists matter.
Additional Coverage
Brent Hugh of the Missouri Bicycle Federation posted this article yesterday about this project with photo’s and maps of the area explaining the imortance of this bike lane and the ignorance shown by MoDOT.
The Kansas City Star wrote this piece called, Cyclists push for right of passage on Paseo Bridge, and Blog KC wrote an article titled, Bicyclists trying to drag MoDOT into the 21st Century
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