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It's all up to us!

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the East-West Gateway Council of Government's open house on its bicycling and pedestrian plan in Collinsville, Ill. The plan is designed to help municipal and county governments in the St. Louis metropolitan area develop bicycle and pedestrian routes.

I had to opportunity to talk with the council's Brian Horton. Unlike a bicycling and pedestrian plan developed by the council in the 1990s, this plan does not recommend specific routes that governments should develop. Instead, the plan consists of results of a survey indicating there is a demand for bicycle and pedestrian routes and of resources governments can pursue if they choose to construct those routes.

The survey indicates 34 percent of respondents ride a bike at least once a week, with another 29 percent indicating they ride nearly every day. However, about 71 percent of respondents ride a bike once a week or less. About 80 percent of respondents said they rode a bike for exercise or recreation.

Heavy or speeding traffic, narrow roads and the lack of bicycle lanes or paved shoulders were significant factors in discouraging people from riding more often, the survey found.

About 80 percent of respondents say local governments should spend more money to make bicycling and walking safer. To that end, the plan contains a list of resources communities can use to help them building bicycle and pedestrian routes.

Brian says the plan is intended to help local governments determine the need for bicycling and pedestrian facilities. That's where you come in.

Cyclists and pedestrians need to let their elected officials know there is a demand for safe bicycle routes and safe walkways. We need to tell them about the council's survey indicating there is demand for safe bicycle and pedestrian routes. We need to let them know which routes would be useful for us. We need to let them know there are grants and other programs available to help them pay for those routes.

Without our input, elected officials are less likely to think about bicycling and pedestrian needs when designing streets and highways, and they're less likely to consider off-road bicycle and walking trails.

Roger 0 comments 7:03 PM