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Meeting on I-64 work and its effects on cyclists

Garry Earls, the director of the St. Louis County Highways & Traffic Department, will attend the next meeting of the East-West Gateway Council of Government's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on Wednesday, Feb 21, to discuss how Interstate 64/Highway 40 work will affect bicyclists on neighboring roads -- especially Clayton and Ladue roads, two roads that are popular with St. Louis County cyclists.

The meeting, which is open to the public, begins at noon at East-West Gateway's 16th-floor office at 1 Memorial Drive, Suite 1600, in downtown St. Louis. Earls is expected to speak between 12:20 and 1 p.m.

Hopefully, the meeting will succeed in separating the facts from fiction about how the project will affect cyclists. As I mentioned last week, there are concerns efforts to get traffic off Interstate 64/Highway 40, a major traffic artery for the St. Louis region, will lead to less safe cycling conditions neighboring roads, especially Clayton Road.

Labels: advocacy, cycling, safety, St. Louis

Roger 3 comments 10:48 AM

Comments:

Separating facts from fiction is important bu th following facts are already evident:
1) Moving truck traffic onto neighborhoods streets increases risks for all users,
2) Narrowing lanes will increase risks for all users,
3) These risks are made especially higher for cyclists and pedestrians due to the refusal of designers to include these issues, and even advocacy groups, in the process.
4) Trucks/cars always win against cyclists and pedestrians in crashes.

Gary Earls works for the County and not MoDOT. MoDOT has already made numerous decisions which will harm cyclists, pedestrians and all road users for decades to come. The New I64 is a grand opportunity to correct problems created by building a road system that is hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. Unfortunately, local leaders continue to embrace design philosophies that cater to semis and autos over people.

# posted by  Anonymous : 9:13 AM

 

Roger,

I contacted the EWGC and they responded that the meeting for Feb 21 was about the Mississippi Bridge and are unaware of any presentation by G. Earls. What is the source of your information?

Thanks,
Jack

# posted by  Anonymous : 10:11 AM

 

Jack,

EWGC is correct in that the full board meeting today is strictly about the bridge. The meeting where Garry Earls is to appear is the East-West Gateway Council of Government's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

I got this information from the chairman of the Advisory Committee, Martin Pion, via the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation's mailing list.

# posted by  Roger : 10:40 AM

 

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