From the Pitch's Best of files
This was initially published 5 years ago.
Best New Law (2002)
Bike KC
In August, an intrepid crew of wheeler-dealers finally convinced the
Kansas City, Missouri, City Council -- among them bike antagonist Ed
Ford, who could clearly use a little exercise -- to pass Bike KC. From
now on, new or rebuilt streets in Kansas City are supposed to be
bike-friendly. In the next year, the city will paint bike lanes onto
dozens of streets and put up signs marking bike routes. City Hall has
also promised to get rid of bike hazards such as storm grates.
Eventually, ubiquitous bike racks and public showers might even signal
that Kansas City has turned the corner and joined other bike-loving
big cities. Despite federal grants that'll help give the city a push,
our own observations of City Hall lead us to believe the bike
initiative may be in for an uphill ride -- but Bike KC supporters are
in for the long haul. We give them a tip of the helmet.
It's surprising to think that this was 5 years ago. Then another Jeff posted this.
I emailed this link out earlier this week and drew some responses. The city is moving with the hiring of a Bike/Ped Coordinator this year. She's been on the job now 3 months. The problem I have is the lack of expediency that was demonstrated by the city. If it hadn't been for some advocates pushing the city and a threatened loss of Federal funding. little would have happened.
So the lesson is this. City Hall and Politicians will do the minimum to pacify activists. To trust their good intentions is not enough. The Bike KC initiative should have been further along.
posted by KCJeff @ 1:20 PM
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