National Bike Month was filled with events and activities around getting on your bike, using active transportation, focusing on safe roads for all, and having fun.
Refueling stations on National Bike to Work Day saw 467 riders this year. That comes to a third more riders than we saw in 2011. The roads were alive with cyclists that day – those of us working at refueling stations wished we had planned for doing standard bike counts that day because those numbers would have been even more impressive!
On Bike to Work Day at the Downtown Bicycle Station, we had the honor of hosting Alderman Scott Ogilvie as he introduced a new ordinance prohibiting threatening, throwing objects at, or knowingly placing in danger any person walking, biking, running or operating a wheelchair. As part of Trailnetʼs mission to create safe roads for all users, staff spent months working with Ogilvie, Paraquad, and statewide advocates to draft the ordinance. The fine would be $100-500 and/or up to 90 days in jail.
For the full text of the ordinance, please visit trailnet.org/advocacy and scroll down to the Spotlight. Click here for a recent STL Today article about the ordinance. We'll keep you updated on hearings and votes.
Trailnet is dedicated to passing a statewide anti-harassment ordinance in 2013 in partnership with bicycle and pedestrian advocates across Missouri.
Like May, June is packed with rides and events as well. Last weekend was the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure Ride, Trailnet’s Tour of the Little Hills Bicycle Ride and our Tour de Plants Bicycle Tour, presented in conjunction with Gateway Greening. This Saturday, June 9, is our Route 66 Bicycle Ride and our St. Vincent Greenway Ferguson Farmers’ Market Bicycle Ride. June 23 is our Mounds Trail Interpretive Bicycle Tour, June 24 is our Bridge Birthday Bash and Bicycle Ride, and June 30 is our Carondelet Neighborhood Bicycle Tour.
Click here or more information on our upcoming Bicycle Fun Club rides. Get more information on all our Community Rides here.
Please join us for an Open House on Thursday, June 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at our downtown offices at 411 North Tenth St., Suite 202. We’ll be opening our offices, and our panniers, for the evening to answer questions, show off our wide-ranging programs, and mix drinks in the bike blender. Come learn more about Trailnet and how our staff incorporates biking into their daily life. Bring your favorite bike commuting tip to share! Light refreshments will be served. RSVP here.
Enjoy free breakfast on Trailnet on Friday, June 15 as a part of our ongoing Breakfast for Bikers series. We’ll be at both Kaldi’s in Clayton, 700 Demun, and the Downtown Bicycle Station, 1011 Locust from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Join us on your way to work! This will be happening the third Friday of every month through October.
June’s Trailnet on Tap will be on Tuesday, June 26, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Eliot Room at the Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust. Josh Wiese from the mayor's office will present on being professional and biking to work.
Finally, I was delighted to see an article in Forbes naming St. Louis the “best city for job-seeking college grads right now, in terms of overall career happiness in conjunction with the average cost-of-living-adjusted salary.” What good news! And the way I look at it is, we know college students like to cycle which means grads must too – so let’s continue moving toward greater bike and walkability, and keep those grads happy!
Here’s hoping you’re able to take advantage of this great cycling, walking, canoeing, swimming, gardening, grilling weather.
Ann Mack
Executive Director
