A number of new initiatives that promote bicycling and walking as components of a healthy lifestyle are moving forward throughout the St. Louis bi-state area. See below for inspiration about how you can get more involved.

Bike St. Louis Expanded
Just in time for National Bike to Work Week, May 12-16, 2008, the Great Rivers Greenway District has announced the opening of 57 miles of additional on-street Bike St. Louis routes through St. Louis County and St. Louis City. With the expansion, the Bike St. Louis system now totals 77 miles of dedicated bike lanes and shared traffic lanes.

The new routes were designed to make it easy for people to bike the entire distance to work, shopping or recreation destinations. Alternatively, people may bike to a MetroLink station or MetroBus stop, where for the standard Metro fare, they can transport their bike to their destination at no extra charge. Bike carriers are available on all MetroBus vehicles in St. Louis City and County and on MetroLink trains riders may stand with their bikes in designated cars.

Learn more on the Bike St. Louis website

WeCar launched in downtown St. Louis
Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the St. Louis Car Sharing Cooperative launched this environmentally friendly program in February, 2008. The St. Louis Car Sharing Cooperative includes the following organizations: Citizens for Modern Transit; the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District; Pyramid-Spinnaker, LLC; LoftWorks; The Syndicate; and Lawrence Group 1, Inc.

Enterprise has been offering hourly rentals in several cities, such as Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. Now, people who live and work in St. Louis can rent vehicles by the hour; a fleet of nine Toyota Prius hybrids will be parked at strategic locations and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Nine downtown locations:

• 10th and Washington, on 10th Northeast corner, 1st parking space
• 6th and Olive, on 6th Southeast corner, 1st parking space
• Olive and Broadway, on Olive Northeast corner, 1st parking space
• 9th and Olive, on 9th Southeast corner, 1st parking space
• Pine and 8th, on Pine Southeast corner, by 8th and Pine Metro stop
• 7th and Market, on 7th Northeast corner, 1st parking space in front of Keiner Plaza.
• Broadway and Chestnut, on Broadway Northeast corner, 1st parking space.
• Chestnut and 8th, on Chestnut Southeast corner, 2nd parking space
• 10th and Olive, on 10th Southeast corner, 1st parking space

Please note: these spaces are all designated with a green and black WeCar sign. Keep a look out for these signs, which are located close to the curb. Any non-WeCars parked in one of these spaces is subject to being towed.

The program is designed to reduce pollution, ease traffic congestion, and make car rental convenient for downtown dwellers and workers. The program helps to address the #1 reason people cite for not taking alternative transport to work: need to travel to meetings during the day.If you register before March 31st, the registration is only $25 (normally $35).

Register now and save $10

Citizens for Modern Transit - Ten Toe Express
CMT launched its Ten Toe Express program in the St. Louis Region in 2007 linking walking with public transit use resulting in a healthier, more active lifestyle. The program uses a two-pronged approach - targeting both older adults and employees for the work commute - to encourage individuals to walk more and use public transit. Linking walking and public transit use has been proven to increase independence, accessibility and overall health. Official Ten Toe Express Walking Tours are held every Wednesday for participants to step out and enjoy different destinations in St. Louis by foot, train and bus. Each walking tour is led by a trained Ten Toe leader. The Ten Toe program is free to participate and is a great opportunity to learn how to access your community through "new" modes of transportation - your own two feet, the bus and MetroLink!
Photo courtesy the Missouri Department of Transportation

Learn more on the CMT website

Banners in Clayton Promote Cycling
The Great Rivers Greenway District recently launched an on-street banner program in Clayton. The on-street banners, displayed on light standards throughout Clayton’s central business district and along Wydown Blvd., feature large graphic silhouettes of cyclists. Each banner promotes one of 12 different messages focused on the health and environmental benefits of bicycling. Messages include, “Burn calories not gas,” “Bicycles Run on Renewable Energy,” “Bike commutes don’t pollute,” and “Think Globally Bike Locally.” The banners have been converted to frameable posters. The Great Rivers Greenway District is charging $3.00 a piece for shipping and handling.

Contact the Great Rivers Greenway District for more information

St. Louis Great Streets Initiative
East-West Gateway recently launched a process to expand the way communities think of transportation. Instead of merely viewing a roadway project as solely a way to move more cars and trucks faster, they envision using projects to trigger economic and social benefit by centering communities around interesting, lively and attractive streets. As a starting point, local leaders and their citizens need to ask what they want their transportation system to accomplish, including how better street design can connect residents with services, amenities and each other. This type of planning requires thinking beyond the curb to see how transportation decisions affect development and how streets affect nearby residents and those in surrounding communities.

Learn more on the East-West Gateway website