Kansas City News Blog

Last year, when the Missouri Bicycle Federation crunched the numbers on how friendly our roads and policies are toward walking and cycling, they gave the Show Me State a big, fat D.

But a report released last week shows we're starting to shed our status as one of the slowest kids in the class when it comes to people-powered transportation.

Every year, the League of American Bicyclists ranks the states for bike-friendliness. In 2008, Missouri came in 28th. In 2009, we shot up the charts in dramatic fashion. 

The list is based on a number of criteria, including legislation, infrastructure and education. Based on LAB's analysis, Missouri jumped 11 spots to number 17 in this year's rankings. Kansas, on the other hand, tumbled from 25 to 33 on the list. 

"We've made amazing progress in the past few years," says Brent Hugh, director of the Missouri Bicycle Federation. "One reason our ranking has gone up so much is that several key cities have done the basics now -- made a bicycle committee, created a complete network of on-street bicycle routes, and started building trail networks."

Kansas City isn't at the front of the class, by any means. But we're starting to smarten up. We've got a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee populated with people who actually maneuver around our sprawling city on two wheels themselves. Already this year, the city council adopted an ambitious Trails KC plan. Then they allocated $1.5 million for ped-bike paths.

And, 9 a.m. today in the Power and Light District, Mayor Mark Funkhouser (flanked by a sure-to-be sweaty Councilman Russ Johnson, who's biking in from the Northland for the photo-op) is unveiling a Community Action Plan with specific steps for this fiscal year.

Not a bad way to start Bike Week.