Kansas Cyclist - Kansas Bicycle Guide and Reference

I suppose this is old news, but it’s new to me, so I’ll pass it along…

I recently came across this story about the Ruby Jack Trail, located in southwestern Missouri, running from Carthage to the Kansas state line:

When complete, the Ruby Jack trail will ultimately run from Carthage to the KS state line. Initially it was planned as a bi-state trail all the way to Columbus, KS. However, Cherokee County passed an ordinance in response to those plans that effectively prohibits the rail-trail from entering Kansas. So until the good people of Cherokee County overcome their fear of bikers and joggers, the trail will stop at the state line.

Rough gravel aside, I am really excited about this trail. I think it’s a great asset to the area and another excellent component of the ever expanding trail system in the Joplin area.

Read more from Ryan McCoy at the Shortleaf blog: Ruby Jack Trail.

I was unfamiliar with the Cherokee County situation, so did a bit more searching and turned up this 2003 article from the Missouri Bicycle Federation:

Supporters originally hoped for a 28-mile trail from Carthage to Columbus, Kan. Opposition and a fee imposed by the Cherokee County Commission caused the trail group to drop the Kansas portion.

And this nugget from the Joplin Globe:

In 2002, the Cherokee County (Kan.) Landowners Association filed a statement opposing extending the trail into Kansas, saying some trail groups lack funding, manpower “and quite frankly motivation” to develop and maintain the trails they control. They expressed concern about littering, vandalism and inadequate policing.

The coalition pulled out of the Kansas portion after the Cherokee County Commission ruled that the trails group would have to post a surety bond of about $10,000 per mile to ensure that the trail would be maintained.

Teverow said that would have made it prohibitively expensive to run the trail to Columbus.

“The state of Kansas, I would say, has made it more difficult than any state in the nation,” he said.

And finally, another excerpt from Shortleaf: No New Trail!:

Basically the story is that the Joplin Trails Coalition is developing a 16 mile rails to trails project from Carthage to the KS state line and pretty much everyone along the way is trying to keep it from happening. Initially the plan was to extend all the way to somewhere in KS, but Cherokee County was so opposed to the forward thinking idea of fitness and recreation they passed a law that made it cost prohibitive and eventually the coalition gave up on the idea of having a trail in KS.

I was told by a member of the coalition that farmers will routinely dump old machinery or bales of hay to obstruct the trail, and surprisingly, one of the biggest opponents of the project was the Carl Junction school system. The trail is supposed to pass near the high school and they are paranoid about the “transients” that might hang out on the trail. I have biked and hiked on lots of trials and don’t recall ever being mugged or offered drugs. And heaven forbid the school system actually encourage students to get out and USE THE TRAIL.

The main argument for this most recent lawsuit is that the trail will degrade neighboring property values. I have seen many small towns enhanced by these types of trails, but I don’t recall seeing any that were turned ghetto because of one.

Why do some places in Kansas have to be so backwards? What exactly do they fear?

Do they not want places for their citizens to walk, run, and ride? Do they not want people to visit their communities? Are they not interested in economic development?

Makes no sense to me…

If you haven’t been paying attention over the last few years, this might surprise you: Kansas City is earning a growing reputation as a mountain biking town.

In fact, when current plans come to fruition, KC may well have more urban singletrack than any other city in the nation.

From the Kansas City Star (Volunteers create miles of surprises):

Kansas City always seems to be searching for an identity. How about this one: urban mountain biking capital?

What if KC were home to the country’s longest middle-of-the-city trail system for mountain biking and hiking, a spectacular series of paths that squeeze through limestone outcroppings, skirt native glades and follow a twisting river route?

Working on it. Volunteer trail builders — with no fanfare and lots of sweat equity — just completed a phase of the planned trail inside Swope Park.

The total project is an urban mountain biking and hiking trail system more than 50 miles long. With perhaps no peer in the United States, it would surpass urban trails in cities considered far more outdoorsy than Kansas City.

These are not greenway-type trails paved or covered with gravel or wood chips. These are natural, “single-track” trails built to the standards of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

While many urban areas have developed mountain bike trails, the scope of the Kansas City project sets it apart, said Ryan Schutz, director of field programs at the International Mountain Bicycling Association in Boulder, Colo. He said the Kansas City area already was well-regarded for its mountain bike trails.

Years ago, mountain biking and city parks often were considered a bad mix. Trails were sometimes haphazard and not built to last. Easily eroded, they could be more of a scar on park property than an amenity. And mountain bikers, typically young, could be an unpredictable lot.

Times have changed, and many park land managers are working enthusiastically with mountain bikers, who themselves are maturing, to develop trails. Hikers and trail runners also get involved.

The trails envisioned are:

• 20 miles planned in the Swope Park system; seven are done
• 20 miles planned in the connector from Swope to Red Bridge Road; work just begun
• 16 existing miles along the Blue River from Red Bridge to 137th Street

You can follow the progress on the Swope Trails Blog and the Blue-Swope Connection Blog.

And in addition to the Swope and Blue River trails, there are numerous other mountain bike trails in the Kansas City area, on both sides of the state line:

• Shawnee Mission Park – Five miles of some of the best technical singletrack in the Kansas City area, along with paved multi-use trails and a challenging road loop
• Kill Creek Park – 4+ miles of singletrack trails, plus multi-use paths, located in western Johnson County
• Hillsdale Lake – Over 50 miles of trails located just southwest of Kansas City
• Wyandotte County Lake – The park currently has 10 miles of bridle trails and a master plan to develop an additional 20 to 30 miles of sustainable mountain biking and hiking trails
• Landahl Park – Nine miles of singletrack located in Blue Springs, Missouri. Many experienced MTB’ers consider this one of the top trails in the midwest.
• Smithville Lake – Ten miles of singletrack located near Smithville, Missouri: “These trails are very beginner and singlespeed friendly trails”.
• Stocksdale and Walnut Woods – Several miles of well-regarded trails near Liberty, Missouri

Mountain biking groups and clubs in the Kansas City area include the Earth Riders Trails Association, the Earth Riders Mountain Bike Club, and the Trail Masons Association. If you’re interested in riding and volunteering, contact these groups to get involved.

KC already has a great network of trails, and it’s growing every year. Get out and explore!

Read more from KCBike.Info, the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, the Columbia Daily Tribune, and the Lawrence Journal-World.

Photo courtesy the Kansas City Star

At the recently-completed National Bike Summit, the League of American Bicyclists presented Columbia, Missouri Mayor Darwin Hindman with a Lifetime Achievement Award:

If there is a symbol that could summarize Mayor Darwin Hindman’s impact on Columbia, it might be a bicycle.

Hindman pushed for the creation of the cross-state Katy Trail State Park, and he worked closely with Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., to secure more than $22 million in federal grant money to make the city more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, to name just a few of his accomplishments.

GetAbout Columbia Director Ted Curtis said Hindman has been an incredible influence on the city. “He’s been instrumental in bringing programs on board. He believes in the process. He walks the walk. That type of leadership is important.”

The effects of Hindman’s efforts go beyond striped lanes and bike racks.

Sarah Ashman, manager of Walt’s Bicycle Fitness and Wilderness Co., said that in recent years there have been more customers who say they use bicycles to commute as opposed to recreation. She bases this on increased bicycle sales and the increased sale of bike accessories such as luggage racks, pannier bags and rain gear.

Hindman “has certainly changed the culture of cycling in Columbia,” she said. “Cycling in general is on the increase.” [ read more ]

After five terms as Columbia’s mayor, Hindman is retiring in April, and there is concern that some of the momentum for cycling in Columbia, which culminated with Columbia being recognized as a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community last year, may be lost.

According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, Curtis isn’t worried. He said the momentum in GetAbout projects is well established, adding that it is the city’s program, not just the mayor’s. Even if a future city council puts less emphasis on non-motorized projects, Hindman said he will continue to promote biking, walking and good health. “I do intend to practice the active living and join the others who push for it.”

See also: Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, KCBike.info, Leadership for Healthy Communities, Parade Magazine, Wikipedia, The age of Hindman.

Congratulations, Mayor Hindman! Well done.

Photo courtesy of MoBikeFed via flickr.

The following are a few photos from the inaugural edition of the Kansas City Tweed Ride, which took place on April 3rd at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri:

More photos: KC Star, Pitch, David Rainey, joneser005 @flickr

Recap: History in the making…

An enthusiastic crowd of 150-200 people turned out for Kansas City’s very first Tweed Ride on a beautiful Spring day. Congratulations to the organizers for a well-planned and smooth-running event.

Looking forward to next year!

According to the Kansas City Star Editorial Board, KC needs 100 miles of new bike lanes by 2011:

Kansas City, let’s create 100 miles of bike lanes by early next year.

Let’s do it for a healthier, greener place to live. Let’s do it because generations of Kansas Citians have asked for it.

Let’s do it because this is a great American city and bike lanes would make us better. Heck, more bike lanes would trim us up and get us off those chubby city lists.

Now is the time for the Kansas City Council to get serious about creating what’s been debated for 25 years: A bike-friendly city.

Goals need deadlines, so here’s our idea:

100 miles of on-street bike lanes by April 30, 2011, the end of the next city fiscal year. And Mayor Mark Funkhouser should push harder for his goal of making Kansas City a bike-friendly, platinum-rated city by the League of American Bicyclists by 2020.

The 100-mile goal is tough, but doable, and Kansas Citians have been asking for a safer biking environment for decades. Kansas City has devised and revised and re-revised — and yet never acted on — ambitious bike route plans since 1986, with complete reworks in 1991 and 2001. This foot-dragging has put us far behind other metropolitan areas. We’re the worst cycling city in America, according to some.

…

Kansas City has waited long enough. Let’s add 100 miles of bike lanes by early 2011 and make our city a healthier, more attractive place to live.

Did you catch the words there?

“Bike lanes”. Not “bike paths”. Not “trails”.

Bike lanes!

The focus here is transportation, not recreation.

100 miles is obviously just an arbitrary round number, but it’s an ambitious goal, particularly given that KC has very few bike lanes, and only about 30 miles of off-street paths and trails.

It takes more than bike lanes to make a city truly bicycle-friendly, but it’s certainly a good start. A modest investment in cycling infrastructure would pay for itself many times over in decreased congestion, improved health, and improved air quality (particularly given that the KC area has repeatedly violated air quality standards and may be forced to impose new restrictions).

And, of course, the value of lives saved is immeasurable.

So, do KC leaders “get it”? They’re been moving in that direction for awhile now, but so far, there isn’t a whole lot to show for it. Are they willing to take concrete steps, such as adding 100 miles of bike lanes, to make a move livable city?

Let’s hope so!

See also: Kansas City’s Platinum Vision, KC Struggles To Become More Bicycle-Friendly

KCFreePress.com offers up a look at Kansas City’s Critical Mass ride, which takes place the last Friday of each month on KC streets:

When people hear the words “critical mass,” they probably imagine a motley crew of cyclists drinking beer, slowing down traffic and generally getting in everyone’s way.

While that assessment wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate, it’s tough to get the whole story until you actually take part in the monthly bike parade and experience Kansas City from a cyclist’s perspective.

The ride moves at a pace that slower riders can keep up with, and red lights do not necessarily equal “stop.” Outlying riders, or “corkers,” post up at intersections to make sure cars don’t disrupt the peloton, usually by waving thanks to the drivers and wishing them a “Happy Friday.”

While disregarding traffic signals might seem like a dubious method of promoting safe biking, the movement certainly succeeds in making drivers reconsider who owns the roads. Critical Mass turns the traffic hierarchy on its head, as streets that might otherwise be dangerous for a lone biker become grand bicycling thoroughfares for a larger group. As cyclist Matt Lavigne states, “The mass is what’s critical.”

“It’s just a bunch of friendly folk riding around, having a good time,” said Ryan Jones. Cyclist Chris Lee called Critical Mass “a real spirit-lifter.”

Read more: Critical Mass a ‘spirit-lifter’ for KC cycling community

Click the images below for videos from March 26th’s KC Critical Mass:

See also: KC Critical Mass on Facebook

Lawmakers in the state of Missouri are once again considering a law that would require motorists to pass bicycles by at least three feet:

The Bicycle Safety Bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Sutherland and supported by MoBikeFed in 2005 originally included a 3 foot minimum passing distance. However, at the insistence of the insurance industry–who feared a specific, concrete legal requirement would lead to more claims against their customers–the specific three foot requirement was removed at that time.

Missouri’s current law simply states that motorists “shall leave a safe distance, when passing the bicycle, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.”

Most motorists already pass bicyclists with a distance greater than three feet. However the addition of the three foot language to Missouri law would help clarify the issue of exactly what motorists are doing wrong when it comes to court cases. [ read more from the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation ]

And the debate is not just in halls of government. Everyday cyclists are voicing their opinions as well.

Over at Carbon Trace, Andy Cline opposes the bill and makes an interesting argument (HB 1250 Must Be Stopped): “I know there are many well-meaning bicycle advocates that think this law is a good idea. I respectfully disagree. I base my opinion on experience riding in traffic. While 3 feet might be fine if a car is passing at 25 mph, it is most certainly too close at 45 mph. This law treats all roads, speeds, and traffic conditions equally. It is far better that HB1250 fail than we end up with a 3-foot law.”

In I Want More Than Three Feet, he writes: “While it may seem that such a law seeks to protect bicyclists, I think it will instead make us less safe. Three feet is not enough room. But three feet is all you’ll get once drivers learn there’s a “3-foot law” in Missouri. In other words, cars will begin passing you closer!”

What do you think?

Does specifying a minimum passing distance actually encourage motorists to pass you closer than if the wording of the law is the vague “safe passing distance”?

For what it’s worth, there are currently 14 states — Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin — currently have 3-foot passing laws on the books, and several more (including Missouri and Iowa) are working towards some version of such a law (see More states consider 3-foot bicycle-passing laws in 2010 from BikingBis).

Here in Kansas, I don’t believe lawmakers have ever officially considered the issue. Ideas have been floated (see Kansas Bicycle Safety Law Proposal), but that’s as far as it’s gotten so far…

Missouri’s Ruby Jack Trail, located in the southwestern part of the state, near Joplin, runs 16 miles from the town of Carthage, Missouri to the Kansas state line. Although the entire length of the trail is open to the public, the western portion is pretty rough. The first several miles of the trail opened in 2008, near Carthage, and the next segment, 8 miles, will be finished this year, according to the Carthage Press:

Carthage’s Ruby Jack Trail has proven so successful that phase two will likely be launched early next month.

“It’s been a huge undertaking,” said Braden Horst, secretary of the Joplin Trails Coalition, a group that oversees both the Carthage trail as well as the Frisco Greenway Trail, which intersects nearby Joplin and Webb City.

Both trails are so-called “Rails to Trails” projects, meaning they are former railroads converted into multi-use trails. The trails are maintained by the Coalition and donations from local individuals and businesses.

Ruby Jack Trail is 16 miles long and snakes its way west from Carthage to the Kansas state line. But 13 of those 16 miles are extremely rough, and caution is used for those who try to job or mountain bike its length. Walkers, runners and bikers now regularly use phase one of the project, three miles of packed crushed rock.

Phase two, an additional eight miles, will make its way to Oronogo, located north of Webb City, consisting of finer, smoother crushed rock. Phase three, which is still well down the road, will make its way through Carl Junction, “paving” the final eight miles with crushed rock, and ending at the Sunflower State’s border. [ read more ]

Here’s a map of the Ruby Jack Trail:

Although the public is free to use the trail, the Joplin Trails Coalition warns: “All 16 miles of the trail are currently open for hiking and mountain biking, but the trail is very rough and a lot of work needs to be done before it can be used by all types of bikes. Please be careful when hiking or biking on the trail.”

It’s unclear if there are any plans to continue the trail on the Kansas side of the state line…

Learn more: Joplin Trails Coalition, Ruby Jack Trail draws more use as awareness grows

This looks to be a really fun ride on April 3rd in Kansas City:

In the spirit of “The Golden Age of Bicycles” the Groody Bros. Bicycle Restoration Project cordially invites you to participate in the first annual Kansas City Tweed Ride – Velocipede & Tweed Indeed! Please join us on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 at Loose Park in Kansas City, MO for an afternoon of sophisticated social revelry upon the most marvelous machines ever devised by man.

We will congregate under the shelter located at 52nd and Wornall Road at the hour of 12, with the ride to commence at approximately one o’clock. Dress in your finest turn of the century era wools, tweeds, silks and argyles*. Riders, and their machines, will have the opportunity to be judged and awarded prizes based on appearance, authenticity, originality, and creativity. Categories to include, but are not limited to:

• Most Flattering Female Finery
• Most Dashing & Debonair Male
• Most Period Authentic Machine
• Most Handsome Mustache (Masculinely Male)
• Most Delicate Mustache (Fictitiously Female)
• Most Intriguing Accessory upon a Person
• Most Intriguing Accessory upon a Bicycle

Our route will pass through some of the finest and most elegant neighborhoods in the Kansas City area with regrouping locations allowing for fine refreshment. The length of our journey will be no greater than ten miles and at a speed of the most casual nature. This is about style not speed, elegance not exertion. This is to be considered a family affair to be enjoyed by the young and old alike. Light refreshments of tea and biscuits will be provided. We invite you to bring your own picnic fare to share.

While at the event you can expect to have your image captured in candid fashion by none other than world renowned urban cyclist photographer, Chris Thomas.

Another local artist of the brush and canvas variety, Kevin Nierman, whose works have graced the covers of such esteemed and prestigious publications as Dirt Rag Magazine and Bicycling Times has generously donated an original painting created just for this event. This work of art will be made available to one fortunate member of the general populous through a chance drawing. Raffle tickets will be available for a nominal donation on the day of the event. The proceeds will benefit a local youth cycling endeavor and assist to defray a portion of the event expenses.

Current sponsors include Groody Bros. Bicycle Restoration Project, Poindexter Recruiting, Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac, Kevin Nierman Graphic Design, Chris Thomas Photography, Chipman Creative Design, Family Bicycles, LLC, other sponsors still at large…

Contact us if you wish to volunteer, donate prizes or become a sponsor. Please feel free to direct your comments, suggestions and inquiries to TweedRideKC@gmail.com . Any and all R.S.V.P. to this address would be greatly appreciated so that we might properly prepare for the onslaught of participants.

This event does not include rider support by those infernal internal combustion machines. All riders should arrive with a bicycle in proper working order and be aware that their participation is purely and completely at their own risk. Riders are expected to observe and obey all rules of the road and behave in a dignified and civilized manor during the course of the event.

*The sporting of denim, spandex or lycra is to be highly discouraged. The organizers of this event consider these fabrics to be in exceedingly poor taste. The wearers of such apparel can expect to be openly scorned, chastised and run the risk of being “tarred and feathered” by an angry mob.

You can learn more about the event on their web site or Facebook event page.

“Tweed Rides” are popping up in cities all over. Here are a few more you may want to check out: Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and many more around the world.

This coming weekend, September 19-20, 2009 is the KC Cup Cross Country Race and Festival, presented by Heartland Sports Promotions, and taking place in Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri.

This two-day festival includes a cross country mountain bike race, a cyclocross race, and a trail run. The races take place at Camp Lake of the Woods in Swope Park, and on the magnificent Swope Park Trails.

Here’s the event flyer:

Learn more on the event web site or view the event flyer.