Healthy, Active & Vibrant Communities

Ferguson Twilight 5K Run/Walk - May 14

2011-04-13T10:44:00.004-06:00

Visit www.livewellferg5K.com for details

The inaugural Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K was a HUGE success in 2010. The event organizers felt that they were setting their sights high when they set a goal of 300 participants. By the time the 1-mile fun run and the 5K run/walk had ended, over 900 people had participated, literally filling the streets!

The second running of the Live Well Ferguson 5K Twilight Run/Walk is taking place Saturday, May 14, 2011 in downtown Ferguson, MO. As the afternoon comes to an end, hundreds of runners and walkers will take to the streets of Ferguson on a USATF certified course for the only twilight run/walk event in North St. Louis County. The races start and finish at Plaza at 501, an outdoor entertainment area at the intersection of Florissant Road and Suburban Avenue. The post-race festivities include a free concert by Javier Mendoza, along with food vendors, massage, and chiropractic services.

In 2011, the goal is to attract 1,200 participants. Race fees are $15 for the 5K through May 2; fees increase to $20 afterwards. Special rates are offered to teams of 10 or more participants. Awards and prizes will be presented to top finishers. The course will be timed by Big River Running.

For more details, or to register for the Live Well Ferguson 5K, go to: www.livewellferg5K.com

New this year is a partnership with Christian Hospital. A recognized leader of quality health care, Christian Hospital and its Foundation are dedicated to helping people enjoy life by improving their health through the support of community programs. Proceeds from the event benefit youth scholarships to attend camp programs at the Emerson Family YMCA.

Advocating for Us -- National Bike Summit

2011-03-21T12:26:00.003-06:00

Photo Caption: Missouri bike advocates meeting with Senator Claire McCaskill at the National Bike Summit last week. Trailnet's Emily Luten is third from the left.

Trailnet staff recently attended the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. This event was attended by upwards of 700 bicycle enthusiasts from around the U.S. (and Canada), ranging from advocacy organizations similar to Trailnet, bicycle retail owners, lobbyists, academics, and people who love biking. The theme of the conference was “Acting on a Simple Solution.” This simple solution, bikes, can help to solve lots of America’s problems, whether it is health, economic, or environmental.

This simple solution also coincided with our simple ask to the 112th Congress: don’t cut bicycle/pedestrian funding. Currently, the 112th Congress is going through major budget cuts and bicycle/pedestrian funding, along with all funding, is in jeopardy. Therefore the group ask, by National Bike Summit representatives from all states, was simply to not cut bicycle/pedestrian funding. In previous years, this ask is usually to increase funding, but since all funding is at stake, we just want to make sure our funding is safe.

Bicycle/pedestrian funding, which comes out of transportation funding, only makes up .03% of the budget. This low-cost solution is crucial to provide transportation opportunities with the added benefits of helping the environment, health, and economy. Since 2001, the federal investment in bicycle infrastructure has spurred a 25 percent increase in ridership. Bicycle commuting has increased even more—44% nationwide since 2000, and more than 70% in bicycle-friendly communities with the largest investment.* Bicycle projects also create more jobs than road projects, with 14.4 jobs created per $1 million investment for bike lanes compared to only 6.8 jobs per $1 million investment for road resurfacing.** With these facts in hand, we made a strong case for our ask.

The Missouri contingent met with Senator Claire McCaskill (pictured above) to discuss our agenda. Senator McCaskill bluntly explained to us the debt situation that America is facing, and that no funding is guaranteed. When discussing with her the benefits associated with bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, she understood our case, but explained that trimming the budget was her priority. Our discussion with Senator Roy Blunt went similarly. He was interested to learn why bicycle/pedestrian funding is important, but his priority was to cut the overall budget, but not specifically bicycle/pedestrian funding.

When meeting with St. Louis area Congressional Representatives Clay, Carnahan, Akin, and Luetkemeyer, our discussion was more optimistic. Our Representatives (and in some cases, their Legislative Assistants) were proud to represent Districts where Trailnet was implementing rides, events, the Safe Routes to School program, Healthy, Active, and Vibrant Communities program, Bike/Walk Masterplans, and Bike-to-Work Day activities. We helped our Congressional Representatives to understand the link between bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure and improving the health and economic well-being of their constituents. While not all Representatives were willing to sponsor a bill, they were all interested and wanted to learn more about how they can help.

After returning from Washington, D.C., the job is now in our hands to continue advocating for funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. It’s up to you to contact your Congress member to explain how important bicycle/pedestrian funding is to you, your family, and your community. Visit the League of American Bicyclists for a variety of resources related to bike advocacy. Visit the following website to find your district and the contact information for your Congressional representative:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=MO

*Source: National Household Travel Survey: American Community Survey, US Census
**Garrett-Peltier, Heidi, Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

North Riverfront Land Use Study

2011-03-14T13:24:00.007-06:00

Photo Caption: The land use study is looking at the area of St. Louis shown in pink.

The City of St. Louis is in the midst of a major land use study that is looking at how we can best use our north riverfront corridor. The study area, shown above, includes roughly 30% of St. Louis's riverfront, the Riverfront Trail, the McKinley Bridge Bikeway, and the proposed Trestle bikeway.

If you ride the Riverfront Trail, you know that the corridor being studied is currently used by many of St. Louis's heaviest industries, including scrap metal recyclers, junk yards, and coal shippers, as well as a series of lighter industrial uses, such as machine shops, wholesalers, manufacturers, and Produce Row. In addition, the corridor has long served as a hub for major movement of goods into and out of the region due to its proximity to the river, rail lines, and I-70.

As our City develops this major land use study (it is an $800,000 study), we have a rare opportunity to think big and develop a vision for the corridor that serves the triple bottom line of profit, people, and planet. With the industrial era in America's rear view mirror, river cities throughout our country have been re-tooling their riverfront corridors to include a softer mixture of uses (lighter industry, offices, recreation, housing, retail, etc.) that reflects the modern value that environmental stewardship and profit can co-exist. If you visit St. Louis's north riverfront corridor today, you see the past -- fragments of the industrial era literally scattered across the land and spilling into the streets. The current state of the corridor is enough to scare off even hearty urban explorers, let alone the creative class that St. Louis so desperately needs to retain and attract.

Two great examples of city's that have re-invented their riverfronts are Saint Paul, Minnesota (our neighbors up river) and Pittsburgh's recent Alleghany Riverfront Vision Plan. Here is an image of Saint Paul's riverfront from the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation website:

Here is an image of Branch Street in St. Louis -- the only remaining direct connection between St. Louis neighborhoods and the north riverfront. In the distance you can faintly see the flood wall painted with the words "Riverfront Trail." Not exactly an inviting scene:

The Land Use Study underway presents an exciting opportunity to envision the future of our riverfront. If you would like to learn more about the land use study and share your input, please plan to attend the upcoming Public Information Meeting, Thursday, March 24, 4-6pm. The invitation (in italics) and meeting flyer are below:

On Thursday, March 24, 2011, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) in coordination with HNTB (the lead consultant), will be hosting a Public Informational Meeting, about the Port/North Riverfront Land Use Study, at the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Bissell Point Treatment Plant, in St. Louis.

The purpose of the meeting is to share the Study goals and to learn more about your vested interests in the area. We encourage you to attend because your input does matter. For more information, please review the flyer attached, or contact Hudson and Associates, at 314.436.3311.

We would like to hear from you!

Better Bike Facilities

2011-03-09T17:46:00.010-06:00

Photo Caption: A bike lane marked with green paint to alert both cyclists and drivers of high-conflict zones where cars are likely to merge across the bike lane. Courtesy of SDOT

All across the US, cities large and small have been experimenting to create new kinds of bike facilities that create safer travel environments for cyclists and vehicles. The new facilities include a broad range of things, such as green bike lanes (shown above), contra-flow bike lanes, bike boxes, bicycle signal heads to tell cyclists when it's safe to go, and more. Cities like Philadelphia, New York, Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Portland, Houston, and Boston have come together to share the work they are doing with one another through the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). Now, as part of the Cities for Cycling initiative, NACTO has released the Urban Bikeway Design Guide to "provide cities with state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists."

So, why haven't we seen any of these best-practices in Missouri?
First of all, the documents/guidelines that transportation engineers most commonly use -- AASHTO's Green Book and Guide for Bicycle Facilities and the MUTCD -- do not include these best-practices, despite the fact that are being successfully implemented from coast to coast. Second, our state's major cities are not yet plugged into NACTO's professional network. In addition, there are budgetary constraints, lack of local leadership, and not enough public pressure. With regard to the last item, take some time to peruse the Urban Bikeway Design Guide, educate yourself, and then educate your local elected officials. MO Livable Streets is hosting a series of advocacy trainings throughout the state that will prepare you with the tools you need to be an effective advocate for complete streets -- there is a training March 29th in Kirksville, April 28th in Kansas City, and one May 3rd in Cape Girardeau.

How quickly do you think we can get a green bike lane painted in our state? See below for additional pictures of best-practice facilities.

A contraflow bike lane -- think of it as a two way street, where only bikes are allowed on one side. Photo thanks to SDOT

A bike box, which improves intersection safety. Photo thanks to BikePortland.org

A bike corral places bike parking in a traditional car parking spot. It keeps the sidewalk clear for pedestrians and can accommodate more than ten bikes in a single car parking space.

Park(ing) Day!

2011-03-05T15:19:00.005-06:00

In 2005, a San Francisco art and design studio called Rebar decided to explore the ways in which parking spaces can be reclaimed to create much needed public space. Every year since, the Park(ing) Day movement has spread throughout the US and world, including St. Louis, as a global day of creativity and advocacy for the preservation and creation of meaningful public space in our communities.

As the first green shoots of spring appear, St. Louisans are already starting to break out of their winter hibernation, seeking places and spaces in their community to play, relax, and gather with neighbors in the public domain. Does your neighborhood or community have the kinds of public spaces you wish it had? Pay attention this spring and summer and start making a list of the public spaces you wish your community had -- Parking Day 2011 will be taking place Friday, September 16th, and we want more St. Louis communities than ever before to participate in this incredibly fun, creative way to spark meaningful dialog about public spaces that enhance the livability of our communities.

Check out the links below for more information about Park(ing) Day and Rebar's incredible work:

http://parkingday.org/

http://www.rebargroup.org/

DIY Snow Tires for Your Bike

2011-01-26T16:13:00.006-06:00

Photo Caption: Studded snow tires cost upwards of $65 apiece!

Winter 2011 in St. Louis is less than halfway over and it's already been the snowiest winter on record. Ok, that's a lie, but it sure as hail feels like it. Even the hardiest all-weather cyclists seem to take snow days or even snow weeks from cycling due to the snow- and ice-covered roads. Thanks to the DIY ethic of hipster cyclists, we are proud to bring you a low-cost solution to transform your bike into a snow machine.

The folks at the Dutch Bike Company blogged about how they transformed their bikes into all-weather monsters with nothing but a package of zip ties, a pair of scissors, and a beer (optional).

Photo Credit: Dutch Bike Company

Aside from the great how-to photos on their blog, my favorite part of the post was the authors admission that he didn't invent the technique:

It pains me to admit this not because my ego suffers, but because the zip-tie-DIY-bicycle-snow-chains idea appears to have originated with my favorite bicycle industry whipping boy: fixed gear hipster culture. Several years ago, I'm sure, some bright child with extremely tight pants and an asymmetrical haircut had a genius-caliber idea, and I hate that it wasn't me. So here it is: Fixed gear street bike hipster guys, I'm sorry for the things I've said over the years. It's not true that the only drink you like is 4Loko. It's also not true that you're not allowed to wear shoes that don't match your bikes. You can wear whatever you want. And finally, you have come up with a good idea besides brightly colored deep-section rims.

Check out the full post and photos here:
http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_blog/Dutch_Bike_Co_Weblog/post/Seattle_Snowpocalypse/

Another Reason to Eat Fresh Foods

2011-01-25T16:39:00.006-06:00

Photo Caption: Meat or not meat -- THAT is the question. Photo from Gizmodo

According to the folks at Gizmodo, Taco Bell's "beef" taco filling is actually only 36% beef. The remaining 64% is not beef or anything even remotely related to a cow. Taco Bell's website refers to this 36% beef product as "seasoned ground beef". When barely a third of the substance is beef, wouldn't it be more accurate to describe it as "beef flavored seasoning"?

This realization is thanks to a class action lawsuit against Taco Bell by an Alabama law firm.

Read more on Gizmodo's website, including the suggestion that USDA rules may not even allow Taco Bell's taco filling to be referred to as "meat":

http://gizmodo.com/5742413/this-is-what-really-hides-in-taco-bells-beef

Missouri Farm to School Workshops Announced

2011-01-05T17:41:00.000-06:00

Learn how to connect your schools to healthy, fresh and local foods.

The Missouri Farm to Institution Project is pleased to announce that registration is now open for four Farm to School workshops. Please join us to help build the Farm to School movement in Missouri. The dates and locations are listed below:

Friday, January 21
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO (Snow date: January 28)
8:30 am to 4:00 pm (Registration opens at 8:00 am)

Wednesday, February 16
St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
8:30 am to 4:00 pm (Registration opens at 8:00 am)

Wednesday, March 2
This workshop will be broadcast to TeleCenters in Maryville, Trenton (tentative), Independence, Columbia, Salem, and Poplar Bluff. Addresses to be provided upon registration.
8:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, March 30
Springfield-Greene Co. Botanical Center, Nathaniel Greene-Close Memorial Parks, 2400 South Scenic, Springfield, MO
8:30 am to 4:00 pm (Registration opens at 8:00 am)

All workshops will follow a similar format and feature presentations in the morning by farmers, distributors, food service directors, and others who are making farm to school happen. The afternoon will include breakout sessions geared toward either farmers or school food services to provide more in-depth information about starting and sustaining farm to school programs.

Workshops are free and lunch is included. Registration is required. Contact Stacy Colley at 573-882-5114 or ColleyS@missouri.edu to register for a workshop. Please indicate the location that you will be attending, whether you will be in the Farmer or School Food Service afternoon breakout session, and if you have a dietary/meal consideration.

For more information, email Bill McKelvey: mckelveywa@umsystem.edu

Singin' in the Rain

2010-12-29T13:19:00.002-06:00

I looked outside this morning and thought “35 degrees and raining...sounds like a great day to ride to work!” Now, before you go saying “he’s just a ‘hardcore cyclist’ who’s crazy enough to ride in anything,” hear me out: People drive slower when it rains. There’s less traffic on the road when it rains. The rain on a helmet creates a soothing noise that can help calm your nerves. You’re still getting exercise outside even though it’s raining, and think of how good it’ll feel to get warmed up once you reach your destination!

With that said, here are a few rainy day cleaning tips for those who still like to jump in puddles...

Brush foreign objects off the tread and check overall condition of the tires

Wipe down or hose down the bike if it’s very dirty (especially with road salt); be careful not to direct water at bearings or other sensitive components; bounce the bike to shake off excess water and store it in a warm, dry place.

Dry off the saddle if it’s wet.

If the chain got wet, wipe it down and apply some fresh chain lube

Remove the seatpost, turn the bike upside down, and let the seat tube drain; apply fresh grease or antiseize before reinstalling the post (except where carbon fiber is involved).

Check hydraulic brake lines (if you have them) for kinks or splits)

Cleaning Tips Courtesy of The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair for Road & Mountain Bikes, by Todd Downs

New Healthy Grocer Opens in North City

2010-12-23T12:10:00.007-06:00

Video by KSDK

A new community grocery store, YOURS Market, opened just last week in St. Louis City. The 9000 sq. ft. market, located at 8005 N Broadway, features a wide variety of foods and fresh produce. The market will host nutrition education programs, a garden for growing produce, and eventually two greenhouses on site. This new store is an exiciting step towards addressing the "food deserts" that exist throughout much of North St. Louis City and County.

Click here to see the KSDK Video.

Click here for a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Click here for a story in the St. Louis American.

Click here for a story in the St. Louis Business Journal.

Old North Grocery Coop
A similar store opened earlier this summer just north of downtown. The Old North Grocery Co-op, located at 2718 N. 13th Street, features many fresh and healthy foods produced within 100 miles of the store. In addition to stocking food and household goods, the Old North Grocery Co-op provides a variety of cooking, food preservation, and nutrition classes as well as space for community events. The 13th Street Community Garden is located adjacent to the building and home to some very friendly egg-laying chickens. The Old North Grocery Co-op, the 13th Street Community Garden, and the nearby North City Farmers’ Market create a formidable axis of edible with the mission to provide affordable, fresh, healthy food to the community.

Click here to visit the Old North Grocery Co-op website.

St. Louis Gets $1 Million to Connect Arch to Bikeways

2010-12-22T17:08:00.001-06:00

Photo Caption: A mother-daughter duo participating in one of Trailnet's rides to the Arch

The Metro transit agency (AKA Bi-State) just learned that it will receive a $1 million "Transit in Parks" grant to enhance the connection between the Arch grounds and adjacent bikeways, including the North River Front Trail and the proposed South Chouteau Trail. Trailnet worked closely with Metro, Great Rivers Greenway, the City of St. Louis, and other partners to shape the vision for this grant. The grant was one of 47 awarded throughout the US. Click here to see Metro's announcement.

“Connecting people to our parks, refuges, forests and historic and cultural sites is one of the primary goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to establish a new conservation ethic for the 21st Century,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “With these projects, we are opening the way for many more people to discover the beauty, history and culture of America.” Click here to see the Federal Transit Administration's announcement.

We're very excited about this opportunity to work with Metro, Great Rivers Greenway, the City of St. Louis, and the National Park Service to enhance connectivity between the Arch, the River, and adjacent St. Louis neighborhoods. The St. Louis riverfront and the Arch are two of the greatest, yet woefully disconnected assets in our region. This grant will help bring our region a little closer to our natural and cultural heritage. Stay tuned for updates this spring...

Bikes are Great. Famous People Agree.

2010-12-21T13:49:00.003-06:00

How does riding a bike make you feel? Leave a comment below!

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
-John F. Kennedy

"Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia."
-H. G. Wells

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle."
-Ernest Hemingway

"And I love to ride my bike, which is great aerobics, but also just a great time for me to think, so it's like this terrific double bill."
-Robin Williams

"I thought of that while riding my bicycle."
-Albert Einstein

"Next to a leisurely walk I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle. It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. The rapid rush through the air gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing."
-Helen Keller

"Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls."
-Bob Weir

"Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something wrong with a society that drives a car to work out in a gym."
-Bill Nye the Science Guy

"If I can bicycle, I bicycle."
-David Attenborough

"A lot of fun stuff happens when you go out on a bike compared to when you're in a car. You're more in the environment. It's enjoyable. Even when It's raining, it's still fun."
-Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam guitarist and long-time Seattle resident

"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."
-Susan B. Anthony, the woman, not the coin

"The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets."
-Christopher Morley

"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."
-H. G. Wells

Walking is Great. Famous People Agree.

2010-12-15T13:50:00.004-06:00

Photo Credit: ALBOWIEB on Flickr

"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."
-Nietzsche

"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best."
-Thomas Jefferson

"Anywhere is walking distance, if you've got the time."
-Stephen Wright

"One step at a time is good walking."
-Old Chinese Proverb

I can remember walking as a child. It was not customary to say you were fatigued. It was customary to complete the goal of the expedition."
-Katharine Hepburn

Walking is man's best medicine.
-Hippocrates

"My grandmother started walking 5 miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now and we don't know where the hell she is."
-Ellen DeGeneres

"There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo."
-Paul Scott Mowrer

"I was walking down the street with my friend and he said, " I hear music," as though there's any other way to take it in. You're not special, that's how I receive it too. I tried to taste it, but it did not work."
-Mitch Hedberg

"From walking - something; from sitting - nothing."
-Bulgarian Proverb

"Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called 'walking'"
-George W. Bush

Drive Less... For the Kids

2010-12-14T13:55:00.006-06:00

Photo Caption: Buckle-up for safety. Walk for even safer safety.

Our friend Alex Ihnen, a regular contributor on the UrbanSTL blog, recently posted a piece asking the question: Why doesn't someone tell you to drive less as a key way you can reduce the risk of injury or death when you have kids?

It is, in fact, a primary way that we can decrease the risk of child injuries. Yet, with all the advice that is given to new parents, no one ever recommends less driving. Is driving so deeply ingrained in our infrastructure and culture that we no longer see driving as a choice? (Exempting, of course, people who have no choice in the matter, including people with certain disabilities, living in poverty, too old, too young, and all the other significant groups that can't drive who in total make up ~30% of the population)

The American love affair with cars was largely about freedom--Route 66, the open road, Kerouac. But how free do you feel when you have to drive a one ton vehicle to Walmart to get a loaf of bread? Has the pendulum swung so far in the car-centric direction that we no longer have the basic freedom to utilize bi-pedal locomotion to get about our daily lives? Are we safer or less safe?

Visit UrbanSTL and read Alex's take. While you're there, take some time to explore the site -- it's a great St. Louis blog!

Missouri is Low in Annual Health Ranking

2010-12-13T10:27:00.007-06:00

Smoking helps you lose weight?
For other pictures of the benefits of smoking, visit: http://www.nsma.org.au/propics.htm

The United Health Foundation recently published their annual ranking of America's healthiest and unhealthiest states. According to the report, which takes into account a myriad of factors, Missouri ranks as the 39th healthiest state or the 11th most unhealthy. According to this report, Missouri is tied as the 5th worst state for smoking prevalence and the 9th worst for obesity prevalence. Illinois ranked above Missouri as the 29th healthiest state overall.

To see the 2010 ranking, check out this article from Forbes.
To learn more about the report, visit the project's website.

Smoking and obesity are known to be two of the most significant risk factors for a variety of diseases -- including heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and type II diabetes -- which is likely one of the reasons that Missouri ranks so low overall. If Missouri is able to significantly reduce smoking and obesity rates, it is likely that overall population health will increase and we will ascend in the rankings.

Two Pertinent Pieces of News
First, the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) was recently awarded a grant through the federal Social Innovation Fund to tackle both smoking and obesity at the same time. MFH received $2 million of funding that they are matching with another $2 million of their money to create the Social Innovation for Missouri (SIM) funding program. This pool of $4 million will be granted to approximately 10-16 communities throughout the state to integrate two successful models: Trailnet's Healthy, Active & Vibrant Communities Initiative and Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Support for Local Tobacco Policy Change. Trailnet is thrilled to be part of this effort and will be serving as a technical assistance provider to communities that receive SIM funding from MFH. The deadline has passed for communities to apply, but stay tuned for the funding announcement in the first quarter of 2011. The SIM communities will be charting exciting new territory in the years ahead as they work to tackle both obesity and tobacco use simultaneously.

Second, the indoor smoking bans in St. Louis County and St. Louis City go into effect January 2nd, 2011. The County Health Department has launched this webpage with information about the new restrictions. Just last week, Mayor Francis Slay announced that Lambert St. Louis International Airport would finally go smoke-free. And, St. Louis County recently received a $7.6 million federal grant to help reduce smoking prevalence.

As the 11th most unhealthy state in the US, Missouri has a long way to go. However, these and other promising efforts are setting the stage for important and long-overdue improvements to Missouri's health landscape.

Seriously Cool Bike Parking!

2010-12-01T15:01:00.004-06:00

If you speak German, we would love a translation...because we really want to find out how we can get our hands on one of these!

-Trailnet's Office of R & D & A (Research & Development & Awesomeness)

Support Specialty Bicycle MO License Plates TODAY!

2010-11-30T12:03:00.003-06:00

The design of the proposed license plate

TODAY is your last day to send a letter of support for the proposed Same Roads Same Rights license plate!

Our friends at the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation have been working for five years to create a specialty license plate (for automobiles) in support of bicycling in Missouri.

The specialty plate application has now been accepted! The next step is a hearing in the Joint Transportation Committee of the Missouri General Assembly.

Through the end of the day TODAY, November 30th, 2010, we can submit comments in support of the specialty automobile license plate. Our legislators will consider those comments when they decide to approve or disapprove the specialty license plate.

Proceeds from the plate will be used to support and promote bicycling in Missouri--bicycle safety education and related programs.

Visit the MO Bike Fed website to submit your comment. It will take you less than a minute:

http://mobikefed.org/LicensePlates

Livable St. Louis Conference 2010. What Have You Done?

2010-11-18T10:53:00.004-06:00

Photo Caption: Bike parking at the 2010 Livable St. Louis Conference overflowed beyond the racks!

Six months have passed since Trailnet hosted the 2010 Livable St. Louis Conference with the theme Creating a Movement of Healthy, Active & Vibrant Communities. Since that time, Trailnet's staff has been busy working with out partners to develop bike and pedestrian master plans, adopt complete streets policies, secure a HUD sustainability planning grant, and host community events that promote biking, walking and play.

What have you done since the conference?
Our hope was that the conference would spark new ideas, foster new discussions, and develop new partnerships to create a more livable St. Louis region. Did you take away ideas or inspiration from the conference and turn it into action in your organization or your community? Leave a comment here or on Facebook and tell us what you have been up to?

The Social Costs of Traffic

2010-11-17T14:42:00.003-06:00

Ferguson Twilight Ramble - RECAP

2010-11-12T18:53:00.008-06:00

Photos courtesy of Live Well Ferguson on flickr

How do we get from here to there?

Seems like a simple question, right? The typical answer to this question is often a simple set of directions: first do this, then do that, then do this other thing, and whalla! you're "there".

But when "there" refers to a community full of bikers, walkers, and runners and "here" refers to your average American community, the road map is not very clear. In fact, just the thought of attempting to shift an entire community's habits is enough to make the average brain go numb. After hanging out in Ferguson last Sunday night for the inaugural Live Well Ferguson Twilight Ramble, I am proud to say there are no numb skulls in Ferguson! (Like how I pun-ted that one?)

The City of Ferguson and their many partners are on a mission to shift the culture of Ferguson residents to become more active. The Twilight Ramble was just one more in a series of great local events aimed at getting residents off of their couches and into the parks and the streets to play and be active. The event was actually a series of three bike rides: 1-mile, 5-miles, and 15-miles. The event was specifically designed to appeal to bike riders at all levels, from training wheelers and adults who haven't ridden since shortly after their training wheels came off, to experience cyclists. To ensure that riders at all levels were prepared, there were free helmets (courtesy of the North County Optimists and the St. Louis County Health Department) and free bike tune-ups (courtesy of Trailblazer Bikes).

Caption: Some people came prepared with their own awesome helmets

Caption: Trailblazer Bikes was on hand to provide free tune-ups

Caption: The beginning of the 5-mile ride

The last ride of the evening, the 15-miler, started just at dusk and carried on into the evening. The route weaved all throughout Ferguson, never doubling back on itself and never retracing its path. It went up hills, down hills, past community gardens, past community colleges, through sleepy neighborhoods, down the Ted Jones trail and finally ended at Ferguson's new Plaza @ 501. I am proud to say that I regularly ride my bike, and I am not ashamed to tell you that there were a few hills in Ferguson that gave me a run for my money.

The City of Ferguson has hit a home-run with this new event. As with their Twilight 5K and their Sunday Parkways events, the Twilight Ramble was a great event that I can't wait to see grow in the next few years. Kudos to all the folks who worked hard to make this event such a success. Well done team Ferguson!

Caption: Ferguson's Plaza @ 501 served as the trail head for the rides

NOV 7th - Ferguson Twilight Ramble

2010-10-29T17:38:00.006-06:00

Are you going through withdrawal from fun FREE biking events?

Although the official Trailnet ride season ended with a bang with our Ride the Rivers Century, our partners are still going strong!

The fine folks in Ferguson are hosting the Live Well Ferguson Twilight Ramble next Sunday, November 7th.

The Twilight Ramble is actually three back-t0-back rides:

3:00 - 3:30pm
1-mile ride on Suburban Avenue (families, small kids, & beginning cyclists)
4:00 - 4:30pm
5-mile ride on the Ted Jones Trail (families, bigger kids, & beginning cyclists)
5:00 - 6:30pm
15-mile ride through Ferguson ending in the dark (more advanced cyclists)

All rides are FREE. All rides begin and end at:
Ferguson's Plaza 501
501 S. Florissant Road
Downtown Ferguson, MO

The Twilight Ramble features:

free helmets giveaway (protect your brains!)
ride support for flats and other easy repairs
free cookout after the last ride

Riders are encouraged to decorate their bikes and themselves with lights! Be creative. Decorate your bike with battery powered Christmas lights, duct tape a lantern to your bike, build a fire pit in your tag-along...

For more information about the Twilight Ramble, visit:
http://www.livewellferguson.com/twilightramble.shtml

The Live Well Ferguson Twilight Ramble is sponsored by Live Well Ferguson! and a whole bunch of other great partners. Live Well Ferguson! was created through a partnership between Trailnet and the City of Ferguson. This event is one of the many exciting spin-off projects that have taken on a life of their own.

We hope to see you out in Ferguson!

I Love Vinita Park

2010-09-29T14:19:00.004-06:00

I love Vinita Park. I know the word ‘love’ gets tossed around a lot these days, and some folks think it’s not appropriate to apply the word ‘love’ to a municipality that ‘can’t’ return it, but I stand by my statement and I’ll tell you why:

With a land area of just under one square mile, some people might miss the City of Vinita Park on their Saturday morning ride down Midland Blvd. But those who don’t pay attention to that one square mile are missing a lot – barbecues firing up in the park beside City Hall, the brand new, well-lit trail connecting Midland Blvd. to Page Ave., and Trailnet’s latest offering in Vinita Park – the Earn-2-Bikes class!

A partnership between Trailnet, St. Louis BicycleWORKS, and the City of Vinita Park, Earn-2-Bikes is quickly becoming a Saturday morning staple in the parking lot across from City Hall. The course is a six-week, bike maintenance and safety class, where students learn to work on brakes, tubes and tires, as well as develop on-road biking skills and safety knowledge. Students are encouraged to bring a friend/family member and participate together (hence the name ‘Earn-2-Bikes’), with the hope that they then will have someone to ride with when the course is complete. The class has a warm and encouraging atmosphere and seeks to develop students wherever they are in their bike experience.

Next time you’re riding down Midland or driving towards The Loop, think about stopping by and saying “Hi” to the next generation of bike lovers!

-Charles Johnson, Earn-2-Bikes Instructor

For more information on the Earn-2-Bikes program, e-mail Charles@trailnet.org. To learn about Trailnet’s continuing partnership with the City of Vinita Park, contact Jennifer Allen at Jennifer@trailnet.org or 314-436-1324 x 121.

Trailnet's Active Living Awards is TOMORROW!

2010-09-27T10:28:00.004-06:00

Every Fall Trailnet's Active Living Awards honor leaders in the movement to create more healthy, active, and vibrant communities. The awards ceremony is a celebration of the champions and innovators who are promoting a culture of active living in everything they do.

As with all great celebrations, the Active Living Awards is an incredibly fun event brimming with wonderful people, food, and drinks. We have been promoting the event on Trailnet's main website for months, but wanted to post a quick reminder here on the blog that the 2010 Active Living Awards is taking place tomorrow night:

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

We hope you can join us for this celebration. To learn more about the event, the 2010 honorees, and to purchase tickets, visit:
http://trailnet.org/m_awards.php

"Livability" in Rural America

2010-09-08T10:24:00.004-06:00

Photo Caption: Cities and towns of all sizes should be "livable"

The term livability has become a national buzz word over the course of the last two years, in large part, due to efforts at the federal level -- a series of federal agencies have been working to coordinate spending to help create what they are calling more livable communities. Although there is no single definition of the term livable, the common thread is that livable communities provide a high quality of life for all residents and include spaces that are designed for people (for example, a historic main street), not just cars and quick commerce (for example, a big box strip mall).

As the livable communities movement has grown, a common misconception has developed that "livability" is solely a concept for big cities and urban areas. In fact, livability is a universal concept that can and should be adjusted to capitalize on the unique assets of all communities, whether they are urban, suburban, or rural. To dispel the idea that livability is an urban concept, Transportation for America has been publishing a series of case studies that showcase livability in rural and small town America. We encourage you to peruse these case studies and share them with your community leadership, especially if you happen to live in a small town or a rural area.

Check out the Transportation for America case studies here:
http://t4america.org/blog/2010/08/26/livability-in-rural-and-small-town-america/

Happy Labor Day from Trailnet!

2010-09-03T14:46:00.003-06:00

Gone Fishing - Trailnet-style

Happy Labor Day to you and yours! We hope your holiday weekend is filled with all the things you love.

Link Between Driving and Obesity

2010-08-20T11:17:00.004-06:00

Image Credit: GOOD.is

The great people at GOOD recently posted a great graphic full of good information. Indeed, they did.

The graphic allows you to see the linkage between the way people travel and the obesity rates, by state. In short, the states that appear lighter in color have a greater percentage of people that travel via foot, bike, and public transit. The states that are dark blue rely heavily on cars for transportation.

Visit GOOD's site to zoom in and explore!

Arch Ground Design Concepts Unveiled!

2010-08-19T10:43:00.004-06:00

Photo Caption: The Framing a Modern Masterpiece competition to re-design the St. Louis Arch and surrounding area just unveiled the five design concepts. The above design comes from the Behnisch Architekten team.

For the last series of months, five international design teams have been developing their visions for enhancing the St. Louis Arch grounds and adjacent area, including both sides of the Mississippi River. The five design concepts were unveiled to the public earlier this week. You can view them on the Framing a Modern Masterpiece website or in person at the Arch Visitors' Center located below the Arch.

The public comment period is only open through this Monday, August 23rd. Since this project will invariably transform St. Louis, we strongly encourage you to take the time to view the proposed designs and share your feedback with the competition coordinators. As you look through the designs, we encourage you to look for connectivity, walkable and bikeable environments, human-scale design (the creation of spaces and places that feel inviting, safe, and enjoyable), and designs that strengthen St. Louis's relationship with our natural and cultural heritage.

A local coalition called City to River has been strongly advocating that the designs reconnect the downtown to the Arch by removing the section of I-70 that currently divides the two. Once the New Mississippi River Bridge is built to the north of the existing MLK Bridge, that section of I-70 will be redundant, serving more as an obstacle than an asset to St. Louis. City to River has a series of renderings on their website that illustrate their vision.

The following are additional images submitted by the five design teams. To see the full designs, visit the Framing a Modern Masterpiece website. To provide your comments, visit the National Park Service comment form for the competition.

Photo Caption: The Weiss/Manfredi team envisions converting dead space beneath the highways as space for active recreation.

Photo Caption: Re-design of the actual Arch grounds presented by the Van Valkenburgh team

Livable St. Louis Network to take bus of regional leaders to Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2010

2010-08-19T10:35:00.009-06:00

Flickr Photo Credit: tandemracer

Livable St. Louis Network (LSLN) partners are bringing 30 regional leaders to attend the 2010 Pro Walk / Pro Bike Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. LSLN has provided scholarships and Great Rivers Greenway has provided free travel on a charter bus to create the opportunity for our leaders to move our St. Louis livability agenda forward.

We know that Pro Walk/Pro Bike can catalyze change for our region because that's what happened in 2008--Trailnet brought regional leaders to the conference and it lead to the passage of the City of Ferguson and City of St. Louis Complete Streets policies. Read the full story in "Pro Walk/Pro Bike Attendee Spotlight: St. Louis is sending a bus!"

Want to ride with us? There's still room on the bus! Contact Cindy Mense at cindy@trailnet.org or 314.436.1324 x113 for more info.

Want to know more about the Livable St. Louis Network? The Livable St. Louis Network works to catalyze partnerships to enhance the capacity to adopt model transportation and land use policies to remove barriers and open avenues for creating livable communities. It accomplishes this by leveraging resources to provide professional development, technical assistance, and avenues for new and expanded partnerships.

St. Louis University School of Public Health funds LSLN; Trailnet is the lead partner.

For more information about LSLN, contact Cindy Mense. Her contact information is above.

Tour and Taste of Ferguson

2010-08-17T12:58:00.004-06:00

Caption: The Old Ferguson West Community Garden is just one of the gorgeous gardens on the Tour

Trailnet's community partners in the City of Ferguson are hosting an upcoming event that combines two things we love: riding bikes and local/organic produce. The City of Ferguson is rapidly becoming an innovator in the movement to create healthy, active & vibrant communities. Their recent successes include Ferguson Sunday Parkways events, their inaugural Live Well 5K that attracted nearly 900 people, adoption of a Complete Streets policy, urban farming and community garden ordinances, and more.

See what all the excitement is about this Sunday:

Tour and Taste of Ferguson
Sunday, August 22, 1 - 4pm

The Ferguson Cycling Club in partnership with EarthDance is hosting their inaugural Tour and Taste of Ferguson this coming Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1-4pm. Join the group for an easy bike ride around lovely Ferguson. The tour will visit community gardens, resident gardens, and finish at the historic Mueller Organic Farm (the oldest organic farm in the region!). You'll have the opportunity to "taste" local produce at each stop along the way.

The ride will be a total of 10 miles and move at an easy pace along quiet neighborhood streets. The ride will begin at the Plaza at 501, located at 501 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson.

If you plan to attend or have questions, please send an email to Gerry Noll:
grnoll@sbcglobal.net

For additional info on the ride, including a helmet-cam video of part of the route, visit the following websites:

Ferguson Cycling Club
Helmet-Cam Video made by the one and only Gerry Noll
NOCO, The online magazine of North County

F as in Fat - 2010

2010-08-02T17:20:00.006-06:00

Caption: THE annual report on obesity in America. The 2010 report focuses considerable attention on the link between city design and health.

The announcement from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation goes like this:

"The country’s obesity epidemic continues to worsen, as detailed in F as in Fat 2010: How the Obesity Crisis Threatens America’s Future. Adult obesity rates climbed in 28 states during the past year and now exceed 25 percent in more than two-thirds of the states, with rates higher among Blacks and Latinos.

The report, by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), discusses how the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem. At the same time, it highlights public recognition of the issue and acute concern over the prevalence of childhood obesity.

A survey commissioned by RWJF and TFAH found that eight in 10 voters believe childhood obesity is a serious problem—a viewpoint that transcends all demographic boundaries. More than half of voters say that a comprehensive program to combat childhood obesity is worth the financial investment, even if the program would sharply increase government spending.

The report suggests ways to ensure that the disease-prevention measures in the new health reform law are implemented most strategically to help prevent and reduce obesity. Other recommendations include expanding the commitment to community-based prevention programs and sustaining investments in research and evaluation."

The following announcement comes from the fine folks at Re-Connecting America:

"The report contains the latest data on adult and child obesity rates in America, as well as policy recommendations for local, regional, state, and federal officials to help combat the obesity epidemic.

While the majority of recommendations focus on nutrition and physical activity, the report devotes significant attention to the link between the built environment and health, and calls for programs and policies that increase walking, bicycling, and the use of public transportation. Under "Increasing Access to, Availability and Affordability of Physical Activity," (p. 83), it lists "Support mixed-use development and locate businesses, recreation centers, parks, libraries and other facilities near public transportation" as a strategy. There are also recommendations specific to the next transportation reauthorization bill on page 96, including "mass transit and pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure should be enhanced because they help reduce harmful vehicle emissions and promote physical activity" and "all major transit projects should assess their impact on health." The report also contains a good summary of current federal legislation that can potentially promote active transportation and expand funding for mass transit and transit-oriented development."

Review: Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour

2010-06-30T12:19:00.004-06:00

by Caroline Hillard

What do beer, movies, and bicycling have in common (aside from being my favorite pastimes)? All three were featured at last Friday’s Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour in Soulard, sponsored by New Belgium Breweryout of Fort Collins, CO. I was one of several volunteers pouring beer there for Trailnet.

New Belgium characterized the event as a celebration of “the creative expressions of both brewing and film.” The idea here is that both filmmaking and beer making are artistic endeavors, so why not enjoy handmade films while sipping handmade beer? The link becomes more explicit when you realize that many of the filmettes featured on the tour unabashedly promote NB beers. Take, for example, a noir vignette in which the enigmatic protagonist reaches for a Fat Tire or the clip about two anthropomorphized bottles of Lips of Faith that go to New York City.

In any case, the beers did have an inspired quality to them. Although the line-up included NB’s well-known varieties such as Fat Tire and Skinny Dip, there was also a selection of truly unique (some only available on the tour) craft beers destined for a more discriminating consumer. These “esoteric” brews included the super-sour La Folie, the likes of which I had never encountered before. The beer-tasters could record their reactions to the samples in a “beer passport,” a booklet with basic info about each beer and an “attribute flower” for charting its characteristics. A few more ambitious tasters applied their skills to the Lips of Faith contest. The contenders had to guess the names and percentages of three beers mixed together in a pitcher. The very excited winner’s name (there was screaming) was then entered in drawing for the chance to win a trip to CO.

What does this have to do with cycling? Although perhaps not obvious to the attendees, an important objective of this beer-and-film fest was to raise money for bicycling advocacy. All proceeds from each stop on the Clips of Faith tour benefit the principal bicycle-based nonprofit group of the host city, which in St. Louis is Trailnet. And since it was staffed mainly by volunteers, that means all profits from the sale of beer, t-shirts, and donations have gone directly to Trailnet. Got that? Drink New Belgium beer, and foster more livable, bike-friendly cities! What other major beer producer do you know that hosts fundraisers for cycling organizations? As a company, New Belgium not only makes great beer, but they do so with an eye towards sustainability and environmentalism that seems to be unmatched in the beer-drinking world. Hats off!

So this was a night of beer-drinking with a purpose. From my vantage point behind the tap, the crowd appeared to be a relaxed group of folks: lots of couples, some cyclists, some dog-walkers, a variety of people of different ages and stripes. The atmosphere in the park adjacent to the Soulard market was lovely. This was not a huge sprawling affair, but rather was somewhat intimate, with around 350 attendees. A perfectly delightful Friday evening.

This event was my first experience as a volunteer for Trailnet, and I was impressed with the hard work and enthusiasm of the other volunteers and staff. I’ve been cycling in St. Louis since I moved here eight years ago, and, having never owned a car, I rely on the work of Trailnet and other cycling advocates to promote the infrastructure and local policies needed to make the streets here safer and more pleasant for my daily commute. Participating in Clips of Faith was a modest way to give a little bit back, while enjoying a fun evening in the process.

Caroline Hillard

Breakfast For Bikers

2010-06-25T09:15:00.003-06:00

Brake for coffee with fellow cyclists, Trailnet, and the Downtown Partnership for St. Louis on your way to work! Enjoy coffee provided by The London Tea Room and bagels provided by St. Louis Bread Company. Join us downtown the last Wednesday of every month! For more information, e-mail emily@trailnet.org.

Time: 6:30am-9:30am
Location: The Old Post Office Plaza, 9th and Locust
Date: Wednesday, June 30th

Photos from Trailnet's Bike to Work Day

Why should I bike to work?
Commuting by bike is a great way to get exercise while making St. Louis a better place. Biking to work is not just for the Lance Armstrong look-alikes or cuffed jean hipsters--it is for everyone! Here are some quick facts on how biking to work cannot only change your life and your workplace, but the environment, as well!

Biking to Work Helps Your Health:

Employees who exercise 30 minutes a day have lower health care costs than those who remain sedentary*
80% of new bicyclists improve their heart and lungs in only eight weeks
Cycling leads to improved mental health and productivity in the workplace
Cyclists on average live two years longer than non-cyclists and take 15% fewer days off work due to illness
Those who bike to work are more fit, leaner, less likely to be obese, and have better triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and insulin levels than those who do not actively commute to work, according to a study of nearly 2,400 adults.

Biking to Work Helps Your Business:

In a 2007 survey of young professionals, 92% said they prefer to work for a company that is environmentally friendly.**
It costs three to four times more to enroll a sedentary adult in a structured exercise program than to teach them how to integrate moderate-intensity physical activity into their life (such as bicycling for transportation.)

Biking to Work Helps the Environment:

Motor vehicles produce $56 billion in health and other non-climate-related damages, about 1.2 to 1.7 cents for every mile traveled, according to a 2005
A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about fifteen pounds of pollutants out of the air
The more cyclists on the road, the more aware drivers are leading to less cycling accidents and fatalities

*Active Living Research Active Transportation Research Brief http://www.activelivingresearch.org
**Statistics from the Bikes Belong Coalition http://www.bikesbelong.org/statistics

Mayor Slay Signs Complete Streets Bill

2010-06-24T11:41:00.003-06:00

Photo Caption: President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed, Alderman Shane Cohn, and Trailnet Executive Director Ann Mack look on as Mayor Slay signs the Complete Streets bill into law.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay hosted a press conference and signing ceremony this morning to sign the St. Louis Complete Streets bill into law. It's official.

Trailnet has been working closely with City staff and elected officials for nearly two years to move the bill forward. The work is one part of our Healthy, Active & Vibrant Communities Initiative made possible through funding from Missouri Foundation for Health. As the national movement to reconnect urban planning, public health, and public policy grows, the St. Louis Complete Streets bill stands as a great example of a broad partnership securing an important win that will benefit health, livability, the environment, and create a foundation for a strong local economy. Our staff worked hard to build consensus around this bill, and we are very proud that it passed with near unanimous support from the Board of Aldermen (26 yea’s and 1 abstention), as well as, strong support from the Mayor’s office, Board President Lewis Reed’s office, and key city staff in the Board of Public Service and the Streets Department.

Congratulations to all involved on this important milestone for the City of St. Louis!

Who is next? Do you think your community is ready to consider a Complete Streets policy? Trailnet staff are available to provide communities with information, resources, and technical assistance to move Complete Streets and other important infrastructure policies forward. If you are interested, please contact Trailnet's Active Living Program Manager, Phil Valko, at phil@trailnet.org

Improving the Safety of Crosswalks - Daylighting

2010-06-17T11:47:00.005-06:00

Now that the Complete Streets Bill has passed in St. Louis, we want to continue the conversation by focusing on some specific ways that we can improve the walkability, bikeability, and overall safety of streets throughout the region. We'll be posting a series of videos and photos highlighting specific strategies that communities should consider. This first video from streetfilms.org showcases a technique called "daylighting" that improves visibility at intersections and crosswalks.

St. Louis Complete Streets Bill PASSES!!!

2010-06-11T10:43:00.003-06:00

Photo Caption: The St. Louis Board Chamber this morning

We are thrilled to announce that the St. Louis Board of Alderman just voted to pass the Complete Streets bill (Board Bill 7)!

Congratulations to the bill's sponsor Shane Cohn, all of the co-sponsors, and all the city staff who have worked hard to draft and promote this important bill! The Mayor will likely hold a signing ceremony in the coming week(s) to formalize the bill into St. Louis law.

We do not have the final vote tally; however, we believe the bill passed with unanimous support.

This is phenomenal news for St. Louis. In the next few weeks and months, we will continue to work with the City to develop a plan to implement Complete Streets throughout the City. As you might expect, implementation will happen gradually as the City undertakes street projects. We will keep you in the loop every step of the way.

Stay tuned...

St. Louis Complete Streets Bill Heading to Full Vote

2010-06-08T15:41:00.005-06:00

Photo Caption: Complete Streets are designed to accommodate safe and enjoyable travel for people of all ages and abilities
Photo Credit: Jan Moser courtesy of pedbikeimages.org

The St. Louis Complete Streets bill (Board Bill 7) was perfected by the Board of Aldermen last Friday and will likely head to a final vote this Friday, June 11.

What will a Complete Streets bill mean for St. Louis?
It represents a very important philosophical shift towards designing and maintaining streets for people, not just cars. Throughout the past few years, St. Louis City staff and elected officials have unofficially endorsed Complete Streets principles through their support of creating bike lanes and designing more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly streets -- hopefully you have noticed many of these improvements throughout the City. In fact, just last Fall, St. Louis was awarded bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community status for the strides we have taken. Although the City still has quite a ways to go and quite a bit of old ailing infrastructure to take care of, the passage of the Complete Streets bill will mark a major turning point when St. Louis officially declares a commitment to creating people-friendly streets and neighborhood environments.

Complete Streets are good for everyone. They make it safer for all roadway users including pedestrians, individuals with disabilities, bicyclists, and drivers. Complete Streets are designed to support independence of seniors, individuals with limited mobility, and safety for children walking to and from school, the local park, or their neighborhood store.

If you have not already contacted your Alderman to ask for their support of the St. Louis Complete Streets bill, please do so today! If your Alderman is NOT on the following list of co-sponsors, it is very important for you to call them. If they are on the list, please still call and thank them for their support. The bill is sponsored by Alderman Shane Cohn with the following co-sponsors:

-Freeman Bosley Sr.
-Jeffrey Boyd
-Gregory Carter
-Stephen Conway
-Marlene Davis
-Jennifer Florida
-Dionne Flowers
-Antonio French
-Lyda Krewson
-Samuel Moore
-Ken Ortmann
-President, Lewis Reed
-Craig Schmid
-Kacie Starr Triplett
-Frank Williamson
-Phyllis Young

You can find Aldermanic contact information HERE.

To read more about Complete Streets work taking place from coast to coast, visit the National Complete Streets Coalition.

To read the federal Department of Transportation endorsement of Complete Streets, click HERE.

Thank you for all you do to promote safe, convenient and enjoyable walking and biking throughout the St. Louis region!

Here Comes the Neighborhood

2010-06-07T15:43:00.002-06:00

"Conventional suburbs are overbuilt and out of favor. In cities and suburbs alike, walkable neighborhoods linked by train are the future. Here’s how a new network of privately funded rail lines can make that future come to pass more quickly and cheaply—and help reinvigorate housing and the economy."

One of the plenary speakers at Trailnet's Livable St. Louis Conference, Chris Leinberger, just published an article in the Atlantic Monthly about the walkable future of American cities. Leinberger is a land-use strategist, author, developer, and researcher who is currently a fellow at the Brookings Institution. The article talks about the link between trains, regional walkability, housing, and the role that developers can play to kick-start the shift towards livable communities.

To read the article, click here.

To read a transcript of a conversation with Chris Leinberger, click here.

St. Louis Complete Streets Bill MOVES!

2010-05-27T13:58:00.004-06:00

Caption: An example of a Complete Street in Portland, which safely integrates bus service, cars, a streetcar, bicycles, and pedestrian travel.

We are thrilled to announce that the St. Louis Complete Streets bill successfully passed out of committee this morning, which means that it will head to the full Board of Aldermen for a final vote - perhaps as early as next week.

Alderman Shane Cohn, the sponsor of the bill, introduced the bill to the committee members and presented a strong case for the importance of a Complete Streets policy for the City of St. Louis. Todd Waeltermann (the Director of the Streets Department) and John Kohler (an engineer in the Board of Public Service) both testified strongly in support of the bill. Trailnet staff member Phil Valko also testified on on behalf of the bill. The committee members held a great discussion about the importance of Complete Streets for the well-being of our City. The main discussion point was not "Should the bill pass?" but instead, "How can we make sure St. Louis implements the policy once it passes?" Trailnet is looking forward to continue working with city staff and elected officials to develop an implementation plan and take meaningful steps towards the realization of Complete Streets once the bill passes.

The bill picked up three additional co-sponsors today: Aldermen Jeffrey Boyd, Marlene Davis, and Ken Ortmann.

The full board still needs to vote on the bill in the weeks ahead -- if you have not already contacted your Alderman to ask for their support, please do so today!

Click here to see the current list of sponsors.

Toolkit Reprint! Now available for FREE

2010-05-25T10:35:00.003-06:00

Now available for FREE!

We just reprinted the Healthy, Active & Vibrant Community Toolkit, and we want you to have a copy of it. We are now able to offer hard copies of the Toolkit for FREE. If you would like the Toolkit mailed to you, there will be a $3 shipping charge.

The Toolkit is full of case studies, action steps, and useful resources for individuals and decision-makers interested in transforming their community into a place that supports resident health, from cradle to cane. At its core, the Toolkit is focused on creating long-term solutions to address the obesity epidemic. However, we built on this core focus to provide you with a series of recommendations that not only combat obesity but at the same time create communities that foster the highest quality of life and independence for residents of all ages. The Toolkit is right in-line with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative.

The Toolkit presents an exciting vision for the future of our communities—a future built around quality of life, health, vibrant local economies, and the environment.

Targeted information is provided for the following groups:

Schools, Childcare, and After-Care
Community Residents
Design Practitioners
Faith-Based Organizations and Institutions
Healthcare Providers
Local Governments & Community Organizations
State and Federal Governments
Workplaces

If you would like to order a Toolkit, please email phil@trailnet.org.

You can also download a pdf of the Toolkit online for FREE at:
http://trailnet.org/HAVC_Toolkit.php

**We are able to make the Toolkit available for free with the generous support and partnership of the Saint Louis University School of Public Health.

Complete Streets Bill Introduced in St. Louis!

2010-05-17T14:40:00.010-06:00

Photo Credit: streetswiki.wikispaces.com

Trailnet’s April 30th Livable St. Louis Conference ended with a BANG! Alderman Shane Cohn announced to conference attendees that only a few hours earlier he had introduced a Complete Streets bill to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Within a few short hours the St. Louis Complete Streets bill had attracted 11 Aldermanic co-sponsors from nearly every corner of the City, including more than half of the Streets, Refuse, and Traffic Committee members – a great sign that the bill has strong support.

What is a Complete Streets policy?
Complete Streets is a new way to look at transportation. For over 60 years, American communities have been shaped almost exclusively by the automobile. In our zeal for cars, we forgot about people. Streets got wider, traffic moved faster, metropolitan regions sprawled out across former agricultural land, and in many cases we altogether stopped building even the most basic pedestrian facilities - sidewalks. Like all unhealthy relationships, our obsession with cars has gone a little too far -- many Americans are dependent on their cars whether they like it or not. In many American communities, children cannot walk to school, seniors cannot live independently, and local economies have disappeared as auto-centric strip malls and big-box stores have forced the little guys out of business.

Complete Streets challenges this old way of thinking by giving all types of transportation, including walking, biking, public transportation, and cars, equal importance when building and maintaining streets. Complete Streets create safe travel environments for seniors, people with disabilities, and children.

Trailnet has been working with City staff and elected officials for nearly two years to get the Complete Streets policy to this point. Now we need your help to make sure the bill passes and gets signed into law. If you are a resident of the City of St. Louis, please call or email your Alderman today to ask them to support the bill. Even if your Alderman is already a co-sponsor, we encourage you to call them and thank them for their support moving the bill forward. Here is a list of Aldermen who are signed on as co-sponsors:

-Freeman Bosley Sr.
-Jeffrey Boyd
-Gregory Carter
-Stephen Conway
-Marlene Davis
-Jennifer Florida
-Dionne Flowers
-Antonio French
-Lyda Krewson
-Samuel Moore
-Ken Ortmann
-President, Lewis Reed
-Craig Schmid
-Kacie Starr Triplett
-Frank Williamson
-Phyllis Young

To learn more about Complete Streets policies and why they are important for creating healthy, active, and vibrant communities, please visit the National Complete Streets Coalition.

To find contact information for your Alderman, visit the St. Louis Board of Aldermen online.

Cleveland Incentivising Local Food

2010-05-10T11:00:00.005-06:00

Caption: Poached Egg and hollandiase sauce smothering local sweet potato, mushrooms, and peppers. Local Harvest Cafe on Morganford in South St. Louis serves up tasty dishes with local foods.

The City of Cleveland has instituted a policy to promote local foods, offering certified “local sustainable businesses” a 5 percent discount on city contracts.

Green City Blue Lake reports that the incentive will offer a “huge advantage” because most city contracts are decided by less than 5 percent.

The legislation, however, won’t apply to the largest consumer, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Still, city officials hope the policy will help stimulate a “self-help economy” and promote sustainability.

The idea emerged out of Cleveland’s newly established Office of Sustainability and is linked to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Food Policy Coalition. Here is the St. Louis Region, the Healthy Youth Partnership is forming a food policy council with leadership from MU Extension, Congressman Russ Carnahan's office, Gateway Greening, St. Louis University, Trailnet, and many more partners.

Read the full story here:
http://www.gcbl.org/blog/marc-lefkowitz/cleveland-adopts-local-food-incentives

Cycling Innovation Comes to Long Beach

2010-05-06T16:47:00.007-06:00

Every great city needs a healthy dose of innovation. Cities need the space to experiment and imagine as they strive to be the best they can be.

Right now the hub of Long Beach innovation has been bringing the best of bicycle facilities to Long Beach so that everyone-from kids to grandparents-has a safe and enjoyable bicycling environment.

From separated cycle tracks to whimsical bike parking, check out what Long beach is doing.

Courtesy of StreetFilms.org:

Volunteer for Open Streets!

2010-04-27T13:36:00.005-06:00

The Open Streets Poster

Open Streets is a program that showcases our City, promotes sustainability, and highlights our region as one that truly cares about livability! As fellow engaged citizens and fine people that care about the region, we'd like to ask you to please volunteer for 2-3 hours during Open Streets. Making this program a success depends upon a strong first event!

For more information about the Open Streets Events, visit: http://www.stlopenstreets.org/

Experience Open Streets as a participant and then as a volunteer! Fill out the following form: https://stlbikefed.wufoo.com/forms/st-louis-open-streets-volunteer-signup/

The City of St. Louis is hosting four “Open Streets” events in the year 2010. Starting with our inaugural event on May 1, this program is set to open approximately five miles of City streets to cyclists, skaters, pedestrians, joggers, residents, and tourists. That's right five miles of streets - car-free! There will be free lessons and activities along the way - try out yoga, tai chi, zumba, spinning, take the sit-up or push-up challenge, or join the historical architecture walking tour. Health and safety demonstrations, bike repair and local food vendors will be located along the route.

The Open Streets route follows Lindell and Locust and is bound by Forest Park and the Old Post Office Plaza. The event occurs from 8am until 1pm. The first event will follow an extended 7-mile route. The map for that route is shown here: http://stlouis.missouri.org/open-streets/route.html The remaining three events will follow the original Locust/Lindell route.

Please sign up to volunteer TODAY! Please pass this along to friends and colleagues to encourage them to volunteer, too. Thanks for all you do to make the St. Louis region bike and pedestrian friendly!
https://stlbikefed.wufoo.com/forms/st-louis-open-streets-volunteer-signup/

St. Louis Open Streets - Get Excited!

2010-04-15T13:14:00.008-06:00

Caption: The Open Streets poster

St. Louis Open Streets will be the biggest street festival St. Louis has ever seen! The first of four events will be May 1, 2010, 8am - 1pm.

You don't want to miss it. Picture this: walkers, bikers, runners, and rollerbladers exploring the City's central corridor free of the hazard of cars. Forest Park, Grand Center, and Downtown activities hubs with climbing walls, yoga classes, live music, zumba classes, hula hoops, and more. Focused chess players adjacent to focused hula hoopers.

Discover the freedom of bicycling! Come on out to St. Louis Open Streets and celebrate the history and future of St. Louis. The future of St. Louis begins May 1! For more information, visit: http://stlouis.missouri.org/open-streets/

St. Louis Voters for Prop A Reflect National Trend: Americans Want More Transportation Options!

2010-04-08T13:18:00.010-06:00

Credit: Image taken from http://t4america.org

The results from 2010 Future of Transportation National Survey, a new national poll taken for Transportation For America, illustrate that a majority of American voters would like to see improved transportation options in the United States. According to the survey, 82 percent of voters say that the country "would benefit from an expanded and improved transportation system, such as rail and buses.” The survey also showed that about 3 in 4 Americans feel they have no choice but to drive, and the vast majority desire more freedom in choosing how to get about in their daily lives.

Check out the poll findings for yourself here. American voters from rural to urban settings want access to more choices for transportation. The pie chart above shows that Americans are understanding that a solution to the problem of traffic congestion is not the construction of more roads and highways, but rather increased opportunities for people to choose walking, biking, or public transit over driving. The passage of Prop A this Tuesday proves just this: majority rules, and so do more transportation options! Let's keep up the support - get involved with the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill TODAY.

A resounding "Yes!" throughout the County. PROP A PASSES!

2010-04-07T08:29:00.005-06:00

Photo caption: Lead campus organizer, Liz Kramer, feels the charge of sweet victory as Prop A passes.

Photo credit: Laurie Skrivan. Post-Dispatch

We did it! Prop A passed by a wide margin--63%!!! This is a great vote in favor of our region-restored and stronger Metro service will be good for mobility, jobs, quality of life and so much more!

So what's next? Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan (created with citizen input) will begin to be implemented, starting with the following 1-5 year action items:

Restoration of services that were cut in March 2009, including returning MetroLink to peak operating times, restoring Metro Bus and Call-a-Ride service, and adding frequency to crowded MetroBus routes;

Planning and engineering of a new light rail extension;

Planning, design, and construction of 2 bus rapid transit routes;

Implementing upgraded passenger amenities and technology, including: Smart Card technology, web applications that take advantage of Metro's Google Transit data feed and a better, more functional Metro website, and computer-aided dispatch/automated vehicle location technology to ensure better, more efficient service.

There will be public hearings for the restoration plan that will go to Metro's governing board later this month, and we presume there will be hearings for implementation of the other action items as well. Stay tuned and stay involved!

More victory coverage:

Mass transit sales tax wins by a wide margin

Voters look past economic uncertainty

Today's the day! VOTE YES for PROP A!

2010-04-06T13:48:00.004-06:00

Proposition A, a ½-cent sales tax going before St. Louis County voters TODAY, April 6, will provide revenue needed for continued operation and expansion of the transit system including Metrobus, Call-A-Ride services for Seniors and the disabled, and Metrolink. If passed, the County tax would raise approximately $75 million annually - and would trigger a matching quarter cent sales tax that was passed in the City of St. Louis in 1997 which would add an additional $8 million a year to the program. THE POLLS OPEN AT 6 AM and CLOSE AT 7 PM.

Nine Reasons to Vote YES for Prop A

1. Metrobus and Metrolink connect people walking and biking to the places they need to go, which supports Trailnet’s mission to encourage healthy lifestyles.

2. Every dollar invested in Metro transit returns $4 to our local economy. (The American Public Transit Association)

3. Metro transit is a vital transportation option that eases congestion. Every day, more than 100,000 people ride Metro buses, trains, and Call-A-Ride vans, with 75% of riders traveling to work.

4. If Prop A doesn’t pass transit service will be cut by as much as 50%. Emergency funding runs out in June.

5. Metro provides mobility and independence to Seniors and the disabled who cannot, walk, bike, or drive to get around.

6. It helps improve air quality. Metro not only reduces car trips—30% of Metro buses use renewable bio-fuels or compressed gas.

7. Using Metro transit can save you money. If the average St. Louis family pays less than $50 per year for the new tax and one member is able to commute by MetroLink rather than by auto, they can save $2,000 in one year.

8. Enhanced Metro service can make St. Louis a more competitive region. World-class cities offer world-class transit. St. Louis has the opportunity to continue with this trend.

9. Using Metro service is fun! It’s a great time to see our region in a different way, day dream, read a book, take a nap, or chat with a new friend.

Greening the Emerald City

2010-04-06T12:09:00.006-06:00

Caption: Now that's a green building! Photo by daily dose of imagery and Sam Javanrouh

The City of St. Louis and FOCUS St. Louis invite you to attend “Green Buildings for Sustainable Cities,” a presentation and discussion led by Seattle author Lucia Athens. The event will be on Friday, April 9th at the FOCUS St. Louis office starting at 11:45am. The program will run until 1:00pm, after which Lucia will be available to sign her book, copies of which will be available to purchase from Left Bank Books.

A more detailed description of the event can be found on the FOCUS website:
http://www.focus-stl.org/calendar/tabid/110/vw/3/ItemId/95/d/20100409/Default.aspx

Join Us for a Free Webinar on Writing Women Back into Bicycling!

2010-03-23T13:50:00.008-06:00

Photo Credit: landrys.com

Free Webinar: Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals'
“Writing Women Back into Bicycling: Changing Transportation Culture to Encourage More Women to Cycle”
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 2-3 p.m.
Location: Trailnet, 1533 Washington Ave, St. Louis MO, 63103

The presentation “Writing Women Back into Bicycling: Changing Transportation Culture to Encourage More Woman to Cycle,” hosted by APBP, will focus on how to get more women cycling. Some say that transportation culture will change when more women participate in cycling. What can we do to make that change happen? Join us for this free webinar to find out! Women and men are encouraged to attend.

If you would like to join us, please RSVP to Emily, emily@trailnet.org.

As part of this project, women and girls are invited to take a "snapshot in time survey” at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/womencycling. We would like to hear from non-cyclists as well as current and past cyclists. Preliminary survey results highlighted during the webinar; final results available after May 15, 2010 when the survey closes.

Come to City Sound Tracks This Saturday!

2010-03-23T11:53:00.006-06:00

http://www.citysoundtracks.org/

Support the maintenance and expansion of public transit in St. Louis in a really fun way! City Sound Tracks is an all-day music festival taking place this Saturday, March 27, 10:00 am-10:30 pm. It stars 27 local musical groups at Tom's Bar and Union Station, with trains running every 10 minutes. Admission is FREE, and the cost of an all-day metro pass is $7.50, which will not only allow you to immerse yourself in the local music scene of our very own talented St. Louis artists, but you will also be supporting efforts to make St. Louis a more vibrant, upbeat (haha pun intended) place. Not to mention, the T-shirt is pretty sweet. See you there!

Google Maps Bike Routing Feature Released

2010-03-10T10:36:00.007-06:00

Caption: Google Maps bike layer indicated in Green

Many have been waiting for Google to release a biking feature in Google Maps. Well, it's here! Under the "More" drop down menu or "Get Directions" bar you can turn on a bicycling layer that reveals bicycling routes. The route colors indicate the following:

Dark green: dedicated bike-only trail
Light green: dedicated bike lane along a road
Dashed green: road designated or preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes

Those who bike will quickly realize the map's deficiencies but Google seems to be well aware that local knowledge is needed to improve how the routes are indicated. Don't like what you see? Is a critical route left out? Are their barriers that need to be taken into account? You can report problems with suggested routes after you hit the "Get Directions" button. Follow the link in the yellow box. (See picture below.)

Though the current iteration of the Google Maps biking feature isn't perfect, it is a great start. Tools such as this create even more access for people who want to bike but need help figuring out their routes. Google's biking feature can only be as good as the information they have so it's important that we share our local knowledge about the best routes in St. Louis. After the upcoming St. Louis Bike Plan is finished, we will have even more up-to-date route information. Perhaps we can submit our full plan to Google?

Register for the Food Summit TODAY!

2010-02-25T12:54:00.003-06:00

The price of fresh fruits and vegetables increased by nearly 40%, while the price of sugar, fats and oils, and soft drinks decreased by as much as 20%. The American food system is out of balance.

The St. Louis Regional Food Summit is taking place March 3rd and 4th, featuring national and local speakers. The Food Summit will provide a opportunities to learn, to network, and to get involved in the creation of a Regional Food Policy Council. You don't want to miss this great event.

Visit the Healthy Youth Partnership website for event details and to register:
http://healthyyouthpartnership.org/

Without Transit...

2010-02-24T18:09:00.008-06:00

Transit in St. Louis carries:
10,000 people to each Cardinals games
100,000 people to work each day
Thousands of college students to class
Thousands of seniors and individuals with disabilities

If you live in St. Louis County, Vote YES! for transit April 6th on Proposition A

County Health Rankings for 2010

2010-02-23T15:02:00.008-06:00

We'd like our communities to be like our bike blenders...
promoting healthy, tasty sustenance and making active living easy!

Like we've been saying all along... Built environment DOES matter when it comes to your health! The results of the County Health Rankings for 2010 echo Trailnet's core message that where you live plays a big part in the choices you make affecting your personal well-being. Residents are limited to the choices that their community provides, which is why promoting healthy and active living through programming, planning, and policy is so important to us here at Trailnet. Saint Louis County ranks 18th in overall health out of 115 counties in Missouri (the ranking number 1 is considered the healthiest county in the state). Saint Louis City ranks 106. Check out the rankings yourself here, and get in the action with us!

Live Well Ferguson TWILIGHT 5K - May 15th

2010-02-23T12:25:00.003-06:00

The Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K is just around the corner!

Has cabin fever set in yet? Are you ready for a break from the cold?

We suggest you set your eyes on the horizon and start preparing for warm weather now! May 15th, Live Well Ferguson is hosting a Twilight 5K Run/Walk in partnership with many other great organizations, including Trailnet. Runners and walkers at all levels are encouraged to participate, whether your goal is to finish first or simply finish the course.

For more details on this great event and to register, visit:
http://livewellferg5k.com/

Trailnet has been working in partnership with the City of Ferguson for the past 2 years to develop the "Live Well Ferguson!" initiative, which seeks to promote healthy eating and active living among Ferguson residents. The Twilight 5K is one of a series of spin-off projects of Live Well Ferguson!, which also includes Ferguson Sunday Parkways, restaurant menu labeling, and a poster education campaign.

Help Identify MoDOT Priority Bike/Ped Projects

2010-02-19T11:33:00.008-06:00

Caption: Bridges, overpasses, and underpasses without bike/ped facilities
frequently create gaps in otherwise complete travel networks

We need your help to create a list high priority bicycle, pedestrian, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) projects in Missouri that MoDOT should focus their attention on. The submission deadline is right around the corner, Tuesday Feb. 23.

You can submit your project ideas online through the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation's website:
http://mobikefed.org/HighPriority

To be eligible for consideration, projects must be:

On or very closely related to the MoDOT system
Limited in scope (e.g., adding a shoulder to 3 miles of road, not 300 miles)
Not currently funded (add-ons to current projects ARE encouraged)

We encourage you to think about projects that will:

fill gaps in the current bike/ped system
address current major obstacles
serve many individuals

For additional information / guidelines and to submit your recommendation, visit the MO Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation's website: http://mobikefed.org/HighPriority

Missouri Governor Plans to Save Katy Trail Bridge

2010-02-18T12:32:00.010-06:00

Credit: Photo taken from railstotrails.org

Earlier this month, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced plans to save the Katy Trail Bridge by allotting federal Recovery Act funds to Union Pacific for bridge reconstruction. Stretching over two hundred and twenty-five miles, the Katy Trail Bridge is the longest rail-trail in the United States. Preservation of the historical "Boonville Bridge" over the Osage River will ensure that the trail stay intact. The trail is not only important to encouraging tourism in the area, but the bridge itself is an iconic structure that has allowed many community members to lead active lifestyles. With the execution of this proposal, the Katy Trail Bridge will continue to be a great resource for exercise and recreation for many years to come!

St. Louis Open Streets Details

2010-02-11T16:49:00.004-06:00

Coming May 1!

The City of St. Louis just launched the Open Streets website! On May 1, June 13, September 19, and October 9 the City will close Lindell/Locust to cars and open it up to walkers, runners, bikers, etc. from Skinker all the way to the Arch. It's going to be the biggest street festival St. Louis has ever seen! Open Streets will take place 8am - 1pm each of those days.

Visit the website for more information:
http://stlouis.missouri.org/open-streets/

Check out the route map below. Click on it to see a bigger version.

Active Design Guidelines

2010-02-11T12:54:00.003-06:00

Topnotch new resource

The New York City Department of Design and Construction has just released their Active Design Guidelines document. The document presents sets of guidelines for urban planning and for individual building construction. It is full of photos, recommendations, and easy to use checklists. Whether you are an urban planner, an architect, a community resident, or a public health professional, you'll find a ton of useful information in this document.

You can download it here:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/design/active_design.shtml

Here's what NYC Department of Design and Construction has to say about it:
The Active Design Guidelines provides architects and urban designers with a manual of strategies for creating healthier buildings, streets and urban spaces, based on the latest academic research and best practices in the field. The Guidelines includes:

Urban design strategies for creating neighborhoods, streets and outdoor spaces that encourage walking, bicycling and active transportation and recreation.
Building design strategies for promoting active living where we work, live and play—for example, through the placement and design of stairs, elevators and indoor and outdoor spaces.
Discussion of synergies between active design and sustainable design initiatives such as LEED and PlaNYC.

Love Transit!

2010-02-11T11:28:00.002-06:00

First Lady Focuses on Childhood Obesity

2010-02-05T11:28:00.007-06:00

Caption: The First Lady harvests lettuce from the White House garden with a group of students

Michelle Obama has chosen childhood obesity as her BIG issue. In the next few months, we expect a number of significant announcements, including new policy and funding initiatives for comprehensive obesity prevention efforts. Read more about it HERE.

It's likely that the new initiatives will focus on changing the things that drive individuals' behaviors, including geographic access, cost, public awareness, and city design. One of the new funding initiatives that is set to be announced in February is a set of CDC grants called "Communities Putting Prevention to Work." These will be major grants--on the order of $5 - $10 million each--that will be awarded to roughly 30 communities in the country. St. Louis County Health Department submitted a strong application. Keep your fingers crossed. This will be a phenomenal opportunity for the region if the County is awarded the funds.

The First Lady's new focus is directly in line with Trailnet's approach throughout the St. Louis region. If you haven't yet seen our Healthy, Active & Vibrant Community Toolkit, you should check it out today. The ideas, stories, recommendations, and resources in the Toolkit will likely be echoed nationally in the coming months. Here in the St. Louis region, Trailnet's partner communities of De Soto, Ferguson, and Old North are working diligently to implement many of the ideas in the Toolkit. Their work is paying off because our collective work has been nationally recognized as an "Emerging Intervention" by the University of North Carolina Center for Training and Research Translation.

If you are passionate about improving the livability, health, or vibrancy of your community, take a few minutes to check out the Toolkit. We're proud to be pioneering innovative/effective obesity prevention efforts in St. Louis. Our region has a long way to go, but like all social change, it starts in small pockets and then spreads.

St. Louis Open Streets

2010-02-04T18:37:00.005-06:00

Photo courtesy of BikePortland.org

The City of St. Louis will be launching a series of "Open Streets" events in 2010. Get excited!!!

Let us paint a picture for you: Lindell from Skinker all the way to the arch closed to cars and filled with walkers, runners, bikers, rollerbladers, musicians, and all sorts of activities. It's going to be the biggest street festival St. Louis has ever seen! It's all about fun, activity, and community.

It will be epic! Wait for it... Wait for it...

Trailnet is proud to be working with the Mayor's Office, Great Rivers Greenway, the St. Louis Regional Bike Fed, and others to make it happen.

Ferguson Sunday Parkways 2009

Open Streets will be the second event of this type in the St. Louis Region -- Last year, the City of Ferguson and Live Well Ferguson! hosted three Sunday Parkways events which featured a 1-mile loop of "open streets" and more great activities than we can list, including free aerobics, zumba, tai chi classes, basketball in the street, hula hoops, clowns, and volleyball. The City of Ferguson continues to be a regional leader working at many levels to improve the overall health and vibrancy of their community.

Ferguson will host 3 Sunday Parkways events in 2010--the first one will take place April 25th in the afternoon. Mark your calendars! We'll share more details as they come available.

Make phone calls for Prop A!

2010-02-03T13:38:00.008-06:00

"Vote Yes for Public Transit in St. Louis" Join here.

On April 6, 2010, St. Louis County will get the opportunity to advance the region by passing a one-half of one percent sales tax to restore, operate, and expand MetroLink, MetroBus, disabled and senior public transportation. Passage of Prop A is a great chance to promote active living in our region.

You can help today by signing up for a phone banking shift at the SEIU Dialer Center. Contact Ashli Bolden at 314.531.2288 or ashli@missouriprovote.org to sign up for one of the below shifts. Bring a friend!

Thursday, Feb. 4 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 12 volunteers needed
Saturday, Feb. 6 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. 12 volunteers needed
Sunday, Feb. 7 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 12 volunteers needed
Tuesday, Feb. 9 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 12 volunteers needed
Thursday, Feb. 11 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 6 volunteers needed
Sunday, Feb. 14 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 12 volunteers needed

The SEIU Dialer Center
5585 Pershing AVE Suite 130
St. Louis, MO 63112
(Just a block from the Forest Park Metrolink Station)

Passing Prop A will not only help move people, but it will help grow our economy and improve our environment. Learn more about the campaign on the Advance St. Louis Prop A website.

Seriously?!

2010-02-02T15:24:00.003-06:00

We would like to honor the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, with a new fake award we are calling the "Seriously?! Award"

This fake award is the perfect thing to honor a new product, Cherry 7 Up Antioxidant, whose label seems to imply that a beverage loaded with high fructose corn syrup (fake sugar) might actually be good for you. Curious how they can claim the product is an antioxidant? They added vitamin E.

Well done Dr. P. Thank you for so fervently believing in the stupidity of Americans that you would grace us with this gift of paradoxical marketing.

As my grandpa always used to say: Ain't nothing but lipstick on a pig!

Run or Walk for Haiti Tomorrow

2010-01-29T10:48:00.005-06:00

An active lifestyle provides lots of benefits for us and our communities. Tomorrow, your run or walk can go even further and help support relief efforts in Haiti. Join the St. Louis Walk/Run for Haiti tomorrow in Forest Park. Registration is from 8:00 am to 8:55 am; the walk/run starts at 9:00am.

Participants can walk or run any distance of your choice. However, there will be a 3.5 and 7-mile loop. The 7-mile loop is symbolic to the magnitude of the earthquake. There will be volunteers holding up signs at every mile, so that walkers and runners get an approximation of their distance.

There's no set donation amount to participate in the walk/run. All proceeds go to the American Red Cross.

Visit the official website for more information.

Advance St. Louis on April 6!

2010-01-28T13:24:00.009-06:00

Caption: High-speed rail announcement press conference

on January 28, 2010 at the Greyhound bus terminal.

This opportunity to support our public transportation has come at an important moment. The region will be receiving a high speed rail connection to Chicago and upgrades will be made to the Kansas City connections. We need Metro service to be restored and enhanced to allow for a seamless and efficient connection to the new high speed rail. We won't have high speed rail tomorrow but today is the day to start building the foundation to put St. Louis in the position to reclaim it's Gateway crown.

At the press conference this afternoon, Ed Montgomery, the White House Executive Director for Auto Communities and Workers, stressed that a high speed rail system will help get cars off the road, reduce oil dependence and emissions, create jobs, and revolutionize our transportation system.

So why does Trailnet care about light rail and high speed rail? Plain and simple, they support walking and biking as viable modes of transportation. Without viable regional and cross-state public transportation systems, it is nearly impossible to break the car habit. In addition to public transit, we also need good street-scale urban design (sidewalks, mixed-use districts, crosswalks, etc.) and community-scale urban design (neighborhoods that connect to one-another and to mixed-use centers) to create a walkable / bikeable region.

Our transportation system is inextricably linked to our competitiveness in the region and our quality of life. A strong Metro system will provide vital transportation options that give residents more choices to get around while providing opportunities for physical activity, improving air quality, and more community connections. A strong Metro system can also save us money--read Nini Harris' Post-Dispatch commentary on public transit and cost savings.

What can you do to get Prop A--Advance St. Louis passed on April 6? There will be lots of volunteer opportunities in the next couple of weeks but for starters you can donate to the campaign and help make phone calls at the SEIU Dialer Center. Information below. The contact is Kim Cella at Citizens for Modern Transit. kcella@cmt-stl.org

The SEIU Dialer Center

5585 Pershing Ave Suite 130

St. Louis, MO 63112

(Just a block from the Forest Park Metrolink Station)

Tuesdays 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Thursdays 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturdays 10:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Sundays 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

St. Louis - Chicago Receives Highspeed Rail Funding

2010-01-28T12:16:00.004-06:00

Hot off the presses: The St. Louis to Chicago connection was awarded $1.1 billion dollars to develop a highspeed rail corridor. The St. Louis to Kansas City connection will receive an additional $31 million to upgrade rail lines to improve the route.

Ed Montgomery, White House Executive Director for Auto Communities and Workers is hosting a press conference right now at the new St. Louis multi-modal station. He seems like an ironic choice considering the project is a rail project...

More in the Post-Dispatch: http://tinyurl.com/y9tq3l8

Screening of FRESH - January 28th

2010-01-26T16:54:00.008-06:00

The Healthy Youth Partnership and Fair Shares CSA are hosting a screening of the movie FRESH this Thursday night, January 28th, 6:30pm @ the Schlafly Bottleworks.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

FRESH is 72 minutes long and the screening starts at 6:30pm. There is a $5 suggested donation to attend the event. The Schlafly Bottleworks is located in Maplewood at 7260 Southwest Avenue. Click HERE for a map.

STL Bike Plan: Get Involved with the Citizen Advisory Committee!

2010-01-26T13:16:00.006-06:00

Caption: The St. Louis Bike Master Plan is in the works -
what do you have to say?

St. Louis region's Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) is underway and aims to develop on-road and multi-use trails for bicycle use, making the region more connected and conducive to active lifestyles. The BMP is a collaborative effort led by our friends at the Great Rivers Greenway District (GRG) and includes St. Louis City and County, St. Charles County, municipalities, Missouri Department of Transportation, Metro, the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, and, yours truly, Trailnet.

What can you do? Apply to be a part of the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) to help GRG and the partnership create an implementable plan that will promote biking as a safe and enjoyable mode of transportation in the St. Louis region. The BMP is still in its first phase of collecting data and outlining objectives, and public input will be absolutely critical for the success of this phase.

Apply to be a part of the CAC here; the deadline for submission is Friday, February 19, 2010.

Learn more about the St. Louis Bike Plan online at: http://stlbikeplan.com/

Regional Food Summit

2010-01-22T17:49:00.004-06:00

Caption: A bird's eye view of a supermarket. Is it food or just expensive marketing wrapped around food-like substances?

Have you read Fast Food Nation or The Omnivore's Dilemma? Have you seen King Corn, Food Inc., or Fresh? Do you wish it was easier to find fresh, healthy, and affordable foods in St. Louis? Do you want to work to combat the obesity epidemic? Do you want to meet like-minded people?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you need to attend the St. Louis Regional Food Summit on March 4th. The Regional Food Summit will feature breakout sessions on food access issues, production and distribution, healthy retail, and farm to school programs. Mark Winne, author of Closing the Food Gap and long-time director of the Hartford Food System, will be the keynote speaker. The event is being hosted by The Healthy Youth Partnership (HYP), a St. Louis regional partnership of organizations that works to eliminate youth obesity through collaborations that promote healthy eating and active living. Trailnet is a proud HYP partner.

This should be a great event! Early Bird registration is only $25 for the full day. There is also an evening reception, March 3 hosted at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park.

St. Louis Regional Food Summit
March 4
8am - 4pm
Location: TBA

For more information and to register online, CLICK HERE.

Missouri: Now a Member of the SRTS Network

2010-01-22T16:52:00.004-06:00

Missouri is one of nineteen states that was just awarded a grant to create a state-wide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) network. The Missouri SRTS network will work to increase the number of kids walking and bicycling to school by promoting the behavior of walking and biking AND working to improve walking and biking infrastructure and the policies that support such infrastructure. Trailnet is a proud member of the SRTS network, which is being coordinated by the Missouri Foundation for Bicycling and Walking.

To learn more about this great effort and how you can get involved, visit:
http://mobikefed.org/node/3742

Women: The Indicator Species of a Great Cycling Environment

2009-12-16T14:46:00.004-06:00

Caption: Beauty and the Bike is a documentary and project that

introduces teenage English girls to cycling. Learn more here.

How do you know that your city has a great environment for biking? An article in the Scientific American argues that the presence of women cyclists is one of the most important indicators.

How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road reports that in some of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe women make up more than 50% of riders. The U.S. Census does not collect data for non-commuting riders but if you look at the number of women bike commuters (24%) you begin to wonder if there really is a correlation between the number of women biking and the degree to which a city is bike-friendly.

The correlation makes sense because we know that lack of real and perceived safety is one of the biggest barriers to cycling and, as the article points out, women are generally more risk averse than men. Therefore the presence of women cyclists should indicate a more bicycle-friendly environment.

But more than just an indicator, having more women cyclists has a lot of positive impacts. Women run the most errands, and mothers take the most trips, so getting them out of cars could have a positive impact on air quality and reducing congestion (STPP, 1999). We also know that about 48 percent of all trips are three miles or less--trips that could easily be done by bike (Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2008). If we build more bike-friendly cities it will be good for women, freeing up highly coveted time to spend on other aspects of their daily lives and it will also be good for everyone else.

Sources:

1. United States Census Bureau. Sex of Workers by Means of Transportation to Work (American Community Survey 2006-2008).

2. Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. (1999). High Mileage Moms

3. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (2008). Active Transportation for America:

A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking

Cities for Cycling: New Resource for Design Best Practices

2009-12-15T12:49:00.004-06:00

As we work to encourage biking as a form of active living it is important that we build bicycle facilities that are effective and appropriate for those biking. So what are the best practices and design elements around the country for designing our streets for biking? The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is very interested in this question and is publishing best practices fact sheets on their website.

Read NACTO's fact sheets of best practices

Visit the Bicycle and Pedestrian Information Center for more case studies

Public Transportation in St. Louis NEEDS YOU!

2009-12-03T14:51:00.004-06:00

Caption: Public transit is a critical piece of regional walkability and bikeability

"People are surprised to hear that transit is a priority for Chesterfield, but we have 26,000 jobs. Many depend on public transportation. Transit attracts jobs and investment. It's also good for the region — and what's good for the region is good for Chesterfield."

-John Nations, Mayor of Chesterfield, MO as quoted in the Post-Dispatch

Just over a year ago, St. Louis County voters narrowly defeated a ballot measure, Proposition M, that would have created a half-cent sales tax (nearly $80 million per year) to support public transit operations and maintenance. The ballot measure was necessary to keep MetroBus and MetroLink services running. As a result, when the measure was defeated, Metro was forced to significantly reduce service throughout its service area, including canceling bus routes and decreasing the frequency of buses and MetroLink. The St. Louis cutbacks were so significant that they made national headlines.

Thanks to bi-partisan support in Jefferson City, the MO legislature allocated $12 million of stimulus funds to temporarily restore some of the transit service that had been cut. However, that emergency allocation was just a short-term solution. In order to sustain Metro's operations in our region, St. Louis County voters need to approve a dedicated sales tax to ensure that MetroBus and MetroLink continue to be strong components of our regional multi-modal transportation system. St. Louis City voters approved a public transit tax in 1997, but it was contingent on the passage of a County tax. Since the County hasn't passed a tax, the City tax hasn't gone into effect.

For 22 years, Trailnet has been promoting biking and walking as important modes of transportation. In a large metro area, like St. Louis, you can't talk about walking and biking without talking about public transportation. Metro's bus and light rail services are the foundation that regional walkability and bikeability are built on.

Trailnet is proud to be a coalition member of The Greater St. Louis Transit Alliance. The Alliance is currently working to once again put Proposition M on the ballot for April, 2010, and we need your help! Come out Dec. 15 to the St. Louis County Council Meeting to support putting the initiative on the ballot on April 6. The meeting is held at 6pm at:

County Administration Building
41 S. Central Ave
Clayton, MO 63105

To learn more about the state and fate of St. Louis public transit, visit the Greater St. Louis Transit Alliance's website or the Post-Dispatch's editorial from last week.

The Fun Theory

2009-12-01T21:31:00.002-06:00

Volkswagen recently launched a new initiative and website called The Fun Theory that is "dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better."

Through this new website, Volkswagen is essentially hosting what we hope becomes a growing exchange of ideas about how to change people's behavior. In addition to the video above, there are two additional videos on the Fun Theory main page. All three of the concepts are, well, fun, funny, and engaging. And as the videos show, they were effective at changing people's behaviors. The question that we have after watching the videos is: Will the behavior changes last? Are people motivated to change their behaviors due to the novelty of the ideas (which will no doubt wear off) or will the changes last as long as the "fun" options exist?

To create long-term behavior changes, we need to address all the things that drive people's decisions, including cost, ease of access, knowledge, social pressures and social trends, and enjoyment. When it comes to promoting active lifestyles and healthy eating, the preferred options need to not only be fun, but just as accessible, cheap, and easy as the unhealthy options. The same should apply to Volkswagen's Fun Theory projects.

Happy Thanksgiving from Trailnet!

2009-11-25T10:52:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of the bicycle-powered rotisserie.

Happy Thanksgiving from Trailnet! Eat well, soak up some quality family time, and take advantage of the days off to be active. We'll catch you on the flip-side, well-rested and re-energized from the great food and long walks, runs, and/or bike rides.

Good News for Bike/Ped Funding

2009-11-19T19:20:00.005-06:00

Caption: The street shown above include bike lanes, sidewalk, and pedestrian curb cuts, all of which are supported by the government's proposed policy statement

The Obama administration just took another step to support funding for pedestrian and bicycle accommodations that support public transportation. If you haven’t heard the news, this could make significantly more funding available for non-motorized infrastructure projects in the next few years. Since good news is meant to be shared, please pass this onwards. See below for info sent out by the National Complete Streets Coalition:

The Obama Administration isn't letting the delay in transportation reauthorization prevent them from doing more to encourage walking, biking, and taking public transportation. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) just issued a "Proposed Policy Statement on the Eligibility of Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements under Federal Transit Law." The statement makes the case for investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around transit stops and stations in order to increase ridership and improve livability. Importantly, it clarifies the use of transit funds for these types of projects: the new policy would make all pedestrian improvements with 1/2 mile and all bicycle improvements within 3 miles of a stop or station eligible for funds from several transit programs. In explaining support for these types of projects, FTA quoted Secretary LaHood's summer testimony that mentioned complete streets.

Federal Highway Administration has also posted program guidance on their website to clarify that Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funds can be used for bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs. The League of American Bicyclists discusses how CMAQ funds can be used for bicycle and pedestrian projects in your community in a timely new report.

It's time to BAN texting-while-driving

2009-11-18T15:36:00.006-06:00

Caption: Screeeeeetch! Boom!

You have probably heard many stories about the dangers of texting-while-driving. Perhaps you have even seen the gruesome videos that show mangled cars and worse. As an organization that promotes walking and biking, we at Trailnet are acutely aware of the dangers of this new American past-time because our constituents do not travel in reinforced steel boxes. Instead, our constituents travel au naturale, on foot, on bike, and in wheelchairs.

A recent AP article tells of a New Jersey cyclist that was struck by a driver who was too busy texting about a drug deal to notice the cyclist's bright reflective vest. Read it for yourself:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_on_re_us/us_texting_crash_drug_charges

Also, Transportation for American recently released the report Dangerous By Design that chronicles the thousands of annual pedestrian deaths caused by poorly designed roadways. This is yet another reason why every city, metro area, and state needs to adopt a Complete Streets policy. Check out the report below:
http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign/

Poorly designed streets + drivers not paying attention = a caustic environment for the ~30% of American adults who don't drive...not to mention the 100% of children who don't drive

If you agree that it's time to make texting-while-driving illegal, we encourage you to contact your local and state elected officials with your concerns.

Yours in solidarity for common sense,
-Trailnet

Livable Streets Network

2009-11-12T17:09:00.001-06:00

Caption: The Livable Streets Initiative Website

The Livable Streets Initiative is an incredible resource for anyone and everyone interested in transforming their community. The initiative website includes a library of films that are profoundly educational and inspiring, a series of blogs from major American cities, and a community forum.

As you'll see, the Livable Streets Initiative is a living dialogue about how to create better communities for people, health, and the environment. It is a great place to learn, to explore, and to connect with people, projects, and ideas around the world.

Check it all out at:
http://www.livablestreets.com/

To wet your appetite, check out the following video below:

URBANEXUS provides lively discussion on retaining and attracting creative individuals in St. Louis

2009-10-02T12:19:00.009-06:00

What does "creative-type" mean? Does categorizing individuals as "creatives" do more harm than good as we try to promote creativity? What can we do to foster creativity and move things forward in St. Louis' creative world?

These were just a few of the questions that led to provocative conversation at the September 23 URBANEXUS discussion "Livable St. Louis: What it Takes to Retain and Attract Creative Individuals." The discussion was part of Next American City's national URBANEXUS salon series and was co-hosted by Trailnet and local partners Great Rivers Greenway, STL-Style, Urban Land Institute, Metropolis St. Louis, and Will Cycle for Charity.

One-hundred people attended the event at Left Bank Books' downtown discussion to hear local panelists share their views on the role of creativity and the people who create in St. Louis. Panelists included Jasmin Aber, adjunct professor at Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and shrinking cities researcher; Alderman Antonio French; Leslie Proud, Vice President of Metropolis St. Louis; Galen Gondolfi, non-profit community development practitioner who supports community-based reinvestment on Cherokee Street; and myself who provided perspective on the role of bikeable and walkable communities.

Trailnet invited Next American City to bring URBANEXUS to St. Louis because we knew that such a discussion could inject vital energy into the community of St. Louisans who are working hard to make St. Louis more livable. We are happy to report that this is exactly what happened. We had great attendance, the crowd was up for an extended Q&A session, and people continue to talk about ways to have similar discussions in the future.

The energy from URBANEXUS should not be squandered, but built upon. One way we are hopeful the discussions can continue is through the regional collaboration Livable St. Louis, initiated through a partnership between Trailnet and St. Louis University. The collaborative will bring people together from a variety of sectors and fields to share and implement best-practices for built environment and policy change as a strategy for fostering active lifestyles and healthy eating. Livable St. Louis is slated to launch in early 2010.

Jennifer Allen

Report Suggests Soda Tax Could Curb Obesity and Generate Revenue for States

2009-09-18T15:15:00.004-06:00

Caption: A soda tax could generate the needed funds to combat obesity

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that a small soda tax could help curb obesity and generate millions of dollars in revenue for cash-strapped states.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided a summary of the report online including a link to the full report:
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=22681

Soda Tax Calculator
Very much related, the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity created an online tool that calculates the amount of money states could generate from a soda tax. For example, if Missouri adopted a soda tax of 2 cents per 20-ounce soda, the state would raise over $36 million in 2010 alone. You can access the soda tax calculator here:
http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/sodatax.aspx

Isn't it Ironic?
One of the reasons soda is so darn cheap is because the US government subsidizes the production of corn and therefore, the production of high-fructose corn syrup, which is the second ingredient in soda. In fact, the cost of soda has decreased by over 20% while the price of fresh fruits and vegetables increased by nearly 40%. Now, the government is considering taxing these sugary sodas.

So in essence, the government is paying to make soda cheap and then taxing soda to raise money to solve the problems that soda contributes to, such as rampant obesity and type II diabetes. There's a lesson in unintended consequences somewhere in there...

Big Food vs. Big Insurance

2009-09-14T15:00:00.002-06:00

Food Policy = Health Policy

Author Michael Pollan recently wrote an editorial arguing that the proposed health care reform has the potential to trigger major agricultural reform.

It's simple, he suggests: If the big health insurance companies are no longer able to turn away people due to "pre-existing conditions", they will have significantly more motivation to prevent diseases to avoid spending tons of money treating diseases. Since many of the most prevalent diseases, such as heart disease and type II diabetes, result from eating unhealthy foods, the insurance companies will become allies for healthy eating. They will have a new found incentive (saving money), to encourage people to eat healthier foods and to encourage the agricultural sector to produce high-quality, low-cost fresh foods.

It's a compelling editorial written by one of this decade's foremost thinkers on food. Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html

CDC Community Strategies Guide

2009-09-11T11:42:00.007-06:00

Caption: The cover of the CDC's new community obesity strategies guide, released July 2009

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a new resource that we want to share with you. The document outlines a series of obesity prevention strategies that are recommended for communities. Each strategy presented in the document is accompanied with ideas for implementation and measurement.

You can download the document as a pdf directly from the CDC website below:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

Or visit an online (less pretty) version here:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5807a1.htm
www.cdc.gov/mmwR/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

A BOLD New Public Health Ad Campaign

2009-09-11T11:02:00.004-06:00

Caption: NYC Health Department's blunt new ad campaign

BOLD, right? New York City Health Department just rolled out the "Don't Drink Yourself Fat" ad campaign to encourage people to cut back on soda and other high-calorie drinks.

Accompanying the new bold campaign was a strong statement from NYC's Health Commissioner, Thomas A. Farley: “Sugary drinks shouldn’t be a part of our everyday diet. Drinking beverages loaded with sugars increases the risk of obesity and associated problems, particularly diabetes but also heart disease, stroke, arthritis and cancer.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr057-09.shtml

To read an editorial discussing the likely impact of this campaign or a soda tax to change behaviors, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/opinion/14mon3.html?th&emc=th

A year and a half ago we wrote a post titled We Let Kids Drink This Stuff?! about the impacts of soda on school children. The post links to a compelling description of what soda actually does to our bodies when we drink it. Check it out.

Finally, here is another graphic from NYC's new ad campaign:

Re-Envisioning the Corner Store

2009-09-10T11:09:00.004-06:00

Photo Credit: Dawn Majors from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For decades corner stores served as the cornerstones of community life in American cities. They sold needed goods to local residents, served as important social hubs, and added an element of vibrancy to local streetscapes.

In the last several decades, the corner store has become something different altogether. In many urban neighborhoods, suburban towns, and rural main streets, corner stores now corner the market of junk foods, lottery tickets, booze, and cigarettes. Where corner stores used to provide local residents with access to important life necessities, they now only provide for our vices.

A New Vision
Two intrepid St. Louisans have taken to re-envisioning the corner store as a community asset, instead of a detriment to public health and safety. Shawn Mckie and Angie Beatty launched The Juice Box corner store, selling healthy foods and hosting community events. Shawn and Angie wanted to not only get back to the roots of the corner store as a community hub, but also address a pressing community need -- providing much needed access to healthy foods. The Juice Box is located in St. Louis City at 3003 Arsenal Street, in a community where junk food options significantly outnumber healthy options, which is the situation in most American communities. With adult and childhood obesity rates at an all time high, The Juice Box is an important and innovative step towards the creation of Healthy, Active & Vibrant Communities.

Shawn and Angie were recently selected as Echoing Green Fellows for their social entrepreneurial work with the Juice Box.

To learn more about the award-winning Juice Box and it's founders, Shawn and Angie, check out this great article:
http://tinyurl.com/juiceboxcornerstore

Who Defines "Healthy Food"?

2009-09-09T13:41:00.007-06:00

Caption: Welcome to every supermarket in America. You are looking at aisles of food seen from above.... OR are you really looking at aisles of expensive marketing and mis-information?

The New York Times just printed an article about a new "Smart Choices" labeling program that is being adopted by many major food companies, including Kellogg's, Kraft Foods, General Mills, Unilever, and Tyson Foods. The "Smart Choices" label is prominently displayed on the front of food items to indicate healthier choices. This new labeling effort is being driven by the food industry and invokes the question:

Who gets to define "healthy food" or "smart choices"?

"The Smart Choices Program was motivated by the need for a single, trusted and reliable front-of-pack nutrition labeling program that U.S. food manufacturers and retailers could voluntarily adopt to help guide consumers in making smarter food and beverage choices." --Smart Choices Program Website

Caption: One version of the new "Smart Choices Program" product label

According to the Smart Choices Program, Froot Loops, is a "Smart Choice," yet the first ingredient is sugar and Froot Loops contains no fruit, contrary to what the name seems to imply.

Author and Professor Michael Pollan has written extensively about healthy foods in his books The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Pollan's motto for eating is simple:

Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not Too Much.

In his article Unhappy Meals, Pollan extrapolated on this motto with a set of recommendations for how we should approach food. We have abbreviated and condensed his recommendations below for your reading pleasure:

1. Eat food. Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. There are a great many foodlike items in the supermarket your ancestors wouldn’t recognize as food (Go-Gurt? Breakfast-cereal bars? Nondairy creamer?); stay away from these.

2. Avoid even those food products that come bearing health claims. They’re apt to be heavily processed, and the claims are often dubious at best. When Kellogg’s can boast about its Healthy Heart Strawberry Vanilla cereal bars, health claims have become hopelessly compromised. Don’t take the silence of the yams as a sign that they have nothing valuable to say about health.

3. Especially avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable c) more than five in number — or that contain high-fructose corn syrup.

4. Get out of the supermarket whenever possible. You won’t find any high-fructose corn syrup at the farmer’s market; you also won’t find food harvested long ago and far away. What you will find are fresh whole foods picked at the peak of nutritional quality. Precisely the kind of food your great-great-grandmother would have recognized as food.

5. Pay more, eat less. The American food system has for a century devoted its energies and policies to increasing quantity and reducing price, not to improving quality. There’s no escaping the fact that better food costs more, because it has been grown or raised less intensively and with more care. Not everyone can afford to eat well in America, which is shameful, but most of us can: Americans spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their income on food, down from 24 percent in 1947, and less than the citizens of any other nation. And those of us who can afford to eat well should.

“Eat less” is the most unwelcome advice of all, but in fact the scientific case for eating a lot less than we currently do is compelling. To make the “eat less” message a bit more palatable, consider that quality may have a bearing on quantity: I don’t know about you, but the better the quality of the food I eat, the less of it I need to feel satisfied. All tomatoes are not created equal.

6. Eat mostly plants, especially leaves. ...by eating a plant-based diet, you’ll be consuming far fewer calories, since plant foods (except seeds) are typically less “energy dense” than the other things you might eat. Vegetarians are healthier than carnivores, but near vegetarians (“flexitarians”) are as healthy as vegetarians.

7. Eat more like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks. Confounding factors aside, people who eat according to the rules of a traditional food culture are generally healthier than we are. Any traditional diet will do: if it weren’t a healthy diet, the people who follow it wouldn’t still be around. Let culture be your guide, not science.

8. Cook. And if you can, plant a garden. To take part in the intricate and endlessly interesting processes of providing for our sustenance is the surest way to escape the culture of fast food and the values implicit in it: that food should be cheap and easy; that food is fuel and not communion.

9. Eat like an omnivore. Try to add new species, not just new foods, to your diet. The greater the diversity of species you eat, the more likely you are to cover all your nutritional bases.

What's Your Community's Score for Walkability?

2009-09-08T10:31:00.011-06:00

Caption: Walk!

Q: How often do you walk to the store or to work?
A: The chances are good that your answer to this question is directly connected to how walkable your community is.

Q: So how walkable IS your community?
A: The website Walk Score has the answer: http://www.walkscore.com/

Q: What makes a neighborhood walkable?
A: The following are the criteria Walk Score uses to rate your neighborhood:

A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernable center, whether it's a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.
Density: The neighborhood is compact enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to run frequently.
Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.
Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.
Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.
Nearby schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

Q: Is it accurate?
A: There are many important factors that Walk Score does not take into account. Here are just a few that the Walk Score website is aware it has not included in its fancy algorithm:

Public transit: Good public transit is important for walkable neighborhoods.
Street width and block length: Narrow streets slow down traffic. Short blocks provide more routes to the same destination and make it easier to take a direct route.
Street design: Sidewalks and safe crossings are essential to walkability. Appropriate automobile speeds, trees, and other features also help.
Safety from crime and crashes: How much crime is in the neighborhood? How many traffic accidents are there? Are streets well-lit?
Pedestrian-friendly community design: Are buildings close to the sidewalk with parking in back? Are destinations clustered together?
Topography: Hills can make walking difficult, especially if you're carrying groceries.
Freeways and bodies of water: Freeways can divide neighborhoods. Swimming is harder than walking.
Weather: In some places it's just too hot or cold to walk regularly.

The Walk Scores website is a fun and interesting tool that gets folks thinking about all the factors that go into making a place walkable. However, take the results with a grain of salt. Afterall, Walk Score isn't sophisticated enough to discern a store that sells books for all ages from an "adult book store".

Crank and Click 2 September 19!

2009-09-04T12:25:00.002-06:00

Be sure to join Trailnet for . . .

CRANK and CLICK 2!

September 19 | Atomic Cowboy – 4140 Manchester Ave, St. Louis

5PM

Have fun doing a photo-scavenger hunt on your bike and support Trailnet’s Livable St. Louis at the same time! Be the team to get the most photos of your bikes in various settings around the city and win a prize! Teams for Crank and Click 2 are limited to two people; the cost is $10 per team. Kids and adults welcome. Bring your bike and your digital camera!

Crank and Click 2 is presented by Will Cycle for Charity, a not for profit group of St.Louis Area cyclists who donate their skills and time to raise money for local charity organizations through cycling events. Visit http://www.willcycleforcharity.com for more information.

Livable St. Louis September 23!

2009-09-04T10:41:00.006-06:00

Think of your favorite places to walk and bike. Chances are they are places where you feel safe and comfortable. They probably are even places with beauty and energetic street life.

Vibrant streets and communities play an important role in supporting healthy and active lifestyles. While providing us access to the goods and services we need in an enjoyable environment, they also often encourage biking, walking, and other physical activity.

Trailnet is continuing the conversation about how we foster vibrant communities through Livable St. Louis: What it Takes to Retain and Attract Creative Individuals. Join Trailnet, Next American City, and local partners for a discussion about retaining creative individuals in St. Louis. As St. Louis transforms into a more vibrant city, how can it maintain a creative population with talents and energy to contribute to the larger community?

Livable St. Louis: What it Takes to Retain and Attract Creative Individuals

September 23 | Left Bank Books - 312 N. 10th St. at Locust

7-9 pm

RSVP Today! americancity.org/urbanexus/st.louis

First Sunday Parkways Event Comes to St. Louis!

2009-08-24T10:51:00.006-06:00

Yesterday Trailnet and Live Well Ferguson! held the first Sunday Parkways event in the St. Louis area! Since the 1970s, cities in Latin America have been closing down streets to car traffic to provide a safe and fun environment for physical activity. In recent years the concept has become popular in the United States and Live Well Ferguson! decided to bring the concept to Ferguson for the first time.

Ferguson Sunday Parkways closes a .9 mile loop of neighborhood streets to car traffic to allow people to walk, bike, rollerblade, and do a host of other physical activities care-free. Activities such as face-painting, aerobics classes, and hula-hooping are also stationed throughout Lang-Royce Park along the route.

At yesterday's first Sunday Parkways, over 300 people were physically active and had fun! We hope you will join us at the next Ferguson Sunday Parkways on September 27 and October 18, 2009 from 1-4 pm.

Learn more about Ferguson Sunday Parkways and view the map

Learn more about Trailnet's partnership with Live Well Ferguson!

The Transportation RX

2009-08-17T14:37:00.006-06:00

Caption: The document cover

“For too long now, our transportation decision-making has failed to address the impacts that our infrastructure network has on public health and equity. The asphalt poured and lane miles constructed enhanced our mobility and strengthened our economic growth; but too often, this auto-centric mindset took hold and crowded out opportunities to invest in a truly sustainable inter-modal transportation system, in particular a system that meets the needs of underserved communities.”
-Representative Jim Oberstar
Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Transportation is the lifeblood of communities. It connects us to local businesses, our neighbors, jobs, grocery stores, hospitals and other essential goods and services. Well designed transportation systems allow people a number of options for travel from place to place. When we leave our homes each day we should have the ability to choose whether we will walk, bike, take public transit, or drive.

PolicyLink and Prevention Institute recently published a report titled "The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America" that draws on the latest research on the connections among transportation, health, and equity to present a new vision for transportation development in the 21st century. The report was commissioned by the Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership, a collaboration of major funders who have come together with the shared goal of changing policies and environments to better achieve the vision of healthy people living in healthy places.

This report shows how equitable transportation policies and investments can improve public health, expand economic opportunity, protect environmental quality and strengthen all communities.

The report draws on research from a forthcoming book, Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research, authored by academics and advocates from across the nation. A preview draft of the book is now available online. The final book will be available early August on this website.

With the authorization of the federal transportation bill on the horizon, it arrives at a critical time for bringing the transportation sector into discussions of public health and wellness. The report emphasizes the value of working across fields to identify effective and long-term solutions to multiple problems for community health, infrastructure, equity, and the economy.

The report was co-authored by the University of Missouri St. Louis's very own Todd Swanstrom. Well done, Todd!

Download the document here:
http://tinyurl.com/TransportationRx

And check out the HEAL Convergence Partnership here:
http://www.convergencepartnership.org/

Donut Police Fired By Donut Barons

2009-08-14T14:11:00.007-06:00

Caption: Huh?!

Dr. Jason Newsom returned home to Panama City, FL after serving as an Army doctor in Iraq to serve as the Director of the Bay County Health Department. Dr. Newsom undertook a public campaign to discourage Bay County residents from eating unhealthy foods by posting provocative slogans on an outdoor electronic sign.

His slogans included:

"Hamburger = Spare Tire"

"French Fries = Thunder Thighs"

But when the good doctor started to rail against doughnuts, the local doughnut barons took issue and demanded his resignation. One of the County Commissioners owned a diner and a donut shop and gave the good doctor an ultimatum: resign or get canned.

You see, the good doctor was bold enough to call out specific businesses by name with such slogans as:

"Dunkin' Donuts = Death"

"America Dies on Dunkin"

Unfortunately for Dr. Newsom, the local Dunkin' Donuts was owned by a couple of lawyers who had the ear of the doughnut shop owning County Commissioner.

"Let’s get this straight: I was fired. This talk about resignation, that was all politeness," Newsom said. "If your boss ever puts two pieces of paper in front of you, and one is a resignation letter, and one is a termination letter, and you’ve got two minutes to decide, you were fired."

"My method was a little provocative and controversial,'' he says, "but there wasn't a person in Bay County who wasn't talking about health and healthy eating."

Dr. Newsom has reapplied for his old job.

To read more, visit:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32405418/

Is MODOT Bicycle Friendly?

2009-08-10T17:11:00.007-06:00

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) now maintains a Facebook page. In a recent post, MODOT writes about its work to "factor bicycle and pedestrian travel into its highway projects." In the post, they cite some examples of recent projects that have made special accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians.

Yet, in recent years, MODOT has fought adamantly against a Complete Streets bill brought forward in the Missouri legislature. The bill is not complicated. In fact, it's very simple. It would require MODOT to "provide full consideration for the safety and contiguous routes for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, and transit users of all ages and abilities" in plans, projects, and programs. MODOT maintains that they already do this in all their projects. The bill's sponsor, Representative Mike Sutherland, introduced the bill for a second year in a row because he felt that MODOT had not convinced him or the rest of the legislature that they are in fact committed to creating Complete Streets in Missouri. For a second year in a row, MODOT fiercely opposed this bill. If MODOT is already factoring in cyclists and pedestrians in the design of their roadways, why are they so opposed to a Complete Streets bill?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
How do you think MODOT is doing in your community? Post a comment and tell us what you think. Is MODOT creating streets that help or hinder pedestrian and bicycle travel?

People with Bad Aim No Longer Exempt

2009-08-04T09:08:00.013-06:00

Caption: What kind of marketing would convince you not to throw stuff at cyclists?

News from Colorado
People with bad aim no longer exempt

Until recently, drivers could legally throw stuff at cyclists without being cited by authorities...unless they actually hit the cyclist. Thanks to a new Colorado law, people with bad aim are no longer exempt. The new law also requires drivers to give cyclists a 3-foot wide berth when passing.

The new law is being hailed by some as a major step forward. As far as we are concerned, the part about throwing stuff at cyclists is a major step forward from medieval law.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
I think this saying means that if someone gives you a horse as a gift, you're not supposed to inspect the horse's teeth to figure out if the horse is actually a gift worth receiving or an old bag of bones barely capable of standing. In that spirit, I am sure that cyclists all across Colorado are now thrilled to know that the next time a driver hurls a half-eaten Filet-O-Fish at them, misses, and is observed by the authorities, the driver can legally be cited if the authority figure wishes to enforce the law.

We are grateful for this step forward, too. However, it is a bit of a sobering reminder of how few legal protections cyclists currently have in cities and states throughout our country. It is also a sobering reminder of how horrendously some drivers behave towards cyclists. When we heard the news, we couldn't help but laugh that such a small step in the direction of common sense and decency was being hailed as a major accomplishment. Then we got to thinking: perhaps, these types of laws weren't already on the books, because it was previously unimaginable that someone would throw stuff at another person for no reason.

Check out the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-03-bikes_N.htm

Finally, in the vein of strange laws, we discovered an important law from Vermont while doing serious investigative research for this blog post. I'd like to share it with you now:

"Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth."

Tomorrow is Tomato Fest at De Soto Farmers' Market!

2009-07-31T11:56:00.007-06:00

Photo Credit: bartb_pt from flickr.com

The De Soto Farmers' Market season is in full swing and tomorrow is Tomato Fest! There will be a tomato contest, water fun provided by the De Soto Fire Department, origami demonstrations, live music and much more. Come and enjoy the fresh produce and great atmosphere at the De Soto Farmers' Market!

Find out about each week's vendors and other updates on the De Soto Farmers' Market blog.

Buy Fresh. Buy Local.

Announcing the TOOLKIT!!!

2009-07-29T12:53:00.008-06:00

Caption: The cover of Trailnet's Toolkit

Two years in the making, we are excited to announce the official release of Trailnet’s Healthy, Active, & Vibrant Community Toolkit.

This comprehensive and visually compelling document presents an exciting vision for the future of our communities—a future built around quality of life, health, vibrant local economies, and the environment.

The Toolkit is packed with case studies, mini-articles, and policy recommendations arranged in eight sections for:
-Schools
-Community Residents
-Design Practitioners
-Faith-Based Orgs
-Healthcare Providers and Institutions
-Local Governments and Community Orgs
-State and Federal Governments
-Workplaces

Download the Toolkit for FREE.

Margaret Donnelly, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, praised the Toolkit for its emphasis on healthy living. Donnelly noted that physical activity not only reduces obesity, but also helps reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

"Three of the most important things you can do for your health are move more, eat smart, and be tobacco free," Donnelly said. "These choices are keys to a long and productive life. The Trailnet Toolkit has practical ideas for helping communities of any size achieve those goals. In the process, communities can become healthier, more connected and more enjoyable places to live."

At its core, the Toolkit is focused on creating long-term solutions to address the obesity epidemic. However, we built on this core focus to provide you with a series of recommendations that go well beyond combating obesity and focus on creating communities that foster the highest quality of life and independence for residents young, old, and in between. We believe that the recommendations in the Toolkit, if implemented in a way that is sensitive to the social and physical character and context of your community, will strengthen social bonds, increase sense of safety, help define your community’s identity, attract new local businesses, and of course, lead to healthier individuals.

Caption: The Toolkit includes practical and actionable recommendations

Trailnet convened a multi-disciplinary team to develop the Healthy, Active & Vibrant Community Toolkit which consisted of healthcare providers, urban planners, architects, green building professionals, public health researchers, dietitians, educators, community organizers, and bicycle and pedestrian advocates. The recommendations are intended to lead to long-term, institutionalized change by focusing on solutions that address policies, environments, and social networks.

We hope you find this resource useful. We also hope you will share this resource with colleagues, neighbors, and pertinent decision-makers. The Toolkit can be downloaded for free online at: www.trailnet.org/HAVC_Toolkit.php

If you would like more information, please call or email Phil Valko: 314-436-1324 x119 or phil@trailnet.org

Sincerely,
-The Trailnet Team

A New Vision for Livability?

2009-07-27T14:23:00.014-06:00

Caption: President Obama takes a break to go for a bike ride with his daughter Sasha

"For too long, federal policy has actually encouraged sprawl and congestion and pollution, rather than quality public transportation and smart, sustainable development."

-President Obama, July 14, 2009 @ The White House Urban Affairs Summit

President Obama recently painted a new vision for urban policy -- a vision that is built around the Livable Community Partnership, which is bringing together DOT (transportation), HUD (housing), and EPA (environment).

With leadership from the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, the US Department of Transportation recently outlined six "livability principles" that will shape the future of communities across America. As LaHood sees it: “We have a window of opportunity to think differently about transportation and propose bold, new approaches to improve the livability of our nation’s communities.”

We agree. In addition to the three agencies that are currently at the table--transportation, housing, and environment--we strongly believe that the department of health needs to be at the table to ensure that the vision for livable cities helps once again connect urban planning and public health.

Below are the six principles outlined by LaHood.

Providing more transportation choices;
Expanding access to affordable housing, particularly housing located close to transit;
Enhancing economic competitiveness-–giving people access to jobs, education and services as well as giving businesses access to markets;
Targeting federal funds toward existing communities to spur revitalization and protect rural landscapes;
Increasing collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to better target investments and improve accountability;
Valuing the unique qualities of all communities--whether urban, suburban, or rural.

For more, Click HERE.

The Worst Bike Lanes EVER!

2009-07-23T16:28:00.008-06:00

Caption: Worst Bike Lane EVER! (Photo by Ian Bromsgrove)

Let me first start by saying I love the internets. It is a perfectly designed interface for the functional Attention Deficit Disordered, like me. I started out searching for yard signs, somehow found a miracle drug that will help halt my natural aging process, and finally settled on a website that chronicles the worst bicycle lanes/paths in Britain. It was an electronic game of "telephone" that spun me around like a top and left me dizzy with joy and just a hint of nausea.

No matter the starting point or the path I took to get there, my final destination needs to be shared with you and yours: The Warrington Cycle Campaign has been posting a picture per month, since 2001, of some of the greatest non-sense in traffic engineering Britain has to offer. The pictures serve as a testament to the contention that there is a big difference between GOOD bike/pedestrian planning and BAD bike/pedestrian planning. And the captions...as dry and sharp as week-old British bread.

The pictures and captions are good for a thousand laughs. They also serve as a sobering reminder that the safety of cyclists and pedestrians is at stake when facilities are poorly designed or built.

Check it out. Pass it to a friend. Laugh. Learn. And get yourself lost in the wonder that is the internets.

http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/facility-of-the-month

-Phil

Caption: Designated bike lane...just kidding. (Photo by Gareth Simpson)

THE NEW CROP: 40 Farmers Under 40

2009-07-21T13:31:00.005-06:00

Caption: Ferguson, MO resident and community leader Molly Rockamann

The Mother Nature Network, which was founded by the keyboard player for the Rolling Stones, has just published its list of 40 Farmers Under 40. This group of entrepreneurial growers are plowing the fields for a new American agriculture system -- a system that (re)focuses on environmental sustainability, local economies, and healthy foods.

Check out the article:
http://www.mnn.com/food/farms-gardens/stories/40-farmers-under-40

We are thrilled to see that one of the 40 Farmers Under 40 is a collaborator and friend, Molly Rockamann. If you visit the article, Molly is #11 on the list. Molly is a Ferguson, MO resident who has been a leader on the Live Well Ferguson! Taskforce, an effort that Trailnet has led in partnership with the City of Ferguson. Molly founded EarthDance, an organization with the goals of training a new generation of farmers and preserving Missouri's oldest organic farm, the Mueller Farm, located in Ferguson.

EarthDance's annual party, Pesto Festo is coming up again this fall. It's a great place to meet other local farmers and food enthusiasts, eat some great local food, and support a great cause. Check their website for details.

Congrats to Molly and EarthDance!!!