Tour of Missouri on Versus cable network: 4-6 p.m. (ET) Wednesday
Photo by Tamara Painter
Young fans meet racers
One of the major goals of the Tour of Missouri bike race this year was to boost tourism to the Show Me state.
But the bicycle race had the spillover effect of introducing a lot of folks to professional cyclists and winning a slight measure of respect for those who ride their bikes on Missouri's streets.
Blog reader Jack Painter wrote to me after the race that his family members were thrilled to meet many of the racers. And Kansas City Star columnist Bill Graham writes that following the race, “We need to keep working on making bicycling a bigger pastime in our communities.”
Painter, who rides in the St. Louis area, wrote:
” … ToM allowed my sons to meet Bruyneel, Hincapie, Contador, Popovych, etc. and to get their signatures, among many others. My wife is European (speaks four
languages fluently) and thus had no problems being invited into the pre-race preparations with many of the teams. Micheal, our youngest, had his Tour de France jersey signed by only the members of the Discovery Team and now won't wear it.”“I too like the idea on what ToM can mean for MO and the general health of our citizens. We need Complete Streets and cyclists represent healthy examples of what such public policy can mean for many members of society. And yes my family and I went for an easy bike ride yesterday.
“The State of MO's goal in supporting this race was to increase tourism dollars as stated by the Tourism Director Blaine Leutkemeyer: “We're hoping for between 300,000 and 400,000 (fans) this year. We feel that would be a great number.”
The goal of supporting this competition should be widened to include a larger set of the public and to foster healthier environments.”
Along the same vein, the Kansas City Star columnist Graham admits that he was driving his car recently and passed a little too close to a cyclist. He promised to allow oncoming traffic to pass before trying to scoot past a cyclist next time. He writes at “Respect bicyclists on the road”:
“You see, bicyclists have the same legal right to use the pavement for transportation as a person piloting a motorized vehicle.
“Our brains are now wired to drive unimpeded to what we consider all-important destinations, just like we’re used to switching TV channels effortlessly with a remote control. We can daydream or talk to friends on cell phones with only passing attention to the road and the steering wheel.
“So our habits are jarred when a bicyclist is visible through the windshield, moving at what seems like a slow speed with their body fully exposed to harm.
“Well friends and neighbors, it’s time for an attitude adjustment on our part.
“The Tour of Missouri was a most excellent addition to the state and we’re lucky it rolled through the Northland.
“But what’s next?
“I’d suggest we need to keep working on making bicycling a bigger pastime in our communities.
“A starting point is for motorists to give cyclists more respect on the road.
“Secondly, we need to support the bicycling community when they seek extra money for a highway project to ensure that extra space for bicyclists is added to the pavement width.”
If the Tour of Missouri can bring about an attitude shift like the one envisioned by Graham, then the race had a greater benefit than just bringing in tourism dollars to the state.
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