A few days ago I posted a piece about feeling more fear and loathing in Missouri during my TransAmerican bike ride in 1984 than anywhere else and refered to my journal of the bike trip.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation picked up on it and linked to its own list of news and stories regarding some other black eyes to the state's bicycling reputation. It also mentioned somepositive developments.
1. Four southern Missouri state highway districts have formed a TransAmerica Trail Task Force to find safer roads for the bike route;
2. Columbia, Missouri, is one of four cities nationwide to receive $25 million in funding as part of the federal pilot project to create better bicycle and pedestrian facilities;
3. Missouri's draft Trailmap for Nonmotorized Transportation, which addresses “engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement” to improve biking and hiking in the state, has been completed;
4. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that the Missouri bicycle map project is ongoing. Among other things, the Missouri bike maps show traffic volumes and marks roads with shoulders, as well as rails-to-trails routes. (More information about the bike maps at Mo Bike Federation.)
It's probably not fair for me to characterize the entire state as a bicycling black hole because of some rude motorists. I also have a some good memories of bicycling through the state, particularly the kindly gent Lazy Louie who ran a bicycle camp near Marshfield, and the unknown group of birthday revelers who invited us to join them for a couple of beers.
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