The typical U.S. city isn’t exactly cutting edge in this area, so being among the very worst out of a group that isn’t all that great to start with–not exactly bragging rights.

The number of bicycle trips in the KC metro area is less than half the national average. (And in a populated metro area you generally expect to be above the national average on this, not below.)

Same goes for walking trips.

Yet the injury and fatality stats show that KC is ABOVE the national average in the number of bicycle and pedestrian injuries (seen as a percentage of total traffic injuries).

So–way below average on the amount of walking and bicycling, well above average on the amount of injuries.

So first–we have a safety problem.

Second, a recent study showed that of 28 major US cities, KC has the highest rate of single occupant vehicle travel to work and the lowest of transit, bicycling, and walking.

The result is that KC residents pay on average $1000/year more in transportation costs than the national average. That means lack of good transit, walking, and bicycling facilities is costing the KC metro area $700 million dollars EVERY YEAR (700,000 households time $1000 each).

Based on the study probably about half to two-thirds the additional cost can be attributed to transit and the rest to bike/ped. (But do remember that every transit trip includes a bike/ped component.)

So, lack of good transit, walking, and bicycling facilities is costing the metro area in economic competitiveness. At a time when gasoline prices can go from $1/gallon to $3/gallon in a short time, it puts us in an economically vulnerable position.

Third, Missouri is one of the states with the biggest obesity problems and, even worse, one of the states whose obesity problem is growing at a high rate.

Obesity costs Missourians an estimated $1.6 billion in direct health care costs each year.

Everyone who has looked at the obesity problem has agreed that building normal human physical activity out of our cities, towns, and daily lives is one of the biggest contributors to the obesity situation. Missouri has been one of the worst states for engineering bicycle and walking facilities out of our transportation system so it is little surprise that we are also one of the most obese states.

Fourth, walking and bicycling affect a much greater percentage of the population that you might think. Of course, practically everyone is a pedestrian.

But in addition, over 25% of the adult population bicycles regularly (more than once a month).

The most common place for people to bicycle is on the streets near their own homes.

Finally what all this adds up to–far less bicycling and walking, well behind the national average, worse safety than the national average, well behind the national curve in providing for safe bicycling and walking–is that individuals and companies looking to locate in the Kansas City region come from other places in the country where there is an expectation that bicycling and walking will be accommodated safely and that they will be normal and regular parts of every day life.

People are used to living in areas where a large portion of the population walks for bicycles for recreation and a good chunk of people get to work, errands, shopping, and all the rest via walking, bicycling, and transit.

People see all this as–not even a plus or positive–but simply as an expected part of any major metropolitan area.

So when they get to Kansas City and find bicycle and pedestrian accommodation so sorely lacking they frankly wonder what is wrong.

The result is it costs us jobs, good people, and companies who would consider relocating here–if only essential community services and infrastructure were not missing.

Anyone care to tell me WHY that’s a goal? Who does it benefit other than, obviously, people who ride bicycles?