The art kids have lots of stuff going on this weekend with the second annual Bikestravaganza. Critical Mass, a flat track race, 816 Bike Collective grand opening and party, and an alleycat race.

Check out all the details.

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To promote Bike Week and the Car-Free Challenge, the city of Kansas City, MO has wrapped a KCATA Metro bus with a Bike There, Walk There ad. The message is that any trip under two miles can be on foot, and any trip up to five miles can be on bike. Tonight the bus was on the #39 route that runs across Midtown on 39th Street. I was at Jaywalkers at 39th & State Line Road when the bus went by, and we jumped up from our beers to run out in the thunderstorm to snap some photos.

Have you registered for the Car-Free Challenge yet? Do it now and see how many car trips you can replace with biking, walking, and/or the bus.

From Shannon Jaax,
City Planning and Development Department

The KCMO Citywide Trails Plan project team is challenging the creative minds of Kansas City (no age or expertise requirements) to a trail logo and naming competition.  The KCMO Citywide Trails Plan will be adopted later this year and a name and logo is needed to identify the trail system outlined in the Plan.  The logo and name may appear on trail signage, trail promotional materials, and mile markers.

Submissions will be accepted on 8 ½” X 11” paper or electronically in Microsoft or .pdf formats e-mailed to Shannon_Jaax@kcmo.org.  Submitters must complete and return an Entry Form available online at www.kcmotrails.com or on the 15th floor of City Hall.  Selection will be based on practicality of design with regard to construction and maintenance, identity, and creativity.

The first prize is a Gary Fisher hybrid bike donated by Cycle City of Kansas City, Mo.; the winner will be able to select the size and color.

The KCMO Citywide Trails Plan was initiated in January 2007 by the City of Kansas City, Mo., to develop a trail system throughout Kansas City, Mo. that can be enjoyed and utilized by a variety of users, including pedestrians, recreational bicyclists, commuters, and equestrians.  Plan adoption is anticipated in mid-2008.

For more information, visit www.kcmotrails.com or contact Shannon Jaax, City of Kansas City, Missouri, City Planning and Development Department, by phone at (816) 513-2855, by fax at (816) 513-2838, or by e-mail at Shannon_Jaax@kcmo.org.

A group of about 30 bicyclists rode to Friday’s ceremonies to mark the beginining of construction on the new Paseo Bridge. Here are some photos on Flickr and Mark Breeding has many more.

The Pitch covers the attemp to pass a Complete Streets bill in Missouri, and MoDOT’s last-minute move to kill the bill that they earlier supported.

The Pitch: MoDOT tosses cyclists over the handlebars

A great way to show MoDOT some love is to ride with us to the Paseo Bridge groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. If you can’t make it on Friday, then send your regards electronically by participating in a quick letter writing campaign.

During the month of April, law enforcement agencies across the metro are will be conducting special operations emphasizing bicycle and pedestrian safety.  For example, there will extra efforts to enforce the laws requiring motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and to share the road with bicyclists. But the enforcement will apply to all road users, s you could also get a ticket for jaywalking or blowing through a stop sign on your bike.

There will be a press conference and media event on Thursday at UMKC with members of the Share the Road Safety Task Force.  This task force was formed in 2006 after several pedestrian and cyclist deaths.  It includes bike/ped advocates, law enforcement officers, traffic engineers, city planners, etc. You can find out more about the tast force and the enforcement campaign at www.sharetheroadkc.com.

This week MoDOT will hold a public hearing on their plan to widen Route 45 through Parkville (a.k.a. NW 64th Street or Tom Watson Parkway). Right now the plan is very inadequate for bicyclists and pedestrians.  Parts of it are down-right unsafe. If you live, work, or ride in the Northland, please take half an hour of your time on Thursday to go and speak up for bicycle accomodations. Ask for a paved shoulder, a wide outside lane, or marked bike lanes.

Here is more info on the project and the desired outcome for bike/ped.

Route 45 open house
Thursday, April 17, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Plate County Community Center (South)
8875 Clark Avenue, Parkville, MO 64152 (map/directions)

On Friday, April 18 Senater Kit Bond and MoDOT will have a groundbreaking for the new Paseo bridge. If you can spare half an hour on a Friday afternoon, please go and attend the ceremony as a visible reminder that bicyclists and pedestrians are still fighting for a path on the new bridge. I am personally leading a ride there from the River Market.

Read all the details at Let’s Go KC.

©Chris Thomas

Local photographer and cyclist Chris Thomas has just posted the third set in a series of photos documenting urban cyclists in Kansas City. It’s really great work, and worth some time checking it out.  Don’t miss the first and second sets as well.

The 816 Bike Collective is a new organization that has been forming over the last several months.  Tomorrow they are opening their new space for the first time.  It’s in the Creative Minds Arts Center at 3109 Troost in KCMO. The Collective works to refurbish old bikes and sell/give/barter them to folks. After the demise of Bikes and Trikes for Tykes, it’s really good to see another organization stepping up with a simlar mission.

• 816 Bike Collective on MySpace.
• Pitch blog: Search and Rescue for Abandoned Bikes.