Hi all,
Could I ask you to spend a few moments supporting a few things I've tried to get going with regard to BikeKC?
I think it might help getting some of these institutions to move, if a few people were to write in support. One person is easy to ignore; even 2 or 3 or 5 or 10 becomes much more difficult for them to dismiss.
1. I wrote to Chancellor Gilliland (head of UMKC) a while ago and asked her to support BikeKC, either to officially throw UMKC behind it if possible, or at least for her to support the proposal as a private citizen. *IF* you are a UMKC alumnus or have some other connection to the school, could you write Chancellor Gilliland and urge her to support BikeKC? Email is: gillilandm@umkc.edu
[below is the letter I wrote to Gilliland, just FYI.]
2. I similarly wrote Reverend Edward Kinerk, president of Rockhurst University (Edward.Kinerk@rockhurst.edu). If you have some connection with Rockhurst, would you mind emailing and asking for support.
It seems that these universities are natural allies in making KC more bicycle friendly. I have to say that I was sorely disappointed in the lack of bicycling & bicycle facilities at UMKC when I went to school there. They could do a lot better, and it would benefit their students.
Also these schools are smack in the middle of the first phase of BikeKC, so they will be among the first to feel real benefits from the plan.
3. I wrote KKFI (90.1, community radio) to see if they would support BikeKC. They seem a natural ally. I haven't had time to listen to radio much lately so I don't know if they have done much. If you happen to have any connection with KKFI, would you mind emailing or calling them & asking for some support? Email is kkfi901@aol.com
Thank you!
--Brent
[with apologies to those who have received this twice]
-------------------------------------
Chancellor Gilliland,
As a UMKC alumnus, I recently became aware of an issue that is of great interest to UMKC.
Bicycling is traditionally a very common and useful transportation alternative for university communities. In the recent past it has not been very viable in Kansas City's urban core. The amount of bicycling around UMKC is disappointingly small, and we pay the price in increased traffic congestion and overloaded parking facilities.
Now the BikeKC initiative has come before the Kansas City Council. BikeKC, which will create a network of on-street bike lanes and routes around the city, is designed to make bicycling a viable transportation option in Kansas City. BikeKC has been years in the making, but because of reservations about the plan by a few key city council members, it has been held in committee since September 2001.
Now, at the request of Mayor Barnes and because of a groundswell of grass-roots support, the committee will again consider the BikeKC proposal on August 7th, 2002. However, key committee members still oppose the BikeKC. It will take significant community support to overcome this opposition.
I hope UMKC will consider coming out with an official announcement in support of BikeKC. I also hope that UMKC administration, faculty, staff, and students will support BikeKC on an individual basis.
Support from UMKC would make a big difference in the effort to pass BikeKC. The opposition to BikeKC comes mostly from large companies with deep pockets (for example, large developers who don't want to give up real estate in their developments to create more right-of-way for bicycle and pedestrian facilities).
It would help the BikeKC cause immensely if a few large and respected institutions publicly supported it.
Here are some reasons UMKC should support BikeKC:
* BikeKC will directly benefit UMKC's community by making bicycling
a viable transportation option for students and employees. Bicycling
is a natural for a university community. Students, faculty, and
staff need an inexpensive, safe, and quick way to get around campus and
the surrounding community. Most universities around the country
support large bicycling communities and UMKC could, too. BikeKC helps
make that happen.
* For students, living close by in the dorms and bicycling to school,
shopping, and work is a very inexpensive living arrangement. Availability
of the bicycling option helps make UMKC more affordable for students
in this time of budget crises and large tuition increases.
* The very first bike routes to be put in place by BikeKC will be
centered around UMKC. UMKC will see direct positive results soon.
* Promoting bicycling is a VERY inexpensive way to help alleviate
some of UMKC's parking problems. When I was a student at UMKC, I know
for a fact that MANY students living as close as Twin Oaks drove
autos to UMKC and used valuable on-campus parking. Most people
living so close could easily bicycle to UMKC many or most trips.
* BikeKC has a great deal of grass-roots and community group support.
Supporting BikeKC is a community-friendly move for UMKC.
Please email or call me if you have any questions about BikeKC.
Below is a letter I wrote to University News urging UMKC students to support BikeKC (before realizing University News doesn't publish in the summer . . . oh, well), a list of web pages with further information about BikeKC, and a list of Kansas City Council email addresses.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Brent Hugh
UMKC alumnus (MM 1995, DMA 2000)
posted by Brent Hugh at
Sunday, August 25, 2002 |
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