PROMOTING BICYCLING & WALKING IN RURAL MISSOURI WHO, WHY, & HOW BRENT HUGH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND RURAL AMERICA:

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1 PROMOTING BICYCLING & WALKING IN RURAL MISSOURI AND RURAL AMERICA: WHO, WHY, & HOW BRENT HUGH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2 Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Advocacy Over 5000 members across the state 70+ member Advisory Commission representing groups across the state Celebrating our 20 th Anniversary

3 Warning: Rant Ahead The bicycling revolution we have brought to the cities we now need to bring to rural America. The time is ripe.

4 RURAL MISSOURI RURAL AMERICA Who?

5 WHERE IS RURAL MISSOURI? All of Missouri EXCEPT four large MPOs (note, however... large swaths w/in the large MPOs are rural in character, too)

6 WHERE IS RURAL MISSOURI? All of Missouri EXCEPT four large MPOs Vast majority of land area in the state 49% of population (2.9 million rural vs 3.1 million urban )

7 TECHNICAL NOTE ABOUT RURAL Note that this definition of Rural Missouri is a different definition than US Census (they consider ~30% of MO rural) We consider it from a functional perspective as bicycle & pedestrian advocates: What areas consider themselves rural or not big city What areas are current underserved as far as bicycling/walking/trails because they are rural, lower density, or smaller communities Census Bureau count of rural population is smaller than ours precisely because they consider many of the small rural towns to be in urban areas Census considers population centers of 2500 or more to be urban Their point in doing that is much the same as ours below: A population center with 2500 or more residents is big enough to have services and amenities of a city or town shopping, sidewalks, parks, trails We have included most small MPO areas in Missouri in our thinking Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, Joplin, etc. There could be a different and perhaps better term for this part of the state: rural and outstate Missouri or perhaps Missouri outside of the big cities

8 RURAL ACROSS AMERICA Census 19% of US pop. lives in rural area per US Census Metropolitan Planning Organizations 71% of US pop. live in MPOs of 250,000 pop or greater 78% of US pop. in MPO of 100,000 pop. or greater So 22-29% of US pop. Lives outside of large MPOs depending on how you count large Keep in mind that large areas within MPOs consider themselves rural as well

9 WHERE IS RURAL MISSOURI? Half state population, but even larger political influence: Veto-proof majorities in MO House & Senate 6 of 8 U.S. reps U.S. system is designed to give greater rep to rural areas U.S. Senators & statewide offices: Republicans see rural as base Democrats see rural as swing Both parties play to it strongly

10 WHERE IS RURAL MISSOURI? Support for bicycling, walking, and trails from politicians based in rural Missouri is crucial to our long-term success as a movement Definition of success as a movement: When both parties & rural/suburban/urban areas are all supporting our agenda, each for their own reasons

11 FACTS ABOUT RURAL MISSOURI 85% of rural population lives in/near town Remaining 15% depends on nearby town; visits often Small - midsized towns (500-10K pop) Takeaway: Focus efforts on towns--& you serve the entire rural population

12 FOCUS EFFORT ON TOWNS Our usual techniques all work (with adaptation): Local champions Complete Streets policies Bicycle/Walk Friendly Communities Vision Zero Bike/ped/trails plans Create dependable funding sources Etc.

rural towns have MORE no-car households than state as a whole

13 RURAL TOWNS PACK A BIG PUNCH Key towns serve a (much) larger surrounding population Ex: Warsaw: 2100; Benton County 19,000 Small rural towns have MORE no-car households than state as a whole Retirement/end-of-life Disabled, elderly, non-drivers ~30% no drivers license Conclusion?

14 RURAL TOWNS Rural communities need walking/bicycling/transit for EXACTLY the same reasons as urban communities and get EXACTLY the same benefits Small scale, short distances, low traffic, low cost mean: Biking & walking is a natural fit in rural communities

15 RURAL TOWNS: CHALLENGES Cash poor: Small population, small economy, small city budget Large capital projects very difficult - even sidewalks Culture/tradition: Driving traditionally sole means of transport & focus of planning/spending But: Attitudes changing now Pilot Grove MO City Hall

16 RURAL TOWNS: ECONOMIC REALITY Declining population (last ~100 years) Struggle to attract/retain population Struggle to retain/create vibrant economy Biking/walking part of the solution to those problems

17 RURAL MISSOURI RURAL AMERICA Why? Why rural Missouri? Why rural America?

18 WHY? OUR STARTING POINT ---WORLD US---- MISSOURI Rural MO BICYCLE MODE SHARE

19 WHY? OUR STARTING POINT ---WORLD--- ~30-40 years ago ---US---- ~15-25 years ago MISSOURI Rural MO ~10-15 years ago?

20 WHY? THE TIME IS RIPE MISSOURI ---US WORLD--- Rural MO ~30-40 years ago ~15-25 years ago ~10-15 years ago NOW!

21 WHY? THE HALE & HEARTY RURAL FARMER OF YESTERYEAR IS NO MORE Few/no sidewalks, crosswalks, trails, bikeways...

22 MAIN STREET RURAL USA... Would you want to walk or bike here?

23 WHY? HEALTH

24 WHY? HEALTH

25 WHY? HEALTH

26 WHY? HEALTH

27 WHY? 10% HIGHER DEATH RATE

28 WHY? TOO MANY TRAFFIC DEATHS Death Rates, Motor Vehicle Crashes Missouri,

29 WHY? TOO MANY TRAFFIC DEATHS Death Rates, Motor Vehicle Crashes Missouri, How can we reduce traffic fatalities?

30 Population Density Red= Higher

31 Physical Activity/Exercise Red= Less

32 Obesity Rate Red= Higher

33 Poverty Rate Black = higher

34 Disability Rate Blue = higher

35 Percentage Elderly Residents Blue = higher

36 Minority Population Density Black= Higher

37 Traffic Fatality Rate Red= Higher

38 Pedestrian Fatality Rate Red= Higher

39 Rural Missouri and Rural America need our message and our solutions badly

40 Complete Streets Policies

41 Complete Streets Policies Warsaw

42 Strava Heatmap RURAL MISSOURI RURAL AMERICA How? Warsaw

43 Warsaw, MO: It CAN be done City: 2100 pop. Benton County: 19,000 pop. Between two lakes Hunting-fishing-boating Economic development/tourism Resort developer s message Warsaw

44 Warsaw, MO Cities esp. rural cities must invest in themselves first Bicycling, walking, trails, parks as a rural economic development strategy

45 Warsaw, MO: Mtn Bike Park Regular regional/statewide events & races Created active local mountain biking, hiking communities Volunteers help build, maintain trails

46 Warsaw: Downtown Harbor, Park & Trail

47 Warsaw: Downtown Harbor, Park & Trail Before After

48 Warsaw: Walkable downtown Before After

49 Warsaw, MO: Levee Trails & Regional Trails Plan

50 Warsaw, MO: Swinging Bridge Connects levee trails on both sides of river Connects city/downtown w/park & rec area & fields

51 Warsaw, MO: Citywide & Regional On-Road Bicycle Route System Active local cycling group Partnerships w/ MoDOT, county, Corps of Engineers

52 Warsaw, MO: Complete Streets Goal: Entire city walkable/bikeable Basics: Sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic calming The basics are missing in most of rural MO

53 Warsaw, MO: Local Advocacy Group Osage Lakes Greenway Corporation Vital but difficult to sustain in a small community

54 Warsaw, MO A rural community doing everything we ask large cities to do and succeeding They are building a community of bicyclists, hikers, walkers, trail users where none existed before Not flashy, not rocket science. The basics. It works It is MUCH needed

55 CALL TO ACTION The bicycling revolution we have brought to the cities, we now need to bring to rural America. The time is ripe. Brent Hugh Executive Director Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation MoBikeFed.org

MAKING YOUR CITY BETTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING: HOW AND WHY BRENT HUGH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MAKING YOUR CITY BETTER FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING: HOW AND WHY BRENT HUGH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Advocacy Over 4500 members across the state 50+ member Advisory Commission representing