2024 was a rough year for Missouri in national active transportation rankings: we were placed near or at the bottom on lists for Safe Routes to School and Bicycle policies. Let's work together to change that.
There's no easy way to say it: 2024 wasn't a great year for Missouri's active transportation recognition on the national stage, and Missouri has room for improvement with safety rankings of our active transportation policies.
Check out the reports below, and scroll to the bottom to see how we can improve.
The League of American Bicyclists' analysis of 'Bicycle Friendly States' noted similar trends, focusing on state-level bicycle policy:
Michael Kelley with our partner BikeWalkKC breaks down our falling ranking, comparing our results with Kansas–a state that saw significant improvements from previous years:
Based on these results, both reports shared suggestions for improvent:
Statewide Active Transportation Plan: Whether it's a 'bike plan' or other active transportation planning, both reports highlighted that we were one of the few remaining states that never adopted a statewide active transportation plan. The League of American Bicyclists highlighted that the majority of bicycle fatalities occur on state-owned roads; therefore, the state shares some responsibility for implementing safety and long-term planning solutions. MRT is working to coordinate advocacy for this issue:
Funding for Active Transportation: Missouri currently has no dedicated state funding for active transportation, and we spend below a minimal 2% of federal transportation funds on active transportation projects. To improve safety outcomes, we need infrastructure solutions and the funding to make that possible. Beyond infrastructure, funding can also support a Safe Routes to School program, which Missouri has not funded for more than a decade.
Improve Policies that Promote Active Transportation Infrastructure: The Missouri legislature adopted a Complete Streets 'Resolution,' although it serves as a suggestion and we do not have a policy that ensures consideration of active transportation elements in all roadway projects. A statewide complete streets policy can promote the inclusion of active transportation development when regular roadway maintenance is scheduled, which is a more strategic use of resources than retrofitting active transportation elements later.
