KC cyclists want safer streets to ride
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Down the pedestrian bridge to the riverfront. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
We asked if readers know how to ride a bike, and they said yes — but some said they choose not to because of street quality and path access.
Why it matters: Biking is credited with improving health and connectivity, and metro-wide pushes seek to increase the activity in a town that ranks below the national average for bike miles per person.
Zoom in: Readers use bicycles for leisure, exercise and transportation, but others have given up biking over safety concerns and a lack of infrastructure.
What they're saying: "I no longer have a bike, but I've been regaining interest as more and more bike infrastructure gets implemented around town," one reader said.
- Others said the Gillham bike lanes and the pedestrian bridge connecting the River Market with Berkley Riverfront are good improvements, though one person said they stopped riding after moving to KC due to poor road conditions and bad drivers.
- Several readers said they use bikes to commute, run errands, and go to shops and restaurants. "I'm 80 and in good weather it's a fun way of getting exercise and it's efficient transportation," one respondent added.
Zoom out: Regional programs like the Mid-America Regional Council's Green Commute Challenge and advocacy group BikeWalkKC's adult city cycling classes seek to boost biking.
- Meanwhile, Kansas City aims to add more bike lanes in 2027, and Overland Park this summer implemented RideKC e-bike hubs along Metcalf Avenue.
Friction point: Business owners and locals have decried bike lanes for reducing parking, hurting revenue, and causing traffic confusion, while advocates want the city to lower its reliance on cars and increase transportation equity.
What to try: Readers' favorite paved and crushed rock trails include Line Creek Trail, Indian Creek Trail, the Trolley Trail, the Rock Island Rail Trail and the Katy Trail.
- Some bike shops around town host group rides, and Velo Garage in North KC boasts the largest bike club in the city.
What's next: Kansas City will hold public meetings about its Bikeways and Trails Plan on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18.