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Bicycling and walking are two very important forms of transportation. Everyone in the St. Louis region is considered a pedestrian. Many people walk from  home to a bus stop, walk from parking lots into grocery
stores, or walk children to neighboring parks or schools. The benefits of walking and biking , whether for recreational or commuting purposes, include improved environmental and
personal health, reduced traffic congestion, enhanced quality of life, as well as economic benefits for the community.
Quick facts about bicycling and walking:
- The average person loses 13 lbs. their first year of commuting by bike.
- Just 3 hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.
- Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.
- 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40% of all trips are within 2 miles of the home.
- It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk one mile and 10-15 minutes to bike 2 miles.
- In 2009, the City of St. Louis was named a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Bronze level.
- Bike St. Louis has added 77 miles to the on-street bike system in St. Louis City and County.
- All MetroBus vehicles are equipped with external bike racks and bikes are allowed on MetroLink trains.
- Madison County Transit is one of the only transit systems that link its own bikeways with its
 existing bus system. All MCT buses are equipped with bike racks.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
East-West Gateway Council of Governments is committed to improving the conditions for bicyclists and
pedestrians across the St. Louis region. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program is our way of attempting to
address some of these issues by working with communities throughout the region to plan for efficient and effective bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs.
St. Louis Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee:
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was established in April of 1995 by East
-West Gateway and is comprised of public, private and non-profit representatives from the region. Its
principal purpose is to enhance access and mobility throughout the St. Louis region by encouraging the coordinated development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The BPAC meets quarterly (February, May, August and November) to discuss past, present and upcoming bicycle and pedestrian related issues in the St. Louis region. Meetings are held in the
Gateway offices at 1 S. Memorial Dr., Ste. 1600, St. Louis, MO 63102. All meetings are open to the public.
Past Meeting Agendas and Minutes
Chair: Kevin Neill, Trailnet
Vice Chair: Mike Murray, Great Rivers Greenway
Staff Contact: Rachael Pawlak
E-mail: rachael.pawlak@ewgateway.org
Phone: Mo.314-421-4220 Il. 618-274-2750
St. Louis Regional Bicycling and Walking Transportation Plan:
The growing popularity of bicycling in the St. Louis region prompted the update of the Regional Bicycling
and Walking Transportation Plan. The Plan places emphasis on defining the nature of bicycling and
walking environments and serves as a "how-to and when-to" resource document for communities
developing facilities. The final Plan was completed in July 2005 and adopted by the East West Gateway Board of Directors.
Regional Resources:
Bike St. Louis: The Bike St. Louis Project is an outgrowth of a partnership between the City of St. Louis
and the Great Rivers Greenway District. The Bike St. Louis system totals 77 miles of dedicated bike lanes and shared traffic lanes in St. Louis City and County.
Great Rivers Greenway: The Great Rivers Greenway District was established in November 2000 by the
successful passage of the Clean Water, Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative in St. Louis City, St.
Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri. This district is spearheading the development of The River
Ring, an interconnected system of greenways, parks and trails that will encircle the St. Louis region.
League of Illinois Bicyclists: The League of Illinois Bicyclists is a statewide advocate for all Illinois
bicyclists, promoting bicycle access, education, and safety.
Madison County Transit Trails: Madison County Trails provides Madison County with 100 miles of
scenic bikeways. In the early 1990s, Madison County Transit initiated its "rails to trails" program,
creating Madison County Trails. MCT is one of the only transit systems that link its own bikeways with its existing bus system.
Metro East Parks and Recreation District: The Metro-East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) was
formed by voters in November 2000 and is responsible for the development of parks, trails, and greenways within the boundaries of Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.
Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation: The Missouri Bicycle Federation is a statewide, not-for
-profit, membership organization that advocates advancement of bicycling access, safety, and education in Missouri.
Trailnet: Trailnet is a St. Louis based non-profit organization with a 20-year history of promoting active
living –a way of life that encourages people to integrate physical activity into their daily routines. Trailnet
has also developed Bikeable-Walkable community plans for several municipalities in the St. Louis region.
St. Louis Bicycle Master Plan: Great Rivers Greenway is leading an effort along with core partners to
prepare a Bicycle Master Plan for the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The BMP
will be an implementable plan for on-road and multiuse trails to increase use of bicycles as a mode of transportation.
St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation: The St. Louis Bicycle Federation is largely a volunteer group
representing a wide spectrum of cycling groups, covering St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe counties and St. Louis City.
Bike and Walk Tools:
Walk Score: Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address. What makes an area walkable?
- A center: walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.
- People: enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
- Mixed income, mixed use: affordable housing located near businesses.
- Parks and public space: plenty of public places to gather and play.
- Pedestrian design: buildings are close to the street with parking lots in the back.
- Schools and workplaces: close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
- Complete streets: streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and transit.
- Bike routes added to Google Maps: Google offers free turn-by-turn directions for cyclists that show
bike lanes and bike trails. Bikers can enter their destinations and get routes that avoid big hills and busy
highways. Google also added information about bike trails, lanes and recommended roads directly onto
the map. When you are zoomed into a city, click on the "More" button at the top of the map to turn on the "Bicycling" layer. Three types of lines appear on the map:
- Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail.
- Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road.
- Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes.
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