The Tour of Kansas City starts today! The plans have been underway for months, and it’s finally here, a three-day biking festival in the Kansas City Metro area. The event is in support of the Missouri Bike and Pedestrian Federation, a non-profit advocacy group. Organizers have included family fun events like a kids’ race and a fun ride. For those older at heart, there is a Kansas City Ale tasting, criterium races, and a gran fondo (a first for Kansas City). There will be a street festival and a “Tour de France” style finish line. Organizers have partnered with local government, the Kansas City Metro Bike Club, and the Longview Foundation. The Tour is truly a one of a kind event, so don’t miss it.
As for Missouri Bike and Pedestrian Federation, according to Brent Hugh, executive director of Mo Bike, it has been a busy and favorable year for biking and walking in the Missouri Legislature. Biking and walking will be incorporated in a statewide transportation funding proposal which will be put to voters on August 5 ,2014. Efforts to strip bicycling from the proposed Constitutional Amendment were soundly defeated. The $6 billion dollar funding package now includes bicycle friendly issues. This only highlights the great work done by MoBike in Jefferson City.
