US, Bike Share in Kansas City Sets for Major Spring Expansion, Receives Sponsorship from Kauffman Foundation, Jackson County, and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Kansas City B-cycle hopes to double in size, reach new neighborhoods; launches crowdfunding campaign to raise grant matching funds and to fund larger expansion. 

Kansas City, MO  February 06, 2014

The city’s two-season-old public bike system is gearing up for a major expansion in spring 2014. Kansas City B-cycle, Powered by Blue KC, will add at least nine new stations in the Plaza and Westport districts, and hopes to add more in surrounding neighborhoods, bringing the benefits of bike share to new areas of the city. B-cycle is turning to local business and institutions, as well as the public, to help it reach its goal as its 2014 season opens. They have already received sponsorship from the Kauffman Foundation, Jackson County and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.

“Kansas City B-cycle is ready to grow, and we want its expansion to be truly supported by Kansas Citians,” says Eric Rogers, executive director of BikeWalkKC, the local bicycle & pedestrian advocacy group that operates B-cycle. “We are a locally-grown organization, and we need the help of local institutions to make this expansion a success.”

The bike share system -- which currently consists of 12 self-service stations in River Market, Downtown, and Crossroads -- will add at least eight new stations in the Plaza and Westport as its 2014 season opens in March. The stations will generally be sited along 47th St. and Westport Rd.

B-cycle says density and existing bike-friendliness makes these districts a good fit for bike share. It is also pursuing a further six locations in Midtown, Brookside, Waldo, and the 18th and Vine district.
“Bike share is a huge and growing asset to each city where it’s found – and with B-cycle, Kansas City sets itself apart as a city worth investment,” Rogers says.

B-cycle says expansion will bring the benefits of bike share with it. In its first two years of operation, the system proved an effective tool for increasing health and reducing environmental impact among its users -- across 9,600 trips, users burned 1.1 million calories and saved 27,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Leaders in other cities with bike share system have touted the transportation alternative’s affordability to users and ability to attract new residents.

“The pattern is clear -- expanding into new neighborhoods will benefit residents, visitors, and the wider city alike,” says Rogers. “That’s why we’re excited to be moving into two of our best and busiest districts.”

B-cycle also touts the low pricetag of its expansion. An individual bike share station with 11 bike docks costs $50,000. This pales in comparison to the cost of one mile of urban freeway which runs from $19.6 million to $78 million for a four lane mile.

Kansas City B-cycle’s campaign ends March 1. More information on the B-cycle’s expansion can be found at http://www.bikesharekc.com.

About Kansas City B-cycle

Kansas City B-cycle, powered by Blue KC, is a bike share program with 12 stations across greater Downtown Kansas City that seeks to be a major part of the region’s expanding public transportation network as a fun and convenient alternative. An affiliate of BikeWalkKC, B-cycle is making Kansas City a healthier, more livable, and economically competitive place to live, work and play. Learn more at http://KansasCity.Bcycle.com.

About BikeWalkKC

BikeWalkKC is the unified voice for active living, promoting a healthy, safe and accessible outdoor experience for all in a vibrant, engaged community. BikeWalkKC is a member-supported organization that works to make Greater Kansas City a safer and more accessible place to walk, bicycle, live, work, and play. The advocacy programs work with local cities to improve policies and build sidewalks, trails, crosswalks, bike lanes, and more. BikeWalkKC's education programs give people the knowledge and skills to walk and to bicycle safely and confidently for transportation, recreation, and fitness.

Learn more at http://www.BikeWalkKC.org.

By press release