St. Louis is the largest city/metropolitan area without a bike share program. But if the city as a whole can’t figure its shit out, maybe a few of its suburbs can. If you scoffed at that last sentence, I understand. Bike-share programs are expensive and to think Kirkwood and Webster could afford to fully fund a system legitimate enough that it would actually benefit their communities in a substantial way is laughable at first glance. It is this very idea, however, that it would be “too hard” or “too expensive”, or that the desire amongst citizens to bike isn’t there in the first place that has led to our region balking at the very same idea while others, many much smaller than the 314, have found a way.
So how then? Pubic-private partnership. Again, I understand that “public-private partnership” is an easy catchphrase to throw out there and a lot harder to execute. But with that being said, I believe the institutions in these two communities exist to pull it off. The way this partnership would work would essentially be for individual businesses or organizations to fund stations located where they are under the premise that it will make them more accessible to potential customers, more attractive to employees and finally garner goodwill amongst the community/serve as convincing marketing. I also suppose that it would work as a pretty solid tax write-off. On the public-side of things, both Kirkwood and Webster, (as well as potentially, to a lesser extent, Glendale and/or Oakland) would need to maintain their own stations at public spaces (libraries, parks, public schools, farmers markets, transit centers).
The maps presented above and below show current levels of bike traffic on the roads of Kirkwood and Webster. With these in mind, I have plotted some potential locations for stations from which you could checkout and park bikes. In plotting these potential locations, several criteria were considered amongst which were: need, density, accessibility, bike infrastructure/current bike traffic, efficiency and potential sources of private partnerships (what business can afford to fund or partially fund a station). The Kirkwood locations shown above includes:
Meramec Community College— although their budget is strained as is, and thus their ability to fund a station on campus optimistic at best, the only long term solution for financial solvency is by attracting more students in the first place, a likely side effect of bike share station. Meramec’s continuing education classes also would offer a great destinations for younger seniors living at Aberdeen Heights later on the list.
The Magic House— The Magic House has the money, plus maybe if they were home to a bike share station they wouldn’t need so much damn parking.
Kirkwood Farmers Market— Many a summer nights for kids not yet old enough to drive involve outings to Tropical Moose. This initial step towards independence is one that goes hand in hand with, and is aided by, the independence that bikes offer to not only young teenagers, but also their parents.
Aberdeen Heights— Aberdeen has not only the money but also the riders. Many younger residents not only strongly desire to remain connected to the surrounding community but also to stay active while doing so.
Kirkwood Train Station— In addition to providing access to Amtrak and eliminating the need for train riders to keep their car parked at the station over the course of their trip (supposedly Kirkwood has a parking problem) a bike share location would also potentially have financial support from surrounding businesses Billy G’s and Strange Donuts. A station at this location (or across the street in Ken Connor Park, shoutout @Kirkwood_Traditionalist) would also provide a unique opportunity to explore the surrounding community for out-of-towners looking to make a quaint day trip.
Kirkwood City Hall/Station Plaza— Really the perfect location, access to the civic process, restaurants, businesses, concerts and soon to be even more residences with the addition of The Madison to the current stock of Station Plaza apartments. A lot of people living in a very small location typically makes for high use.
Kirkwood Ice Rink/Park
St. Peter’s School— “DTK” on Fridays would’ve been pretty sick with free bikes (I guess kids can take them to school too..)
Webster Groves
I admittedly am not nearly as familiar with Webster and am sure their are better locations but the ones shown above include:
Mary Queen of Peace/Westborough CC/Algonquin CC— This station, located at MQP right between Algonquin and Westborough would ideally receive capital support from both as well serve as an important link between the Kirkwood-centric locations and the Webster-centric ones.
Webster University— Webster U is a legit college but I’m not sure how many high schoolers share that view. (Unless they’re really good at Chess in which case this place is U of Alabama.) You know what a lot of legit colleges have? Bike share programs. Just saying. It’s also fairly close to Webster Groves High School which is convenient.
Old Orchard: Gazebo Park— This location, in addition to a potential Webster U location would also provide access to Nerinx Hall.
Old Webster
Crossroads Business District
Eden Theological Seminary— It has dorms, which people live in but wish they didn’t. If you’re stuck in a dorm without a car a bike station might offer a whole new kind of salvation for young theologians. I”m not sure if they have the dough or not but if they do, I’m all aboard.
Webster Groves Rec Center— Skating at public sessions, more efficient workouts by warming up on your way to the gym, access to the pool in the Summer, football games during the Fall and a new way fro students to get to school, what’s not to love? Well the price tag I guess… but besides that!
Blackburn Park— In addition to being a fairly popular park this location also provides walking distance access to a lot of very dense surrounding neigborhoods
Laclede Groves Senior Living— See Aberdeen Heights
Obviously having this many stations is completely unrealistic but the case could be made for each one of them being the best four or five initially established with other locations added in the future.
Although I think I’ve laid out a pretty convincing argument for the implementation of a bike share system, there are a few disclaimers and qualifications I would like to offer. The first of these is that in order for bike share to be successful Kirkwood and Webster need to become more bike friendly communities than they currently are. More bike lanes (protected or otherwise), more racks, more signage, slower traffic, etc. If biking is still a hassle and/or dangerous bike sharing doesn’t stand a chance. (As an aside, I’m also in favor of getting rid of the required helmet law. First of all, whether you believe in them or not, helmets are inherently a hassle with regards to owning one in the first place, carrying one around once a rider gets to their destination or even that it means, to some people, messing up their hair. The fewer hassles the more users, the more users the fewer cars on the road, the fewer cars the safer for cyclists. Secondly from an economics perspective, the higher perceived danger for injury to a cyclist or the higher perceived risk of negative consequences to hitting a cyclist for a person driving a car, the fewer risks each of those parties take. No helmets essentially increases the price of accidents meaning that both drivers and riders “buy” fewer of them.
Secondly, we need to realize what this is and what this is not. For the former, namely a benefit and service to and for the community, for the latter, a cash positive or neutral operation. Marketing maintenance and an accessible price point are necessary for a successful program and as such successful programs are typically not money making ventures.
Finally, I want to note that I understand that this is a long shot. At the same time however, two things are going for us. First of all, other communities of our size have already done it including Suwanee Georgia with a population of a little over 15,000 and Norristown Pennsylvania with a population of 34,000. For comparison the population of Kirkwood is approximately 27,540. The other factor is that my hope for the KirkWeb isn’t that it is the end game but rather the catalyst for a broader change for the region. When St. Louis eventually, finally, joins the other 121 current bike sharing programs in the United States it will have to put its first station somewhere. Why not us?