Are Kansas City Bike Lane Activists Elitist???

Sorry, one last thing about Kansas City bike lanes this weekend . . . This time around it's actually pretty hopeful.

More than anything, a recent conversation about the direction of local streets taught us that working-class white people & Black people have more in common than the cadre of urban planner activists skulking around local government and garnering sketchy public/private paychecks.

Like it or not . . . And something that NOBODY else is going to mention. 

The real Kansas City dividing line at a local bike lane meeting was probably college grads from the lower ivies vs. laborers and small biz owners. 

Sadly, unwilling to learn from their branding mistakes . . . A local streetcar activist & public/private exec continued to blast opponents of bike lanes and deride their perspectives rather than seek to understand their worldview. 

Take a peek . . .

 

For the record . . .

Staubio was equally dismissive against critics of the streetcar right before he lost the last citywide toy train vote and they started advancing the streetcar by way of sketchy mail-in ballot or no vote at all. 

And so, from our vantage . . .

Yes, advocates of Kansas City bike supremacy are, in fact, elitist and haven't prioritized garnering support from residents and stakeholders. It seems that it's far too easy to berate people by way of social media. 

Again . . . 

What was comforting is that 3rd District council lady Melissa Robinson and even Public Works Director Michael Shaw were willing to listen to their constituents from across demographic lines and attempt to craft a solution. 

A classic Internets meme that all of this brought to mind . . .

Forgive us getting too carried away but when we talk about leadership I always like this quote that's probably incorrectly attributed to Gandhi: 

"There goes my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader."

Again, what we're seeing from (many but not all) amateur urban planners, transit activists and adherents to the myth of bike supremacy is an unwillingness to listen to urban communities about their priorities.

Instead, the focus is on hype, propaganda and . . .

SKETCHY CONSULTING CONTRACTS WITH FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES. 

That's a part of this that we called out YEARS AGO and something that nobody really wants to consider.

The reality is that the "GREEN" at the heart of this local movement doesn't really have a lot to do with saving the planet.    

But I digress . . .    

As we're about to find out in the upcoming election cycle . . .

There is a crisis of real leadership in Kansas City.

Kansas City's elite caste rejecting any real challenge of Mayor Q is merely one symptom of a worsening disease. 

Still, there is hope. 

This week Kansas City workers & small biz from DIVERSE backgrounds united against a dangerous roadblock that threatened both business and travelers. Sure, arguing over street signs might not be earth shattering but it's a big part of local democracy and might provide a path forward.

Take a look via www.TonysKansasCity.com . . .

Developing . . .