St. Louis cyclists urge city to slow down traffic, make safety changes along Gravois
A push for safer streets reaches City Hall.
Editor’s note: This story was shot, edited and written May 16, 2025, the day deadly storms hit St. Louis. It did not air until May 25, 2025.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A group of cyclists rode to St. Louis City Hall to deliver a letter to City Hall, asking for safety improvements along Gravois Avenue.
“We know that Gravois is one of the most dangerous streets in St. Louis,” said Matt Wyczalkowski with the St. Louis Coalition to Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists (2). “We’re really calling on the city to do something about it.”
“I ride my bicycle every day to work and it’s an issue every day,” Wyczalkowski said. “I’ve had a number of close calls.”
The group ride was part of National Bike to Work Day. The group is requesting lower speed limits, protective barriers and regular maintenance of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure along Gravois and across the city.
Their letter also asks the city to work with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), which maintains Gravois Avenue.
The request follows a series of recent crashes. A was arrested and charged.
The danger, though, is nothing new.
According to a recent report from local nonprofit Trailnet, pedestrian fatalities in St. Louis increased 187% in 2024 from the previous year.
Mayor Cara Spencer, who rode with the cyclists and met them outside City Hall, said she appreciated the group’s approach.
“They came with not only complaints but solutions,” Spencer said. “And that’s the kind of advocacy that’s helpful.”
“We’re going to take them seriously and look at what we can do to the suggestions,” Spencer said.
Spencer also noted that the city’s ability to make changes is limited since Gravois is a state-owned road.
“Gravois is one of the roads in our city that is owned and maintained by the state of Missouri,” she said. “So there’s a little complication there, but we’ll see what we can do.”
Wyczalkowski said he remains encouraged.
“I’m really hopeful since we have a mayor that rides her bike and knows these issues,” he said.
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