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The Kansas City cycling revolution

Kansas City was named America's worst city for cyclists in 2008. Has it improved?

When the 麻豆社鈥檚 Richard Hollingham and his producer, Will Grant, arrived with their bikes in Kansas City, Missouri in 2008, it had just been named as the worst city for cyclists in the country. The resulting radio show became a 鈥渨ake-up call鈥 that has since inspired new cycling groups and millions of dollars of investment in cycling and walking initiatives.

Now the 麻豆社 team is back to see what鈥檚 improved and what other communities around the world can learn from the city鈥檚 experiences. In their travels, Richard and Will join a group cycle, meet volunteers fixing bikes and find out about putting roads on "diets". The team also join a school cycling initiative in a deprived area of the city and learn how bicycles are giving students skills and mobility.

Kansas City has focused on easy to achieve, low-cost solutions that give quick results, but cars remain dominant. Can the city now get even more people on their bikes?

Presenters: Richard Hollingham and Will Grant
Additional production: Anne McNaught

A Boffin Media production for the 麻豆社 World Service

Image: A group bike ride in the early evening in Kansas City (Credit: Richard Hollingham)

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23 minutes

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Mon 24 Aug 2026 02:06GMT

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