It is important to us that everyone understands how we got to this point. So that we might better understand the process for the future.   

When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck, a decline in drivers commuting led to empty roads and cleaner air in many of our major cities around the world. Most in the cycling and pedestrian advocacy world saw this as an opportunity to show by example how things could be made better for pedestrians/cyclists and the community. Temporary street closures put in place allowed restaurants to bring tables onto streets to provide better social distancing. Park road closures and restricting of specific streets gave users, both big and small, more space to spread out while being outside. All of this was in demand as parks and other outdoor spaces gave refuge to everyone needing a break. 

Unfortunately, as fast as new opportunities to modify how these spaces were used came, they started to disappear. Less drivers also created open race tracks through our cities and neighborhoods. Pedestrian fatalities went through the roof while cities tried to control the problem.    

Listening to the Alermadic meetings has become a Friday tradition. Listening to understand how things work, who is working on what and opportunities might be in the pipeline. This assists St.Louis BWorks and students on different levels. In 2020, we noticed a terrifying trend as so many meetings went virtual. People in these meetings were driving down streets while interacting with others over video calls.    

Missouri is one of two states that has no real prohibition of these acts. Thanks to inaction by state legislators, you can pretty much do whatever you like on a mobile device while operating a vehicle and it’s perfectly legal although statistics show it’s more deadly than drunk driving. 

In 2009, Senator McKenna introduced a bill that would ban electronic device use and texting while driving for all drivers in Missouri. By the time it was passed, the bill only covered those 21 and younger operating a vehicle. The other thing this bill did was preempted legislation in this area — meaning that cities and counties can’t pass anything stricter than what the state has passed. So we wait, and wait and wait. EVERY YEAR SINCE, some version of a bill banning handheld phone use while driving has been introduced. Every year since it has been passed by for supposedly more important matters. More important than human lives. 

We started asking various local officials for help addressing video calls while driving. Could someone just mention at an Aldermanic meeting that this was dangerous? From peer to peer, a rule change, any discussion.    

Multiple individuals publicly came forward to denounce the practice as dangerous, but emails quickly turned into all the reasons nothing could happen. Some said we should wait for the state to change the laws, others said just wait for the in person meetings to restart and yet others said the Alderpeople as a whole would not agree to pass such a change in rules, it looks like they might be right. 

On February 18, almost 500 days after our initial requests to address this small issue, the rule change was sent to committee.  

At the end of the day, We believe that we can all agree that driving and using a phone  is dangerous. I hope that we can continue this discussion pertaining to road safety that can not be simply ignored at local or state level. We look forward to seeing this discussion at the committee level move quickly forward.   

Patrick Van Der Tuin 

Executive Director 

Thanks to a large private donation, St. Louis BWorks is fortunate to be able to hire a full-time Director of Programs.

We are pleased to announce long-time volunteer and past board member, Evie Hemphill has accepted the position and will start in late February. As a volunteer teaching one of our Saturday Earn-A-Bike classes for 11 years coupled with her oversight on the board, Evie knows the ins and outs of BWorks.

Our staff, volunteers, and students are excited for the opportunity to work with her more and look forward to growing the opportunities and programs we provide to the youth of St. Louis.

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https://www.bworks.org/wp-content/uploads/ADMIN-V2.pdf

Purpose: Plan and manage the day-to-day activities of BWorks’ education programs. Reports to Executive Director 

Projected hours: Average of 40 hours per week.

Pay rate: Flexible, depending on applicable experience with a range not to exceed $52,000 

Job Description 

This is a flexible position to support the needs of BWorks and its educational programs. While BWorks has made an effort to provide a general description of the duties and tasks of this position, the successful candidate must understand that this is not a comprehensive job description. Tasks and duties may be modified at any time. 

Metrics and Administrative Duties 

● Schedule both staff and volunteer lead classes.

● Recruit students for programs through communication with school and other groups. 

● Collect and analyze metrics from various silos of information including spreadsheets, databases, forms, and participating schools. 

● Work with Executive Director to organize metrics into an understandable format. 

● Manage volunteer background check process . 

● Coordination of program paperwork. 

● Manage participant wait lists and provide input for development of student registration software. 

Program Development and Reviews   

● Participate in and co-lead annual reviews of each program 

● Participate in and lead development of new or expanded programing offerings with other staff and volunteers.

● Participate in BOD Education Committee Meetings. 

Program Instruction

● Lead at least one class offsite per week  

Other possible duties  

● Assistance with as available 

Membership 

Events 

Qualifications 

Potential candidates must possess: 

● High school diploma or equivalent; 

● Excellent oral and written communication skills; 

● Enthusiastic passion to achieve the BWorks mission; 

● Flexibility to change direction quickly as required by the operational needs of the BWorks

environment; 

● Ability to work efficiently and independently with little supervision.

● Superior attention to detail and strong initiative. 

Preference will be given to candidates that also possess the following: 

● Bachelor’s degree in Education; 

● Strong comfort with editing spreadsheets and text documents; 

● Prior administrative and/or teaching experience; or 

● Experience or interest in youth education (ages 6 to 18). 

Application Process 

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter, resume, and 3 – 5 references to BWorks’ Executive Director, Patrick Van Der Tuin at Resume@BWorks.org 

Due to the volume of applicants, no phone calls please. Only applicants considered for interviews will be called. This position will remain open to applicants until filled.

https://www.bworks.org/wp-content/uploads/ADMIN-V2.pdf

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One evening in March 2020, like many other times, staff and volunteers of BWorks gathered to catch up and discuss the day. This time, instead of discussing classes, goals for the week, upcoming birthdays, vacations, who has a new child or grandchild, we talked about what shutting down in person classes would look like. I don’t know if I, personally, will ever forget that evening and handing out our stock of N95 masks.   

Since then, our small staff and dedicated volunteers have learned so many new things making it possible for BWorks to be able to continue to operate. These individuals have gone above and beyond what BWorks asked of them, all while wearing a mask.   

Recently, some pushback has come from retail customers about wearing masks while in our building. So, we’re once again citing our rules for all to follow:

1. All people are required to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth at all times while inside our building. 
2. All people are required to wear a mask at all times while outside our building, while working on Bworks projects and unable to keep 6 feet of distance, that covers the nose and mouth. 
3. All staff and volunteers have the authority to ask any customers who refuse to wear a mask to leave our building. No need to argue or ask for a manager. 

While you might be vaccinated against COVID, most of our kids are not. These are our students in programs and our own kids/grandkids etc.  

We are incredibly thankful that so many of you continue to follow these basic rules. 

Like everyone, we want to get back to not wearing a mask, but we won’t and can’t do this, until the spread of COVID is better managed. Please consider getting vaccinated and yes, please wear a mask. 

Patrick Van Der Tuin 

P.S. We also required people in our buildings to wear clothing — tops and bottoms — at all times.