The Kansas City cycling revolution
The Documentary Podcast

The Kansas City cycling revolution

Aug 19, 2026
31:07
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About this episode

When the BBC’s 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 “wake-up call” that has since inspired new cycling groups and millions of dollars of investment in cycling and walking initiatives. Now the BBC team is back to see what’s improved and what other communities around the world can learn from the city’s 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?

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Episode Details

Author
BBC World Service
Show Type
full
Audio Format
audio/mpeg

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