The Gravois

Gravois at Jefferson, looking northeast, in its previous six-lane configuration.

Note: This goofy poem tells the story of a very cool grassroots effort called the Greater Gravois Initiative, which advocated successfully to make Gravois road a better place for people. I highly recommend you read more on the effort here.

The Gravois

On the South side of town

And curving toward West

Is a long winding thoroughfare that seldom does rest

A rumbling road that the neighbors detest.

It’s the street called the Mighty Gravois.

Now come a bit closer and sit at my knee boy

I’ll tell you the tale and I’ll make it quite quick

Of a momentous feat that few would predict

I’ll tell you the taming of the Mighty Gravois.

An asphalt behemoth, a bustling beast

Funneling cars to the North the South West and East

Like a concrete river

It carved a curved path

Through historic neighborhoods it cuts a wide swath.

And they cars they did love it

It’s not hard to see why

The street was built for their comfort

It was built six lanes wide!

So the semi-trucks trucked and the convertibles cruised

And speed limit signs were ignored and abused

Where they were going well that we don’t know

We just know they were going and they’d go go go go!

The crosswalks were few and appeared only rarely

And to try to use them could prove quite scary

Among bicyclists only the most intrepid breed

Would hazard the cars and their harrowing speed.

But one day a question came from the grassroots

From walkers who walk and scooters that scoot

From small businesses too quickly passed by

From neighborhoods split by the Gravois divide  

From parents with strollers and bussers who bus

 “Well why can’t this road be also for us?!?!”

Small businesses along Gravois. Pedestrian-oriented commercial buildings can struggle along high-speed roads. 

And so began efforts to create a new plan

Of crosswalks and bike lanes and places to stand

And lanes for the cars of course they’re still there

With restrictions in place that they’ll just have to bear.

Unused to this challenge oh MODOT did wail

“We’ve been trained to use hammers why can’t we just nail?”

But this broad coalition continued their stand

And re-explained concepts like induced demand.

And against all odds a new road appeared

And showed that MODOT overcame their old fears

A road on which people can walk, bike, and survive

Restricted from six lanes, it now counts just five!

Grumps predicted confusion and traffic kerfuffles

And cars moving along at barely a shuffle

But to their surprise if not their delight

Even at rush hour the cars are alright.

Sure, it could be better I have to admit

The bike lanes often just suddenly quit

Car speeds are still reckless especially at night

But the improvement is major not merely just slight.

So heed my words now that I’ve told you this story

The champions for change have sure earned their glory

It’s cause for celebration but there’s no time for rest

We’ve tamed the Mighty Gravois now which road is next? 

Gravois at Jefferson, looking northeast, in its new configuration. A lane of traffic was removed in each direction, and replaced with bike lanes and a center turn lane. The road now also has several "zebra crosswalks" that increase pedestrian visibility.