January - April:
The idea of connecting Columbia's existing trails and sidewalks into a safe and attractive bicycle, wheelchair, and pedestrian network is promoted informally by PedNet founders Chip Cooper, Terry Skinner, Mike Snyder, and Ian Thomas. Everyone thinks this is a good idea.
April 22 (Earth Day):
The PedNet Coalition is formed with support from the Columbia Disabilities Commission and the Columbia Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. The PedNet web site is launched, featuring an online sign-up form for people who support PedNet's vision and the first draft of the PedNet Masterplan and Map. The map is displayed to the public at Earth Day 2000 in downtown Columbia. More than 200 new members, including several City and State legislators, join PedNet.
June 3:
The PedNet Coalition co-sponsors its first public event - an evening walk along the MKT Trail to celebrate National Trails Day. The MKT Trail is officially recognized by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as a Community Millennium Trail.
June 22:
Following four successful public presentations at Columbia's Thursday evening Downtown Twilight Festivals, membership of the PedNet Coalition passes one thousand exactly two months after its creation.
July - September:
The evolving PedNet Map and Masterplan are featured in numerous local newspaper and local radio stories and interviews. More than forty Columbia businesses, citizens' and professional groups, and non-profit organizations join the PedNet Coalition.
October 15:
Hundreds of new and existing PedNet Coalition members attend PedNet's Alternative Transportation Fair to learn about (and, in some cases, try out) hybrid fuel and solar-powered cars, various designs of bikes, trikes, scooters, and even boots with built-in flip-down roller skates.
November 7:
Citizens of Columbia approve the purchase of the Stephens Lake property by the City for development into a park, and the establishment of a permanent one-eighth cent "parks tax" to build and maintain city parks and trails. Stephens Lake Park will create a scenic corridor for PedNet routes connecting Downtown with North-east Columbia, and the new tax will accelerate the construction of new nature trails around town.
December 14:
The Columbia Area Transportation Study Organization (CATSO) Coordinating Committee includes the PedNet masterplan in their proposed long range transportation plan for the Columbia metropolitan area. CATSO is the federally-mandated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that coordinates long-range transportation planning for the Columbia metro area. It's members include federal, state, county and city officials. At a public hearing, numerous local residents, including Southern Boone County Commissioner Karen Miller and Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, make strong statements in support of the PedNet plan and no-one speaks against it.
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