What Trailnet does

Trailnet is a St. Louis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1988, focused on active transportation — walking, bicycling, and public transit — across the St. Louis region and statewide Missouri. It serves four primary customer groups: (1) government agencies and municipalities that contract it for bicycle and pedestrian master planning, traffic calming plans, and community engagement; (2) individual members and donors (1,700+); (3) corporate partners through tiered business memberships; and (4) community-based organizations in Promise Zones where it provides technical assistance. Its portfolio of programs spans Policy & Advocacy (Complete Streets For All, the St. Louis Safer Streets Bill BB#120, Drive the Change), Planning Services (30+ master plans in 35+ regional communities, Traffic Calming Library, Connecting St. Louis), Education (bike rodeos, Safe Routes to School, Walk/Bike Ambassadors), and Events (Trailnet Classics signature rides, Community Rides, Bike Month, Give Back Rides).

The organization has no proprietary technology platform — its infrastructure relies on standard digital tools including a WordPress-based website (trailnet.org) and the RunSignUp platform for ride registration and volunteer sign-ups. Its primary "intellectual property" consists of annual State of Our Streets crash/safety reports, planning deliverables, and proprietary convening positions.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring individual memberships and donations, tiered corporate/business memberships ($500–$1,200/year across Partner, Impact, and Premium tiers), ride registration transaction fees ($10–$40 per rider, with youth pricing), and paid planning/technical assistance services to municipalities and special business districts. The organization earns Charity Navigator 4-Star and Guide Star Gold ratings, indicating recognized financial accountability and transparency. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; key corporate sponsors include General Motors (Drive the Change campaign sponsor), Stifel, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Name

Trailnet

Legal name

Trailnet Inc.

Website

https://trailnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trailnet is a St. Louis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that advocates for walking, biking, and transit through policy work, community planning services, education programs, and organized cycling events, serving government agencies, municipalities, 1,700+ individual members, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Memberships: Trailnet generates revenue through individual donations and membership fees. Membership starts at $500/year for business members and includes benefits like ride discounts, free vouchers, and recognition. Individual memberships also available.
2. Corporate Giving and Business Memberships: Corporate sponsorships and business memberships at three tiers: Partner ($500/year), Impact ($750/year), and Premium ($1,200/year). Includes benefits like ride registrations, t-shirts, social media recognition, and consultations.
3. Ride Registration Fees: Revenue from Trailnet Classic rides ranging from $10-$40 for events like I Scream for Ice Cream, Peach Pedal, Giro Della Lou, and Ride the Rivers. Youth pricing available for riders under 18.
4. Planning and Technical Assistance Services: Trailnet offers paid technical assistance services to government agencies, municipalities, special business districts, and non-profits for community engagement, pop-up demonstrations, and mobility/traffic calming plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trailnet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for safer walking, biking, and transit infrastructure in the St. Louis region. It delivers paid planning and technical assistance to government agencies and municipalities for bicycle and pedestrian master plans, organizes community rides and events, teaches practical biking and walking skills through education programs, and runs advocacy campaigns such as Complete Streets For All and the annual State of Our Streets reports.

Product overview

Trailnet is a nonprofit organization (501c3) focused on advocacy, planning, education, and community rides to promote walking, biking, and public transit in the St. Louis region. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: Trailnet Classics and Community Rides provide organized cycling events that foster community engagement; Planning Services help communities develop bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure plans; Education Programs teach practical skills to youth and adults; and Policy & Advocacy campaigns drive systemic change through initiatives like Complete Streets For All, Connecting St. Louis, and State of Our Streets Reports. Key publications like the annual State of Our Streets report inform advocacy efforts, while resources like the Traffic Calming Library and programs like Safe Routes to School and Walk/Bike Ambassadors support community capacity building. Together, these services work toward Trailnet's mission of creating healthy, active communities where active transportation is a way of life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trailnet Classics Signature multi-distance supported bike rides for riders of all comfort levels, including events like Peach Pedal, Giro Della Lou, Ride The Rivers, and I Scream for Ice Cream. Riders register and pay per event.
• Trailnet Community Rides Guided, slow-paced group bike rides that explore the history and culture of the St. Louis community, offered free or at low cost.
• Planning Services Paid technical planning assistance helping communities create bicycle and pedestrian master plans, pop-up demonstrations, traffic calming plans, and mobility planning. Services are delivered to government agencies, municipalities, special business districts, and non-profits.
• Education Programs Programs teaching practical biking and walking skills to adults and youth, including bike maintenance classes, bike safety rodeos, youth education, and trainings for policymakers on complete streets.
• Safe Routes to School Program creating school action plans to improve the built environment so children can safely bike or walk to school, including encouragement events and bike clinics.
• Traffic Calming Library Lending library of traffic calming demonstration materials available to nonprofits and neighborhood organizations to model potential traffic calming measures in their communities.
• State of Our Streets Reports Annual reports analyzing traffic crashes in the St. Louis region, tracking high-crash corridors and providing recommendations for local leaders to reduce crashes.
• Bike Month Month-long celebration in May of National Bike Month with partners throughout St. Louis, featuring Bike to Work Day and community events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated enforcement can reduce fatal or incapacitating injuries by 39 percent on roadways

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Great Rivers GreenwaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20262026 Season Ride Partner. Great Rivers Greenway leads the Brickline Greenway public-private partnership including 10 miles of greenways in St. Louis. Trailnet works with them on connecting projects like the Tower Grove Connector and Brickline Greenway segments.
• 4theVillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner4theVille is a community partner for the Juneteenth Community Ride, which celebrates St. Louis' Black artists, musicians, and history with a bike ride featuring live music. The partnership exemplifies Trailnet's community-building approach.
• Missouri Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Juneteenth Community Ride supporting the celebration of Black history and culture in St. Louis through community cycling events.
• Regional Arts CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Juneteenth Community Ride, bringing arts and cultural programming to community bike rides.
• Great Rivers GreenwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Brickline Greenway projects including North Grand and St. Louis Avenue segments, and connections to Tower Grove Park and Cortex Innovation district.
• People for BikesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization focused on improving bicycling. Listed among Trailnet's generous supporters and partners for Connecting St. Louis.
• Alta Planning & DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Trailnet on the St. Louis County Action Plan for Walking and Biking (SLCAP) starting in 2019.
• Jefferson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Hillsboro, MO Safe Routes to School project around school campuses, specifically the Business 21 and Leon Hall Parkway intersection.
• Integrated Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Promise Zone Community Planning to provide technical assistance to community-based groups for physical activity improvements.
• Empowered and Thriving CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Promise Zone Community Planning initiative providing technical assistance for physical activity improvements.
• MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Road Safety Audit of Route 100 in City of St. Louis in 2024. Trailnet advocates for state-level active transportation improvements.
• Missouri Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrailnet serves on local and state government committees including Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to represent interests of people who walk, bike and take public transit.
• East West Gateway Council of GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning body that administers federal funding programs like CMAQ. Trailnet has worked with them on federal funding applications for bike infrastructure projects.
• St. Louis Economic Development PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among Trailnet's generous supporters for Connecting St. Louis and regional active transportation advocacy.
• Washington University St. LouisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among Trailnet's generous supporters and partners for Connecting St. Louis and advocacy work.
• Missouri State ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrailnet helped advance the Rock Island Trail by facilitating fundraising and feasibility process for Interim Trail Use Agreement.
• Missourians for Responsible TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide advocacy coalition founded by Trailnet along with BikeWalkKC, PedNet from Columbia, and Ozark Greenways in Springfield to push for statewide active transportation reforms.
• Social Policy and Electoral Accountability Collaborative (SPEAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrailnet partnered with SPEAC to respond to Ferguson Commission Report's call for advancing racial equity and policy collaboration, including hosting mayoral and County Executive forums.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Complete Streets Coalition: Smart Growth America's national coalition advancing Complete Streets policies. Direct overlap with Trailnet's Complete Streets For All advocacy campaign and Safe Streets work.
• PeopleForBikes: National bicycle advocacy and industry organization. Broad incumbent operating at federal/national scale on bicycling policy and infrastructure funding; listed as a Trailnet partner and supporter, with overlapping advocacy mission.
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on converting rail corridors into multi-use trails. Broad incumbent with comparable trail-advocacy heritage and federal policy engagement; matches Trailnet's original founding vision.
• League of American Bicyclists: National bicycling advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Broad incumbent with federal-level policy focus and Bicycle Friendly Community designation program; comparable to Trailnet's role at a regional scale.

Direct peers

• BikeWalkKC: Kansas City-based nonprofit advocacy organization focused on active transportation, walking, and biking. Direct peer with identical mission scope and revenue model (memberships, rides, planning), and a fellow co-founder of Missourians for Responsible Transportation.
• Great Rivers Greenway: St. Louis regional greenway district created with Trailnet's advocacy support. Direct peer and 2026 Season Ride Partner that operates the Brickline Greenway public-private partnership, with overlapping active transportation mission.
• Alta Planning & Design: National active transportation planning and design firm. Direct peer in the bicycle/pedestrian master planning services that Trailnet provides; partnered with Trailnet on the St. Louis County Action Plan for Walking and Biking.
• Ozark Greenways: Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit focused on trails, greenways, and active transportation. Direct peer and coalition partner in Missourians for Responsible Transportation, sharing Trailnet's trails-to-policy evolution.
• PedNet: Columbia, Missouri-based nonprofit advocating for pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure and education. Direct peer in the Missourians for Responsible Transportation coalition with the same advocacy-plus-programming service mix as Trailnet.

Regional players

• Walk Bike Nashville: Nashville-based regional nonprofit advocating for walkable, bikeable streets. Closely comparable regional peer with similar advocacy, planning, education, and community rides portfolio in a different metro market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Trailnet
• Facebookfacebook.com/Trailnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trailnet