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St. Charles County, MO Bike Ban Bill (UPDATED)
First Black Hawk, Colorado, now St. Charles County, Missouri.
St. Charles County Council Member Joe Brazil will be introducing a bill (bill no. 3620) in an attempt to ban bicycles from 5 state owned highways at tonight’s County Council meeting. If you live in Charles County, please attend tonight’s meeting at 7:00pm at the County Council Executive Building.
The Missouri Bicyle and Pedestrian Federation recommends the following to those attending:
* If you live, work, or own a business in St Charles County, say so.
* Strongly oppose the bicycle ban.
* The ban on bicycles is the absolutely wrong way to go about solving what is a very serious problem.
* Before taking such a drastic and controversial action, the council needs to carefully study the issue and meet with affected groups.
* No other county in Missouri, or in the U.S. for that matter, has enacted such a sweeping ban of bicyclists on the main and only connecting highways.
* Area bicycle organizations would like the chance to meet with county officials, MoDOT officials, concerned citizens groups, and others, and work out a solution that will actually solve the problem rather than simply scapegoating bicyclists.
* More study is needed–do they even know if **any** collisions on these roads are caused by bicyclists? Have they studied causes of collisions on these roads? If not, they need to stop and do so before taking drastic action.
For St. Charles County residents unable to attend the meeting, you can email your County Council member at our Advocacy Center.
See this newscast on the ban:
UPDATE:
Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Melissa Anderson says that the roads in the proposed ban fall under the jurisdiction of Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and that “MoDOT has no intention of prohibiting cyclists from state roads. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers according to the law. It is important that there is mutual respect and consideration between cyclists and motorists. Cyclists must obey the laws and motorists need to respect a cyclist’s right to use the road and not intentionally cause them harm. Local law enforcement may be able to assist with both of these issues.”
Missouri State law says:
226.130. 1. The commission shall: (1) Have supervision of highways and bridges which are constructed, improved and maintained in whole or in part by the aid of state moneys, and of highways constructed in whole or in part by the aid of moneys appropriated by the United States government, so far as such supervision is consistent with the acts of Congress relating thereto;
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July 12th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
[...] * League of American Bicyclists: St. Charles County, MO Bike Ban Bill . [...]
July 13th, 2010 at 9:00 am
What is LAB doing here in St’ Charles County to visibly lead the fight for the rights of cyclists to legally use the roads? What is LAB doing in FLorida to lead the fight to regain cyclists legal right to use the roads? What is LAB doing to effect needed changesin the numerous municipalities with “Bike Friendly Community” status that have passed restrictions on cyclists use of roads, and/or have built very dangerous bicycle “facilities” that have caused injury or death of cyclists?
The LAB Board of Directors needs to respond to these questions. LAB members have been told that LAB is “fighting for your rights as cyclists”. Our rights TO DO WHAT?! We deserve an explanation!
July 13th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Richard,
The League does take these threats seriously and actively fights them.
As stated in the post, we’re working with advocates on the ground in the area to address the situation. St. Charles residents can take action in our Advocacy Center here: http://capwiz.com/lab/issues/alert/?alertid=15236966
Along with our partners at the Florida Bicycle Association we opposed HB971 requiring mandatory use of bike lanes when present. We reached out to Governor Crist, Florida DOT and members and cyclists throughout Florida through our Advocacy Center http://capwiz.com/lab/issues/alert/?alertid=14999976
July 13th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Mr. Froh, for one thing, this is the LAB site and this is where I found out about the St. Charles County situation. This is exactly the sort of instant-turnaround clearinghouse we need so that the national membership is energized and focussed on these issues and brings their opinions to bear on the League Board. This is also one more reason to have cycling-saavy lawyers on LAB retainer in all fifty states.
Would the local jurisdiction even have the authority to issue a ban on a state highway and trump 226.130.1? Should be easy to read the law and find out and that’s a consideration because many states do not prevent localities from enacting their own overly restrictive statutes (i.e., BlackHawk, CO).
We need to introduce legislation in all fifty states to ensure uniform traffic code considerations, and introduce a Federal rule preventing federal funds from being used to support any project (construction or maintenance) where bicyclists are banned or restricted unfairly.
Imagine if every time you passed a county boundary in your car you had to check to see if there were different rules. This is absurd and generally does not happen, albeit the new cell phone laws are occurring at both the state and local level. But these restrict the misuse of a vehicle, not the lawful use of same.
As far as LAB, what we need is for the deeper pockets we work with (i.e., the bike industry and BikesBelong) to take these threats very seriously and help with the legal fees and other expenses it takes to fight these battles through lawyers and PR campaigns. LAB cannot do it alone, especially on all fronts. The industry needs to realize that all the special projects in the world won’t do us (or the bike industry) a whole lot of good if we are run off the road at the whim of a county councilor.
Finally, we all need to be positive role models out there. Speaking as a transportation policy advisor in my county, the best way to get anti-cycling legislation introduced is often to have local cyclists behaving as boneheads. Ride smart out there. Believe me, people notice.
Khal Spencer
Chair, Los Alamos County Transportation Board and LCI 1173
July 13th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
A basic and necessary first step: “We need to introduce legislation in all fifty states to ensure uniform traffic code considerations, and introduce a Federal rule preventing federal funds from being used to support any project (construction or maintenance) where bicyclists are banned or restricted unfairly.”
July 17th, 2010 at 3:38 am
I understand that you may excercise your right to bicycle. I even have my own bike, and live in St. Charles County. However, when you have a group of 20-30 bikes on a State Highway, such as 94 which is a 2 lane highway, and they take up 1 of the lanes, it is a traffic hazard. Yes, they have as much right as those driving motor vehicles, however, when the bicyclists control the flow of traffic….it becomes a problem.
Check out Missouri State Statues (RSMO 307.190, 307.192) It happens all the time on 94. The State of Missouri has a road for bikes, and im sure you’ve heard of it…it’s called the Katy Trail…and the State has spent millions improving it and continues to do so. So…use it. I don’t see a lot of people doing so.
July 17th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
State Taxpayer:
Ticket those cyclists if they are obstructing traffic.
Just like anyone else.
You suggest one “road” in Missouri for riding bicycles?
Are you huffing paint?
July 18th, 2010 at 4:44 am
I’m not a law enforcement officer, so I can’t write tickets. No, im not huffing paint. The only reason I refered to it as a “road” was it is simply that…a gravel “road”.
There is more than 1 bike trail in Missouri, i’m speaking about St. Charles County. I was using the Katy Trail as an example of State funding that is seeming like a waste due to it not being used by those who are riding on the roads instead of riding on something that is maintained and availible for the sole purpose of biking.
July 18th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Yes, there are times when cyclists hurt their own cause by unnecessarily blocking motorists. My town has its weekly “power struggle” with large groups of weekend road cyclists clogging narrow roads, and it could be avoided.
Can we please ticket all cars with only one occupant in a 6-passenger car (what selfish PIGS!)during rush hour, because they clog our roads and slow down tax-paying cyclists? Why not? They are unnecessarily hogging the road, and they should be more considerate! And those underutilized school busses – moms are driving their obese kids to school while school busses are nearly empty, but we all have to deal with traffic delays from both types of vehicles!
The price of promoting incompetent cycling and under-educating our motorists and under-enforcing our traffic laws is high indeed! Compare us with England, where the driver’s test is 100 questions and the road test takes over an hour (you fail if you can’t parallel park!).
In the USA, we promote incompetent driving and cycling, and we reap what we sow! Segregated bicycle “facilities” won’t create the change we need. Let’s identify the real problem and work toward the real solution. It has nothing to do with Copenhagen, and everything to do with education and enforcemet.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I understand that you may excercise your right to drive. I even have my own car. However, when you have a group of 20-30 cars on a State Highway, such as 94 which is a 2 lane highway, and they take up 1 of the lanes, it is a traffic hazard. Yes, they have as much right as those driving bicycles, however, when the cars control the flow of traffic….it becomes a problem.
The State of Missouri has a road for motorists, and I’m sure you’ve heard of it…it’s called Interstate 70…and the government has spent millions improving it and continues to do so. So…use it.
There is more than freeway in Missouri. I was using Interstate 70 as an example of government funding that is seeming like a waste due to it not being used by those who are driving on the roads instead of driving on something that is maintained and availible for the sole purpose of motoring.
July 19th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
My previous comment is a parody, of course. The point is that out of the entire transportation network, there are a handful of freeways for motorists only, and a handful of trails for non-motorists only.
But the vast majority of ordinary roads are for use by everybody because the vast majority of destinations are served by ordinary roads. Every person traveling on those roads is “traffic” regardless of whether they have a motor or not.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
If you build it they will come. Not true Joe. It matters not how many lousy bicycle paths they build. The road is for all users. Driving an automobile or a bicycle is a privilege. Many people do not take their responsibilities seriously. The best way to handle this problem is to train the police properly and give them the tools to do their job. Make striking another person with an automobile a major crime. How about three strikes and your out. The same for bicyclists who hit and maim pedestrians or other bicyclists while breaking the law. I am tired of the excuses about I did not see them. How about the bicyclist who yelled he had no brakes on a public path and nailed a three year old. Lets obey the law and get along with each other.