With the issue of the bike ban in Black Hawk, Colorado, still fresh in mind, Adventure Cycling Association was particularly concerned when we received news about a ban being proposed in Missouri by St. Charles County Council Members last Monday.
While the Black Hawk ordinance requires cyclists (including TransAmerica Trail riders) to dismount their bicycles and walk .5 miles through town, the St. Charles County ban would affect roads in an entire county, and specifically roads surrounding two Adventure Cycling routes (the Great Rivers Route and Lewis and Clark Bicycle Trail) and one well known long rail-trail, the Katy Trail. In addition, it has the potential of stopping development of three proposed U.S. Bicycle Route corridors (USBR 60, 45, and 66).
The proposal reads: "Bill No. 3620 — Prohibit bicycles on Highway DD, D, F, Z & 94 from Hwy. 40 to County line until shoulders or bicycle lanes are in place." And while the vote was delayed until August, there was discussion of expanding the affected highways — which would then have the potential of also impacting the Mississippi River Trail.
According to the Missouri State Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the county has no stand in restricting use of these roads, because they are state highways. According to spokesperson Melissa Anderson, "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."
However, Joe Brazil, the councilman proposing the ban, disagrees. He says the council has preemptive power, based upon a provision written in the Missouri Constitution which allows for local control in cases of safety — and that it is his concern for motorists' and bicyclists' safety that is prompting the initiative. The roads in question have little to no shoulder and a posted speed limit of 55 mph speed. Moreover, the area is growing in population, so the roads are experiencing an increase in traffic volume.
That being said, there are many ways the County can address safety without banning a legitimate and legal form of transportation. This is an opportunity for us, the cycling community, to inform the political leaders of St. Charles County about the many positive aspects of non-motorized transportation, and how the leaders can encourage coexistence between cars and bicycles. By instituting a multi-prong approach — through such means as traffic calming, speed reductions, law enforcement, share-the-road signs, promotion through county bike maps and education (e.g., public service announcements) — the County could work toward becoming bicycle friendly, thus improving the health and mobility of their communities. Other Missouri communities are making great strides toward becoming bike friendly, which is encouraging.
It also makes good economic sense for towns to attract traveling cyclists to enjoy their hospitality. St. Charles' neighbor, the town of Farmington, has long been known as a cyclist-friendly stopover on the TransAmerica Trail. And if the council members were to ask communities in Michigan why they are endorsing U.S. Bicycle Route 20, they'd tell them about the benefits they see in bicycle tourism.
I recommend you support the local efforts of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation (sign their petition!) and the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation. They have already begun the process of coordinating positive and influential messages to the political leaders of St. Charles County. Take a moment to read Bike Portland's blog on the issue to understand the wider concerns this proposed ban poses to all cyclists. If you want to make a difference, write the Council members a courteous note encouraging them to vote against the bill, or use the League of American Bicyclists Advocacy Center to send your message.
For news coverage of this issue, see the St. Louis Post, Fox 2 News , and Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Stay tuned, as I'm sure we'll have an update for you before the August vote.
Photo of an unknown road in Missouri by John Clifford Fredericks from the Adventure Cycling photo contest on Flickr.
While the Black Hawk ordinance requires cyclists (including TransAmerica Trail riders) to dismount their bicycles and walk .5 miles through town, the St. Charles County ban would affect roads in an entire county, and specifically roads surrounding two Adventure Cycling routes (the Great Rivers Route and Lewis and Clark Bicycle Trail) and one well known long rail-trail, the Katy Trail. In addition, it has the potential of stopping development of three proposed U.S. Bicycle Route corridors (USBR 60, 45, and 66).
The proposal reads: "Bill No. 3620 — Prohibit bicycles on Highway DD, D, F, Z & 94 from Hwy. 40 to County line until shoulders or bicycle lanes are in place." And while the vote was delayed until August, there was discussion of expanding the affected highways — which would then have the potential of also impacting the Mississippi River Trail.
According to the Missouri State Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the county has no stand in restricting use of these roads, because they are state highways. According to spokesperson Melissa Anderson, "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."
However, Joe Brazil, the councilman proposing the ban, disagrees. He says the council has preemptive power, based upon a provision written in the Missouri Constitution which allows for local control in cases of safety — and that it is his concern for motorists' and bicyclists' safety that is prompting the initiative. The roads in question have little to no shoulder and a posted speed limit of 55 mph speed. Moreover, the area is growing in population, so the roads are experiencing an increase in traffic volume.
That being said, there are many ways the County can address safety without banning a legitimate and legal form of transportation. This is an opportunity for us, the cycling community, to inform the political leaders of St. Charles County about the many positive aspects of non-motorized transportation, and how the leaders can encourage coexistence between cars and bicycles. By instituting a multi-prong approach — through such means as traffic calming, speed reductions, law enforcement, share-the-road signs, promotion through county bike maps and education (e.g., public service announcements) — the County could work toward becoming bicycle friendly, thus improving the health and mobility of their communities. Other Missouri communities are making great strides toward becoming bike friendly, which is encouraging.
It also makes good economic sense for towns to attract traveling cyclists to enjoy their hospitality. St. Charles' neighbor, the town of Farmington, has long been known as a cyclist-friendly stopover on the TransAmerica Trail. And if the council members were to ask communities in Michigan why they are endorsing U.S. Bicycle Route 20, they'd tell them about the benefits they see in bicycle tourism.
I recommend you support the local efforts of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation (sign their petition!) and the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation. They have already begun the process of coordinating positive and influential messages to the political leaders of St. Charles County. Take a moment to read Bike Portland's blog on the issue to understand the wider concerns this proposed ban poses to all cyclists. If you want to make a difference, write the Council members a courteous note encouraging them to vote against the bill, or use the League of American Bicyclists Advocacy Center to send your message.
For news coverage of this issue, see the St. Louis Post, Fox 2 News , and Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Stay tuned, as I'm sure we'll have an update for you before the August vote.
Photo of an unknown road in Missouri by John Clifford Fredericks from the Adventure Cycling photo contest on Flickr.
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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.
BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.
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