Post Office Box 104871
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation
Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed
.org
FACT SHEET: What is the Missouri Bicycle Federation's track record?
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with Missouri bicycle clubs and organizations, is planning to hire a lobbyist to represent the interests of Missouri bicyclists before the Missouri legislature during the 2005 legislative session.
This is by far the most dramatic and exciting step forward in the Missouri Bicycle Federation's history and it is just one of the major projects MoBikeFed plans for the upcoming year.
What has MoBikeFed done in past years to prepare for this point?
Over the years, the Missouri Bicycle Federation has had an influence on statewide bicycle policy far out of proportion to its size and budget. A few examples of issues MoBikeFed has worked on over the years since 1994:
Assembled a broad coalition in support of the highway safety legislation, including bicycle clubs, motorcycle clubs, volksmarch clubs, pedestrian advocacy organizations, and the Missouri PTA.
Worked with Amtrak & the MO Legislature to allow bicycles to be rolled onto MO Amtrak trains
Prodded MoDOT to hire a Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator in 1993, then to fill the position again when it went vacant in 2001.
The revision or creation of MoDOT standards for the accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians. Before the Bike/Ped Coordinator position, there was essentially no consideration of bicycle and pedestrian issues in MoDOT plans and standards.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
FACT SHEET: What will be in MoBikeFed's 2005 proposed legislation?
The Missouri Bicycle Federation has been working on a multi-year legislative strategy to help make Missouri's streets safer and more inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians.
MoBikeFed, in cooperation with Missouri bicycle clubs and organizations, is planning to hire a representative to promote the interests of Missouri bicyclists before the Missouri legislature during the 2005 legislative session.
One of the main responsibilities of James Farrell, who will be our representative in Jefferson City, will be to move forward MoBikeFed's legislative agenda.
Based on past years' experience, our strategy this year is to put forward a noncontroversial bill that will clear up several troublesome and potentially troublesome issues.
In future years will will build on this success in future years to work to pass some of the more far-reaching proposals in our platform, such as criminal penalties for drivers who hurt or kill, greater driver license points for those who cause accidents, and a "complete streets" bill.
The 2005 bill is planned to include these provisions:
update Missouri's "highest degree of care" provision to include both pedestrians and bicyclists so as to conform to the Uniform Vehicle code (currently Missouri law includes only pedestrians)
include a safe passing provision for motorists passing pedestrians and bicyclists
allow bicyclists to signal right turn with the right arm
regulate bike lane usage (in a bicycle-friendly way)
clarify that bicyclists riding on the road shoulder is not illegal
update the definition of a bicycle to include tricycles and quadracycles
Please understand that as the legislative session progresses, details of the bill, and even the topics addressed, are almost certain to change. For better or worse, that is the legislative process.
But with Mr. Farrell work to represent our interests in Jefferson City, we will have a much greater chance of keeping more of what we want and need to make Missouri friendlier and safer for bicycling.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
FACT SHEET: Why hire James Farrell to represent the interests of bicyclists in Jefferson City?
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with Missouri bicycle clubs and organizations, is planning to hire a James Farrell to represent the interests of Missouri bicyclists before the Missouri legislature during the 2005 legislative session.
Why hire James Farrell?
Farrell's work for Great Rivers Greenway has been a positive experience. Great Rivers collects and distributes about $10 million annually for greenway projects, which include both greenway trails and on-street bike routes.
We are, to a degree, "sharing" Farrell's services with Great Rivers. This means that Farrell's fee is lowered somewhat.
There is good synergy between the work Farrell will do for Great Rivers and the work for us. So he will be doing more than just looking after our particular piece of legislation (which is all most lobbyists would do for this fee). Because is already working for Great Rivers on these issues, he will be on the lookout for us, too, on issues that affect bicycling (both on- and off-road), trails, funding, transportation policy and pedestrian issues.
Farrell has many good contacts in the business community--he also represents the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association. He also has many contacts among party leaders and staff members of leaders in Jefferson City. These kinds of contacts are necessary if we want to move our agenda forward in the current legislature.
Farrell and the people from Great Rivers Greenway have a number of good ideas about how to present a bicycle-friendly Missouri as important for Missouri business--for tourism and economic development. These are the kinds of arguments that will resonate with our political leaders in Jefferson City.
Hiring Mr. Farrell to promote the interests of bicyclists in Jefferson City is one of the biggest steps forward ever for Missouri bicycle advocacy.
But we need your help to make it happen.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with Missouri bicycle clubs and organizations, is planning to hire a lobbyist to represent the interests of Missouri bicyclists before the Missouri legislature during the 2005 legislative session.
Why is it important to hire a representative to promote Missouri bicycling among Missouri's political leaders?
Moving legislation forward in Jefferson City requires someone there on the ground, talking to people, smoothing corners and making connections. It is impossible to do by remote control.
Knowing people and personalities--party leaders, committee chairs, staff--is half the battle. Lobbyists like Farrell are experts in this area. He has personal contacts with key legislators.
Having a full-time representative at the state Capitol builds our credibility. States that have strong state bicycle federations with a strong presence in their capital cities develop better conditions for bicycling in law, in policies, in funding and in better roads.
According to the Thunderhead Alliance, the national organization of bicycle advocacy groups, hiring a lobbyist is one of the most important and effective steps a group can take to advocate for bicycling. There is no replacement for having a person in the center of power, representing your interests.
If you bicycle in Missouri, we need YOUR help to move bicycling forward in Missouri.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
Why is James Farrell a good choice to represent Missouri bicyclists
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with bicycle clubs and organizations across the state of Missouri, is planning to hire James Farrell to represent the interests of bicyclists in the 2005 Missouri legislative session.
Why is Mr. Farrell a good choice to represent bicyclists in Jefferson City?
James Farrell represents Great Rivers Greenway, the St. Louis-area organization that distributes $10 million per year for St. Louis-area trails. Great Rivers has been very pleased with Mr. Farrell's services.
Farrell has many contacts within the current government leadership in Missouri. He is himself a bicyclist and, as most bicyclists do, takes a personal interest in the issues MoBikeFed is promoting.
A representative of Mr. Farrell's caliber does not come cheap, of course--though because of his personal interest in these issues Mr. Farrell is giving us a special nonprofit rate. MoBikeFed is partnering with Missouri bicycle clubs and organizations to help pay this fee.
But to raise this kind of money--and to raise the profile of bicycling in Missouri--we need the help of individual bicyclists across the state.
Your contribution, whether large or small, will help move bicycling forward in Missouri.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
Why do bicyclists need a representative in Jefferson City?
The Missouri Bicycle Federation, in cooperation with bicycle clubs and organizations across the state, is planning to hire a representative to promote the interests of bicycling during the 2005 Missouri legislative session.
Why do bicyclists need a representative in Jefferson City?
Having a representative in Jefferson City full time during the legislative session will give bicycling in Missouri statewide credibility and visibility. It will help to give Missouri bicycling legitimacy and help to defend our right to ride on the road.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation has worked with members of the Missouri General Assembly for the past two years to pass important legislation dealing with bicycle and pedestrian safety. We have had a degree of success each year--the legislation has twice passed the Missouri Senate, but made little or no headway in the House.
It has become increasingly clear both from our experience and from advice from bicycle-friendly legislators like Senator Wayne Goode (currently serving on MoBikeFed's legislative drafting committee) that it is almost impossible to work in Jefferson City by "remote control." We need a person on the ground in the Capitol who knows the personalities involved, who can make connections, keep the pressure on and monitor developments.
In short, we need a representative in Jefferson City to promote the interests of Missouri bicyclists.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
Donations of any size--whether $1, $100, $1000, or $10,000--are greatly appreciated. You can donate online using a credit card by clicking below: Or send donations to:
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc. Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
We need your help to pass important bicycle legislation in the Missouri legislature this year
Monday, December 20, 2004
Missouri bicyclists,
The time has come to raise the profile of bicycling in Missouri.
In partnership with bicycle clubs and organizations around the state, the Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc., plans to hire a representative to promote the interests of Missouri bicyclists in Jefferson City this legislative session.
And that is just one of the major projects MoBikeFed plans for the upcoming year.
But we need your help to make these good things happen.
How can you help?
Join or renew your MoBikeFed membership. Our members are our greatest source of strength.
