The primary benefit any member--whether a club, a business, or an individual--receives from joining the Missouri Bicycle Federation, is the better conditions for bicycling that advocacy brings. We know that states that have more active and powerful advocacy groups have better conditions for bicycling.
But let's get more specific. How does joining MoBikeFed benefit your club or organization?
You are contributing your share to the statewide advocacy MoBikeFed specializes in.
The club leader receives the MoBikeFed newsletter.
The "Letter to dangerous/hostile motorist" service is available to your members. Bicyclists who have a dangerous or threatening encounter with a motorist can report the vehicle tag number to MoBikeFed. We find the motorist's contact info from the MO Division of Motor Vehicles database and send the motorist a letter.
You may use the MoBikeFed logo on your web site and publications, and indicate that you are "a member organization of the Missouri Bicycle Federation."
We list member clubs periodically in our newsletter that goes to bicyclists statewide. This is free advertising for your club and also helps create a good vibe for your club as an advocacy supporter.
We specially emphasize member clubs in our online list of Missouri Bicycle Clubs. The list is one of our most popular pages. The MoBikeFed.org website receives about 50,000 hits and 10,000 visitors every month.
We often help local clubs or individuals by supporting their advocacy efforts in various ways, especially if they involve state law or MoDOT in any way. Sometimes a letter written in support, or just knowing the right person to contact within the state bureaucracy makes all the difference.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation will strongly support such a proposal if
* the roadway element includes "complete streets" language for routine inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on roads
* the transit element includes language requiring routine accommodation of bicycles on transit
We believe that these requirements should be part of the enabling legislation for such a tax.
We also believe that the language for these two requirements should be modeled on existing federal routine accommodation language. Since most or all of the projects falling under the regional tax will include federal highway aid funding, and therefore already fall under the federal routine accommodation provisions, the inclusion of routine accommodation language should be non-controversial.
Another consideration has to do with planning for this tax.
Part 652.5 of the Federal-Aid Policy Guide states that "Consultation with local groups of organized bicyclists is to be encouraged in the development of bicycle projects." Bicyclists will be primary users of a trails system and are also an important group of users of the road system and transit system that will be funded by this proposed transportation tax.
As such, organized bicycle advocacy groups such as the Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation and the Missouri Bicycle Federation should be represented in the process for developing the framework for this tax from the earliest possible time.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation is asking Missouri bicyclists, its own members, and bicycle clubs and groups around the state to support its current fund drive.
What is MoBikeFed currently doing? How will the funds we raise help MoBikeFed better serve Missouri bicyclists?
Items marked with $ are those that will particularly benefit if we raise the funds we need.
$[expand] Support the Katy Trail Connection to KC. This will require building support in the Missouri legislature.
[continue] Coordinate Missouri state advocacy efforts for federal issues such as TEA-21 renewal. Communicate with and educate Missouri's U.S. Senators and Representatives.
Advocacy
[continue] Continue to work with MoDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in Missouri to improve routine accommodation of bicycling in design standards, funding formulas, and so on. For instance:
Rumble strip policies
Bicycle-safe drain grate policies
Standards for bicycle accommodation on various classes of roads/highways
Inclusion of bicycle in safety programs and safety funding
Inclusion of bicycle safety and awareness material in driver education and manuals
$[continue, expand] Communicate with officials across the state about particular plans, issues, or situations affecting bicycling to advocate the bicyclists' perspective.
$[continue] As feasible and appropriate, assist Missouri bicyclists who encounter legal or bureaucratic obstacles related to bicycling with information, publicity, and advocacy.
$[expand] Promote more and better/safer bicycling in MO.
[new] Monitor and promote bicycle tourism in MO.
Bicyclist Education
$[expand] Promote & greatly expand bicycle education in Missouri, help more instructors get trained.
$[continue, expand] Encourage more motorist education/awareness of bicycling (motorist contact program).
Communicate
$[continue, expand] Continue to build and improve MoBikeFed.org web site (news, advocacy alerts, information, bike-ed/skills/safety, etc.). The web site currently receives about 50,000 hits and 10,000 visits each month.
[continue] Continue to cultivate and grow email lists for community, communication, and advocacy.
[continue] Continue to produce and distribute the MoBikeFed newsletter with news, advocacy alerts, communication, community, advocacy, skills/safety.
[new] Poll cyclist groups to determine interests, priorities, issues.
[continue] Strengthen membership database, recruitment, member retention.
[continue] Continue good accounting practices; produce financial reports as needed.
[new] Pursue creation of a 501c3 sister organization or 501c3 fund, as appropriate.
$[continue, expand] Continue membership in national organizations such as the Thunderhead Alliance. Learn about best advocacy and organizational practices through discussion with sister organizations in other states. Help support key board members and staff in attending regional and national conferences for advocacy education and training.
Free MoDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Educational and Safety Materials
Saturday, January 01, 2005
From MoDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator Caryn Giarrato . . .
The following materials are available free from MoDOT:
About Pedestrian Safety A two-color line-drawn 5" x 8" 15-page booklet on pedestrian safety tips for grades 4 to adult MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 104808, JC, MO 65110-4808 573-751-4161, 800-800-BELT, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
Bicycle Safety Tips A full-color tri-fold 8.5" x 11" flyer on bicycle safety for adults MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 104808, JC, MO 65110-4808 573-751-4161, 800-800-BELT, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
From A to Z by Bike A full-color 8.5" x 11" 31-page curriculum guide on bicycle safety (includes a summary of MO law) for grades 4 to adult MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 104808, JC, MO 65110-4808 573-751-4161, 800-800-BELT, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
Missouri Bicycle Statutes A pocket-sized laminated copy of the Missouri laws pertaining to bicycling MoDOT Transportation Planning, Caryn Giarratano, POB 270, JC, MO 65102-0270 caryn.giarratano@modot.mo.gov, 573-522-9297
Missouri Pedestrian Statutes A pocket-sized laminated copy of the Missouri laws pertaining to walking MoDOT Transportation Planning, Caryn Giarratano, POB 270, JC, MO 65102-0270 caryn.giarratano@modot.mo.gov, 573-522-9297
Pedestrian and Bus Safety Tips A full-color tri-fold 8.5 x 11 flyer on pedestrian and bus safety for adults MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 104808, JC, MO 65110-4808 573-751-4161, 800-800-BELT, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
Protecting Your Child's Head A two-color line-drawn 5" x 8" 15-page guide on helmet safety tips for adults to teach children MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 104808, JC, MO 65110-4808 573-751-4161, 800-800-BELT, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
Street Smarts by John S. Allen A textbook-style 5" x 8" 39-page handbook for adult bicyclists MoDOT Office of Highway Safety, Susan Roark, POB 270, JC, MO 65102-0270 573-751-5412, 1-800-800-2358, susan.roark@modot.mo.gov
NEWSLETTER ARTICLE: What has Missouri Bicycle Federation done for you lately?
[This is an article from the Summer 2004 issue of The Hub, MoBikeFed's newsletter. Articles from The Hub are posted on the website on a delayed basis. To receive articles on time and directly to your mailbox, please join MoBikeFed.]
The Missouri Bicycle Federation has been working hard on behalf of the interests of all kinds of bicyclists in all parts of the state this year. Here is just a sample of the projects with which we have been involved.
Supported a bill to give liability protection to owners of land adjoining trails. This bill, which was proposed and supported by trail advocates, will make it much easier to create both new recreational trails (like the Katy Trail) and new single-track mountain biking trails . The Missouri Bicycle Federation participated in a letter writing campaign late this spring that helped avert Governor Holden's threatened veto of this important bill. Governor Holden signed the bill into law on June 23rd.
Coordinated a letter writing campaign to encourage MoDOT to select a new director knowledgeable about and supportive of bicycle and pedestrian issues, and lobbied the governor to select bicycle/pedestrian friendly MoDOT commissioners. This campaign included major pieces in the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post Dispatch by MoBikeFed board members.
Wrote and lobbied for legislation in the Missouri General Assembly that would have had a major impact in making the streets safer for walking and bicycling. After considerable debate, this legislation successfully passed the Missouri Senate, but it was not on the agenda of House leadership. Despite strong efforts by our supporters, lack of support from House leadership made it impossible to move the legislation forward in that chamber.
Worked to create an unprecedented broad-based coalition in support of proposed highway safety legislation, including walking and bicycling clubs, motorcycle clubs, motorcycle advocacy organizations and the Missouri state PTA. In Fall 2003, the Missouri PTA passed only two resolutions, one in support of the uniform statewide school zone speed limit bill MBF had worked with legislators to write and introduce in the General Assembly earlier that year.
Worked with MoDOT's bike/ped coordinator, Caryn Giarratano, to create and distribute a second draft of the state bicycle map for public comment. The map can be viewed and printed (and feedback given) at MoBikeFed.org/map.
Worked with MoDOT to give cyclists’ perspective on a new rumble strip policy. Some initial draft policies took into account research and suggestions MBF proposed. An official MoDOT policy has been issued and put into affect on some roads this summer, that almost completely ignores the needs of bicyclists. However, MoDOT leadership has been listening, and now a new round of discussions has been opened to again revise the rumblestrip policy.
Numerous letters have been written, calls and contacts made in support of bicycle/pedestrian accommodation on particular projects around the state; encouraging officials to give equal protection to bicyclists under the law, encouraging the Kansas City police to establish a more rational police pursuit policy, and encouraging officials to take strong action against motorists who deliberately or recklessly injure bicyclists.
Have sent out a steady trickle of Motorist Contact Letters for cyclists around the state who have reported a dangerous or threatening encounter with a motorist. For more information, or to report a dangerous motorist, see MoBikeFed.org/ motoristcontact.html.
After observing that Missouri was left off the list of states hosting a nationwide fundraiser for the Tyler Hamilton Foundation, encouraged the Foundation to add a Missouri location. Missouri was one of very few states to be added after the initial announcement. By all reports the St. Louis fundraiser, where over 200 cyclists gathered to watch Stage 13 of the Tour de France in high-definition TV on the theater screen, was a big success and a lot of fun.
Have rebuilt a solid MoBikeFed organization with a strong, committed board. Many of you know that MBF went through a difficult period when Chair Bob Watts encountered life-threatening health problems (Bob is much better now). The MBF board meets regularly, communicates daily vi a email, has outstanding people in the most important positions. Caryn Giarratano, one of MBF’s founders and current MoDOT liaison, is the MoDOT bicycle/pedestrian coordinator. In short, we have a solid organization that is ready to move bicycling forward in Missouri.
NEWSLETTER ARTICLE: The future of bicycle advocacy in Missouri
by brent hugh
[This is an article The Hub, MoBikeFed's newsletter. Articles from The Hub are posted on the website on a delayed basis. To receive articles on time and directly to your mailbox, please join MoBikeFed.]
Recently I’ve been thinking over the Missouri Bicycle Federation accomplishments in the past ten years. It is really nothing short of amazing what MBF, as a small, volunteer organization on a shoestring budget, has accomplished.
Nevertheless, it is clear to me that the time has come to take it to the next level. States that are otherwise similar to Missouri are routinely building bicycle friendly streets and roads. They have adopted bicycle and pedestrian friendly policies, procedures, and laws. It is no coincidence that these states have large, powerful bicycle advocacy organizations.
MBF has plenty of room to grow. There are an estimated 1.6 million cyclists in Missouri. Right now, not even 0.1% of those are MBF members. We need to change that. Here is the vision MBF board members have for the future of the MBF:
Individual memberships – Recent membership drives have approximately tripled MBF membership. I envision 1000 individual MBF members within two years and 3000 mem-bers in 5-7 years. Thi s would put our membership on par with simi lar organizations in peer states like Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Organizational memberships – Less than 25% of Missouri bicycle clubs are MBF member organizations. I would like to see every bicycle club and organization in Miss ouri become a member.
Executive Director – Peer organizations in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan all have at least one full-time paid staff position, and it shows. We plan to move in this direction by paying me (MBF chair, Brent Hugh) to spend one day a week in Jefferson City this year during the legislative session, lobbying for MBF’s legisl ative agenda. Cost will be $5000-$7000 but it is vitally necessary to pass bills in the Missouri General Assembly. A big reason our legislative agendas have failed the past two years is because we did not have a person on the spot, taking the pulse of the legislature to help things move along.*
Missouri Ride Calendar – We will create a calendar listing all rides in Missouri and distribute approximately 15- 20,000 throughout the state. MBF members will receive the calendar at least a month before it is available to the general public. The calendar will help fund bicycle advocacy in Missouri. Selected rides will choose to be “Advocacy Funding Rides” by donating $1 per rider towards MBF’s advocacy efforts.
Merchant Discount Program – Within the next few months we will roll out MBF’s new merchant discount program. With their membership cards MBF members can receive discounts of 5%, 10%, or more from selected MO bike shops and from selected businesses along the Katy Trail.
Please spread the word to your friends and cycling partners. This is an exciting time to be involved with bicycling in Missouri, and we feel that real, fundamental change is possible in the reasonably near future. But we need people like you to step up to the plate and take a stand.
We need the membership of every bicyclist in the state, to help move bicycling forward in Missouri.
*Update: Since this article was published the opportunity was presented to MoBikeFed to hire James Farrell, a professional legislative lobbyist also representing St. Louis's Great Rivers Greenway. The total cost was about the same as paying an MBF officer to do the job, so we have chosen to hire Mr. Farrell instead. The thrust of our effort remains the same, however--we need to reach the point where we can afford to pay professionals to do certain work for us that simply cannot be done on volunteer power alone.
