Missouri Bicycle News Article

An article in yesterday's Suburban Journals covered bicycling issues related to the Highway 40 construction project.

The article discussed a recent incident involving bicyclist Rachel Abbott in Webster Groves. A police officer told Abbott that she was impeding traffic and instructed her to ride on the sidewalk.

The article gives Webster Groves Police Chief Dale Curtis's response to this situation:

"Telling someone to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk is not correct," he said.

Curtis said the police officer does have the right to instruct bicyclists to get off the road if they are impeding traffic.

In response to that, the Missouri Bicycle Federation sent the follow letter to the editor of the Chesterfield Journal:

Editor:

"Bicyclists brace for tougher times" by Todd Smith in the December 18th Suburban Journals touches on the issue of bicyclists "impeding" traffic and the action the police may take in this situation.

There seems to be some misunderstanding of Missouri law on this issue.

In Missouri and all other states, bicyclists are required to follow the same basic rules of the road as all other vehicles. But no state allows police to write tickets to bicyclists, or order them off the road, simply for going the speed that bicycles naturally go.

Missouri is no exception. The law on impeding traffic, 304.011 RSMo, is narrowly drawn. It applies only to those who "willfully" drive "motor vehicles" at a slow speed in order to block traffic.

Webster Groves police are understandably concerned about potential conflicts between motorists and bicyclists. Highway 40 construction may lead to increased motor traffic on some roads at the same time higher gas prices, climate concerns, and health benefits encourage more of us to travel by bicycle.

But experience has shown that, with a little patience and courtesy on both sides, conflict between bicyclists and drivers is actually very small.

Yes, taking the time to safely pass one of your neighbors out bicycling may slow you down for a few moments.

But what really slows you down when driving isn't the occasional bicycle rider.

It's congestion--and getting more people to walk, bicycle, and use transit is the best way we know to cut down on traffic gridlock.

Dr. Brent D. Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
Raytown, Missouri

In fairness, Chief Curtis's may have been misquoted or misunderstood. MoBikeFed is working with TrailNet and the St. Louis Bicycle Federation to contact Webster Groves police and make sure they understand Missouri bicycle-related laws and work towards a constructive solution.

Related:

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News: "Sharing the road" in Press Journal

TourOfMO: Governor promotes Tour of Missouri in St. Louis

News: MoBikeFed explains bicycle laws

News: More bicycling going on in Springfield area