St Charles County Bicycle Ban--results of Commission work session this evening

The St Charles County Commission held a work session this evening on a proposal to ban bicycles on several state roads in the County.

After intense public discussion about the bicycle ban at a previous public meeting, and a private meeting between bill sponsor Joe Brazil and area bicycle advocates, the result was three possible bills that were discussed tonight.

A Suburban Journals article gives a rundown of the three proposals, which are:

1. Ban bicycles on state highways 94, D, DD, F, and Z in southwest St Charles County. (The ban would be removed as shoulders or bicycle lanes are added to the roads.  One Commissioner has proposed adding even more highways to the ban. MoDOT has indicated that the county does not have the authority to ban bicycling on these state-controlled routes.)
   
   
2. Add further rules for bicyclists, including proposals that a very non-standard and have not been implemented by any other jurisdiction in the U.S. as far as we know.  The proposals include requirements for bicyclists to have mirrors and flags, to ride within 20 inches of the side of the road, and to avoid riding 2 or 3 abreast.
   
   
3. Require permits for large group rides and races.  The permitting process would require a safety plan, a designated route and public notice of the events.

At the work session tonight, the commissioners heard discussion from the public about these proposals.

Bicyclist advocacy groups and trails organizations--including the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, the St Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, TrailNet, and Great Rivers Greenway District-- were well represented.  Early indications are that commissioners listened well and are carefully considering the viewpoints that bicyclists brought up.

However, according to a Fox 2 news story, we're far from out of the woods yet: "Some council members stressed concern that sharing the road with cyclists is too dangerous to allow."

The St Louis Post-Dispatch gives a more detailed rundown of the evening's work session and mentions the petition that many of you have signed:

Vinyard presented a petition with more than 2,100 signatures opposing a biking ban. She said 399 of them came from St. Charles County.

Brazil said he believes 95 percent of the people in his district favor a ban.

Public forums planned Sept 7th, Sept 13th, Sept 20th

The council is planning three public forums on this issue in September:

• 7 p.m. Sept. 7th at the Community Club of New Melle
• 7 p.m. Sept. 13th in the County Council chambers
• 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20th at Trinity Lutheran Church in the Orchard Farm area.

 

In the meanwhile, it is very helpful to sign the petition against the bicycle ban--currently over 2200 signatures but we'd like to see at least 2500.