St Charles County bicycle regulations coming to a vote Tuesday, Oct 12th

According to an article on KWMU (St Louis public radio), the bicycle regulations proposed by St Charles County will come to a vote of the county council this evening:

The St. Charles County Council is expected approve legislation on Tuesday that puts new restrictions on cyclists in the county.

The proposals evolved from an all-out ban on biking on certain roads that Councilman Joe Brazil introduced in July. One measure requires rear flashing red lights and mirrors when cyclists are riding on the county's most dangerous roads - the county is drafting maps that list preferred routes for cyclists. Organized rides of more than 25 people that want to close streets, run red lights, or use a car to impede or slow traffic would require a permit. . . . 

Biking advocacy groups reacted with caution. Brent Hugh, the executive director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Foundation, said the measures were better than an all-out ban.

But, Hugh said, the requirements for lights and mirrors set Missouri apart from the rest of the country.

"We've got two national bicycle routes that come through St. Charles County," he said. "They come into St. Charles County and find out, oh, well now my lights have to be visible from the side in a different way."

Hugh said the wording of the permitting requirements could also inadvertently apply to friends who ride together informally on the weekend, though Brazil said that was never his intent.

The restrictions would apply to state and county roads in St. Charles County, though the Missouri Department of Transportation said they cannot be enforced on state roads. 

UPDATE: The county council passed the group ride permit requirements (with an added amendment to also require notification of MoDOT) but tabled the bicycle equipment requirements for further discussion.  See the Post-Dispatch article for details.

Related links:

• Full text of the proposed ordinances is here.
• County council meeting agenda and location is here.
• Contact info for county council members is here.