2014 Legislative Roundup: Four major wins for bicycling and walking in Missouri this year

Bicycling and walking incorporated in a statewide transportation funding proposal going before voters. A bid to remove bicycling from the proposal overwhelmingly defeated.  The bicycle ban defeated for the fourth straight year.  A proposal to discourage cities, counties, and state agencies from working with nonprofits on sustainability issues defeated for the second year. 

With your help and support, these issues have helped make 2014 one of the most successful and important for bicycling and walking in Missouri in the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation's 20 year history.

In particular, the straight up-and-down vote on the anti-bicycle amendment--designed to strip bicycling from the proposed constitutional amendment and the transportation funding it will bring--was overwhelmingly defeated after an outcry from thousands of cycling supporters from around Missouri.

We called that the victory of the decade for bicycling in Jefferson City--and it will be that and more if the proposed Missouri transportation funding plan passes at the ballot box in August.

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League of American Bicyclists' Top 14 Ways to Improve Missouri's Bicycle Friendly State Ranking

Recently the League of American Bicyclists released its annual Bicycle Friendly States ranking. Missouri is currently ranked at 34th of the 50 states--meaning that we are doing a lot of things right--far more than we were doing 10 or 20 years ago!--but that we also have a lot of work to do to catch up with other states across the nation.

The Bike League's state rankings released earlier this month included and overview of Missouri's ranking by category and a few specific suggestions.  But today the League released a far more detailed report with recommendations for Missouri.

These recommendations by the most respected bicycle advocacy group in the nation carry a lot of weight.  The harmonize almost exactly with MoBikeFed's recommendations as the statewide bicycle advocacy group in Missouri--recommendations that have been developed over the course of years by our statewide Legislative Committee and Advisory Commission.

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ALERT: $6 billion Missouri transportation funding proposal to appear on August 5th ballot; What you can do now

[UPDATE 9 JULY 2014: MoDOT has now announced the final project list for Amendment 7.  It includes MANY bicycle, pedestrian, and transit projects. What you can do now:

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ALERT: Stop a bill discouraging Missouri cities & counties from working with bike, ped, and trails groups

[UPDATE 16 May 2014:  Success! This anti-sustainability bill was stopped this year.  Now the legislative session is over and there is no chance the bill will pass.

Many thanks to everyone who contacted their Senator this year - your voice was heard!

Now please consider making a donation--small or large--in support of MoBikeFed's legislative work.  This is our most important, most effective but also most expensive work.  Help refill our treasury so we can finish 2014 strong!]

[ADVOCACY ALERT - PLEASE SHARE WIDELY THROUGH 16 May 2014]

ALERT: Stop a bill discouraging Missouri cities, counties, & agencies from working with bicycle, pedestrian, and trails groups.

Yesterday the historic $6 billion transportation funding plan--first in Missouri history to fully integrate bicycling, walking, and trail funding--finally passed the Missouri General Assembly.  

If approved by Missouri voters in November, it will solve a century-old problem for bicycling and walking in Missouri:  The Missouri constitution prohibits use of our state transportation funds for biking and walking.

With your help, we are adding bicycling and walking to the Missouri Constitution!

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HJR 68, historic $6 billion Missouri Transportation Funding Plan that fully includes bicycling and walking, passes Missouri General Assembly & heads for Missouri voters

By a vote of 105 to 45, the Missouri House has just passed HJR 68, the historic Missouri Transportation Funding Plan.  Now it will go before Missouri voters in November or August (at Governor Nixon's discretion). If passed by voters, it will be the first time in history that Missouri state transportation funding can be used for bicycling, walking, transit, and all other Missouri transportation needs. 

This measure does not require spending on bicycling, walking, transit, or any other particular element.  Rather, it allows spending on those items.  The top impediment to better bicycling and walking in Missouri over the past century has been that the Constitution prohibits current Missouri transportation funding from being spent on bicycling, walking, transit--or any other item than roads and bridges for automobiles.

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ALERT: Stop the Bicycle Ban; Support MoBikeFed's legislative work

Stopping a bicycle ban.

Stopping an anti-bicycle amendment--designed to remove bicycling from state transportation funding.

Including funding for biking, walking, and trails in proposed transportation funding, solving a century-long problem in Missouri.

Those are the reasons legislative advocacy in Jefferson City has been vital this year.

With just two weeks left in the 2014 legislative session, you can help in two ways:

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Join MoBikeFed's Advocacy Network

MoBikeFed is a statewide group of people like you, working together for better bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri. When you join our advocacy network you receive occasional important advocacy alerts and bicycle, pedestrian, and trails news from around Missouri.

Working together we make a real difference! Join our advocacy network: