Missouri Bicycling, Walking, Running, and Trails News

Bill legalizing ebikes in Missouri passed by Missouri legislature, headed to Governor for signature

As ebikes exploded in popularity in Missouri and across the U.S., their legal status in Missouri has been something of a mystery.  The ebike industry in Missouri has made it a top priority to get legislation in place that matches the national standard, allowing ebike use on roads and trails, and creating three classes of ebikes.

Recently, their work paid off as the ebike legislation was passed by both the Missouri House and Senate.  The bill, SB 176, now goes to Governor Parson for his signature.  The bill is not particularly controversial and we expect Governor Parson to sign it.

What is in the ebike bill?

What is in the bill?

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ALERT: Public comments on problematic updates to major federal road design manual, the MUTCD, due Friday, May 14th

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national guidance for all visible parts of the nation's road network--signs, stripes, lanes, crosswalks, bike lanes and markings, traffic signals, and more.   The MUTCD is updated about once a decade.
 
The recently released draft for the 2021 MUTCD update is very problematic from the perspective of pedestrian and bicycle transportation. Public comments on the proposed updates are due Friday, May 14th, 2021 and can be submitted here.
 
The simplest way to submit a public comment:
 
 
Many bike/ped and transportation organizations across the country are organizing to submit public comments.
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Missouri Legislature passes 12.5 cent gas tax increase, phased in over four years - headed to Gov for signature and it's done

Today the Missouri Legislature passed a 12.5 per gallon fuel tax increased, to be phased in at the rate of 2.5 cents per year from 2021 to 2025.

Passage of SB 262 by the Missouri House today sends the bill to Governor Parson for a signature.  Infrastructure has been a major emphasis of Governor Parson's administration and he has indicated he will sign the bill.

Unlike previous efforts to increase the fuel tax, this proposal will not go before voters.  Once Governor Parson signs the bill, it will be a done deal.  The gas tax will increase by 2.5 cents per gallon every October until 2025.

MoDOT's funding crisis and the effort to create statewide transportation funding since 2009

Missouri's fuel tax was last raised in 1996. At 17 cents per gallon, it is currently the second lowest fuel tax in the nation--ahead of only Alaska.  Since the fuel tax is not indexed to inflation, the buying power of that 17 cents has decreased substantially since 1996.

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Present a session at the 2021 Missouri Active Transportation Summit - session proposals accepted through June 11th!

The 2021 Missouri Active Transportation Summit is coming up Friday, August 13th, 2021.

The Summit will feature some of the best of bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri:

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ALERT: Dangerous dogs injure 450 Missouri bicyclists annually; Your messages supporting Missouri Dangerous Dogs Bill needed by Mon Apr 5th

Dangerous dogs injure 450 people bicycling annually in Missouri, are the sixth-leading cause of cyclist injury, and cost $2.8 million in medical care and lost wages. Most of the most serious injuries are caused by loose, running dogs--not dog bites. 

But a loophole in Missouri's current Dangerous Dogs law means that dogs that bite fall under the law--but dogs that run loose and cause a fall or injury are not considered as dangerous dogs.

If you bicycle, you know that loose dogs running and chasing--even running in front of your wheels--is a serious concern and very, very dangerous.

This year the Dangerous Dogs Bill, HB 992 sponsored by Rep. Jamie Burger of Benton, is focused like a laser on solving that problem.

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Alert: HB 992 - Dangerous Dogs Bill to be heard in the MO House Monday, March 29th; Your testimony of dangerous dog situations while bicycling needed

Barry Bean of Peach Orchard has been leading the charge for several years to get a dangerous dog bill passed in Missouri, to address the issues of loose dogs that attack and injury people bicycling. Barry was seriously injured in a collision with a dog several years ago.

This year the Dangerous Dogs Bill is HB 992, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Burger of Benton.

A hearing on HB 992 in the Missouri House Crime Prevention Committee is scheduled for Monday, March 29th at Noon. The hearing will be in House Hearing Room 5 at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. 

Testimony in support of HB 992 needed through Monday, April 5th

Testimony in support of the bill is welcome from any individual and from clubs, groups, organizations, and businesses.

You can testify in person at the hearing or submit written testimony online here (submission of written testimony strongly encouraged thanks to COVID-19 issues).

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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg address @ National Bike Summit 2021--How will a mayor who led a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community lead the U.S. Department of Transportation?

U.S. Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addressed the National Bike Summit on Wednesday, March 3rd--the day Summit delegations from every state, including Missouri, (virtually) visited Capitol Hill for Congressional meetings throughout the day.

Sec Buttigieg was mayor of South Bend, Indiana--which received the League of American Bicyclists' Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community award under Buttigieg's leadership.

Buttigieg was recently photographed riding a bike share bike to work--not for a photo op or special event, but just in his regular work commute in DC.

MoBikeFed's summary of Secretary Buttigieg's remarks Wednesday:

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US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to address 2021 National Bike Summit Wed; Missouri fields strong delegation to Summit

The 2021 National Bike Summit is underway--virtually this year--and Missouri is fielding a strong delegation to the Summit, as we have most years. MoBikeFed along with BikeWalkKC and Missourians for Responsible Transportation (representing BikeWalkKC, Trailnet, Ozark Greenways, and Pednet) are attending the Summit and Congressional meetings this  year.

Meetings with the Missouri congressional delegation are slated for Wednesday at the Summit, as is an address from recently appointed U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

Buttigieg recently made news as bystanders caught him riding a Capitol Bikeshare bike home from work--the first Transportation Secretary to bike commute, as far as we know.

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Missouri Department of Conservation proposes massive increase in bicycle accessibility in Missouri conservation areas totaling 1 million acres - your public comment needed!

UPDATE: Initial success! Due to a large amount of interest in including e-bikes in this proposed regulation, even before the public comment period had formally opened, the Missouri Department of Conservation staff has withdrawn the proposed regulation and is re-writing it to include e-bike access.

For that reason, the March public comment period has been withdrawn.  Instead, MDC staff is working to update the proposed regulation. It will be presented to the MDC Commission again in August 2021 and then the public comment period will be in October 2021. If approved, the regulation will take effect March 1, 2022.

The MDC press release reads:

The proposed regulation initially approved by the Commission did not include the allowance of electric bicycles. MDC staff are now exploring amending this regulation to include the use of certain classes of electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes. The use of motorized vehicles, including electric bicycles, is currently not allowed on conservation-area multi-use trails and service roads.

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Missouri state parks allows ebikes on bicycle trails, assisted-mobility devices on walking trails

A common question asked by visitors to the Katy Trail: Are ebikes and other assistive-mobility devices allowed on the trail?

Many don't know it, but--with reasonable restrictions--ebikes and assistive mobility devices for people with disabilities are indeed allowed on the Katy Trail and, indeed, on most trails across Missouri's large state parks system.

On trails where bicycling is allowed, access by any type of human-powered pedalcycle (unicycle, tricycle, etc) is allowed, as is ebike access.

On all state parks trails where walking or hiking is allowed, power-driven assistive mobility devices are--with reasonable restrictions--allowed.

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How to connect from MO's Katy/Rock Island Trail to KS's Flint Hills Nature Trail using trails & low-stress routes

UPDATE 1: We've put the Katy-Rock Island-Flint Hills Nature Trail route outlined in this article together on single handy route page.  Check it out here: Katy Trail to Flint Hills Nature Trail bicycle route

UPDATE 2: If there is interest in the cycling community, we could work to develop a more direct route from the Katy/Rock Island to the Flint Hills Nature Trail--perhaps directly to the eastern end of the Flint Hills Trail in Osawatomie. Contact us if interested.

UPDATE 3: We have created some (draft!) direct routes from the Katy/Rock Island Trails to the Flint Hills/Prairie Spirit Trails. There are several options (paved, gravel, connect to various cities).  Take a look and please let us know any thoughts or feedback.  Here are the DRAFT Katy/Rock Island - Prairie Spirit/Flint Hills routes

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2020 Missouri Active Transportation Summit - presenter powerpoints, links, notes from today's statewide Summit

The 2020 Missouri Active Transportation Summit--our fifth annual--took place today with a full day's worth of informative and inspiring sessions.

If you missed the Summit this year, you can catch some of the high points below.

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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: