Bicycle Advocacy Platform

The Missouri Bicycle Federation Platform

This platform was developed and proposed by the Missouri Bicycle Federation board of directors with much input from Federation members and walking, bicycling, running, and trails organizations around the state.

This is a living document and will continue to grow and evolve. Comments are welcome at any time, send to director [at] mobikefed.org .

Resolutions/Proclamations for 2008

• Bike Month Proclamation (May)
• Walk and Bike to School Day/Week/Month Proclamation (October)
• Tour of Missouri Month resolution (September)
• A legislative resolution in support of the idea of connecting the Katy Trail to nearby communities across Missouri, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington, Hermann, Jefferson City, Springfield, and others

• Bike/Ped Funding: Obtain reliable funding for statewide bicycle and pedestrian programs, promotion of safe practices, and outreach.
• Missouri Complete Streets bill (see completestreets.org)
• Safe Streets Bill: When unsafe drivers injure or kill bicyclists or pedestrians, current law allows prosecutors to bring charges for trivial traffic infractions or serious (but difficult-to-prove) felony charges. We want to propose an intermediate step that will get unsafe drivers off the road, be easier to prosecute, and have more severe and appropriate penalties than minor traffic infractions.
• Oppose unsafe No Passing Law: A proposed "no passing" law will force motorists to pass bicyclists unsafely (or just not pass at all--and how likely is it that drivers will do that?) whenever there is a solid yellow "no passing" line. Before this legislation moves forward we want to change this to make it more bicycle friendly. There are many locations properly marked "no passing" for motor vehicles where it is safe to pass a slower-moving vehicle like a bicycle. The new Missouri passing zone law can and should reflect this reality and should not force or encourage unsafe passing of bicyclists by motorists.
• Dead Red law: allowing motorcycles & bicycles to proceed through a red light after waiting a certain period that makes it obvious the motorcycle/bicycle is not triggering the signal. The motorcyclists passed this in 2007 (without including bicyclists). They will be back with it again in 2008 so we might as well join forces & have bicyclists included in the legislation. Other 2008 Priorities
• Driver Responsibility Act: Programs/penalties to reduce
  • Distracted driving
  • Cell phone restrictions/ban as well as computers, pagers, Palm Pilots, DVD players, and fax machines. Studies show that cell phone use affects driving as much or more than intoxication. Requiring hands-free phones does not solve the problem: "While many consider holding a cell phone to be a distraction, it is the actual conversation that distracts the driver, according to the researchers". http://unews.utah.edu/p/?r=062206-1
  • Penalties for fatigued driving
  • Road rage/aggressive driving
• Levee Districts: improve MO's current "levee bike path" provision to better encourage the levees to allow public access and trail use

• Repeat traffic offender bill--track repeat offenders better, don't allow retrospective changes to driving record, make complete, accurate driving record available to judges at sentencing. Elaine Brady strongly supports. For sample legislation, See http://www.house.mo.gov/bills03/bills/sb517.htm
• School zone speed limit bill
  • Define school zone.
  • Create a standard 20 mph limit in school zones.
  • Encourage creation of standardized signage, markings, etc.
  • Double fines in school zone
• A way to get more funding or otherwise find ways to encourage more/better enforcement of existing laws affecting safety of bicyclists and pedestrians and better education of police about bicycle/pedestrian issues.
• Statewide Safe Routes to School Funding--perhaps some simple measures that could amplify federal funding and encourage local participation. PedNet is planning to work on this.
• Safety/education funding bicycle/pedestrian issues (such as a small amount with each driver's license, license plate, traffic ticket, or bicycle sold)
• Missouri share the road license plates with proceeds to MoBikeFoundation to fund bicycle/pedestrian safety campaigns and education.
• Blind spot responsibility: If a vehicle hits another vehicle/person/bicyclist in that vehicle's blind spot then the driver who moved into the blind spot without checking it is responsible.
• Bus/bike lanes: Legislation has been proposed for bus-only lanes in Missouri. This should include provision for bicyclist operation as well.

• A measure to encourage recreational trails/mountain biking trails in state parks and conservation areas (as proposed by Rep. Sutherland in 2006) passed in 2007
• Bike Month resolution 2007
• Tour of Missouri Month proclamation & resolution, 2007
• "No passing on solid yellow line" law did not move forward in 2007 (we opposed the law as written and proposed a more acceptable compromise--we were happy to see it stalled for now)
• Allow right turn signaling with the right arm; allow intermittent signaling when arms/hands are needed to control bicycle, 2005
• Regulate bike lane usage, 2005
• Clarify that bicyclists riding on the road shoulder is not illegal, 2005
• Update the definition of a bicycle to include tricycles and quadracycles, 2005
• Safe passing provision for motorists passing bicyclists, 2005
• Clutch's Law-increased penalties & driver license points for those who fail to yield right-of-way and cause an accident, 2006
• Legislation to address liability concerns of landowners adjacent to trails
• Remove law that required bicyclists to ride on path adjacent to road if such a path is available
• Improve Missouri's basic bicycle law