Anti-bicycling letter in Springfield News-Leader

Bob Reece of NIxa wrote this in a recent letter to the editor in the Springfield News-Leader, speaking first of recent discussion of a ban on motorized "pocket bikes" in Nixa:

They are toys, small and not readily visible, cause needless accidents and impede the efficient movement of licensed, registered, insured, taxpaying vehicular traffic, and they are incompatible with the intended and normal use of the public streets and roads.

Sounds good. Why not apply that identical criteria to bicycles, which have all the same descriptions - toys, not readily visible, frequent serious accidents, impede traffic, etc.?

Our community leaders and legislators are unwilling to address controversial issues that will stir the wrath of the very few, but loud, fanatics.

Bicycles are not permitted on the interstate highway system and, along with pocket bikes, should not be permitted on most city, county and state streets and roads.

Bruce Adib-Yazdi of SpringBike had this reply:

I have to agree whole heartedly about the keeping pocket bikes off the streets. They are dangerous for several obvious reasons.

But I also do not believe they belong on recreational trails . Actually, I m not sure where they belong, but that s not the point of this letter. Mr. Reece has the opinion that bicycles are toys and do not belong on city streets.

Most Federal state and local laws allow bicycles on city streets and highways. I agree that bicycles are not (and should not) be allowed on the interstate highways. The rate of speed combined with volume of traffic make for very dangerous conditions. The correct combination of adequate road width, rate of speed and traffic volumes can make most streets appropriate.

More people than you think use bicycles to transport themselves. Identifying and planning with those factors in mind; as well as education of bicyclists and motorists on interaction are both important to increase safety and awareness.

Bicycles can be a VERY effective way to get around town and actually SEE and FEEL your neighborhood, and the city. How many of you know that the first streets constructed were done in order to accommodate bicycles? Sure, times have certainly changed. But the feeling of powering yourself across town has not. Try it some day.

Bruce Adib-Yazdi