Brief wrapup of this year's Missouri legislative session

- Rep. Mike Sutherland’s Complete Streets bill would give MoDOT strong encouragement to make their roads safer for bicycling, walking, and transit users and to design roads to be safe for the young, the old, and the disabled. [Killed for 2008 due to MoDOT opposition.]

- Rep. Mike Sutherland introduced the bill adopting a specialty license plate in support of bicycling. [Alternative application method approved—we could have bicycling license plates in 12-24 months if the Governor signs the bill.]

- Sen. Bill Stouffer’s Dead Red bill allows bicyclists & motorcyclists to proceed through a red light if the actuator failed to detect the vehicle. [Awaiting Governor’s signature.]

- Rep. John Burnett introduced the Safe Streets bill, higher penalties for negligent or reckless drivers who injure or kill. [Received a hearing; well positioned for next year.]

- Sen. Kurt Schaefer and Rep. Will Kraus introduced bicycle month resolutions; the Governor signed an official Bicycle Month proclamation. [Passed.]

- A controversial bill to allow much greater equestrian access to trails and public lands was strongly opposed by mountain biking and trails groups because of technical details about the way it was written. Thanks to opposition voiced by MoBikeFed and other groups and MoBikeFed’s testimony at two key hearings, the bill was re-written to remove the controversial portions. [Awaiting Governor’s signature.]