Should bicycles be banned where the speed limit is over 20 MPH?

Been wondering why you need to support bicycle advocacy organizations like MoBikeFed?

Take a look at this recent article from the St Louis Beacon.

If you like the idea of bicycling off the road every time a car comes by, or banning bicycles from all roads where the speed limit is above 20 MPH, then all is well.

If you don't--well, it's time to visit MoBikeFed's membership/donation page (if you haven't done so recently!)

From the Beacon:

While many St. Louis cyclists are happy with the area's cycling freedoms, several motorists expressed concerns about sharing the road and believe cyclists take too many liberties.

"In earlier times, bicyclists got onto the grassy or rocky portion beside the roadway when they heard or saw a car coming on the roadway," said Anna Jackson (right), a retired public school teacher from St. Charles. "More recently, I feel bicyclists look back at you with a look that says 'I have as many or more rights than you on this road. Just try to get around me.'

"It dismays me that cyclists share the roads but do not follow the rules and laws of the road. They often run stop signs, fail to yield to pedestrians, and do not signal for stops or turns."

Jackson also said that she supports the St. Charles bike ban and would like to see traffic laws enforced on cyclists.

John Hartfield is more concerned with safety than the law when it comes to cyclists.

"These people endanger themselves and impede traffic whatever kind of road it is," said Hartfield, a database developer from Florissant. "This isn't Europe or Asia. Virtually no one uses bicycles for transportation. There are a multitude of off-road choices for people to work out or take a ride."

Hartfield has had several incidents with cyclists on urban and rural streets and feels that efforts like Complete Streets have put bike lanes in places where cycling is limited.

"They painted bike lanes down Goodfellow in north city but nobody rides there," he said. "I drive through the central corridor Lindell, Olive, Delmar, Delmar Loop and people ride even when there is no room for bikes."

Rather than have bike lanes on roads, Hartfield feels there should be a harsher policy for cyclists.

"Cyclists should be banned on any road where speed limit is greater than 20 miles-per-hour," he said.

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