UPDATE 12 JULY: 2012 Legislative Session: Wrap-up of bicycling, walking, trails bills and issues

[UPDATE 12 JULY 2012: Governor Nixon has now signed or vetoed all transportation-related bills from the 2012 legislative session.  The article below has been updated to reflect the final status of the legislation.]

Missouri's 2012 legislative session wrapped up Friday at 6pm.  In a separate article, we have listed all transportation-related bills that passed during the 2012 legislative session.

Specifically for bicycling and walking in Missouri, what are the most significant developments from the 2012 legislative session--and what are our next steps for 2013?

Attempt to ban bicycles, require reflective vests - defeated

A strong coalition of bicycle groups and organizations was able to defeat an initiative that started out as a proposed ban on bicycles on Missouri's state highways and ended up as a bill requiring bicyclists to wear reflective vests.

Capitol
Capitol

The bill garnered over 10,000 emails and phone calls to the bill's sponsor, all against the bill. 

The bill's hearing in April resulted in a cordial meeting between the sponsor and MoBikeFed. The bill failed to advance in committee and the idea is dead--for now.

Municipal transportation funding now specifically includes sidewalks and trails - signed by Governor Nixon

Cities are allowed to levy a transportation tax under 94.700 to 94.755 RSMO.  The tax can be used for mass transit, roads, streets, bridges, airports, and planning. SB 568 adds "sidewalks, trails, and community-owned parking" to the list of allowed items for the tax. (For  historical reasons this applies to all cities except St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Kansas City--which already have more permissive transportation tax options available, including options like public transit.)

What that means is that it will be easier for cities and counties to fund safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure using existing municipal transportation tax dollars.  Interested citizens across Missouri will have to work closely with their own local elected officials to ensure that this actually happens at the local level, but a barrier to bicycle and pedestrian funding in state law has been removed.

Enabling legislation to greatly expand Great Rivers Greenway District's trails and greenways funding in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County - signed by Governor Nixon

A bill allowing the addition of 3/16s of a cent sales tax to Great Rivers Greenway District's current 1/10 of a cent sales tax in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County was passed by the Missouri General Assembly and was signed by Governor Nixon 10 July 2012.

The bill provides some funding for area parks, will greatly accelerate the construction of Great Rivers Greenway's River Ring network of trails an on-street bicycle routes, and provides for connection of the Arch Grounds to the area's trails and greenway network as well as other improvements to the Arch grounds.

Great Rivers Greenway District logo
Great Rivers Greenway District logo

The funding proposal still must be passed by a vote of the people in each of the three affected areas.

Attempt to eliminate Great Rivers Greenway Funding - defeated

Rep. Mark Parkinson introduced a bill that would have allowed the repeal of Great Rivers Greenway District's funding, which provides about $10 million annually for trails, greenways, parks, and on-street bicycle facilities in the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.

After receiving much initial publicity, significant opposition to the proposal developed and it made no progress in the General Assembly this year.

Enabling legislation for a new trails and greenways district in Jackson County, Kansas City area - signed by Governor Nixon

The Kansas City region has been working to create a multi-county, bi-state trails and greenway district with dedicated annual funding for trails, greenways, and on-street bicycle facilities, similar to the Great Rivers Greenway District in the St. Louis region.  Over the years, the proposal has gradually contracted, by becoming Missouri-only and most recently, restricted to one county only.

Jackson County trail proposal
Jackson County trail proposal

However, eliminating the bi-state, multi-county aspect removed opposition to the concept, and the good news is that the bill creating a trails and greenways district in Jackson County (only) passed the General Assembly this year and was signed by Governor Nixon July 10th, 2012.

Thought the district is smaller than originally envisioned, Jackson County is the second largest county in Missouri, with over 10% of the state's population, and would have contributed about 80% of the funding of the original proposal.  Bill supporters believed it was better to start off with the one, largest county where there is strong support from the proposal rather than wait indefinitely for other counties to neutralize opposition.

Like the Great Rivers Greenway enabling legislation, the Jackson County legislation will provide 1/10 of a cent sales tax to greenways, trails, and bicycle routes, and will require a majority vote of county voters for final approval--and still requires Governor Nixon's signature before the county vote can proceed.

The number one reason bicycle and pedestrian facilities are lacking in Missouri has been lack of a dedicated funding source.  The new and expanded trails and greenway districts will provide that in four of the highest-population counties in Missouri and are a significant step in the right direction--though far more work remains to bring these benefits to the rest of the state!

Bridge Bike/Ped Path to be name after former MoBikeFed Chair Bob Watts - signed by Governor Nixon

Bob Watts of Liberty was a bike shop owner, pioneering and tireless local, state, and national bicycle and pedestrian advocate, and former Chair of MoBikeFed.

Bob and Jean Watts
Bob and Jean Watts

Bob advocated for creating a good, safe bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the Missouri River in Kansas City for over a decade.  The path was finally created as the result of advocacy work by MoBikeFed and numerous local organizations for bike/ped access on the new Paseo Bridge in Kansas City.  (The Paseo Bridge still does not have bike/ped access, but MoDOT agreed to retrofit two nearby bridges for bike/ped access, the Heart of America Bridge and the Chouteau Bridge.)

So it is fitting that the new bike/ped path over the Heart of America Bridge will be named after Bob.  The naming bill, HB 1807, passed both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly with just 15 minutes left to go in the session.  The bill was signed by Governor Nixon July 6th, 2012.

"Ryan's Bill," the fix to the bike rack/license plate problem, passes the General Assembly - signed by Governor Nixon

Two years ago, Ryan Metcalf approached the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation with a problem:  He had received a ticket for using a rather ordinary, stock bicycle rack that partially covered his rear license plate.

Bike rack covering the rear license plate--a violation of Missouri law, until now.
Bike rack covering the rear license plate--a violation of Missouri law, until now.

Now thanks to tireless advocacy by Ryan and some help from MoBikeFed along the way, the solution to Ryan's problem has been passed by the Missouri General Assembly and was signed by Governor Nixon July 10th and again July 12th, 2012.

Read the details of the solution here--the good news is that it is inexpensive and completely optional.

Anti-harassment ordinance discussed in General Assembly, introduced in cities - still in progress for 2013 and beyond

A bill banning harassment of and throwing objects at bicyclists and pedestrians was one of the very top priorities identified in our survey of MoBikeFed members and supporters last year.

Advocating for bicycling and walking
Advocating for bicycling and walking

The first such bill in Missouri was introduced by PedNet in Columbia. The success of the anti-harassment bill in Columbia led Greenwood and Independence to pass it as well.

MoBikeFed's Legislative Committee drafted a statewide anti-harassment bill and Capitol Day participants discussed the bill with legislators and potential sponsors--the first step in introducing the idea in Missouri's legislative process, which typically takes 3-6 years to complete.

Our strategy for now is to have the bill introduced and passed in several more Missouri citiehttp://mobikefed.org/2012/03/whats-missouri-general-assembly-weeks.  This will help build momentum for passing the statewide anti-harassment bill.

Trailnet took the initiative to approach a St. Louis Alderman, Scott Ogilvie, who introduced the St. Louis anti-harassment ordinance on Bike to Work Day.

You can help pass an anti-harassment bill in your city--sample language for a city ordinance is here.  Just take the sample language to your city council member or mayor.

Increased penalties for bad drivers who injure and kill - still in progress for 2013 and beyond

Another top priority of MoBikeFed members and supported, as identified in our Summer 2011 survey, was increased penalties for drivers who injure or kill.  The primary focus this year was a bill sponsored by Senator Kevin Engler and strongly supported by the state's motorcycle lobby, that would have greatly increased penalties for drivers who fail to yield or stop at traffic signals or stop signs, and injure or kill others.

Capitol Day meetings
Capitol Day meetings

The bill made significant headway this year but was ultimately held back by senators opposed to increased penalties and (particularly) fines on philosophical grounds.  The Missouri Senate is set up so that just one or two senators can stop most bills if they are strongly motivated to do so.

This is not the last we will see of this issue--with repeated trials over a period of years, language can be found that will satisfy opponents or we can simply outwait them!  Either way, we will get to our goal eventually.

Distracted driving - still in progress

A nationwide coalition is working to improve safety on our roads by reducing distracted driving--one of the leading causes of death and injury on the state's and the nation's roads and highways.

The issue of distracted driving also scored among the very highest priories of MoBikeFed members and supporters in last year's survey.

Missouri has passed a ban on texting for drivers under age 21.  However, attempts in recent years to expand it to all drivers have fallen short.  Again, a few senators oppose the bill on philosophical grounds.

Senator Bill Stouffer introduced a bill to ban distracted driving in general--rather than any specific act, like texting or cell phone use.  Senator Stouffer introduced the bill to make a point about the broad nature of distracted driving.  Several key groups, including MoBikeFed supported the bill. However some technical problems arose that could not be solved in time to move the bill forward this legislative session.

This is the first year this bill had been introduced, making it a positive start for progress on this issue--which, like most others, is likely to take 3-6 years before moving from 'idea' to 'law.'

Distracted driving - Electronic billboards - vetoed by Governor Nixon

Electronic billboards are a growing area of concern as a cause of distracted driving. In 2011, the General Assembly passed a bill allowing for a great increase in the number of electronic billboards in Missouri, but Governor Nixon vetoed it.

In 2012, a similar bill, SB 607, was passed.  Governor Nixon again vetoed the bill on July 12th, 2012. 

Another, more moderate, measure passed as part of HB 1402.  This bill requires MoDOT to enact comprehensive regulations to help minimize safety and other impacts of electronic billboards.  It is anticipated that Governor Nixon supports these provisions of HB 1402 (though he may disagree with other provisions of HB 1402 and veto the bill for that reason--that is unknown at this time).

Overall

MoBikeFed has assembled a legislative committee of many knowledgeable individuals, representing many diverse organizations across the state, and has a very effective lobbyist in place in the Capitol every day of the legislative session.

That means that we are able to move forward our Legislative Platform, bit by bit and step by step, with a little progress every year adding up to a lot of progress over the years and decades.

The help of many individual MoBikeFed members and supporters in visiting Jefferson City for Capitol Day, participating in the annual Ride with Legislators (now co-sponsored by MoBikeFed, Missouri State Parks, and MoDOT), and writing and emailing our elected representatives, means that we can help positive legislation move forward and stop problem legislation in its tracks.

Thanks to everyone involved in making the 2012 legislative season a success--and stay tuned for advocacy alerts on each of the above bills that have passed.   We now need to contact Governor Nixon to let him know of our support for these important bills.

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