Capitol Day 2014: What happened yesterday at Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol

Monday was our annual Legislators Ride and Capitol Day in Jefferson City. 

The Legislators Ride leaves from the Capitol and crosses the Missouri River on the Pat Jones Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge

We had a good turnout, a great ride on a beautiful day, and heard inspiring words from several legislators who rode with us, encouraging us to continue to stand up for bicycling and defeat the anti-bicycling amendment.

Please take a moment to contact your own state representative and ask them to oppose the anti-bicycle amendment. The vote will likely take place Tuesday, April 8th.

We had great representation from groups around the state--BikeWalkKC, Trailnet, PedNet, Ozark Greenways, FLATS, the Missouri Rock Island Trail Coalition, and  many others.

Our members and supporters covered the halls of the Capitol, visiting every legislator's office to deliver information and having many productive meetings with legislators and staff. Our volunteers helped staff the check-in table, distribute information packets, and help run the Legislators Ride. Our lobbyist, Jim Farrell, helped guide our meetings with key decision-makers and legislative leaders.

Bicycling is but one small part of this proposed transportation funding plan. But the anti-bicycle amendment has thrust bicycling into the limelight in Jefferson City, and your calls and messages to House members are making a real difference.

We are hopeful the anti-bicycle amendment will be defeated--and it if is, your personal calls and messages to your Representative are the thing that will have made the difference.

Thanks so much for your support and taking the time to contact your elected officials.

News Coverage of the Anti-Bicycle Amendment

The anti-bicycle amendment and our campaign to support bicycling in the Missouri House has received extensive news coverage.

Here are a few of the articles:

• Riverfront Times: Bike Ban: Rep. Paul Curtman Tries to Cut Bicycles from Missouri Transportation Funding
• MissouriNet: Advocates rally opposition to exclusion of bicycling from transportation tax proposal  
• Columbia Tribune: Chris Kelly criticizes move to take bicycle use out of sales tax proposal