BikeWalkKC working for anti-harassment ordinance for bicyclists & pedestrians; vote soon

Legislation protecting bicyclists and pedestrians from harassment has been identified by MoBikeFed members as among their highest priorities.  It's easy to understand why--being harassed verbally, physically, or by having objects thrown, is frightening and discouraging for people who walk and bicycle. 

Road rage . . .

Columbia (2009, reaffirmed later in 2009), Greenwood (2010), Independence (2010), and St. Louis (2012) have passed anti-harassment legislation in the past few years.

Now BikeWalkKC is working with Kansas City Councilman John Sharp to pass an anti-harassment ordinance in Missouri's largest city:

Many pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users are experiencing harassment on Kansas City streets, and it’s hindering their right to a safe trip.

Mothers walking children to school, cyclists biking to work, and individuals waiting at the bus stop are just a few examples of the countless people who have become targets on our streets and in our neighborhoods, and it's time for a change. 

Harassment is illegal in many US states. Most states -- including Missouri and Kansas -- have statutes explicitly prohibiting “harassment.” These laws ban behavior like using “coarse language” or committing a “threatening, intimidating, or alarming action.” Many states also make disorderly conduct or disturbance of the peace offenses.

The problem is that -- except for the most serious actions, like groping and assault -- street harassment behaviors are rarely explicitly prohibited. That lack of specificity means that something like a suggestive comment or taunting, sadly, is often not legally recognized as harassment.

The KCStar's Mike Hendricks covered the reasons for the proposal:

Whether it’s crude remarks shouted from car windows at mothers walking their kids to school, or bicyclists nearly squeezed off the road by angry motorists not interested in sharing it, such all-too-common acts of intimidation do more than make the targets fearful.

They also undermine initiatives aimed at fighting obesity and encouraging alternative forms of transportation here and across the nation.

Which is why Kansas City could soon be joining a growing number of communities that have enacted anti-harassment ordinances that impose fines and jail sentences on perpetrators found guilty of street harassment.

“We’re encouraging people to walk and bike more,” Kansas City Councilman John Sharp said, “and they certainly ought to be allowed to do that without harassment.”

Kansas City's ordinance is slated for a hearing on September 25th; BikeWalkKC and Councilman Sharp are hoping to have the measure passed in time for International Walk to School Day October 8th.  

• You can help by signing BikeWalkKC's petition to support the anti-harassment ordinance here.
• Language of the proposed KC ordinance is here.

What about a statewide anti-harassment law--and how you can help

A statewide anti-harassment law is near the top of MoBikeFed's legislative platform for 2015.  But getting a statewide law passed will be a difficult uphill battle.  The more Missouri cities that have passed and had a successful experience with an anti-harassment ordinance, the easier it will be to pass at the statewide level.

So we are encouraging Missourians across the state, and organizations that support bicycling and walking, to look at our list of sample anti-harassment ordinances in Missouri and across the nation, and encourage your city to pass its own anti-harassment ordinance.

Experience in Missouri's cities that have the ordinances is that they are effective in changing motorist behavior for the better.

Working for better, safer bicycling, walking, and trails across Missouri is an important part of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Helping develop model language for anti-harassment ordinances in Missouri and help to support and coordinate statewide work on anti-harassment ordinance is one of our current top priorities.  Your membership and generous financial support helps make our Vision into reality!