Council declines to repeal bicyclist harassment law - Columbia Missourian

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The council on Monday night reaffirmed its commitment to an ordinance it passed on June 15 that makes harassing bicyclists a misdemeanor. In doing so, it rejected on a 4-2 vote a proposal by Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade to suspend the ordinance for six months to allow the community to determine whether there were better alternatives. Only Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill sided with Wade.

The ordinance passed in June makes it a Class A misdemeanor to throw anything at bicyclists, to threaten or knowingly endanger them or to deliberately frighten or disturb them. Violators can be fined $1,000 and/or be sentenced to a year in jail.

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Council declines to repeal bicyclist harassment law - Columbia Missourian

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MoBikeFed comment: This is an older article--but relevant for this year, when we're working to pass a statewide anti-harassment ordinance similar to the one Columbia passed.

One reason we're ready to take this statewide now is because cities like Columbia have tested and vetted the anti-harassment concept. It works, it is effective, it has none of the negative effects its initial detractors thought it would