ALERT: ATVs on Katy Trail Bill passed by second committee; Your voice in opposition needed again

This morning the bill to allow ATVs and golf carts on the Katy Trail passed its second hurdle--a second committee vote in favor of the proposal. Only three representatives on the House Select Committee on Agriculture voted against the bill.

Do we want wide, fast, noisy, motorized vehicles with big, aggressive tires on Missouri's Katy Trail?

The next important step will be a vote on the floor of the House--and our next chance to stop this ill-conceived bill.

Please contact your legislators and House Agriculture Committee members now (again!) and ask them to oppose HB 2047

Even if you have contacted your Missouri state legislators before about this bill, please contact them again now. This will bolster our efforts to talk with Missouri legislators in person during Bicycle & Pedestrian Day at the Capitol Monday, April 11th.

• FULL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVOCACY ALERT FOR CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS AND COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP HERE.
• Please join us in Jefferson City for the 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol April 11th. We'll be talking about this bill and other key issues such as the 15 foot bicycle flag bill, the proposed bicycle ban and several positive bills, including bans on texting while driving, increased penalties for dangerous drivers who injure and kill, and safe passing of bicyclists.

As we said when this bill was first released: It is time for Katy Trail supporters to speak up.  Allowing motor vehicles, like ATVs, "utility vehicles," and golf carts, on the trail is a very bad idea.

Full details about the bill and the reasons for opposing it--updated to reflect the changes made in HB 2047 by the Committee Amendment--are on our Advocacy Alert page for HB 2047.

What are the changes to HB 2047 in this committee?

In this second committee, another amendment was offered to allow the engine size of the "utility vehicles" allowed on the Katy Trail to be raised to 700ccs.

Otherwise, this is the same bill as passed by the first committee: Any with a disability or over 60 years of age can drive an ATV ("utility vehicle" as they are called in the legislation) or golf cart on the Katy Trail every Wednesday.

Read our Advocacy Alert for HB 2047 for a very long list of reasons this is a very bad idea.

See the HB 2047 bill page on the Missouri House web site for the full text of the bill and other legislative information.

Please contact your legislators AND join us for Bicycle & Pedestrian Day at the Capitol April 11th, 2016

• FULL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVOCACY ALERT FOR CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS AND COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP HERE.
• Please join us in Jefferson City for the 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol April 11th. We'll be talking about this bill and other key issues such as the 15 foot bicycle flag bill, the proposed bicycle ban and several positive bills, including bans on texting while driving, increased penalties for dangerous drivers who injure and kill, and safe passing of bicyclists.

Creating a world-class bicycle, pedestrian, and trails transportation system across Missouri is one of the four primary goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Defending that system once it is in place--as we are doing by opposing the ATV/Katy Trail bill--is an important part of making that Vision a reality.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!