Motorist Contact Letter

[date]

[name, address]

Dear [name],

The Missouri Bicycle Federation has been requested to share the enclosed information about Missouri law in reference to bicycles.

We were told that at approximately [time and date], on [location], a person [include person's description if available] driving a [vehicle description and license number] had an encounter with a bicyclist. The bicyclist interpreted this encounter to be dangerous or threatening.

Perhaps this incident was a misunderstanding. Nonetheless, we would like to remind you that under the state law of all fifty states, including Missouri, bicyclists are allowed to use all roads and highways except interstate highway lanes or those very few locations where posted signs prohibit bicycles.

By Missouri State Statute 307.188 the bicycle is considered a vehicle and the bicyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of any other driver. Bicyclists are required to obey traffic laws just as motorists must, signaling turns, stopping at stop lights, using turn lanes and so on.

Motorists are required to treat bicyclists with the same degree of courtesy and safety as they would any other road user.

We encourage all to share the roads in a courteous fashion. Should you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

[name of Motorist Contact Chair]
Missouri Bicycle Federation Motorist Contact Chair

Older Motorist Contact Letter

Dear Mr./Ms. XXXXXXXXXXXX,

The Missouri Bicycle Federation has been requested to share the enclosed information about Missouri law in reference to bicycles.

[A description of the incident, including time, place, a description of the vehicle and driver of available, and other particulars, is inserted at this point.]

Perhaps this incident was an innocent misunderstanding. Nonetheless, we would like to remind you that under Missouri State Statute 307.188 the bicycle is considered a vehicle with all the rights and responsibilities of any other vehicle. Bicyclists may ride on the road and by law are required to ride on the right side of the road as other vehicles.

I hope this letter has introduced you to a bicyclist's perspective so that we may share the roads in a courteous fashion. Perhaps you may even like to try one of the most satisfying modes of travel...bicycling! Should you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

XXXX XXXX
MBF Motorist Contact Chair

2nd Older Motorist Contact Letter

Dear Mr./Ms. Motorist,

The Missouri Bicycle Federation has been requested to share the enclosed information about Missouri law in reference to bicycles. We were told that on day, month date, year, you and a bicyclist had an encounter on location in city that was interpreted as unsafe to the bicyclist. We wish to communicate with other Missouri road users with the goal of making the roads safer for all to use.

Under Missouri State Statute 307.188 the bicycle is listed as a vehicle with all the rights and responsibilities of any other vehicle. Bicyclists may ride on the road and by law are required to ride on the right side of the road as other vehicles. In fact, under the "Good Roads" movement in the 1890s before automobiles were popular, the roads in the United States were first paved to accommodate bicyclists.

Bicyclists ride for transportation, for health and fitness, to train for competition or just for fun. Bike paths do not always go where the cyclist wishes to go, are often heavily trafficked by pedestrians and often have poorly maintained surfaces that are dangerous to bicyclists. Bike commuters desire a route that has the least amount of traffic and is the most direct way to work. Those who enjoy touring the countryside on bicycles use the roads that offer the most scenery, are the most direct routes or have the least amount of motorized traffic.

Competitive bicyclists require many miles (often 300 miles per week or more) of riding on smooth pavement in order to train for races. The closer a race situation is duplicated, the better prepared the cyclist is for the next race, requiring practice riding in tightly-grouped packs. This allows for the exchange of the lead and the sharing of the work. The pace and the proximity requires all to ride in a straight line to avoid collisons. Often safety requires that cyclists remain in the travel lane instead of weaving over to the shoulder when one is available.

Often, due to the motorist's lack of bicycling experiences and perspective, he or she is unable to determine why the bicyclist is riding in the same lane as the motorized traffic. More often than not, debris collects on the shoulders and in the gutters of roadways. In addition, many otherwise ideal shoulders have been marred by rumble strips. Should a bicyclist ride over this debris, and in many cases the rumble strip, he or she would puncture a tire...causing at the least a time delay while the flat is fixed and at the most a nasty fall.

I hope this letter has introduced you to a bicyclist's perspective so that we may share the roads in a courteous fashion. Perhaps you may even like to try one of the most satisfying modes of travel...bicycling! Should you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.