Cyclist harassment law in Missouri town

[ny biker]

http://www.bikemonkey.net/?p=5063

I like the idea of this, although I could see problems with enforcement, i.e., proving that a motorist threw something or honked their horn to startle a cyclist.

Does anyone know how effective the existing laws in Colorado and South Carolina are?

[Thorn]

It will almost alwys be a he said/she said deal. But, laws like this call attention to the issue. According to the articles referenced below Colorado's law takes affect in August.


On the good side, sometimes other motorists come forward as witnesses:
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/10/driver-ticketed-confrontation-cyclist/

On the bad side....sometimes other motorists want to take it even further....
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/16/boulder-drivers-blockade-sunrise-century/

[MartianDestiny]

The CO cycling law takes effect August 5. Thus far what it has accomplished is:

1) DAILY newspaper articles about the cyclist/driver conflict, most NOT doing any good for the cyclists.

2) News cameras getting shoved on sticks at packs of cyclists to get the above stories. My group (of extremely experienced cyclists) nearly had a NASTY pileup because of this last weekend! If we hadn't swerved the camera would have ended up in someone's spokes, and at least 2 people ran off the road (more into the oncoming lane, luckily no traffic!) to avoid the ensuing swerving/braking.

3) Drivers are sending fliers out to organize what amounts to a "critical mass" to protest cyclists on mountain roads (many of which are either a) lightly traveled or b) have climbing lanes for the bikes!!). This is set up to coincide with an organized century ride (properly permitted). I expect crashes at least will ensue and I won't be the least surprised about violence.

4) MORE drivers buzzing cyclists like they have to get it out of their systems before August or something (I hadn't been buzzed at all in Boulder until this passed :( ).

I hope come August these new rules and rights will be enforced and upheld with vigor by law enforcement because right now it's only making things more dangerous for us. That's unfortunate because I think the law is well thought out and should be protecting both us and drivers (cars will be able to legally cross a double yellow to safely pass a cyclist).

Alas the media has helped spread misrepresentation of the new law and the majority of cyclists (we all ride 4 wide and intentionally block traffic and disobey traffic signals you know!) and I have my doubts as to how well these laws will (or even can be) enforced.

[MartianDestiny]

On the good side, sometimes other motorists come forward as witnesses:
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/10/driver-ticketed-confrontation-cyclist/
]

To clarify something that is not really made clear in the article. The roads in question are long reasonably fast descents (30 minutes to 1.5 hours of 5-8% downhill grade depending on where you are riding from before you get to this point). Cyclists are flying, even I (I ride my brakes a lot) am going at or near the speed limit. No problem for a good cyclist to be going 35-40+ in a 35 (what I believe most of that road is, and some large areas are 20 or 25mph). We have full right to take the whole lane in that situation, even under current laws. (it's a mountain road, double yellow, no passing, and no good reason for a car to be going around you when you are doing above the speed limit. Unfortunately a lot of drivers use this as a pass through to the peak to peak highway and think they can go 50 or 60. Then get annoyed with cyclists for not being in the river to let them pass on a blind corner :mad: )

[Deborajen]

At first, I liked the idea of that law, too. But I wonder if maybe it would work better to just have a general crackdown on enforcing existing laws to improve cycling safety? If tickets were issued to drivers for not giving proper space to a cyclist riding legally on the street, and if tickets were issued to cyclists for riding through stop signs, etc., maybe both sides would make more effort to get along.

[TrekTheKaty]

WOW! I live in Missouri and the state bicycling association hadn't mentioned it. I will note that Columbia is a college town that is close to the nationally known Katy Trail. Maybe they've had some "bad publicity."

[uforgot]

WOW! I live in Missouri and the state bicycling association hadn't mentioned it. I will note that Columbia is a college town that is close to the nationally known Katy Trail. Maybe they've had some "bad publicity."

Actually the Mo Bike Fed has kept us all informed about it. If you go to their website and sign up for emails, Brent will keep you posted on all cycling advocacy and activities in Missouri. It's been pretty big news. Columbia was also recently named a Silver-level cycling City by the league of American Bicyclists which means they are pretty progressive where cycling is concerned. No bad publicity, just a town that is trying to become more and more cycling friendly.

Here are a few websites if you are interested in MO cycling and advocacy cunninghamair:

mobikefed.org
getaboutcolumbia.com
stlbikefed.org

[TrekTheKaty]

Interesting--maybe my email subscription expired. I haven't gotten anything in a couple weeks. I'll check it out.

[uforgot]

If you haven't received anything in a couple of weeks, it has definitely expired or it's suddenly going to spam. There has been a bunch of news lately!

[Photoflygirl]

I have to say, disappointingly, that this topic featured on the front page of the Kansas City Star this week, and the comments from motorists in the forum are appalling. I actually considered thinking of the absurd idea of moving to a town that is bicycle friendly. It was really disturbing to see all the negative comments, most complaining about bicyclists being the ones who broke the law and caused the problems that motorists react to.

Here is a link to that article and comments:

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1256170.html

[Thorn]

Photo--don't read the comments....it will only depress you...and if it depresses you, you won't ride...if you stop riding, they've won by bullying you. Ride/Drive safe. Share the road.

If you have to read them, then remember to read responses like the following (sorry for the long URL)...

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7204-Tulsa-Alternative-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Civil-disobedience-at-Colorado-bicycle-tour


Motorists who say it is too dangerous for bicyclists to be on the public roads as they are likely to be hit by a car, are simply roadway bullies exactly like the playground bully who says, "This is my playground and I am bigger than you, and if you get hurt it is your own fault." They are simply blaming the victim.

[TrekTheKaty]

My answer to this is two-fold and we've covered them before:

The law says I have the right to ride my bicycle on the road.

My tax dollars go towards the upkeep of the roads--so no one has a right to tell me I can't use them how I want--within the law.

SO BITE ME (sorry)

I see improvements in attitude towards bicycles in my town--with more people riding bicycles or stopping to ask me questions about my bike. However, I visit Michigan and Colorado and realize we are SO behind the times.

How quickly people forget about the gas crunch........

[TrekTheKaty]

OK, this was interesting. I'm in Colorado with a friend who owns a house out here. We rode up a country road outside Breckenridge that goes up to Boreas pass ON MOUNTAIN BIKES. As we cruise up the middle of the road, pulling over for the few vehicles that come by, I begin to tell her about the law in Columbia and the front page of the KC Star (she has family there).

She says (on a mountain bike, pedaling up the middle of the country road), "I hate bicyclists. They think they own the road. They ride out on Hwy T and I have to slow down to go around them on the windy road--and it takes me longer to get to the feed store."

:eek: Huh? :eek:

I politely explained the cyclists that were hurt or killed, minding their own business. When this doesn't sink in, I explain the red-neck on a country road that almost clipped my DH last weekend--not because he was taking up the road, but simply for sport.

She argued, "I wouldn't ride on the road." I told her, "I do." So hopefully, next time she passes cyclists she will look closer and realize they are a person with family and friends--maybe one of her friends.

She finally settled with a "I guess there are two sides to the story." So talk to your "non-cycling" friends about this. Be prepared to give a gentle explanation to the rights and dangers of cycling.

[Photoflygirl]

Thanks for the words, Thorn. I know I can't give up, I love this sport and I will do everything I can to educate motorists on the law, and in a polite way. And I won't stop riding on the road. It is still my goal to commute to work someday soon. It's just disappointing to see how many rude and inconsiderate people there are out there...

[MartianDestiny]

So talk to your "non-cycling" friends about this. Be prepared to give a gentle explanation to the rights and dangers of cycling.

Agreed, one person at a time. My dad smoked his tires once and cut it way too close passing a cyclist (in a bike lane) then cut him off to make a right turn.

My response was: "would you have just done that if it were me on that bike?"
dad: "of course not"
Me: "well it very well could have been me, so think about that"

He's much better about cyclists when I'm with him now; hopefully he's careful when I'm not in the car too...

[tctrek]

What I've noticed is the difference between how drivers act around cyclists in affluent communities vs. in lower class areas. Today we rode through mountain country with very narrow roads, no shouler, switchback climbs/descents. High-priced area, lakes and million dollar homes. We had some very polite Mercedes, Lexus and Volvos come up behind us and ride super slow, hesitant to pass us too close. We had to wave them past us and then they took a really wide berth!!! Big difference from riding near our home where the Bubba's in Ford pickups yell at us to use the sidewalk.

I think there are all kinds of drivers out there - some love us, some hate us and some are afraid of being sued if they hit us :) ... and we just have to be as alert as possible to try to protect ourselves from the crazies.