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...ation-cyclist/

On the bad side....sometimes other motorists want to take it even further....
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009...nrise-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...ation-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 )

[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