I, E and E: Inform, Educate and Enforce
Everyone keeps talking about “new” bicycle laws. The way I look at it, we don’t need a lot of new laws – we need to Inform and Educate the general public. And we need the police to Enforce the existing laws. The only additional law I see as necessary would be the “3 Feet Please” law, because as it currently stands, all Missouri law states is, “The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, as defined in section 300.010, RSMo, shall leave a safe distance, when passing the bicycle, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.”
That’s too vague. What’s a “safe distance”. And even if an accident occurs – it’s only a class 3 misdemeanor! What the —-?! It should be classified as “assault with a deadly weapon”. Or, in the worst case scenario, “Vehicular homicide”.
As one lady told me at a recent ride sponsored by Trailnet, she was in the designated bicycle lane on South Grand & still someone yelled from their car, “Get on the sidewalk, where you belong.” Even as a kid, I don’t remember riding on the sidewalk that much; mainly because there were few sidewalks in Jennings at that time. And as a dumb kid, I was likely to ride anywhere – weaving back & forth, etc. I don’t remember any problems. Why? Probably because drivers were more aware back then & there were also fewer drivers. Today, many drivers (motorists) have that “I own the road” attitude. Nobody “owns” the road. If anyone in this country has the right to claim ownership of the roads, it would be Interstate truckers & their companies. It was their tax dollars that paid a good chunk on the initial cost for Interstate highways – and still does for road repair & upkeep.
I’m wandering too much… Within the test for new motorists & drivers should be questions regarding cyclists. And there should be follow up test (at least written) containing these same questions to see if they remember. Your driver’s license expires about every 4 years. Who’s to say people don’t forget that a bicycle is a “vehicle” too? We need massive meetings (somehow) that the general public will attend to educate & inform them. We need police who are knowledgeable and willing to enforce the existing laws. Case in point… On a recent evening ride to Ted Drewes on South Grand, I asked the policeman on duty why he didn’t say or do anything about the amount of people riding that night with no lights on their bicycles. He wasn’t even aware cyclists needed lights at night. “I don’t know bicycle laws.” Honest to God – that was his response. When I lived in Bellefontaine Neighbors, there was at least one cop on a Trek “Police Special” mountain bike patrolling the neighborhoods on a regular basis in nice weather. They knew the law. They enforced the law. St. Louis city police are a joke – in my humble opinion. I’ve seen the cop on a bicycle patrolling “The Grove” area at night – riding the WRONG way – a salmon. Inform, educate & enforce. We don’t need a lot of new laws. We need the existing laws to be upheld!
Thanks, Joe! I’m not a fan of the proposed “3 feet” law, because if a motorist is passing me on my bicycle at a high speed, three feet is not enough clearance for safe passing. If the speed differential is high, motorists should change lanes to pass. I aim for that “sweet spot” on the road to ensure that they will.
It truly is disheartening when a police officer doesn’t know the law. Thankfully most do! Sometimes cops have good reasons for being “salmons” and/or “ninjas,” though hopefully they are aware of the risks when riding this way.
I’m all for some kind of question or statement on the drivers’ exam (and follow-up license renewal quiz) to remind all road users that bicycles are vehicles, and subject to the same laws as all other vehicles on the road. How can we make this happen?
“It truly is disheartening when a police officer doesn’t know the law. Thankfully most do!”
I beg to differ. I have absolutely no trust and/or faith in St. Louis City police. The cop I spotted riding the wrong way was doing so at a leisurely pace & weaving on top of that. Did he stop for a bit of liquid refreshment at The Handlebar or Atomic Cowboy?
Thanks for this, and thanks generally to Karen for the blog. There are drivers out there who don’t have a clue, and there are also cyclists out there who don’t have a clue. Whenever a driver seems wary of me or even hostile, I have to recognize that there are a lot of law-flouting cyclists out there giving us a bad name. I wish they would read these blogs and attend events, but I think we mostly have to show by example when we’re out there. Show the bad cyclists how it’s done, and show the drivers that we’re careful and lawful – and all on the same side in the end.
Thank you, Cathy. I agree: We’re all going somewhere!
“I have to recognize that there are a lot of law-flouting cyclists out there giving us a bad name.”
All it takes is one; same as when I drove a truck OTR (over-the-road). One bad trucker gives every good trucker a bad name. I would still like to see better enforcement of the law…espcially those with no lights at night.
I get what you are wanting Joe. I just don’t want it that way. I want more safety. But honestly a bicycle is still fun for many of us. Leisurely weaving down the way. Going the wrong way on one way streets or taking the sidewalk. You want rules it appears and I want safe but fun.
I’m grateful that the cop didn’t bother the bikers without lights, glad he doesn’t bother most of us.
I’m also pretty sure that if you passed me at 3 feet I’ld be flipping you off if you were traveling at any real speed.
I also am not out to vilify every driver of a car who has an accident with a cyclist. Not to mention we don’t have the jail space. My point being is MOST drivers respect and take care to avoid conflict. MOST drivers are nice and accommodating most of the time.
Oh well.. point being .. you can’t right enough laws to take the “STUPID” out of society.
Kelly
“I’m grateful that the cop didn’t bother the bikers without lights, glad he doesn’t bother most of us.”
If you ride at night with no lights, then you’re right…you can’t fix “STUPID”. Being seen is #1 in my book. If they see you, chances are slim they will hit you. Night time + no lights = stupid.