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PLEASE READ!

This e-mail was sent in response to an e-mail blast with the subject: "Help us Stop the St. Charles County Bike Ban". I know it changed my view on the topic, it is not about these guys wanting us off the roads, it is about keeping everyone safe. Your thoughts are welcome! E-mail (Sally).

Words from Dan Morrison:

I too am a bike rider...and there's more here than is being told...thanks for the article, but there is more.

The subject line and tone of Dr Hugh's email doesn't reflect the real direction of this issue. Left as is, like Dr Hugh suggests, perhaps 11 more riders will die in the next year...which will really put a drab on tourism and the idea of bicycling in St Charles County. Far more of a damper, I would suggest, than actually recognizing that the riders AND drivers licensed to use the road need some protection from near certain tragedy while the roads are improved over the next year or two. Literally, they plan to have the most dangerous areas completed by 2011.

The community group Shoulder fOr Safety spearheaded the project to add shoulders to many of St Charles County roads in response to some very tragic events - not speculation, 11 real lives ended in the last 14 months. Given the small area that covers, that's a really big problem. The county recently had a press conference detailing some of the planning involved with the highway improvements.

Imagine this (or recall as I am doing):

You are driving along highway 94 around Defiance, MO. The posted speed limit is 55mph (as it is on all rural state highways). You are navigating the curves that are prevalent to these type roads and at this point, there isn't a shoulder. You spot a group of riders and move over to the left, straddle the centerline to give them room as you overtake the far slower bike traffic on the right. Partway through the pass, an oncoming dump truck rounds the bend and you will meet before you finish passing the bikers - someone is going to have a bad day. It was no ones fault, really. The dump truck was doing what it does, the riders weren't acting inappropriately and you were being courteous and obeying all laws except you got left of center on a double yellow line (also prevalent and extensive in this area). Shear skills saved my day.

The legislation Joe Brazil proposes is not an all out ban like the email suggests, but it does take into consideration that a situation as described above doesn't continue to badly injure or kill people. The flag idea is stupid, but mirrors, riding in a sigle file and staying to the far right do. Additionally, the citizens in the area are unwilling to continue to expose themselves to the liability of accidentally running down a rider. While the rider would surely be on the losing end of such an encounter, the driver would have long lasting legal and psychological repercussions from such an event - they have voiced that they wish to end being put in these dangerous situations. The solution on the table, in short, is bikes would not be allowed on shoulderless state and county roads until the shoulders, already approved and underway, are added.

The council work session for Bill #3620 was Aug 9 and the agenda had it scheduled for debate, however, the minutes aren't posted, only the video (which I admit I haven't watched yet). My suggestion to all with a stake in this to make plans to attend the upcoming meetings that this matter is discussed and listen to the actual debate, not the slogans, quotes and sound bites. I've been to council meetings, its not a party, but it does give you some insight into how and why things are done.

In Tennessee, there were serious issues with Mennonites driving their wagons on the shoulder, until there wasn't a shoulder, then they were on the road. For those unfamiliar, Mennonites reject pretty much all industrialized items - cars, electricty, deodorant, etc. Its their right to be that way, no fault there, but there was an issue with them sharing the highway system. A horse drawn wagon's bed is about the same height as a car hood and thus the loser in most car/wagon accidents was not only the Mennonites and their horse, but also the people in the car as they were typically decapitated as the wagon came through the windshield. The final legislation came down thus: Mennonites were required at all times to display the orange "slow moving vehicle" placard on the rear of their wagon and to have electric (battery powered) marker lights after dusk if they were in the right of way of any state, county or local road. The outcome was a dramatic decrease in these very tragic accidents (almost eliminated) in which no one was acting illegally, just on the same road with a great difference in speed.

I'm not sure what Dr Hugh's real agenda is here, but at first glance, it appears he is ignoring the danger of the situation. I would trust that someone with a sincere following would be beholden to take action that is in the followings best interest. So in this case, I'll hope that Dr Hugh has simply overstated his case to better position himself in future negotiations. Doing nothing except kicking the can down the road is a nonstarter - people are dying at a fairly high rate as it is.

Dan Morrison
dano.morrison@sbcglobal.net
"Do the right thing, it will gratify some and astonish the rest." -Mark Twain