I moved out of MO a few years ago after I realized that the changes I wanted to see to make for a less-fearful cycling experience on the roads wouldn’t happen in my lifetime.
The cry of “poverty!” was the constant chorus by state and local officials whenever cycling-friendly infrastructure or bike lanes was brought up in public meetings. I failed to see it when I coughed up a property tax for my car every year. Yes, MO has a property tax for your cars and trucks, citizens! And yet, MO has been in the bottom 5 of the lower 48 states for quality of roads. The League of American Bicyclists gave MO a “D” in infrastructure, and “F”‘s in Evaluation & Planning and Policies & Programs.
Pardon the expression, but the “Redneck Factor” was just too high for me as well. I was stopped by a cop who pulled me over while riding, stuck his finger at me and blurted out that bicycles aren’t allowed on city streets. I handed him a laminated copy of MO’s bicycle rules and regulations that I kept in my jersey pocket. This flatfoot had to go back to his squad car to *call it in* to see if I was trying to hand him a forgery or fabrication! “Sit on the curb and *don’t move*!” After a few minutes, he walked back to me and said, “Didn’t know you could ride bikes out here…”. He shuffled back to his squad and drove away.
That treatment did not in any way forgive the handling of the case of Michael Katz who was killed while riding in the bike lane on Manchester Road. Robert Rush -the driver who hit him- was driving with a suspended license, and plead guilty to several charges. His sentence? Five weekends in the county lockup and 1 yr. probation. No felony charges were leveled by the D.A. The driver has had 6 license suspensions in a 3-yr. period alone. Shameful.
So now I live in WI. Ranked #2 by LoAB and loving every minute when I ride right out my front door (an exercise for the nearly-suicidal St. Louis).
Sometimes you just have to realize when it’s time to move on. Should’ve done it sooner.
I moved out of MO a few years ago after I realized that the changes I wanted to see to make for a less-fearful cycling experience on the roads wouldn’t happen in my lifetime.
The cry of “poverty!” was the constant chorus by state and local officials whenever cycling-friendly infrastructure or bike lanes was brought up in public meetings. I failed to see it when I coughed up a property tax for my car every year. Yes, MO has a property tax for your cars and trucks, citizens! And yet, MO has been in the bottom 5 of the lower 48 states for quality of roads. The League of American Bicyclists gave MO a “D” in infrastructure, and “F”‘s in Evaluation & Planning and Policies & Programs.
Pardon the expression, but the “Redneck Factor” was just too high for me as well. I was stopped by a cop who pulled me over while riding, stuck his finger at me and blurted out that bicycles aren’t allowed on city streets. I handed him a laminated copy of MO’s bicycle rules and regulations that I kept in my jersey pocket. This flatfoot had to go back to his squad car to *call it in* to see if I was trying to hand him a forgery or fabrication! “Sit on the curb and *don’t move*!” After a few minutes, he walked back to me and said, “Didn’t know you could ride bikes out here…”. He shuffled back to his squad and drove away.
That treatment did not in any way forgive the handling of the case of Michael Katz who was killed while riding in the bike lane on Manchester Road. Robert Rush -the driver who hit him- was driving with a suspended license, and plead guilty to several charges. His sentence? Five weekends in the county lockup and 1 yr. probation. No felony charges were leveled by the D.A. The driver has had 6 license suspensions in a 3-yr. period alone. Shameful.
So now I live in WI. Ranked #2 by LoAB and loving every minute when I ride right out my front door (an exercise for the nearly-suicidal St. Louis).
Sometimes you just have to realize when it’s time to move on. Should’ve done it sooner.