Banning bikes on county roads

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 14, 2010 at 11:58am

wow.

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Permalink Reply by Amber K on July 14, 2010 at 11:58am

MoDOT says St. Charles County can't ban bikes from state roads

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/article_602384e2-8ecd-...

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on July 14, 2010 at 1:26pm

Granted that I'm an evil scientist/politician and not a traffic engineer, why do all these 55 mph roads not have shoulders in the first place?

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on July 14, 2010 at 1:36pm

I think towns and counties should have the right to ban cyclists from specific roads based on road conditions (examples: Ridge Ave in Evanston, Sheridan Rd further north (not sure about the town)), but banning cyclists from all roads in a county is a heavy handed approach.

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Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on July 14, 2010 at 1:46pm

Duppie, the county council of St. Charles is not considering a ban of bicycles on "all roads" in the county, only certain highways.

However, these highways are more like the rural county highways we see all over the praires and farms of the midwest. We are not taking about federal or state highways, such as I-90, I-290, and the like.

Clearly there is a high risk for a bike-car collision on a high-speed road with no shoulders. But rather than approach this problem with a discriminatory, freedom-limiting approach such as banning cyclists, I believe the county of St. Charles and the state of Missouri should adopt a Complete Streets plan to ensure that these highways have the sufficient infrastructure (shoulders) to safely allow both modes of transportation. MoDOT has plans to build shoulders on some stretches of the St. Charles county highways, but they are, in my opinion, decades behind on implementing these and need to pour some money into pouring that new concrete faster.

Really, in the Dark Age of Oil, can we really see a future in restricting and discouraging bicycle usage?

Duppie said:

I think towns and counties should have the right to ban cyclists from specific roads based on road conditions (examples: Ridge Ave in Evanston, Sheridan Rd further north (not sure about the town)), but banning cyclists from all roads in a county is a heavy handed approach.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on July 14, 2010 at 4:21pm

i am somewhat familiar with the county in question, but even more so with Lincoln and Warren counties and i have to say that it's my impression that rural Missouri is no place to cycle. The roads are very narrow and w/o shoulders as a general rule, and driven by country folk in bloody great big pickups doing 80...

i find it interesting and instructive that the Missouri-based randonneuring group holds its rides in southern Illinois.

bicycle_poet said:

Duppie, the county council of St. Charles is not considering a ban of bicycles on "all roads" in the county, only certain highways.

However, these highways are more like the rural county highways we see all over the praires and farms of the midwest. We are not taking about federal or state highways, such as I-90, I-290, and the like.

Clearly there is a high risk for a bike-car collision on a high-speed road with no shoulders. But rather than approach this problem with a discriminatory, freedom-limiting approach such as banning cyclists, I believe the county of St. Charles and the state of Missouri should adopt a Complete Streets plan to ensure that these highways have the sufficient infrastructure (shoulders) to safely allow both modes of transportation. MoDOT has plans to build shoulders on some stretches of the St. Charles county highways, but they are, in my opinion, decades behind on implementing these and need to pour some money into pouring that new concrete faster.

Really, in the Dark Age of Oil, can we really see a future in restricting and discouraging bicycle usage?

Duppie said:

I think towns and counties should have the right to ban cyclists from specific roads based on road conditions (examples: Ridge Ave in Evanston, Sheridan Rd further north (not sure about the town)), but banning cyclists from all roads in a county is a heavy handed approach.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on July 15, 2010 at 9:04am

I grew up in St. Charles county, and it is the most car-centric place I have ever been. There is no concept of public transit, not even busses. And I remember viewing people who had to walk to get from one place to another as being poor and low-class. The way that the subdivisions are set up without sidewalks reflect that attitude. There are almost only winding narrow roads or else rushing 5-lane interestates, for all intents and purposes. It's got to be a pretty terrible place for a cyclist to live.

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Permalink Reply by Amber K on July 15, 2010 at 9:31am

Don't think I could ever live anywhere that wasn't bike friendly since living here in Chicago!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on July 15, 2010 at 9:56am

I just got myself depressed looking at google maps of st. charles. I'm moving to St. Louis city next month after 16 years in Chicago. I'm hoping for the best.

Amber K said:

Don't think I could ever live anywhere that wasn't bike friendly since living here in Chicago!

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on July 15, 2010 at 10:28am

It's very common in West Virginia. Where there are hills that you cut out to place a road, they never cut out enough to include shoulders also. It's a very car centric way of thinking, but they've known little else.

Dr. Doom said:

Granted that I'm an evil scientist/politician and not a traffic engineer, why do all these 55 mph roads not have shoulders in the first place?

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on July 15, 2010 at 10:29am

Don't worry. As gas prices continue their slow climb people will begin to wake up. Slowly, but inevitably.

Lisa yeah said:

I grew up in St. Charles county, and it is the most car-centric place I have ever been. There is no concept of public transit, not even busses. And I remember viewing people who had to walk to get from one place to another as being poor and low-class. The way that the subdivisions are set up without sidewalks reflect that attitude. There are almost only winding narrow roads or else rushing 5-lane interestates, for all intents and purposes. It's got to be a pretty terrible place for a cyclist to live.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on July 15, 2010 at 12:07pm

"And Lisa, what is your opinion of the proposed bike ban in St Charles? With your statement above, I'd think you might agree with the proposed ban."

I do think there are roads that are very unsuitable for bikes. I have a problem with the ban because it seems like the start of a slippery slope- what other roads will the want to make off limits?- and because the county doesn't seem to have any alternate plans for cyclists.

At first I'll be living near Overland/St. John, in St. Louis County, by the Inner Belt, but then moving down near Grand/Arsenal, probably.

Clark said:

Lisa yeah said:

...I'm moving to St. Louis city next month after 16 years in Chicago. I'm hoping for the best.

Where are you moving? Anywhere near Forest Park and the Central West End? I think that neighborhood, east of Skinker, is pretty nice for bikes.

Lisa yeah said:
I grew up in St. Charles county, and it is the most car-centric place I have ever been...It's got to be a pretty terrible place for a cyclist to live....

And Lisa, what is your opinion of the proposed bike ban in St Charles? With your statement above, I'd think you might agree with the proposed ban.

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