PedNet Coalition announces official support for cyclist education, law enforcement, and “anti-harassment” law
The PedNet Coalition Inc. Board of Directors has developed the following public position on the “Harassment of a Bicyclist” ordinance and related matters:
- The PedNet Coalition believes all cyclists and drivers should obey all traffic laws.
- The PedNet Coalition strives to improve relations between cyclists and drivers: this fall, PedNet will organize a "Bicycle Stakeholders Meeting," whose purpose is to bring bicycling groups and law enforcement agencies together, to define and build support for safe and respectful bicycling behavior.
- The PedNet Coalition supports and wishes to participate in the Columbia City Council's proposed Task Force to study the "Harassment of a Bicyclist" ordinance and relations between cyclists and drivers, and make recommendations to Council.
- The PedNet Coalition believes the "Harassment of a Bicyclist" ordinance is a reasonable and necessary law enforcement tool, and supports an initial period during which warnings will be issued but no arrests will be made.
The PedNet Coalition recognizes that the June 15, 2009 adoption of the "Harassment of a Bicyclist" ordinance (see text of ordinance, below) has triggered a negative reaction in the community. Reasons for this reaction include public misunderstanding about the ordinance, a sense that resources for and promotion of bicycling are excessive, and the dangerous and illegal behavior of some cyclists.
PedNet proposes to address these concerns in a number of ways. Through our classes, our web site and newsletter, and in the public media, we will continue to educate and encourage all cyclists to obey traffic laws. We will support the Columbia Police Department’s efforts to enforce these laws through warnings or tickets for cyclists who run stop signs and red lights, ride at night without lights, ride against traffic, weave through traffic, or ride in a dangerous and discourteous manner.
We will address these issues head-on by bringing together bicycling groups and law enforcement agencies in a "Bicycle Stakeholders Meeting." The goals of this meeting will be to define and agree on a code of safe and respectful bicycling conduct, and then develop strategies to build support for the code among all of Columbia’s bicyclists. PedNet will also provide strong support for the Columbia City Council's proposed Task Force to study the "Harassment of a Bicyclist" ordinance by participating on the Task Force, providing technical assistance as needed, and promoting the Task Force’s recommendations to PedNet members and others.
PedNet believes the "Harassment of a Bicyclist" ordinance is a reasonable and necessary law enforcement tool. We support an initial period (for example, while the Task Force completes its work) during which warnings will be issued but no arrests will be made.
We encourage PedNet members and other citizens to participate in the August 17, 2009 City Council public hearing, at which Council will decide whether to suspend the ordinance. In the meantime, please contact us with your comments.
The PedNet Coalition’s overall goal is to improve relations between cyclists and drivers, so that Columbia’s streets are safe and welcoming places for all modes of transport.
Sec. 16-145. Harassment of a bicyclist.
(a) A person commits the offense of harassment of a bicyclist if the person:
(1) Knowingly throws an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle; or
(2) Threatens any person riding a bicycle for the purpose of frightening or disturbing the person riding the bicycle; or
(3) Sounds a horn, shouts or otherwise directs sound toward any person riding a bicycle for the purpose of frightening or disturbing the person riding the bicycle; or
(4) Knowingly places a person riding a bicycle in apprehension of immediate physical injury; or
(5) Knowingly engages in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury to the person riding a bicycle.
(b) Harassment of a bicyclist is a Class A misdemeanor.
