Woo, great press this week for our Safe Public Spaces Mentees BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
“‘We’re encouraging people to walk and bike more,’ Kansas City Councilman John Sharp said, ‘and they certainly ought to be allowed to do that without harassment.’
Broad anti-harassment ordinances are already on the books in Kansas and Missouri.
But before the end of the month, Sharp, chairman of the council’s public safety and emergency services committee, hopes to pass an ordinance that would outlaw threatening and dangerous behavior to protect “vulnerable road users.” That includes everyone from bikers, walkers and cyclists to people in wheelchairs or waiting at bus stops.
The ordinance is based on similar ones passed in Columbia, St. Louis, Independence and Greenwood, Mo., in the last five years. Sharp and advocacy group BikeWalkKC hope to have Kansas City’s ordinance on the books by Oct. 8.
That’s International Walk to School Day. Fifty years ago, half of American school kids biked or walked to school. Now it’s less than 15 percent at a time when many children are overweight and need more exercise.
But attempts to reverse that trend aren’t going to work, Sharp said, unless parents believe the streets are safe. Nor will anyone other than the bravest cyclists use the new bike lanes the city is striping across town if they’re fearful of being run off the road by aggressive motorists.”
“The Kansas City Council is considering an ordinance to crack down on harassment and threats for those taking a stroll or riding a bicycle.
The ordinance amendment is sponsored by Councilman John Sharp. He said he hopes to protect anyone from being made to feel uncomfortable…
The council’s public safety committee will discuss the issue on Sept. 25. If it passes out of committee, the full council could take it up as soon as Sept. 26.
The following is the proposed ordinance:
Sec. 50-205. Harassment of a Bicyclist, Pedestrian or Wheelchair Operator
(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them below, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Bicycle means any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears, and may include an electric assist motor, and has wheels at least 16 inches in diameter and a frame size of at least 13 inches.
Wheelchair means any manual or motorized device designed specifically for use by a physically disabled person for means of conveyance.
(b) No person shall, for the purpose of frightening or injuring any person riding a bicycle, walking, running, or operating a wheelchair:
(1) Throw an object, direct a projectile, or operate a vehicle at or in such person’s direction; or
(2) Threaten such person; or
(3) Sound a horn, shout or otherwise direct loud or unusual sounds toward such person; or
(4) Place such person in apprehension of immediate physical danger; or
(5) Engage in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury to such person.
(c) Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $50, but not more than $500 or by imprisonment of not more than 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.”
