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City of Missoula, Montana Item to be Referred to City Council Committee Committee: Public Safety & Health Item: Bicycle laws with respect to traffic control devices and registration Date: September 2, 2009 Prepared by: Pam Walzer Initiated by: Pam Walzer Action Required: Set a public hearing to consider an ordinance of the Missoula City Council amending Missoula Municipal Code Title 10 entitled Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 42 entitled Bicycles for the purpose of changing the requirements for complying with traffic control devices and removing conflicting registration requirements by amending Sections 10.42.030 and 10.42.040. Recommended Motion: I move the City Council set a public hearing on TBD to consider an ordinance of the Missoula City Council amending Missoula Municipal Code Title 10 entitled Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 42 entitled Bicycles for the purpose of changing the requirements for complying with traffic control devices and removing conflicting registration requirements by amending Sections 10.42.030 and 10.42.040. Timeline: Referral to committee: September 2, 2009 Committee discussion: TBD Council acts to set hearing: TBD Public Hearing: TBD Deadline: none Background and Alternatives Explored: Currently, the Montana and Missoula traffic laws do not differentiate between motor vehicles and bicycles with regards to stop signs and traffic signals. Many of the light-controlled intersections in Missoula do not recognize when a bicyclist rolls up and is waiting to cross the intersection. It is only after a motor vehicle triggers the light change can the cyclist legally proceed through the intersection. If a car does not approach the intersection, such at night, the cyclists is forced to knowingly break the law by proceeding through the intersection against the light, even if there no approaching traffic. Stop signs reduce safety by requiring cyclists to enter the intersection after a complete stop, with no momentum, which makes them less stable. A cyclist approaching a stop sign has greater visual and auditory clues than motor vehicles, is better aware of conflicting vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and has an extremely shorter emergency stopping distance than a motor vehicle. Idaho has allowed a stop-as-yield and red light-as-stop for bicycles for over 26 years with no increase in bicycle accidents. A bill was introduced in the 2009 MT Legislature by Robin Hamilton to allow, among other things, for bicyclists to treat a stop as a yield. The bill was held in committee. In addition, there is conflicting information between this ordinance, section 10.42.040 and the bicycle licensing requirements under MCC 5.60 concerning the registration of bicycles Title 5. The requirements in 5.60 are more restrictive, establish the Bicycle Pedestrian Board, and are the cstatus quo. Deletion of the registration requirements Chapter 10 removes inconsistencies. Attached is a draft amendment of the bicycle traffic code, MCC 10.42 and the Idaho State bicycle regulation. Financial Implications: None Attachments: Draft Ordinance Idaho State bicycle regulation: