Digital_Cowboy

What about loading it on a bus rack on the front of the bus? What about trying to take it on a train? Or what about carrying it on the back or top of a car?!?!

In that case I'd say that it's the responsibility of those doing the electing. Know who your candidates are and what they stand for.

rydabent

Great suggestion!!!!! Compromise is good!!!

Chris0516

I can see a bus driver in St. Louis, Branson, or even Kansas City. Saying that they can't see the road. Because the flag on the back of the cyclist's bike is obstructing the bus driver's view of the road. When the cyclist has their bike locked on the front of the bus. The pole may not be much in circumference of the pole. But I can certainly see it moving with the wind.

An all-over stupid idea on the part of the state legislator. A flagpole that long(or at least that long). Is already used by cyclists' using a recumbent bike.

Rollfast

Just give him a bike with a flag on a 15 foot pole. Problem solved.

CliffordK

Is the flag or the bike on the 15 foot pole?

I'm envisioning sending him off on a 15 foot (or higher) crow's nest on a sailing ship in stormy seas.

Digital_Cowboy

Yep, and I can also see it being a distraction to other road users as it's waving all over the place in front of a bus.

As has been said before, this site needs a "Like" button.

+1,000,000

CliffordK

The flag itself may well be above the bus windshield, assuming it is a moderately small flag, suspended 15' in the air (plus a couple of feet for the bumper mount for the bikes). It still would probably be broken off by the time one gets off the bus.

The pole would likely be whacking on the windshield and windshield wipers, and one may get a few broken windshields and wipers, especially when the pole gets a good whack on something above.

Put it on your car or SUV's roof rack, and one would be up to 20 feet or so above the ground.

Does the law require a rigid pole that keeps the flag at 15', or is it ok for the pole to bend in the wind? Hopefully not dropping it down to a level where it could skewer other road users.

njkayaker

People are not getting this silly law was designed to be impractical.

It's also not likely it would ever be enacted.

Digital_Cowboy

No, we get that this is a silly and asinine law. I think that most of us here are just having a little bit of fun with it.

genec

Perhaps the pole is meant to be used as a lance, to challenge others on the road... <--- (obligatory wink so folks know this is a joke)

kickstart

Its obviously political pandering not meant to be seriously considered, therefore having fun with it is the only appropriate response.

wphamilton

Seems like a gusty cross-wind would blow the flag sideways with lot of leverage from the 15 foot pole. Cyclists would have to ride right in the middle all of the time, to be safe. You'd be allowed to in Missouri, since they have the exception only as far right as is safe.

genec

Indeed... since one pole is supposed to be good... no doubt two will be better... flopping around whipping all those who dare to pass within at least 7 feet.

kickstart

It only says the pole needs to be 15' above the roadway with the bike upright, it doesn't say it needs to maintain position while in motion. Before you know it, everyone will scurry away like cockroaches whenever they see a cyclist for fear of being flogged by the whipping pole.

CliffordK

I can't imagine any legislator writing something that makes them look like a buffoon.

Yeah, they can show an attempt to fix a perceived problem, and claim they didn't get any support from the other legislators. But, such a tactic could easily backfire, especially with negative campaigning with competitors showing their sheer stupidity.

Then, of course, there is always the off chance that it actually passes, or gets stuck in as an amendment to something that passes, and one is left with a mess, and it makes it look like one has a whole legislature full of buffoons. Would they choose to fix their mess, or leave it on the books as a law that everyone generally ignores, unless the police choose to harass someone.

kickstart

Depends on who his constituents are, perhaps he knows that he represents a flock of bafoons..........

The states law only allows a maximum of 13' 6" for a non permitted vehicle, and a law may not compel one to violate another.

njkayaker

The problems people are mentioning in "fun" are all intentional.

That is, people are just pointing out reasons why the law would actually do what it's supposed to do (make bicycling too impractical).

dpeters11

Missouri bill requires bicyclists to fly 15-foot flag on country roads
"I want people to know I understand 15 feet is ridiculous," Houghton said Thursday afternoon. "But it got people talking about the issue" of bicycle safety on the highways."

"I understand your concerns, but the people of my district have asked me to file this legislation in an attempt to make their rural roads safer," Houghton wrote in the email.
"These roads have no shoulder, sharp curves, and steep hills. My constituents, who drive these roads daily, feel this is a good idea. It not only protects automobile drivers, as well as bicyclists. I believe in freedom, and this bill in no way restricts your freedom to ride on the roads. It simply requires you to have a flag, just like 4-Wheelers are required to have."

dpeters11

I looked at a fairly random lettered road, choosing a location not too far from a decently populated city. There do seem to be trees.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6489...!7i3328!8i1664

Or maybe this line
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6451...!7i3328!8i1664

genec

Gee, I don't recall 4-Wheelers being required to have flags... maybe 4WD off roaders in certain environments... but 4-Wheelers??

mr_bill

On the trees - good find.
On the utility wire crossing the road - that's 18 feet up.

-mr. bill

wphamilton

I don't think it would be intentional to force the bicycles to legally ride in the middle of the road, all roads all the time. This particular lawmaker wants them out of the way as much as possible.

mr_bill

See Chapter 300, Model Traffic Ordinance, Section 300.348.3 Ironically, ATVs are required to use a bicycle flag at 7' off the ground.

-mr. bill

dpeters11

18 feet at the pole or where it's sagging on the left side of the road? It looks like it drops below 15 feet, or at least close enough that as you're coming up on it from the other direction you'd be concerned about clipping it.

Other than that, they do look like some great cycling roads. Nice views from the bit of looking I did.

genec

ATVs... not "4-Wheelers," the latter which defines any vehicle with 4 wheels.