A story making the rounds lately has a group of Iowans hoping to ban other people from riding bicycles on Iowa’s farm-to-market roads.
How ironic that they’re using a free online petition tool that promotes green, healthy living.
It’s nice that these folks are concerned with safety, but too bad they are willing to infringe on the rights of others to move about the countryside. All they have to do is pay attention when they’re driving, and pass with care.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition and others in the cycling community have a lot educating to do.
To see the misinformation the Citizens for Safety Coalition of Iowa is spreading around like manure on a farm field, take a look at some of the comments petition signers are making.
One of my favorites:
I feel that bicycles on these roads present a hazard to all in volved. Bicyclists do not pay for any licences or taxes to support these roads. They are a nusances.
Just don’t send this to anyone who might actually sign the thing.
I would like to think there’s little chance for it to succeed, but keep an eye on this business. I’d also like a rebate on those taxes and license fees I’ve paid over the years, but I don’t think I’m going to get them.
BTW, I’ll let you know when I’ve published my petition asking for a ban on fuzzy thinking.
Pedal on.
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puncture proof 
One comment I read (which was a common complaint) is that cyclist do not pay fuel or license taxes for using the road. Do they really think that all cyclists only drive bikes to get around? As far as the rest of the ignorant comments that was made, why they were shocking. Please read the comments on the petition and if the need to inform the ignorant does not overwhelm you, then you have not read far enough.
The group proposing the ban doesn’t seem to know what it is doing. They state that they want a ballot initiative, but Iowa does not have ballot initiatives. I suppose they could use the “signatures” on their online petition to try to pressure state legislatures to pass a law or propose a constitutional ammendment to prohibit bicyclists from county roads, but I would hope the legislature would think better than to follow through with this.
This is a very interesting article. I am excited to see this topic being covered. I like reading these types of posts they help to keep me in the loop.