A man rides his electric bicycle to transport ducks on a flooded street in Nanjing, Jiangsu province July 12, 2010. Flooding, landslides and torrents of mud have killed 50 people in southern China and the government has evacuated thousands of people from homes near an overfilled, leaking reservoir, officials and state media said.

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Nick Johnson’s home made Bakfiets style cargo bike.

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Councilman Joe Brazil in St. Charles County in Missouri would like cyclists banned from several county highways. His measure comes up for vote Monday night.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit bicycles on highways DD, D, F and Z and Highway 94 from its intersection with Highway 40 west to the county line. The ordinance would apply to highways that lack shoulders or bicycle lanes. Councillor Brazil represents the county’s 2nd district, which encompasses the southwestern part of St. Charles County. Brazil is apparently a well liked and influential politician who lives on State Highway F in rural Boone Township.

Brazil suggests that because millions are spent on parks and trails that cyclists should stay on the path instead of using the public roads.

More info:

* Stlbiking: St Charles Co To Ban Bikes In Sw County Area

* Roger Kramer: St. Charles County bicycle ban

* Biking Bis: Another biking ban.

* Examiner: Bike ban proposal in Missouri.

* League of American Bicyclists: St. Charles County, MO Bike Ban Bill .

Possible Speaking Points?

• Brazil, as St Charles County Chair Republican Liberty Caucus, purports to advance the ideals of individual rights and limited government. His proposed additional regulation creates more government regulation, restricts the common law right to free travel, imposes a government requirement for automobile travel on county roads, and removes individual freedom to choose their mode of travel. Brazil’s government regulation flies in the face of his supposed Libertarian ideals.
• Councilman Brazil claims, “increasing use of bicycles causes a safety hazard on the roads without shoulders.” Below is the Google Streetview image of State Highway F in front of Brazil’s home. If safety on approaching slow vehicles is truly a concern, suggest an amendment to Brazil’s proposal to include slow farm equipment, equestrians, Amish buggies, and school buses in his ban.
  
  
  
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• Brazil says he is addressing a common constituent complaint. “I get more complaints about this single issue than any other issue,” he says. Since Brazil is acting on constituent feedback, it’s time for St. Charles County cyclists to flood their representative inboxes with complaints about dangerous traffic on county roads and demand controls on the motor vehicles creating the hazards. Anybody driving 55 mph on a 2 lane road when the corn is more than knee high is driving too fast for safety.
• Brazil is popular in his district, but seems to have aspirations for higher office at the state level. St. Charles County cyclists likely are Republicans who share many of the same values as Brazil, but they’ll remember this for a good many primary seasons.

As an aside, this illustrates the value of Bikes Belong’s People For Bikes drive. The intent is for Bike Belong lobbyists to look up a ZIP code (say, for St. Charles County District 2) to let politicians know just how many cyclists and registered voters they’re likely to upset with anti-cycling measures. If you haven’t done so yet, add your name to the People for Bikes pledge.

This photo is from Friday’s Stage 6 of the Tour de France.

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London “Cycle Hire” bike sharing will open for business on July 30 with 6,000 bicycles at 400 stations throughout London.

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A bicycle that you can literally wrap around a pole. (more…)