Missouri

This is from Dec. 2004, ran across it and thought it would be important for everyone to know about.

Warrenton, Missouri ban's motorized bike's

Missouri Bicycle News :: Warrenton bans motorized bicycles :: Missouri Bicycle Federation


Missouri Department of Revenue News Releases

Kennett, Mo.

Kennett mayor lays out what vehicles are and are not legal on city streets
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Daily Dunklin Democrat

KENNETT, Mo. — Following a recent city council meeting, residents have become concerned with the use of motorized bicycles, manual or powered wheelchairs, and all-terrain vehicles in Kennett.

In response to questions and concerns, Mayor Roger Wheeler went on the record Monday to clear things up and specify what vehicles do or do not apply to his recent request of the Kennett Police Department concerning issuing warnings and citations to those who do not comply with current ordinances or state laws regarding use of such vehicles.

"There was no discussion about motorized bicycles," Wheeler noted.

"Motorized bicycles under 50cc, by law, can be operated, the only requirement being you have to have insurance and a driver's license, and you have to be 16 years old to get one," he said.

According to Wheeler, wheelchairs and power chairs are like pedestrians and they need to operate like pedestrians. "They have to face ongoing traffic. They must travel on the left side of the street facing ongoing traffic. They cross at cross walks, they do not jaywalk and they do not drive down the center lane," he said.

Wheeler added that four wheelers are not "road-ready" vehicles.

According to the mayor, if the all-terrain vehicles are equipped with signal lights, headlights and brake lights, and the person driving them has a valid driver's license, they can be on the highway.

"Golf carts, no way, are they road-ready vehicles," Wheeler said.

"I appreciate that everyone is stressed for gas. But the less we do, unless we make sure that we are being responsible city leaders then we can't do anything about it."

seMissourian.com: Story: Kennett mayor lays out what vehicles are and are not legal on city streets

Yes.. Motorized bicycles.. What about motor assisted bicycles? Sounds like that guy wanted the pocket bikes and gopeds off the road. Those are motorized bikes. What we ride are motor assisted bicycles. At least that is why I ride. I do not ride a motorized bicycle. I only ride a motor assisted bicycle... I was wondering what the laws are for motor assisted bicycles.. Do you know? Just curious since I do take my Motor assisted bicycle there to Table rock and I ride it a lot when I am there.. Motorized bikes are outlawed here in Colorado too. But I have never been stopped or Hassled on my Motor assisted bike.. Let me know what you find out.. Enjoy the ride..

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Here is the relevant Missouri statute:

307.180. Bicycle And Motorized Bicycle, Defined As used in sections 307.180 to 307.193: (1) The word bicycle shall mean every vehicle propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, or two parallel wheels and one or two forward or rear wheels, all of which are more than fourteen inches in diameter, except scooters and similar devices; (2) The term motorized bicycle shall mean any two or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than fifty cubic centimeters, which produces less than three gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty miles per hour on level ground. A motorized bicycle shall be considered a mo-tor vehicle for purposes of any homeowners- or renters- insurance policy.

I believe, though I am not a lawyer, that the Titan rack mount should qualify under this statute. The only part that worries me is the part about an "automatic" transmission. With the Titan there is no shifting because there is only one gear. The centrifugal clutch may or may not come into play in this definition. Any thoughts from anyone else?

Thanks.

Chuc (in University City, MO)

Yes... That may be the loop hole there. Although I too am no lawyer. These engines we sell have no Transmission for the changing of gears. They have a 5:1 reduction for Power Take off but no Transmission for the changing of gears. In many places, an engine with a transmission for gear changing on a bicycle disqualifies it as a bicycle because of the transmission.
In either case.. Ghost pedal. Hit the kill switch and keep pedaling. Then it is a bicycle for sure in my view. I can tell you this, in most places, operating a bicycle with a motor to assist in pedaling is a gray area in most places for sure.. Maybe when gas hits 5-8 dollars a gallon, maybe then it will no longer be the gray area. This may happen.

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