Missouri Bicycle News

In response to a string of hit & run collisions involving bicyclists over the past couple of weeks, a grass roots effort by St. Louis area bicyclists led to the creation of a reward fund that can be given to anyone who gives information leading to the apprehension of the drivers responsible.

Leaving the scene of a collision is a felony under Missouri law, so these runaway drivers are, quite literally, criminals.

The St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation has stepped up to manage the reward fund.

And today, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay announced that he is personally adding $500 to the reward fund. Mayor Slay writes:

Hit-and-run is a cowardly action.

City departments have worked with other public agencies and advocacy groups for the last several years to mark bike lanes, build bike paths, and raise awareness of the healthiness – and fun – of bicycling. The appeal of biking is substantially diminished by drivers who refuse to share City streets, or who fail to exercise common sense and courtesy when operating a very heavy vehicle around a very light one.

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run should contact the St. Louis Police Department at 314-444-2520.

Click here to contribute online or mail a check to:

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation
Hit and Run Justice Fund
PO Box 23086
Saint Louis, MO 63156

permanent link to article: "Mayor Slay supports STLBikeFed's new Hit & Run Justice Fund"
posted by Brent Hugh at 2/01/2008 01:11:00 PM |comment on this article