Welcome to Rexburg, Idaho, where bicycles are prohibited on plank sidewalks and the bicycle speed limit on Main Street is 5 mph; 12 mph elsewhere in town.
Don't worry. If you get a $25 ticket, you can work it off for $2 a day by working on village streets.
If those laws sound a little strange, it's because they were enacted in 1901 when hot-dogging thrill-seekers on bicycles were the scourge of many towns. Members of the Trails of Madison County committee are suggesting many changes to those laws. Member Doug Stutz told the Standard Journal:
“We actually want to encourage people to get out on their bicycles and have a 'greener' community. It will also reduce traffic congestion. If we promote cycling as an alternative form of transportation, we can accomplish both of those goals.”
Rexburg is located in eastern Idaho on the Teton River. The new ordinance that the city council is considering would update those old ordinances, using accepted current practices for putting motor and bicycle traffic together.
Kudos to the bicycle club for taking the initiative to convince the City Council to update those laws enacted more than 100 years ago. Grassroots citizen action for bicycling is a great endeavor.
The club also sponsors the Great Spud Race in September and works to build local trails and bicycle lanes.
Photo above: historic photo of Main Street Rexburg, Idaho, in the Idaho State Historical Society photo collection
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