Montana ‘politicians’ put forward one of the most ridiculous cycling bills, ever

When you are a city cyclists, there are a lot of things you see that make you shake your head. Ontario Premier Doug Ford deciding he wants to rip out existing bike lanes because he believes making people drive will ease congestion, is one recent example. San Francisco moving to create a bike lane that runs down the middle of an extremely busy arterial road with very little protection. Yup, that was a doozie. But, a new anti-cycling bill in Montana has got to rank near the top of the list of most boneheaded and dangerous ideas we have seen.

House Bill 125, put forward by Rep Eric Albus (R), Glasgow, reads as follows:

“This bill revises existing bicycle laws in Montana by establishing new regulations regarding how bicycles must be ridden on roadways. Specifically, it mandates that individuals operating a bicycle without a flag vehicle escort must ride opposite the flow of traffic, while those with a flag vehicle escort are required to ride with the flow of traffic. This change aims to enhance safety for both cyclists and motorists.”

You’d think property taxes, cost of living, or health care would be a top #mtleg @mtgop priority.

Instead it’s requiring bicyclists to ride against traffic.⬇️ All this will do is endanger lives. Bill is both a bad idea and misplaced priority. #mtpol #mtnews https://t.co/tjzGq4ZSta

— Chris Mehl (@ChrisMehl7) January 12, 2025

The bill does not refer to a contra flow bike lane separated by a curb. This is a bill that would essentially force anyone riding a bicycle to do so not with the flow of traffic. Because, yes, bicycles are vehicles. But, directly against oncoming traffic.

Bike Walk Montana successful organised opposition to the bill, which was pulled last week. The group outlined numerous, well, obvious problems listed below from the group’s post on social media:

The bill was introduced on Dec. 14, 2024 and was pulled Jan. 9. Let’s hope it never returns.