NEW MELLE • Bicyclists and drivers who share southwest St. Charles County's shoulderless semirural roads squared off again Tuesday night at a hearing on proposed restrictions on bikes in the area.

Ever since County Councilman Joe Brazil introduced a bill in July to prohibit bikes on some roads, the issue has been a hot topic at council meetings and on bicycling blogs.

As at earlier sessions, supporters of restrictions argued that bicycling poses a danger for both bicyclists and drivers who come across them suddenly when they round curves.

They also say bike riders, especially those in organized group events, tie up traffic for residents who can't easily pass them.

"We cannot accommodate this traffic and the bicyclists on these main roads," said Barb Beiter, who lives near New Melle. "Bicyclists should not be allowed. It's not safe."

Bicyclists again argued that a ban was inequitable and unnecessary.

"I have a right to be on the road just like you," said Chris Caldwell of New Melle. "We all need to be patient. We all need to be smart in how we drive and how we ride."

Brazil, a Republican from Defiance, in recent weeks has modified his bill so that the proposed ban would not apply to flatter, straighter parts of affected roads. Some parts of rural northeast St. Charles County also would be covered.

The council also is considering two alternate bills by Brazil. One measure would require any group of 20 or more cyclists to obtain an advance permit from the county.

The other would designate certain roads as green, red or orange routes based on visibility, speed limit and amount of traffic.

On red and orange routes, cyclists would have to ride single-file, use a mirror on their bicycle or helmet, equip their bikes with flags and stay in the right lane within 20 inches of the edge of the road.

Some cyclists who spoke Tuesday, such as Becky Cato of Defiance, said they could go along with the permitting and color-coding ideas.

Brazil said he regards those alternatives as good options but isn't sure now whether an outright ban would be.

He also noted he doesn't know yet what the overall council will support.

About 100 people attended the hearing, with Brazil the only council member present.

Jim Gremaud, an engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said the agency plans to add shoulders to some of the roads next year but said he didn't think they would make them much safer for bicyclists.

MoDOT has said it has sole jursidiction over traffic laws on the roads involved and that any county bike ban would be illegal. Brazil disagrees but acknowledges that the issue could end up in court.

More hearings are scheduled for the next regular council meeting on Monday in St. Charles and on Sept. 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in the Orchard Farm area.