Bikeboard August 2007

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9 participants
18 discussions

Bicycle Friendly Community Award Application
by Frank Gmeindl 30 Aug '07

30 Aug '07

Bicycle Board Members, Do you concur with my presenting the attached Bicycle Friendly Community award application to the Traffic Commission at their meeting next Wednesday? Normally, we would review the application in our meeting, finalize it, approve it and then present it to the Traffic Commission. Since our next meeting is next Thursday, that means that the earliest that we could deliver the application to the TC would be October 4. Positive Spin worked on part I over a year ago. Don Spencer, Greg Good, Nick Hein and I (the BFC committe) have been working on the whole application since February. To complete the application, we interviewed and obtained input from * Chet Parson, MPO Director; * Dan Boroff, City Manager; * Terry Hough, City Engineer and Director Public Works; * Phil Scott, Chief of Police; Mike Lantz, Police rep on TC; Mark Trump and Brian Hennessey, bicycle mounted police; * David Bruffy, Director of MountainLine; * Tom Arnold, Director of Morgantown Parking Authority; * Ralph Larue, Assistant Director BOPARC; * Terri Cutright, Director Downtown Morgantown; * Stacey Brodak, Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau We completed our interview with Dan Boroff last Monday. He is reviewing the attached now. He said that he would sign it and submit it after we ran it through the Traffic Commission. My intention is to have Ron Justice, Morgantown Mayor and MPO President; Dan Boroff, City Manager; and Chet Parsons, MPO Director to sign the transmittal letter to the League of American Bicyclists. By next week, I think they will be primed to do it. If they have to wait until October or later, it might not happen. I want to present the application to the TC next week mainly to keep them on board and to take the opportunity to use it to educate them about what it takes to become a bicycle friendly community. We don't need their approval because we're not asking for any money. But, if we delivered it directly to Justice, Boroff and Parsons without their first seeing it, we could lose their future support. As you review the application, I hope you will see that it is an accurate, if somewhat rosy, report of the bicycling situation in the Greater Morgantown area. I'm pretty sure we won't win the award. Everybody we interviewed understands that's not the immediate purpose. They understand that submitting the award will get us authoritative feedback from LAB that the City can use to make us a Bicycle Friendly Community. Some attachments listed at the back of Part II of the application, such as our February recommendations to the TC, are not included in the attachment to this message because they would make it way to big and you already have them. Sorry for the long message:( Obviously, I need your reply by next Tuesday! Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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[Fwd: Grant]
by Frank Gmeindl 29 Aug '07

29 Aug '07

Bike Board Members, The outlook for a state grant to support our Education recommendations looks really positive. I met again last Monday with Jeff Mikorski, Assistant City Manager. He was very forgiving and understanding that I didn't have more than a short list of cost items with just a few cost estimates and only a 10 line outline for a justification when I'd promised to have the meat of the application done by now. At our last meeting, Mr. Mikorski agreed to contact Harold Simmons, the WV Coordinator of the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) to find out who has applied in the past, who received them, who didn't and why they did or didn't get them. Jeff spoke with Mr. Simmons and learned that Beckley and one other city applied for the grant in the past (before the minimum request was $30K). Beckley won a $10K education grant because they had a very well defined program. On the other hand, the City that didn't get the grant had a half-baked proposal (my words) and couldn't answer questions about it when asked. The best news is that Mr. Simmons said the state is looking for proposals that will diversify the TEP. One concern that Mr. Mikorski voiced in our last meeting was that the City might resist submitting an Education grant proposal if they thought it would compete with their proposal for more Streetscape funding. Mr. Mikorski raised this with Mr. Simmons. Simmons replied that the proposal evaluators wouldn't consider them to be competing at all because the Streetscape money is much more and, more importantly, it's category (infrastructure) is very different. In fact, Mr. Simmons encouraged Mr. Mikorski to submit the Effective Cycling Education proposal because the state is looking for more proposals of that type. Mr. Mikorski also made the brilliant observation that the Bike-and-Chevron shared lane markings are also educational. I was concerned that the $30K minimum was too high for the Education scope that we recommended to the Traffic Commission in our February recommendations. The Bike-and-Chevron details that we delivered to the Traffic Commission in June total approximately $13K so we may be able to submit a well substantiated and justified proposal. The key is going to be able to estimate impact. Mr. Mikorski agreed to meet with me again in a month, or earlier if we get something useful done. In the meantime, he volunteered to draft the parts of the proposal that he can without having the cycling specific content. Hope you're all getting in good rides! I was writing this on my front porch and was alarmed when it got dark already at 8:24 pm:( See you Thursday next week! Frank -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Bikeboard] Grant Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:00:16 -0400 From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> To: bikeboard(a)cheat.org CC: Jeff Mikorski <jmikorski(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, Jeff Mikorski <jmikorski(a)comcast.net> Bike Board members, Those of you who printed and posted flyers for this weekend's Road I course, please accept my gratitude. Nobody signed up. The next offering is September 8-9. Attached is the flyer updated for these dates. Would you please replace the flyers you posted with this one? Perhaps with a little more exposure time, the flyers will bring in a minimum of 4 participants. Yesterday, I met with Jeff Mikorski, Assistant City Manager. He is quite supportive of pursuing a WV Transportation Enhancement grant to support our Education recommendations. To submit a grant on our behalf, Mr. Mikorski needs us to define what the money would be spent on, how much would be spent on each item, and the transportation impact. Our chances of getting the grant depend on how substantive and credible a case we can make. Who will work with me to do this? Intent-to-propose applications are due 15-November. Grants are $30K minimum and must be spent in 12-15 months. The state provides 80% and the municipality or county must contribute 20%. The application must be approved by City Council. Proposed projects must fit into one or more of 12 categories. Category #1 is "provision of facilities for pedestrians or bicyclists". Category #2 is "provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists". Proposals are due 15-Jan. Awards are announced 6-9 months later. Mr. Mikorski has a good rapport with Harold Simmons the WV coordinator of transportation grants. He will talk with Simmons to find out who applied for category 1 and 2 grants in the past, who received them, who didn't and why they did or didn't get them. He'll feed guidance back to us. Anytime the City spends over $10K on one project, they must request competitive bids. Mr. Mikorski emphasized that the state won't pay salaries but will pay consultants. We should recognize that the City will probably end up hiring consultants rather than funding Bike Board members. I will talk with Ron Eck about the best way to balance this out. Dr. Eck is Chairman of the Traffic Commission, a WVU Civil Engineering professor, and, I believe, a member of a consulting group. In our February recommendations, we recommended that the City get a $10K grant to be spent over 24-months to purchase, develop and deliver training. We didn't define any more detail than that. If we flesh out our education details and they total to less than $30K, we could include infrastructure. That we convince City Council and the State that they will realize substantial value for their investment is crucial. My next meeting with Mr. Mikorski is 22-August. Let's have a substantive case to present! I look forward to your reply. Frank /Cyclists Fare Best when They Act and Are Treated as Drivers of Vehicles/ _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard(a)cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

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WVU Bicycle Library
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 29 Aug '07

29 Aug '07

I have always strongly held that if we really want to make a significant change here in Morgantown we need to target WVU. While community bike programs in the United States (vs Europe) are often riddled with vandalism and theft issues, this blog at AASHE - http://www.aashe.net/staffblog/campus-culture/community-yellow-bike-programs - claims the Bicycle Library - http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/wildcatwheels.html - at the University of Kentucky is set-up in a way that avoids these problems via a check-out system with accountability. Now that WVU is back in session this may be an interesting approach to bring to the awareness of the SGA. What do you all think? Jonathan

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Re: [Bikeboard] WVU Bicycle Library
by director 28 Aug '07

28 Aug '07

Jonathan, Although I agree in principle with the concept of a bike library, it's effectiveness depends on having other things in place first. 1) Secure, accessible parking 2) Educated cyclists If you implement it by giving bikes to undisciplined cyclists from a central location you may do more harm than good. I think our highest priority should be to educate cyclists and motorists (and pedestrians) how to share the roads safely. Then act to get secure parking, then make bikes freely available. (in that order) But I might be wrong. Anyone else? Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Jonathan Rosenbaum <freesource(a)cheat.org> Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:51:08 -0400 >I have always strongly held that if we really want to make a significant >change here in Morgantown we need to target WVU. While community bike >programs in the United States (vs Europe) are often riddled with >vandalism and theft issues, this blog at AASHE - >http://www.aashe.net/staffblog/campus-culture/community-yellow-bike-programs >- claims the Bicycle Library - >http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/wildcatwheels.html - at the University of >Kentucky is set-up in a way that avoids these problems via a check-out >system with accountability. > >Now that WVU is back in session this may be an interesting approach to >bring to the awareness of the SGA. What do you all think? > >Jonathan > >_______________________________________________ >Bikeboard mailing list >Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >

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Call for agenda items
by Frank Gmeindl 23 Aug '07

23 Aug '07

Bicycle Board Members, Please reply with any topics that you want on the agenda for our September 6 meeting. Two tentative items are the LAB Bicycle Friendly Community award application that should be final by then and the application for a WV Transportation Enhancement Program grant to support our Education plan and, perhaps, our Infrastructure plan. Also, if you haven't taken the LAB Road I course, the next offering is September 8-9 and you can register by calling BOPARC at 304-296-8356. Frank

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Advocacy campaign announced by Trek at their annual meeting
by director 20 Aug '07

20 Aug '07

Check this out! http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/277.html Note that some of the money will be going to Bike Friendly Cities. Another incentive to get the application finished. Nick Note that the author shares my last name. My family is from Madison, but as far as I know we're not related.

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August Bike Board Meeting Minutes
by Elizabeth Shogren 17 Aug '07

17 Aug '07

Attached, please find the minutes for the August meeting of the Bike Board. Thank you, and have a nice day further, BETSY SHOGREN

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Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator is back online!
by director 16 Aug '07

16 Aug '07

Good morning, I came across this calculator on one of the email lists I subscribe to. I wanted to send it to Bill Reger-Nash, but didn't have his individual address so I'm sending it to the group. Hope it's of general interest. You input the population of your community and a few other simple factors to get a cost calculation of health factors. Hope it helps. Nick Hein ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Barry Zalph <barry(a)bicyclingforlouisville.org> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:44:45 -0400 Several years ago, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation posted on one of its Active Living websites a research-based Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator. Here is their message about the renewed availability of the calculator online. This is a great tool for showing the economic benefits to a community of increasing walking or bicycling. Begin forwarded message: > <snip> > > Hello, > > Great news! The Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator is back online at: > http://www.ecu.edu/picostcalc/. The cost calculator is a free, > easy-to-use tool that provides an estimate of the financial cost of > physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or > business. You are being contacted because you asked to be notified > when this tool is back online; you will not receive future emails from > us. > > David Chenoweth, PhD, a professor of health education and director of > worksite health promotion studies at East Carolina University and > former grantee of the RWJF Active Living Leadership program, is the > creator of the cost calculator. If you have questions about the > calculator, you may reach Dr. Chenoweth directly > at hmacheno(a)coastalnet.com. > > Best regards, > Gail > > Gail C. Klein > Administrative Assistant > > Robert Wood Johnson Foundation > Route 1 and College Road East Princeton, NJ 08543 > Tel. 609 627-5926 www.rwjf.org >

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Fwd: anti-Bike Route brochure
by Frank Gmeindl 15 Aug '07

15 Aug '07

Bicycle Board Members, The following link provides the most concise (2 pages) information about bike lanes and positive measures to increase cycling that I have seen. http://savingcommunities.org/issues/transportation/pedalcycle/libertylanesb… . I hope you'll take a look at it. Thanks to Nick for finding it! Frank >Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:44:45 -0400 >From: "director " <director(a)positivespin.org> >Subject: anti-Bike Route brochure >X-Originating-IP: [63.66.160.254] >To: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> >Reply-to: <director(a)positivespin.org> >X-Mailer: <IMail v8.05> > >Frank, >Don't know if you're interested in this but I thought I'd pass it >on. This is from a guy in Pittsburgh that I met Sunday. I told him how >lucky we are in Morgantown that there hasn't been a bike lane put in yet. > >http://savingcommunities.org/issues/transportation/pedalcycle/libertylanesb… > >Nick

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"Street Smarts" bike safety literature
by director 13 Aug '07

13 Aug '07

Good evening, Just wanted to let everyone know that Positive Spin ordered a case (212 copies) of the Street Smarts book that was handed out at the Road I class in April. The package is expected to arrive tomorrow so I'll have them at the shop Wed at Positive Spin 5-7pm (or any of our other open times). If you would like copies please call (276-0213) or come by and pick up what you need. They cost us about $1 each, we'd appreciate any compensation anyone can offer. If you have a group and want multiple copies we're happy to accomodate, but please consider helping us cover costs so we can order another case when this one's gone. Please pass this information on to any individuals or groups who may be interested. Also for information, we have bike safety education videos for all ages. Thanks Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin

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Grant
by Frank Gmeindl 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Bike Board members, Those of you who printed and posted flyers for this weekend's Road I course, please accept my gratitude. Nobody signed up. The next offering is September 8-9. Attached is the flyer updated for these dates. Would you please replace the flyers you posted with this one? Perhaps with a little more exposure time, the flyers will bring in a minimum of 4 participants. Yesterday, I met with Jeff Mikorski, Assistant City Manager. He is quite supportive of pursuing a WV Transportation Enhancement grant to support our Education recommendations. To submit a grant on our behalf, Mr. Mikorski needs us to define what the money would be spent on, how much would be spent on each item, and the transportation impact. Our chances of getting the grant depend on how substantive and credible a case we can make. Who will work with me to do this? Intent-to-propose applications are due 15-November. Grants are $30K minimum and must be spent in 12-15 months. The state provides 80% and the municipality or county must contribute 20%. The application must be approved by City Council. Proposed projects must fit into one or more of 12 categories. Category #1 is "provision of facilities for pedestrians or bicyclists". Category #2 is "provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists". Proposals are due 15-Jan. Awards are announced 6-9 months later. Mr. Mikorski has a good rapport with Harold Simmons the WV coordinator of transportation grants. He will talk with Simmons to find out who applied for category 1 and 2 grants in the past, who received them, who didn't and why they did or didn't get them. He'll feed guidance back to us. Anytime the City spends over $10K on one project, they must request competitive bids. Mr. Mikorski emphasized that the state won't pay salaries but will pay consultants. We should recognize that the City will probably end up hiring consultants rather than funding Bike Board members. I will talk with Ron Eck about the best way to balance this out. Dr. Eck is Chairman of the Traffic Commission, a WVU Civil Engineering professor, and, I believe, a member of a consulting group. In our February recommendations, we recommended that the City get a $10K grant to be spent over 24-months to purchase, develop and deliver training. We didn't define any more detail than that. If we flesh out our education details and they total to less than $30K, we could include infrastructure. That we convince City Council and the State that they will realize substantial value for their investment is crucial. My next meeting with Mr. Mikorski is 22-August. Let's have a substantive case to present! I look forward to your reply. Frank Cyclists Fare Best when They Act and Are Treated as Drivers of Vehicles

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Fwd: Safe Routes to Schools Program
by Greg Good 10 Aug '07

10 Aug '07

Hello all, I just received this notice from the MPO that the coordinator of the Safe Routes to Schools program for the WVDOT will be in town next, Thursday, August 16. It's an open invitation, so it is legit to let anyone know who wants to promote pedestrian or bicycle travel to school for grade school and middle school. NB: not applicable to high schools. Greg >>> "Kelli LaNeve" <klaneve(a)moncpc.org> 8/10/2007 9:45 AM >>> Members: The MPO would like to invite you to the next Policy Board Meeting on Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers to hear a presentation on the Safe Routes to School Program. This is a national program created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). It provides federal funds to West Virginia to substantially improve the ability of primary and middle school students (K-8) to walk and bicycle to school safely. The purposes of this program are to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school, to make walking and bicycling to school a safer and more appealing transportation choice and to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of such projects. Please join the presenter, Rebecca Davison (WVDOH) and the Policy Board for this informative meeting. Also, please feel free to pass this invitation along to anyone who you feel might be interested. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact the office at 291-9572. Thank you, Kelli LaNeve Office Manager Monongalia County Planning Commission Greater Morgantown MPO 180 Hart Field Road Morgantown WV. 26505 304 291 9572 304 291 9573 (FAX) www.moncpc.org <http://www.moncpc.org/>

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MHS Parking
by Frank Gmeindl 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Dear Frank Devono, Substituting bicycling for driving to MHS is one solution to the parking problem reported in today's Dominion Post. Providing secure sheltered bicycle storage, a shower, and a locker to store commuting stuff would facilitate cycling to school. MHS currently provides driving students who drive and park on school property a $45/month benefit. The benefit may not be on the books but it is nonetheless real. Please consider reallocating at least a part of this benefit to students who ride their bikes to school in the form of a cash payment, voucher, or some other tangible reward. Have you considered some physical education credit? Morgantown has 2 League of American Bicyclists certified Cycling Instructors who would be happy to teach students to ride safely and confidently to school, if you need help. Students who travel 5 miles or less to school, certainly 1 mile or less, could bicycle to school almost as easily and quickly as driving. Promoting the health and environmental benefits of riding a bike to school coupled with a student-led campaign to make it "cool" could possibly eliminate the parking problem as well as improve the health of the students. Please contact me by replying to this message or by calling me at 304-376-0446 to realize this solution. Frank Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board

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Pictures of bike facilities
by director 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Good evening, I just came across this photo resource for bike facility pictures. Couldn't remember if it had been mentioned before. http://www.flickr.com/groups/bicyclefacilities/pool/ It was mentioned on the website... http://mplsbikelove.com/forum/index.php under (blush) bikeporn Interestingly, bikers in MSP haven't been nearly as inconvenienced by the I35W bridge collapse as drivers. When I was a student at the UofM I lived a few blocks from this bridge. Traffic got jugged up then (1980). Fortunately MSP has been establishing some outstanding bike paths and routes. I was there a few years ago and the city is like 2 different places depending whether you bike or drive. The biking city is much friendlier, more relaxed and functional. Nick Hein

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Re: [Bikeboard] Bicycle Storage
by Chris Fletcher 07 Aug '07

07 Aug '07

Mr. Gmeindle: Thank you for submitting your recommendation. I will incorporate same into the proposed revisions that the Planning Commission will be reviewing this Thursday at their regular monthly meeting. Respectfully, Christopher M. Fletcher, AICP Planning Director City of Morgantown 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304.284.7431 (o) 304.284.7534 (f) cfletcher(a)cityofmorgantown.org _____ From: Frank Gmeindl [mailto:fgmeindl@verizon.net] Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 9:21 PM To: Chris Fletcher Cc: Ron Justice; Dan Boroff; Don Spencer; bikeboard(a)cheat.org Subject: Bicycle Storage Christopher M. Fletcher, AICP Morgantown Director of Planning 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Chris, Following is a response to your request of Don Spencer for the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board's recommendation on bicycle storage space for multi-family dwellings in areas zoned B-4. Based upon precedents set by cities of similar size and demographics, we recommend the following MINIMUM guidelines: * 1 indoor, secured, sheltered bicycle storage space per dwelling unit should be provided. (Ideally 2 spaces per dwelling unit should be provided.) * Each space should be a minimum of 3-feet x 6-feet x 4-feet * Each bicycle should be able to be individually secured with a lock to a permanent structure. * There should also be sufficient space for easy access to each bicycle. Please feel free to contact me at my e-mail address or phone number below to discuss. Also, please reply with confirmation of your receipt of this letter. Sincerely, Frank Gmeindl, Chairman Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board Email: fgmeindl(a)verizon.net <mailto:fgmeindl@verizon.net> Phone: 304-376-0446 Betsy Shogren, Secretary Email: edz4(a)cdc.gov <mailto:edz4@cdc.gov> Phone: 937-602-4483

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Bicycle Storage
by Frank Gmeindl 06 Aug '07

06 Aug '07

Christopher M. Fletcher, AICP Morgantown Director of Planning 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Chris, Following is a response to your request of Don Spencer for the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board's recommendation on bicycle storage space for multi-family dwellings in areas zoned B-4. Based upon precedents set by cities of similar size and demographics, we recommend the following MINIMUM guidelines: * 1 indoor, secured, sheltered bicycle storage space per dwelling unit should be provided. (Ideally 2 spaces per dwelling unit should be provided.) * Each space should be a minimum of 3-feet x 6-feet x 4-feet * Each bicycle should be able to be individually secured with a lock to a permanent structure. * There should also be sufficient space for easy access to each bicycle. Please feel free to contact me at my e-mail address or phone number below to discuss. Also, please reply with confirmation of your receipt of this letter. Sincerely, Frank Gmeindl, Chairman Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board Email: fgmeindl(a)verizon.net <mailto:fgmeindl@verizon.net> Phone: 304-376-0446 Betsy Shogren, Secretary Email: edz4(a)cdc.gov <mailto:edz4@cdc.gov> Phone: 937-602-4483

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Re: [Bikeboard] Bike Class Flyer
by autumn bliss 03 Aug '07

03 Aug '07

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Thu, 2-Aug, Bike Board Agenda
by Frank Gmeindl 01 Aug '07

01 Aug '07

Bike Board Members, Please find attached 2 files: the minutes of our last meeting and the agenda for this Thursday's meeting. The Traffic Commission won't be meeting on their regular day this month, the day before our meeting. They'll probably have it shortly after our Thursday meeting so this Thursday, we'll have a chance to craft anything we want to deliver to them this month. The minutes of the July TC meeting aren't out yet and I'm wishing I'd written a summary right after the meeting because I forgetting. But, here's my best recollection: At the July TC meeting, all but one or two of the TC members showed up an hour earlier than their regular starting time to participate in my 1-hour lecture on Transportation Cycling for Planners and Public Officials. Everyone was quite engaged and we had lively discussion about effective cycling and how transportation planning can facilitate or thwart effective cycling. I think most of the members now have a much better idea of how cyclists should ride in traffic and how planners, public officials and motorists should treat cyclists. During their normal course of business, the TC unanimously voted to request the City Manager to implement the bike-and-chevron shared lane markings that we recommended for the streets over which the City has control. They also voted unanimously to ask the City Manager to meet with the State DOH to arrange to implement the markings on the streets that we recommended within the City that the state DOH controls. During my presentation, Frank Devono, Superintendent of Schools, and Ted Shriver of Williams-Shriver architects presented their plan to move Prairie Avenue to accommodate Morgantown High School expansion. Trying to score some points I think following my presentation on cycling, they reported that they were going to retain the existing bike rack but move it across the street. After a long discussion, the TC practically directed them to include indoor bicycle parking in their design. See you Thursday! Remember, rehydrate at every tee;) Frank

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Bikeboard August 2007