Bikeboard August 2008

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10 participants
19 discussions

[Fwd: Re: Topics for Thursday]
by Frank Gmeindl 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Topics for Thursday Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:58:10 -0700 From: Alice Vernon <vernon.mail(a)gmail.com> To: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> References: <48B759FD.30005(a)verizon.net> I will be oot for september's meeting. Thank you Also my email is vernon.mail(a)gmail.com. Thank you Alice On 8/28/08, Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> wrote: > Bicycle Board Members, > > Please send me any topics that you want on the agenda for next > Thursday's 9/4 meeting. Attached is a rough draft agenda that I have so > far. > > Frank >

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Topics for Thursday
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Bicycle Board Members, Please send me any topics that you want on the agenda for next Thursday's 9/4 meeting. Attached is a rough draft agenda that I have so far. Frank

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Chevrons in Columbia, MO
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Bicycle Board Members, The feds gave Columbia, MO $25M for a non-motorized pilot program. Attached is an interesting survey that shows how they're considering using chevrons. If you go through it, I'd be interested in your thoughts about it. Frank

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Teaching kids to ride their bikes
by director 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Saw this on the WIRED site this morning http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/08/geekdad-rates-7.html Not terribly informative since it comes from a dad who's only taught his own kids. If anyone knows a better source please pass it on. Thanks. Nick Hein -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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August Minutes
by Elizabeth Shogren 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

Attached please find the August minutes. If you have any corrections, please email me directly. THANK YOU!!!! Betsy Shogren

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On-street bike parking video - Portland
by director 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

Good afternoon, This video about on-street bike corrals and bike oases came to me from another advocate.... http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/portland-bike-parking/ Nick Hein -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Interesting article - What other colleges are doing to promote bicycling.
by director 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

http://www.carectomy.com/index.php/Walking/Colleges-Smarten-Up-Commute -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Interview on WAJR tomorrow at 9:15
by director 25 Aug '08

25 Aug '08

Good evening, Tomorrow I'll be interviewed about Max's Challenge and cyclist/pedestrian safety and rights at 9:15 AM. I'm hoping to have Max there, I'll definitely have Christian (our German exchange student) there to talk about what every German schoolchild knows about sharing roads safely. Tune in, it should be interesting. I'm already encouraged by the positive tone that was shown Friday when they discussed it briefly. Thanks to everyone who has supported the educational effort - most especially the ones who do it by riding every day showing what biking can do for the community. I hope this is the beginning of getting bike safety and courtesy taught in the schools. Nick Hein ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Jim Rye" <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu> Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:07:30 -0400 >Outstanding, Nick. Great STATS!!!!!!!!! >Oh, I understand there may be even better "country case stories" >available from Denmark and Holland. > >>>> "director" <director(a)positivespin.org> 8/23/2008 10:24 PM >>> > >A recent Dominion Post editorial declared the danger of driving on the >roads by anyone, at anytime, for any reason. Safety is dependent on >human behavior - not cars or roads or bike lanes. Educating drivers and >cyclists is what will improve safety by motivating everyone to be part >of a cooperative road-using community. Safety is our common cause and >we should be using common experience to achieve it. Common *sense* >is helpful, but not complete since our senses are fallible. Many cities >all over the world have already made this change and their experience is >available to us from numerous sources. > >The summary is this * Incidents between motor vehicles and bicyclists >traveling the same direction make up only .5% of crashes. Bike lanes >increase accident rates by causing confusion about who should operate >where and how * particularly at intersections. Streets with bike >lanes have greater crash rates than those without. When cyclists ride >on sidewalks, crash rates are 2 times as high as for those who share the >road safely. Bike lanes attempt to reduce crashes for parallel traffic, >with the effect of causing more crashes for crossing and turning >traffic. Bicyclists fare best when they act, and are treated, as >operators of vehicles. If a bicycle is moving slowly, it should be >treated like any other slow vehicle. Overtaking vehicles should wait >until it is safe to pass, or the cyclist should pull over when it is >safe to do so. > >We currently have an exchange student staying in our home from >Bergisch-Gladbach Germany, where It is nearly as hilly as here. He >tells us that German school children are required to take a full-day >bicycle safety class at age 8. They are tested and issued a license >when they pass the test, which everyone does. Liability laws dictate >that motorists are always assumed to be at fault unless flagrant >violation by the cyclist can be proven. Only the most affluent European >cities and neighborhoods have bike lanes or bike paths. In most cities >and on most routes cyclists share the road with motor vehicles. In >these places the safety and traffic flow is the best anywhere in the >world. Morgantown can be one of those places if we adopt the education, >discipline and cooperation they have. Then everyone (motorists and >cyclists alike) will be able to get where they need to go * on any >road, for any reason at any time of day or year, safely and enjoyably. > > >Nick Hein >director(a)positivespin.org > > > >Major points > >- Painting bike lanes doubles accidents in cities at intersections > >- Riding on sidewalks quadruples accident rates in cities at >intersections, driveways, merge ramps > >- Shoulders are not part of the roadway > >- Sidepaths are not described or defined > >- Delay by slow vehicles is not prescribed in any definite terms > >- Riding 2 abreast is legal > >- I cycling is unsafe it is because motorists are breaking the law > >- Drive at or below the speed limit. > >- It is illegal to ride a bicycle anywhere except in the road way (ie >NOT on sidewalks) > >- Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as operators of >vehicles. > >- It is the Morgantown Bicycle Board's mission statement that >"Bicyclists be able to ride anywhere, anytime for any reason safely and >enjoyably". > >- I moved to Morgantown from Seattle, a large city where they have put >bike lanes in places where they caused confusion at least and fatalities >at worst. > >- Common sense was used in the Netherlands and Denmark > >The Netherlands and Denmark, which have achieved the highest rates of >cycle usage combined with the best records for safety in the world, used >to give their segregated cycle path networks primary importance in >gaining these twin goals. However, the largest study ever undertaken >into the safety of Danish cycle facilities has found that actual safety >has decreased as a result.[25] More recently, Shared Space redesigns of >urban streets in those and other countries have achieved significant >improvements in actual safety (as well as congestion and quality of >life) by replacing segregated facilities with integrated space. > >Contrary to what was expressed on this page as "Common Sense", >segregated bike ways (bike lanes) actually increase accident rates. > >The editorial brings about an excellent opportunity to dispel some >pervasive myths about the safety of cycling on roadway with motor >vehicles. > > > > >Response to Dominion Post editorial, 19 Aug 2008 > >In a recent Dominion Post editorial the statement was made >*....driving on practically any road by anyone, at anytime for any >reason can be about the most dangerous thing most of us do on a daily >basis.* >This statement seems to give permission to motorists who flagrantly >violate laws and safety so the rest of us are terrorized into cowering >in our (90% inefficient, 80% oversized) cars or bicycling on a separated >lane or path to feel safe. If it's unsafe for anyone on the roads it's >because someone else is acting inappropriately. Safety is dependent on >human behavior, not cars or roads or paint stripes. Education and >enforcement is what will improve safety by motivating everyone to be >part of a cooperative road-using community. > >Safety is our common cause and we should be using common experience to >achieve it. Common *sense* is helpful, but not complete since our >senses are fallible. Experience is available to us in all types of >cities * size, terrain, weather, populations * from historical >sources. The summary is this * bike lanes increase accident rates by >causing confusion about who should operate where and how. Streets with >bike lanes have twice the crash rate of those without. When cyclists >ride on sidewalks, crash rates are 4 times as high as for those who >share the road safely. Incidents between motor vehicles and bicyclists >traveling the same direction make up only .5% of crashes. Bike lanes >attempt to reduce crashes for parallel traffic, with the effect of >causing more crashes for crossing and turning traffic. *Separate but >equal* isn't any better for vehicle separation than it was for racial >separation. Bicyclists fare best when they act, and are treated, as >operators of vehicles * and federal law requires it. > >Clearly there is a gap here in Morgantown when it comes to planning and >education for cycling safety and transportation efficiency. It's not >really hard to understand why. Participation in bicycling has taken >great leaps locally thanks to rising gas prices, health awareness and >new trails. Cyclists don't want to stop when the trail does. We haven't >given motorists OR cyclists the education or motivation they need to use >our roads cooperatively. Myself and another avid cyclist teach a >nationally certified course that does. Graduates of this course >typically experience an 80% decline in crashes. > >We currently have an exchange student staying in our home who tells >says that European school children are required to take a full-day >bicycle safety class at age 8. They are tested and issued a license >when they pass the test and no one is allowed to fail. Liability laws >dictate that the motorist is always assumed to be at fault unless he/she >can prove that the cyclist flagrantly broke a law. In spite of what you >may have seen, only the most affluent European cities and neighborhoods >have bike lanes or bike paths. In most cities and on most routes >cyclists share the road with motor vehicles. In these places the safety >and traffic flow is the best anywhere in the world. Morgantown can be >one of those places. When we do what it takes (and not less), everyone >(motorists and cyclists alike) will be able to get where they need to go >* on any road, for any reason at any time of day or year, safely and >enjoyably. > >Anyone interested in references for statistics used in this article may >contact Nick Hein at director(a)positivespin.org. > > > > >Major points > >- Painting bike lanes doubles accidents in cities at intersections > >- Riding on sidewalks quadruples accident rates in cities at >intersections, driveways, merge ramps > >- Shoulders are not part of the roadway > >- Sidepaths are not described or defined > >- Delay by slow vehicles is not prescribed in any definite terms > >- Riding 2 abreast is legal > >- I cycling is unsafe it is because motorists are breaking the law > >- Drive at or below the speed limit. > >- It is illegal to ride a bicycle anywhere except in the road way (ie >NOT on sidewalks) > >- Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as operators of >vehicles. > >- It is the Morgantown Bicycle Board's mission statement that >"Bicyclists be able to ride anywhere, anytime for any reason safely and >enjoyably". > >- I moved to Morgantown from Seattle, a large city where they have put >bike lanes in places where they caused confusion at least and fatalities >at worst. > >- Common sense was used in the Netherlands and Denmark > >The Netherlands and Denmark, which have achieved the highest rates of >cycle usage combined with the best records for safety in the world, used >to give their segregated cycle path networks primary importance in >gaining these twin goals. However, the largest study ever undertaken >into the safety of Danish cycle facilities has found that actual safety >has decreased as a result.[25] More recently, Shared Space redesigns of >urban streets in those and other countries have achieved significant >improvements in actual safety (as well as congestion and quality of >life) by replacing segregated facilities with integrated space. > >Contrary to what was expressed on this page as "Common Sense", >segregated bike ways (bike lanes) actually increase accident rates. > >The editorial brings about an excellent opportunity to dispel some >pervasive myths about the safety of cycling on roadway with motor >vehicles. > > > > > > >-- >Nick Hein >Director, Positive Spin >Morgantown, WV >ph 304-276-0213 >-- > > >_______________________________________________ >Bikeboard mailing list >Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard > -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Cycling safety statistics and considerations
by director 24 Aug '08

24 Aug '08

Good morning, Just one more thing to pass on and then I'll quit bugging everybody. I was recently reminded of this link to Ken Kifer's website which discusses statistics on bicycling and pedestrian accident/fatality rates. http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm It's a good reminder about where to focus our attention when developing non-motorized amenities that allow all users to share the public roadways safely. Cyclist education is clearly the most effective form of accident prevention. For those who don't know, Ken was killed a few years ago by a drunk driver. This is also a reminder that drunk, inattentive and beligerent drivers - although a very small minority - are beyond the reach of cycling education but should be addressed better in driver education and enforcment. In the meantime be careful out there. Nick

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Article from Chicago Times: On-stree bike education
by director 22 Aug '08

22 Aug '08

This article actually came from an environmental website I read, not a cycling site. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-bike-laws-crackdown-webaug22,0… Seems like we could save everybody a lot of time and confusion if we had this education in 3rd grade as (our German exchange student tells us) they do in Germany. -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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WSJ Article of interest
by director 21 Aug '08

21 Aug '08

Good afternoon, I received this message on another list I read. Thought it might be of interest. The situation is similar to one here in Morgantown - non-cyclist claiming to know more about what cyclists need than qualified individuals. http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121919354756955249-lMyQjAxMDI4MTI5MTE… Nick Hein -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Pittsburgh bike coordinator announced
by director 17 Aug '08

17 Aug '08

Good morning, A friend sent this news from Pittsburgh http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08225/903577-53.stm Nick -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Fwd: Getting Smart! August 2008: Complete Streets
by Jim Rye 17 Aug '08

17 Aug '08

FYI in case you don't subscribe...great stuff on COMPLETE STREETS and the ongoing work in Boulder on multimodal corridors >>> Getting Smart! <smartgrowth(a)icma.org> 8/11/2008 12:28 AM >>> _________________________________________________ Getting Smart!, a quarterly newsletter for members of the Smart Growth Network, is published by the International City/County Management Association. Vol. 11, No. 3 -- Sunday, August 10, 2008 _________________________________________________ NOTE: You are receiving the text-only version of Getting Smart!. If your email program can accept formatted messages, visit http://icma.org/interests/index.cfm?id=1275027298 and change your email format preference setting from "text only" to "HTML." You can read the HTML-formatted version of this issue at http://www.icma.org/enews/sgn/issue_0439_11_03.htm In This Issue: Complete Streets This issue of Getting Smart! examines how the most public of places--our community's streets--can be transformed to serve not only vehicles but also pedestrians and cyclists. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3964&id=1275027298 Complete Streets Deliver Complete Communities The complete streets philosophy offers a number of important benefits for communities--not the least of which is the opportunity to end the costly cycle of road construction and maintenance--and enhances citizens' quality of life. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3848&id=1275027298 Community-based Street Design In the past 70 years citizens have essentially given up their historic right to streets as public property, our authors argue. This article offers guidelines for planning and designing great streets, and returning this vital space to the public. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3963&id=1275027298 City of Decatur, Ga., Embraces Complete Streets Philosophy Decatur has employed a variety of innovative transportation analysis techniques to form a plan to make every street in the city a complete street. By connecting the plan to broader community priorities, the city helped build consensus. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3961&id=1275027298 Multimodal Corridors Accommodate Growth in Boulder, Co. Boulder's road network is essentially built out--yet the city's continues to experience explosive growth. The city has directed its transportation investments to creating multimodal corridors to ensure mobility for all residents. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3962&id=1275027298 Transportation Legislation Enables Communities to Move People--Not Just Cars Federal legislation in the Senate and House may transform transportation funding in support of complete streets. These bills build on the successes of city and states across the country that have made complete streets "the law." Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3960&id=1275027298 EPA Honors Climate Protection Award Winners in ICMA Manager Jurisdictions The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico (Bruce Perlman, city manager), and Arlington County, Virginia (Ron Carlee, county manager), received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Protection Award. Read more at http://icma.org/sgn/newsdetail.cfm?nfid=3907&id=1275027298 ______________________________________________________________ Want more smart growth news? The Smart Growth Network provides U.S. and international news summaries of smart growth activity every week. To stay up to date on smart growth issues, please visit http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/signup.asp for the Smart Growth Online Weekly E-News. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter or if you would like to change your personal interest settings for ICMA mailings, visit http://icma.org/interests/index.cfm?id=1275027298&interest=SGN Please do not reply to this e-mail address. If you have any comments or need to update your e-mail address, send an e-mail to smartgrowth(a)icma.org. The HTML version of this e-newsletter can be found at http://www.icma.org/enews/sgn/issue_0439_11_03.htm Copyright 2008, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) 777 North Capitol Street NE, Washington DC 20002 http://icma.org

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Uphill Struggle Bicycle Ride set for August 16 in Morgantown
by John Lozier 15 Aug '08

15 Aug '08

Monbikeclub, bikeboard, others, here's a final reminder. Please join the Uphill Struggle ride tomorrow morning at 9, at Seneca Center. It won't take long, and a big crowd of us will help raise public awareness. Bicycles are transportation! Bikes belong on the roads! Cyclists of all ages and skill levels have a lot in common!! Greater use of bicycles is a WIN-WIN-WIN for riders and drivers the entire community. John Lozier "It's an UPHILL STRUGGLE to get folks to think of bikes as TRANSPORTATION" Press Release August 2, 2008 Uphill Struggle set for August 16 in Morgantown When was the last time you rode a bicycle in Morgantown? If it has been a while, you might want to plan to join the Uphill Struggle group ride that is set for 9 AM Saturday, August 16, 2008. Cyclists of all ages and skill levels will rally between 8 and 9 AM at the Seneca Center, then ride together up Monongahela Boulevard and down to the Star City Park. Come early for help checking and adjusting your bicycle. At registration, those participants who are new, young, or out of practice will be paired with strong, regular riders. Children are very welcome, but should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Pairs of riders will travel together, at a mutually determined pace. Riders will rally midway at the Creative Arts Center. Strong riders are able complete the two-mile ride in a few minutes, but the group ride is expected to take about 45 minutes. Assisting with traffic control will be the Morgantown and Star City Police Departments. The group will exit the Seneca Center to Sixth Street, then enter Beechurst Avenue (Monongahela Boulevard) at the traffic light. Police cars will travel at the front and the back of the group, as far as the Creative Arts Center, where riders will rally before descending as a group along Monongahela Boulevard. They will turn at Boyers Avenue and travel to the Star City Park on Leeway and Frontier Streets. After celebrations and refreshments at Star City Park, riders may return easily to Seneca Center along the rail trail. The Uphill Struggle, also known as "Max's Challenge" is a new event that will hopefully become annual. It was inspired by a Morgantown seven-year-old, Max Kemp-Rye, who discovered that riding uphill is a challenge, but achievable. Training rides on Decker's Creek Trail began back in April, and continuing for the remaining weeks till August 16. Training rides take place each Sunday at 2 PM, starting at the Sabraton Post Office. These regular trail rides offer a safe setting for development of skills and endurance needed for riding on the roads with other vehicles. The purpose of this event is to help people consider and adopt bicycles for transportation. Although it is an uphill struggle, especially in hilly Morgantown, greater use of bicycles for transportation is a win for everyone. Riders gain through reduced expenses and improved health. Society benefits from reduced traffic congestion, exhaust emissions, and noise. There is no charge for participation, but donations are very welcome. The event is officially sponsored by Positive Spin*, with participation from BOPARC, the City of Morgantown, Star City, and other sponsors yet to be identified. Pre-registration is not required, but you must register before the event to be covered by insurance. Also, by registering early, you can get help checking out your equipment if it has not been used recently.Volunteers are needed for various staffing duties. Especially needed are 1) experienced riders to show how it is done; and 2) non-riders who will register, monitor, direct and otherwise assist the riders. To volunteer, to be a sponsor, to pre-register, or for any further information, contact Marilyn Newcome (mjcycling(a)msn.com, 304 598 5078) or John Lozier (jl(a)harpingforharmony.org, 304 599 8233). *Positive Spin is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted sustainable transportation in Morgantown, WV. Donations may be made to Positive Spin, 2567 University Avenue, Suite 6000L, Morgantown, WV 26505. More information: www.positivespin.org. _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard(a)cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

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R4-11 sign layout
by Frank Gmeindl 13 Aug '08

13 Aug '08

Derek, I received the attached layout from Richard Moeur, member of MUTCD and LCI. Frank

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Striping
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 06 Aug '08

06 Aug '08

Everyone this is a study-a-head for the meeting this Thursday. Mike will be present to discuss this specification. Also, he is a potential replacement candidate (from the Goshen area). Study-a-head: http://mbreiding.us/stripe/ -Jonathan

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8/7 BB agenda
by Frank Gmeindl 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Bicycle Board Members, Attached is a zip folder that contains 3 files: 1. The agenda for this Thursday's meeting 2. The minutes of our last meeting 3. The current membership list If anybody has a valid e-mail address for Chris Phillips, please forward this message to him. Frank

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April minutes
by Frank Gmeindl 04 Aug '08

04 Aug '08

Bicycle Board Members, Attached are the draft minutes of our last meeting. Thanks to Marilyn for substituting for Betsy! We'll need another volunteer for our May meeting as Betsy will be on travel. Frank

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Milt Cohen: Will you help record and preserve his stories in the next few days?
by Nick Hein 03 Aug '08

03 Aug '08

Good morning, Last nite I visited with Milt Cohen's family after a memorial service at his synagogue. Milt stopped biking at age 96, about the time I moved to town, so I didn't know him first hand but I knew him by reputation. I spent time talking to his wife and sons and heard some amazing stories. Many of you may know that most of our current bike laws date to the early 60's when Milt's middle son Gar got him into biking for the first time. Milt's 3 sons are all now active bicyclists - Neil is a racing cyclist, Gar rides recumbents and Jonathan lives car-free in San Francisco using a bike. It got me motivated to start taking action on an idea I've had for a while. Since we started Positive Spin we've operated on a shoe string financially, but we've been rewarded richly with the stories that people tell about their bikes. It's been an ambition of mine to capture these stories somehow in a way that they can be preserved and passed on. I've claimed the internet domain name "ifwheelscouldtalk.org" for the purpose, but don't know how to proceed next. Ideally I would like the story collection to involve school age kids as a way of exciting them about writing and storytelling (maybe interviewing adults or digging for stories). The model that inspired me is David Egger's 426 Valencia Project http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/dave_eggers.html I can't take this much farther alone. I'm looking for volunteers (teachers, tutors, english majors, authors, historians or anyone who is excited by this idea) to help launch it. Ultimately I envision city-wide story contests and published books for these stories. Currently it will be run under Positive Spin to take advantage of our non-profit status. For now though here are the specific items that are needed. Webhosting A way of indexing the stories (written, spoken and video) Volunteers to record the stories Volunteers to engage kids in writing the stories A leader to direct the program I don't expect this all to happen overnite. It's a great idea that can take time to build into a substantial part of the community. However, I'd like to get volunteers to help record and organize stories from the Cohen family while they are still in town for the next few days. Thanks! Nick Hein

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Bikeboard August 2008