Bikeboard May 2009

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10 participants
25 discussions

Fwd: FW: NYTimes.com: Bike Messenger
by Jim Rye 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

BOOKS / SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW | May 31, 2009 Bike <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/books/review/Byrne-t.html?emc=eta1> Messenger By DAVID BYRNE An argument for commuters to ditch the car in favor of the bicycle, for the sake of cities and health alike. <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif> <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif> Copyright <http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html> 2009 The New York Times Company <http://www.nytco.com/> | Privacy <http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/privacy.html> Policy <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/misc/spacer.gif> <http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_remote.html?type=noscript&page=emailthis .nytimes.com/openrate&posall=Bottom1&pos=Bottom1&query=qstring&keywords=>

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Next week's Bicycle Board meeting
by Frank Gmeindl 31 May '09

31 May '09

Bicycle Board Members, Please reply ASAP with any recommended agenda items for our next Thursday, 6/4 meeting. Attached is a preliminary draft. With your reply, please include the desired outcome of your topic and the amount of time that you estimate to achieve the desired outcome. Also, kudos to Chip for making a mock up of the post-and-loop bicycle parking device and kudos to Chip, Derek, gunnar and Marilyn for taking photos of each and every downtown bicycle parking space and getting them up on the City's web site: http://www.morgantown.com/bike-board-documents/tm/index.htm . Please contact Chip if you have any comments on the racks or their locations. Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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[Fwd: RE: rail trail closed for a year?]
by Frank Gmeindl 30 May '09

30 May '09

Bicycle Board, What, if anything, does the Bicycle Board want to do about this? Closing the rail-trail between Deckers Creek and the Star City bridge for a year to install a second sewer line. Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/ -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: rail trail closed for a year? Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 10:42:47 -0400 From: Christiaan Abildso <Christiaan.Abildso(a)mail.wvu.edu> To: Don Spencer <dspencer36(a)comcast.net>,<wileya120(a)gmail.com>, 'Robert Anderson' <randerson(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, 'Bill Reger-Nash' <wreger(a)hsc.wvu.edu> CC: Mark Wise <mwise(a)BOPARC.org>, Daniel Boroff <dboroff(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, <ella(a)montrails.org>,Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net>, Jon Weems <jweems(a)wvu.edu> References: <4A1B9F9A02000013008C0CFF(a)newgwia.hsc.wvu.edu> <D602B22211244ACE9DC5DB24C73F01B8@donhome> Thank you for the update, Don. I look forward to discussion of this matter, hopefully with BOPARC, MUB, and Arboretum representatives at the next Pedestrian Safety Board meeting, Monday June 8 4-5:30 at the Public Safety Building. I think the Board should get accurate project information before making any public comment. Have fun. Be active. Christiaan >>> "Don Spencer" <dspencer36(a)comcast.net> 5/28/2009 10:30 AM >>> Hi, All - Just to bring you up to date on this issue a bit...City Council is requesting that there be a community meeting on this issue sometime during the month of June. It will be important that Christiaan's views and the views of others on how the construction plan should be formulated can be expressed and perhaps discussed. I suspect that the date for the meeting will be announced on by June 2 at the Council meeting. Also, MUB announced that coordination of some concerns about the trail will be handled by BOPARC. It is hoped that BOPARC will put together a meeting to discuss trail construction which will include the MRTC, the WVU Arboretum, as well as the Pedestrian Safety Board and perhaps the Bicycle Board as well. Don -----Original Message----- From: Robert Anderson [mailto:randerson@hsc.wvu.edu] Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:52 AM To: wileya120(a)gmail.com; Bill Reger-Nash; Christiaan Abildso Cc: dspencer36(a)comcast.net; ella(a)montrails.org Subject: Re: rail trail closed for a year? I am in Chas today and tomorrow so I will miss tonight as well. Christiaan has a great point, namely that shutting down the entire length of trail for a year is not acceptable. Instead, one section at a time. Just like is done when a road has to be repaired or expanded. Bob Robert H. Anderson Deputy Director Prevention Research Center PO Box 9190 3820 HSC South West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506 304-293-1828 304-293-8624 (fax) 304-376-5299 (cell) >>> "Christiaan Abildso" <Christiaan.Abildso(a)mail.wvu.edu> 05/25/09 10:36 PM >>> Sorry all, have an afternoon meeting in Charleston tomorrow so I probably won't be back in time. I do not have a formal letter, but I suggest we ask MUB to approach the trail improvements as if they are working on a road...working one section at a time and offering detours. For example, work on the following segments with detours: 1) Decker's Creek to Stansbury with a detour out to Beechurst and back on behind Stansbury 2) Stansbury to 8th St...again detour out onto Beechurst 3) 8th St to Arb service entrance...detour to service road along river? Bill suggested this may be a possibility with funds for crushed stone??? 4) Arb service road to Star City sewage treatment plant...again, service road usable? Nothing formal yet, but that's my initial thought for discussion of feasibility. Let's treat the trail as if it's a road...not revolutionary, but beneficial for the community. I'm including Ella. I'm sure she's interested/better informed than we are. Christiaan >>> Angela Wiley <wileya120(a)gmail.com> 5/25/2009 9:53 PM >>> I know Don will obviously be there tomorrow; but I think I am free -- so I will try and attend in order to represent us. Christiaan -- if you typed something up to send by now, could you forward it to me, so I have consistent talking points? Or maybe I'll see you there! Let me know. On Mon, May 25, 2009 at 4:07 PM, Bill Reger-Nash <wreger(a)hsc.wvu.edu> wrote: > Don, > > As always, I appreciate your input. Thank you. > > I appreciate that this is an important and major project for the community, > but there is a service road (between the trail and the river) that might be > put into service during the rail trail down time. > > Bill > > > > WV Walks - 30 minutes or more daily > Feel the power of half an hour! > > Bill Reger-Nash, Ed.D > Professor of Community Medicine > West Virginia University School of Medicine > Morgantown WV 26506-9190 > Phone: 304/293-0763 > Fax: 304/293-6685 > > Dept. web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed > BRN's web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/wreger/ > > > > > >>> "Don Spencer" <dspencer36(a)comcast.net> 5/25/2009 12:35 AM >>> > Bill - The MUB planning will be discussed at City council on Tuesday, May > 26. The information that I have received on the trail closing thus far is > even more disturbing than what Jon has reported. I am sure that there will > be some negotiation in the planning which will result from the City Council > Review. This is a major project for the community. > > Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill Reger-Nash [mailto:wreger@hsc.wvu.edu] > Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:25 AM > To: dspencer36(a)comcast.net; Angela Wiley; Robert Anderson; Christiaan > Abildso > Subject: Re: Fwd: railtrail closed for a year? > > Christiaan et al, > > I suggest we invite MUB and Boparc to our June meet to discuss this issue. > They are scheduled to begin on Jan 1, 2010 and finish by Dec 31, 2010. > > There is a service road between the rail trail and the river. Perhaps that > could be covered roughly with fine gravel. > > Bill > > WV Walks - 30 minutes or more daily > Feel the power of half an hour! > > Bill Reger-Nash, Ed.D > Professor of Community Medicine > West Virginia University School of Medicine > Morgantown WV 26506-9190 > Phone: 304/293-0763 > Fax: 304/293-6685 > > Dept. web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed > BRN's web page: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/wreger/ > > > > > >>> "Christiaan Abildso" <Christiaan.Abildso(a)mail.wvu.edu> 5/22/2009 10:13 > AM >>> > All - > I'm going to craft a response that I hope will stimulate a discussion with > us, the Bike Board, MUB & the Arb. > > Events that will be affected: Moutaineer Triathlon, Sprint Splash & Spin > Triathlon, Twilight 5-miler...they all use that section of the trail. > > >>> "Robert Anderson" <randerson(a)hsc.wvu.edu> 5/22/2009 9:08 AM >>> > Very bad. For some people near one end or the other they can manage, if not > as well as they like. But for many, many others, this ruins things for > them. > What is the position of the rail trail people. Does MUB have the legal > authority to do this without getting anyone's OK? > > >>> Bill Reger-Nash 5/21/2009 4:03 PM >>> > The following message comes from Jon Weems of the WVU Arboretum. It > appears > to me that pedestrian advocates should express displeasure for this > proposed > lack of accommodation. If they were to close a street down for a year, ... > well, it just would never happen. > > Bill > > > > >Subject: Arboretum sewer line > >Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:19:52 -0400 > >From: "Jonathan Weems" <Jonathan.Weems(a)mail.wvu.edu> > > > >I met with three MUB engineers this Monday and learned more about > >the new sewer line going through the Arboretum. It will be a 36 inch > >diameter pressure line, installed along the ditch line on the uphill > >side of the rail-trail. It will supplement but not replace the old > >gravity line along the downhill side of the rail-trail. > > > >This is to be built with stimulus money during the calendar year > >2010. The rail-trail will be closed from Decker's Creek to the > >sewage treatment plant by the Star City bridge for the year. After > >the sewer line is complete MUB will repave the rail-trail, widening > >it to 12 feet where possible and installing some paved turnouts on > >the downhill side of the rail-trail. The turnouts will be places > >where folks can get out of the flow (sorry, accidental bad pun) if > >they want to stop for a while. > > > >This new line will be well within the old railroad right-of-way and > >also within the MEA power line right-of-way. It will be within the > >area the railroad used to brush-hog and spray with herbicides. Lots > >of saplings, a few trees up to 6 inches in diameter, and no larger > >trees will need to be removed. > > > >I told the engineers I didn't know of any current research projects > >that would be disturbed by the work planned. They said they thought > >they would be able to keep the three Arboretum trail crossings (of > >the rail-trail) open during construction. We all identified the flat > >place below the old landslide as an obvious spot for a turnout. I > >also suggested one near the bottom of the Service Road where the > >bike rack is located. Some turnouts outside the Arboretum will be > >landscaped, but evidently not within the Arboretum. I said we > >wouldn't want exotic plants used in any event. > > > >Overall, I see this sewer line construction as a major disruption > >for rail-trail users but less of a disruption for Arboretum > >visitors. If we get a turnout with benches and a bike rack at the > >bottom of the Service Road I think we should install an interpretive > >sign inviting rail-trailers to explore Arboretum trails on foot. > > > >They agreed we should have an on-site meeting later this year, once > >detailed specs have been developed and locations staked out. > > > >This is a rush job, the time line driven by the stimulus money. If > >we have major concerns or suggestions it would be good to > >communicate them early on. > > > >Thank you, > > > > > > > >Jon Weems > > > >Arboretum Specialist > >WVU Department of Biology > >Morgantown, WV 26506-6057 > > > >304-293-5201 ext. 31547 > > > >jweems(a)wvu.edu > >

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Bike Board Resignation
by John Lozier 30 May '09

30 May '09

All, I want to congratulate Frank and all of you for the fine work that has been done by the Bike Board. Also, as I announced at our last meeting, I must resign from the board. I will of course continue to walk, bike, and advocate for transportation alternatives here in Morgantown. Specifically, I will be involved in Uphill Struggle again, set for August 8, under the umbrella of Bill Reger-Nash's "Year of Active Transport. I hope Bike Board will help to encourage this event. Thanks for all the work you are doing. John Lozier "It's an UPHILL STRUGGLE to get folks to think of bikes as TRANSPORTATION"

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Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: FW: NYTimes.com: Bike Messenger
by director 30 May '09

30 May '09

Jim, Thanks for the tip. We actually have this book on the reading rack at Positive Spin if anyone wants to look at it. We also have the book "Human Powered Home" showing how to make various pedal-powered machines, generators, etc. Anyone can stop by any time to check them out (M-S 9-5 call first though). Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Jim Rye" <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu> Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 09:26:39 -0400 >BOOKS / SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW | May 31, 2009 >Bike <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/books/review/Byrne-t.html?emc=eta1> >Messenger >By DAVID BYRNE >An argument for commuters to ditch the car in favor of the bicycle, for the >sake of cities and health alike. > -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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WVU Biking/Walking Brochure
by Frank Gmeindl 30 May '09

30 May '09

Bicycle Board Members, Please Reply-All with your recommendations for the attached draft brouchure that Hugh Kierig sent me for use at student orientation, transportation week, employee functions, and fall move in regarding biking and walking. Please review, edit, and make any suggestions that would be helpful. It is a three fold that they are planning. Hugh would like to include some connecting web sites that promote both modes. Also, there is a section for preferred walking and biking routes that they need some guidance on so any information would be helpful. I ask you to Reply-All to to Reply-All to perhaps incite some synergy and creativity as well as links and preferred bicycle routes. Thanks for any help that you can give. On behalf of Hugh, Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Re: [Bikeboard] [Fwd: WVU Biking/Walking Brochure]
by director 30 May '09

30 May '09

Frank, Thanks for passing this on. I would suggest taking a look at the Positive Spin tri-fold brochures for some additional information. They are at these links: http://www.positivespin.org/PS_LawBrochure.pdf - Morgantown and WV bike law (includes advice to drivers for sharing the road safely) http://www.positivespin.org/PS_EconBrochure.pdf - economic and health benefits of bicycling (and walking) Thanks. Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 17:42:44 -0400 > > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: WVU Biking/Walking Brochure >Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 07:54:11 -0400 >From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> >To: Bicycle Board <bikeboard(a)cheat.org> > > > >Bicycle Board Members, > >Please Reply-All with your recommendations for the attached draft >brouchure that Hugh Kierig sent me for use at student orientation, >transportation week, employee functions, and fall move in regarding >biking and walking. Please review, edit, and make any suggestions that >would be helpful. It is a three fold that they are planning. > >Hugh would like to include some connecting web sites that promote both >modes. Also, there is a section for preferred walking and biking routes >that they need some guidance on so any information would be helpful. > >I ask you to Reply-All to to Reply-All to perhaps incite some synergy >and creativity as well as links and preferred bicycle routes. > >Thanks for any help that you can give. > >On behalf of Hugh, > >Frank >/Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/ > > > -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Results of Bike to Work Week, Morgantown
by Jim Rye 29 May '09

29 May '09

BIKE TO WORK WEEK, MORGANTOWN "WE CAN" was the response from 25 Morgantown area employees who planned to bike commute to work at least twice (and most, daily) during the week of May 11-15. Distances ranged from 2 to 28 miles for the daily commute and 4 to 80 miles for the entire week. Over the entire week, this group planned to bike commute to work 826 miles, which would result in: -saving approximately 41 gallons of gasoline (by leaving their cars at home) -reducing carbon dioxide auto emissions by 826 lbs -burning almost 24,000 additional food Calories, equal to what are found in about 7 lbs of body fat "CAN WE" make a difference? You bet. Consider this: -If our group maintained this bicycle commuting for a full year, this would conserve over 2,100 gallons of gasoline and reduce carbon dioxide auto emissions by over 21 tons. -What if our group size increase of bicycle commuters increased from 25 to 250? Over a year, we'd save over 21,000 gallons of gasoline and 210 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. WEIGHT, THERE'S MORE...about those Calories in the 7 lb of adipose tissue burned by our WE CAN commuters: -Over a year, this is the equivalent of over 14 lb per person. -Over 5 years, this type of healthy behavior could prevent the gain or facilitate the loss of almost 70 lb in an individual. Oh...in case you think you're too old: Our WE CAN commuters were far from "spring chickens," with over 30% in the 50-70 year old range. Over 60% of the participants now plan to bicycle commute to work more frequently. Here's some of what they told us: "Would love more events to educate bikers and drivers about proper use of the roads." "I enjoyed every bit of commuting last week. I usually commute 2-3 times a week by bike, but last week I made it all five days. Bike-To-Work week motivated me...and I will try to do this more!" "Having a designated week reminds people to give it a try and it lets them know how easy it is. I think people feel more comfortable biking to work if others are as well!" "It would probably be good to promote an event like this again in the fall promoting active transportation for the students as well." -"I would like to see WVU require parking tags for all parking areas and only issue these tags to students who live further than 3 miles to either campus (or with a legitimate medical waiver)....there would be a tremendous decrease in traffic congestion in Morgantown and much greater use of public transit, walking, PRT and cycling." "Every week is bike to work week. Solve the traffic problem by parking your car and biking everywhere"... ...and if so, imagine a Morgantown with little traffic congestion during "rush hour," better air quality, a healthier citizenry...the bicycle really IS a magnificent piece of technology to solve much of what ails us! Jim Rye Professor Science Education Dept C&I/LS College of Human Resources & Education West Virginia University PO Box 6122 604L Allen Hall Morgantown, WV 26506-6122 Phone: (304) 293-4416 Fax: (304) 293-3802 Email: jim.rye(a)mail.wvu.edu Web Page: http://depts.hre.wvu.edu/c&ils/currinst/rye.html Are YOU waitin' for the world to change? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOBMzMTP4U ECAS/HRE NSF-Supported WV Watershed Dynamics Project http://www.wvscience.org/wvwatershed/

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Re: [Bikeboard] WVU Biking/Walking Brochure
by Chip Wamsley 28 May '09

28 May '09

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 07:54:11 -0400 Hey folks, Lots of good generic info, but what is the policy for keeping bikes at the dorms? I get that question at the shop from lots of prospective students. The benefits for being green and being healthier are true everywhere, but in Morgantown with our congested traffic "bikes are faster than cars". In the early 70's, a shop I was affiliated with and a local radio station had a race from the Evansdale campus to the downtown campus on a Friday afternoon and the bike won. Chip Wamsley >Bicycle Board Members, > >Please Reply-All with your recommendations for the attached draft >brouchure that Hugh Kierig sent me for use at student orientation, >transportation week, employee functions, and fall move in regarding >biking and walking. Please review, edit, and make any suggestions that >would be helpful. It is a three fold that they are planning. > >Hugh would like to include some connecting web sites that promote both >modes. Also, there is a section for preferred walking and biking routes >that they need some guidance on so any information would be helpful. > >I ask you to Reply-All to to Reply-All to perhaps incite some synergy >and creativity as well as links and preferred bicycle routes. > >Thanks for any help that you can give. > >On behalf of Hugh, > >Frank >/Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/ > > >

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Fwd: Bike to work week - How employers can help
by Jim Rye 19 May '09

19 May '09

Dear All, Thanks very much for your help with our Bike to Work week efforts http://wecan.wvu.edu/biketowork . I am hoping that last week was just the beginning of a sustained effort (e.g., see url below) to realize "Morgantown as a bicycle commuter city" http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/biking-to-work-day-how-to-tips-get-… BICYCLE COMMUTER BENEFITS ACT: I recently learned from Nick Hein about one strategy that WVU and other employers could adopt towards sustaining the bike to work effort: Effective January 1, 2009, commuter cyclists can be reimbursed by their employers $20 per month as part of the Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act signed into law October 2008. See http://bicycling.about.com/od/advocacy/tp/bike_commuter_benefit.htm COULD WVU BE THE FIRST MORGANTOWN EMPLOYER TO PUT THIS IN ACTION? Jim Rye Professor Science Education Dept C&I/LS College of Human Resources & Education West Virginia University PO Box 6122 604L Allen Hall Morgantown, WV 26506-6122 Phone: (304) 293-4416 Fax: (304) 293-3802 Email: jim.rye(a)mail.wvu.edu Web Page: http://depts.hre.wvu.edu/c&ils/currinst/rye.html Are YOU waitin' for the world to change? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOBMzMTP4U ECAS/HRE NSF-Supported WV Watershed Dynamics Project http://www.wvscience.org/wvwatershed/ >>> "director" <director(a)positivespin.org> 5/18/2009 6:14 PM >>> Jim, Employers can take a $20/mo tax credit for each commuter cyclist, and pass it on to the employee if they choose. It can be administered through the HR dept, or through a subcontractor (like CommuteCheck, about whom I sent earlier messages). Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Jim Rye" <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 16:18:27 -0400 >Nick, thanks. I do! What do you know about this (clipped from what you >just sent), as it sounds also like a great wellness incentive: > > *Show Us the Money: It also can't hurt to offer financial incentives >for ditching driving. Employers can institute the recently adopted >monthly $20 tax rebate for cyclists, or go further.*???? > > > > > >>>> "director" <director(a)positivespin.org> 5/14/2009 10:10 PM >>> >Jim, >I just read this on TreeHugger, thought you'd like it. >http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/how-to-create-bike-friendly-office-… > > >Nick > > >-- >Nick Hein LCI# 1705 >Director, Positive Spin >2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L >Morgantown, WV >ph 304-276-0213 >-- > -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Bikeboard May 2009