Bikeboard March 2011

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March BB Minutes
by Elizabeth Shogren 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

Attached, please find the March BB minutes. Thank you, Betsy --

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MPO Unified Planning Work Program
by Frank Gmeindl 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

Bicycle Board Members, By April 8, we need to provide Bill Austin specific recommended projects to be included in subject plan. Please reply-all with your suggestions. I will roll them up and send them to Bill and the MPO Citizens Advisory Committee of which I am a member. Attached is the current Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) that will be revised in the coming months. Please at least scan the first 5 pages. You will see that bicycling is mentioned throughout. In general, for the revised plan, I would recommend more specific commitment to integrating bicycling into the transportation system. Some examples; 1. The UPWP section entitled, Focus for Fiscal Year 2011, 4th paragraph, of the plan says, "Other major projects for the MPO will be the development of an ongoing traffic count database." Recommendation: Count bicycles and include them in the database. (Traditionally traffic counts have ignored bicycles.) 2. The same paragraph also says, "It is anticipated that both the traffic counts and the travel time studies will be performed at a limited set of locations...". Recommendation: Include bicycles in the studies. Focus on locations that could have significantly increased bicycle use and reduced motor use. For example, the roads between Campuses including University Av., Beechurst, Mon Blvd., Willowdale, Stewart St. Jones Av. and the rail-trail. Count the bikes. Create a baseline. Design experiments. Take data to see how experiments change bicycle use. (This recommendation also applies to UPWP section II-A-1 Traffic Counts.) 3. The section entitled, SAFETEA-LU Planning Factors, subsection 2. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users, first paragraph says, "...working with local emergency service providers on transportation safety education when applicable." Recommendation: Get commitment from Morgantown Police to complete International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) training as currently taken annually by WVU bicycle police or get them to take one of the 7 other police training courses that the Bicycle Board recommended to the Morgantown police at the December 2, 2009 Traffic Commission meeting. 4. The section entitled, II-A-10 Mapping Recommendation: Incorporate and continue to develop the Morgantown Bike Route map and develop greater Morgantown Bike Route maps. Classify all Morgantown area roads in terms of bicycling level of service. 5. The section entitled, II-B-17 Congestion Management Strategies Recommendation: Seriously develop strategies that get people out of cars and onto bikes and their feet, especially where the congestion is highest: between and near campuses. Understand origins and destinations within that area. Identify obstacles to bicycling and walking. Identify attractions to driving. Make walking bicycling and walking more attractive. Make driving less attractive. (IMHO, we have always been doing the opposite.) Since the MPO was created, it has always treated "bike-ped" separately from motorized transportation and transit. Consequently, most if not all of the built projects make cycling worse. Integrating bicycling and walking with other transportation modes, especially in the 5-mile cross section that constitutes Morgantown could optimize the transportation system for all users and make Morgantown a better place to live as well as a better place to bicycle. Please send me your recommendations for the UPWP by April 6. Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

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BB scope expansion
by Frank Gmeindl 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

Bicycle Board Members, Bill Austin, Chris Fletcher (City Director of Planning and Development) and Terrence Moore recently met and decided to create a memorandum of understanding between the City and the MPO that expands the Bicycle Board's scope to include both the City and the greater Morgantown area (basically Mon County). As you know, we are currently an advisory board to the City Traffic Commission. I suppose under the new agreement, we will also be an advisory board to the MPO. The expanded scope will enable us to have standing with the MPO which will be particularly useful to the MPO in the upcoming updating of the Long-Range Transportation Plan. Some details will have to be worked out. First will probably be to get Traffic Commission concurrence on the idea and then to propose a revision to our Procedural Guidelines to redefine our mission, roles and responsibilities, membership, duties & responsibilities, goals, objectives, and hopefully add a budget. This is just FYI but I'd appreciate your thoughts. Frank

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Re: [Bikeboard] BB scope expansion
by Chip Wamsley 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl(a)comcast.net> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:57:29 -0500 Frank et al, It sounds like the logical direction to proceed as all streets and roads are connected and sometimes fall under multiple jurisdictions, not to mention maintaining a unified approach to fulfilling our goals. Chip >Bicycle Board Members, > >Bill Austin, Chris Fletcher (City Director of Planning and Development) and Terrence Moore recently met and decided to create a memorandum of understanding between the City and the MPO that expands the Bicycle Board's scope to include both the City and the greater Morgantown area (basically Mon County). As you know, we are currently an advisory board to the City Traffic Commission. I suppose under the new agreement, we will also be an advisory board to the MPO. The expanded scope will enable us to have standing with the MPO which will be particularly useful to the MPO in the upcoming updating of the Long-Range Transportation Plan. Some details will have to be worked out. First will probably be to get Traffic Commission concurrence on the idea and then to propose a revision to our Procedural Guidelines to redefine our mission, roles and responsibilities, membership, duties & responsibilities, goals, objectives, and hopefully add a budget. > >This is just FYI but I'd appreciate your thoughts. > >Frank >_______________________________________________ >Bikeboard mailing list >Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >

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Re: [Bikeboard] Resolution on Traffic Controls Detecting Bicycles
by Chip Wamsley 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl(a)comcast.net> Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:35:55 -0500 Both documents are succinct and to the point, great job as always. Chip >Bicycle Board Members, > >I would like your concurrence to propose the attached resolution to the Traffic Commission and the City Council. > >To review, comment and revise the resolution please work on the file, "LightsDetectBIkes" in Dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/home#/ControlDevices:::36393417 . > >As you know, WVDOH has decided that the new traffic light on 705 at the WVU multi-modal transportation facility will not be activated by bicycles. This means that if you ride your bicycle out of the facility, you will have to wait until a motor vehicle comes to trigger the light or run it. > >One purpose of the resolution is to get the traffic signals to treat bicycles as any other vehicle. Another purpose is to get recognition that bicycles are valid means of transportation, that bicyclists are equals to motorists, and to remove barriers to bicycling. > >Since WVDOH is already installing equipment for traffic lights in the 705 corridor, this resolution may be too late. I'm hoping that they might get wind of its coming and maybe give some more consideration to their decision to discriminate against bicyclists at the Mountaineer Station. > > > > >Frank >Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles > > > > > > > >

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What you're missing
by director 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

Good morning, I just finished typing my notes from yesterdays keynote and seminar presentations and thought I would share them. You can read them at this link: www.positivespin.org/PublicFiles/2011_LABpresentationNotes.pdf I'll be in town tonite and will probably collect notes from the congressional meetings today, starting in 90 min. I'll post those as well. Nick -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 803 East Brockway Ave Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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Dropbox
by Frank Gmeindl 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

Bicycle Board Members, I have created a folder named "BikeBoard" in Dropbox. I have shared it with all current active Bicycle Board members. I would like to see how useful this folder and its subfolders will be for us to share documents and collaborate on them. Google docs may be a better alternative but I found for Word documents, Dropbox is easier to track changes. The BikeBoard folder is at https://www.dropbox.com/home#:::36393417 Frank Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

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Resolution on Traffic Controls Detecting Bicycles
by Frank Gmeindl 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

Bicycle Board Members, I would like your concurrence to propose the attached resolution to the Traffic Commission and the City Council. To review, comment and revise the resolution please work on the file, "LightsDetectBIkes" in Dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/home#/ControlDevices:::36393417 . As you know, WVDOH has decided that the new traffic light on 705 at the WVU multi-modal transportation facility will not be activated by bicycles. This means that if you ride your bicycle out of the facility, you will have to wait until a motor vehicle comes to trigger the light or run it. One purpose of the resolution is to get the traffic signals to treat bicycles as any other vehicle. Another purpose is to get recognition that bicycles are valid means of transportation, that bicyclists are equals to motorists, and to remove barriers to bicycling. Since WVDOH is already installing equipment for traffic lights in the 705 corridor, this resolution may be too late. I'm hoping that they might get wind of its coming and maybe give some more consideration to their decision to discriminate against bicyclists at the Mountaineer Station. Frank Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

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From the Bike Summit
by director 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Good afternoon, Just taking a break before our state delegation meeting. This is your last chance to pass on any issues affected by federal legislation before I lobby to lawmakers on capitol hill tomorrow. Our major "ask" is that, under current hostile budget cutting, that our bike related initiatives retain or increase their funding. Safe Routes Recreational Trails Transportation Enhancements I'll have printed images representing what we've done with our TE money. Are there any issues affecting Morgantown that you think should be mentioned to the lawmakers? If you don't think what I'm doing is important I'd like to request that you buy me dinner when I get back so I can explain it to you :-) Thanks, Nick -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 803 East Brockway Ave Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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DA Article
by BikeMorgantown 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

William, As Chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and an instructor of the Confident City Cycling courses, as well as a local cyclist, please accept my gratitude for writing, "Bicycling is healthy, efficient and a good alternative to driving" that was published in the DA Sunday March 6, 2011: http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/bicycling-is-healthy-efficient-and-a-goo… . I'm surprised we haven't actually met since your perspective is so in sync with mine. I especially want to thank you for calling attention to the Confident City Cycling courses. Where did you learn of them? The ad in the DA? Participation in the courses is much less than we would like. The Bicycle Board would appreciate any ideas for getting more people to take the courses. Please e-mail me or call me at the number below with your ideas. I'd also like to invite you to attend the Bicycle Board's regular monthly meetings. We meet the first Thursday of the month 6:30 - 8:30 pm in the Public Safety Center (corner Spruce & Walnut) Conference Room. I looked up your address in the WVU directory. I hope I got the right one. Another bond we may have is that I also have a Physics degree:) Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

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Bikeboard March 2011