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Re: [Bikeboard] FW: Morgantown Bike Lane
by Chip Wamsley 05 Jan '10

05 Jan '10

---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> Date: Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:45:10 -0500 To all, I agree that most traffic would be on the hill side, not the PRT side and something other than pavement arrows would be a good idea to discourage people from trying to use that lane for descending, a very dangerous situation indeed. I think better no parking signs would also be necessary. I don't agree that all bike lanes should be symmetrical and hill climbing lanes serve a real purpose in towns with topography like Morgantown. It was also encouraging that he didn't totally dismiss the plan but gave some thoughtful criticism. Chip >Bicycle Board Members, > > > >Any comments? > > > >Frank > >Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles > > > >From: Bill Austin [mailto:baustin@moncpc.org] >Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 9:39 AM >To: 'Damien Davis'; 'Terry Hough'; fgmeindl(a)verizon.net >Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane > > > >Damien, Terry, Frank, > > > >Please find below one preliminary response from DOH on the Monongalia >Boulevard Bike Lane. We should be prepared to discuss the concerns expressed >at the upcoming TTAC meeting. I do have a question about the statement that >the shoulder is the same width on both sides of the Boulevard in the >comment. I do not recall this being the case from when I have been out >there. For your information Fouad Shoukry from the Division will not be at >the TTAC Meeting since he will be at TRB on the 12th. > > > >Thanks, > > > > > >Bill Austin, AICP > >Executive Director > >Morgantown Monongalia MPO > >180 Hart Field Road > >Morgantown, WVA 26508 > >304-291-9571 > >304-692-7225 Mobile > > > > > > > >From: Warner, Richard L [mailto:Richard.L.Warner@wv.gov] >Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 1:37 PM >To: Bill Austin; Lewis, Ray C >Cc: Robinson, Bill C; Hudson, Jim E >Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane > > > >Bill and Ray, > > FYI, Jim Hudson has reviewed the City's Monongahela Boulevard bike >lane proposal and has generated the comments below. Jim is the primary >author of the WVDOT/DOH statewide bicycle/pedestrian plan that is undergoing >internal review prior to its official release for public review. In addition >to his other responsibilities, Jim also assists Bill Robinson in his duties >as WVDOT/DOH Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and has a background in law >enforcement in Morgantown. These comments are intended for use as input to >further discussions regarding the proposed bike lane. Additional comments >from other reviewers may be supplied prior to the 1/12/10 TAC meeting (1:30 >pm at the MPO offices, Morgantown Municipal Airport). > >Ray, > > Please forward these comments to Cindy Cramer and Fouad Shoukry as >appropriate, and invite Mr. Shoukry to attend the TAC meeting. Per our >earlier discussion, I'm assuming that implementation details will ultimately >fall to him. > >--Richard > >_____________________________________________ >From: Hudson, Jim E >Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 9:52 AM >To: Robinson, Bill C >Cc: Warner, Richard L; Keller, Perry J >Subject: Morgantown Bike Lane > >Bill, > >As I understand it, the proposed bicycle Lane in Morgantown includes one >bicycle "climbing" lane delineated on the existing shoulder on the hill side >of Monongahela Boulevard and some signs identifying it. Delineating the >lane and installation of the signage is to be entirely funded by some entity >other than WVDOH. I am not aware of who will be conducting or funding the >maintenance on the delineated bicycle lane or the signage related to it. > >There will be no effort to widen the shoulder or to delineate a bicycle lane >on the opposite side of the road (the PRT side) even though the shoulder on >that side are the same width as the shoulder on the hill side. It should be >noted that there are no entrances or exits to Monongahela Boulevard in this >segment except for one maintenance access for the PRT system on the side >opposite the proposal. Also, while the posted speed limit is 45 mph, >traffic frequently exceeds this by a significant amount. Finally, the only >"No Parking" signs I recall along this stretch of road are attached flat >against the fence between the PRT and the Boulevard. I do not recall any >"No Parking" signs on the hill side of the road where the proposed bicycle >lane is to be established. I definitely recall seeing several vehicles >parked along the hill side shoulder during basketball games, concerts and >other events at the WVU Coliseum. > >First, let me say that I am opposed to establishing a one way bicycle lane >on only one side of a street or road unless that street or road is also one >way. This can only "invite" bicyclists to ride against traffic in violation >of current traffic laws. In short I prefer a symmetrical bicycle lane on >both sides of the road. > >In the proposed situation on Monongahela Boulevard, the proposed directional >arrows on the pavement are insufficient as indicators of it being one way. >The origin or destination of the vast majority of the bicycle traffic along >this route will be on the same side of the boulevard as the proposed bicycle >lane. Few bicyclists will cross the four lane boulevard to ride with the >traffic when there is a designated bicycle lane on one side of the road. > >However, if WVDOH agrees to this proposed one way bicycle lane and the >subsequent narrowing of the shoulder on that side of the road, I think >additional signage to that proposed is necessary. "No Parking At Any Time" >signs (R7-201) should be installed along both sides of the road which are >clearly visible to motorists while driving. "Bicycle Specific Wrong Way" >signs (R5-1b) and "Ride With Traffic" (R9-3c) placards should be installed >on the reverse side of every "Bicycle Lane" (R3-17)sign proposed. > >In addition to the signage, I think the City of Morgantown and/or the MPO >and/or the WVDOH should mail a letter to the WVU Security Police, the >Morgantown City Police, The Monongalia County Sherriff's Office and the >Morgantown Detachment of the WV State Police requesting strict enforcement >of the traffic regulations relating to bicycles with an emphasis on >enforcing the bicycle related laws along this stretch of Monongahela >Boulevard. > >Thank you, > >Jim Hudson > >Community Development Specialist > >Building 5, Room 863 > >1900 Kanawha Blvd. E. > >Charleston, WV 25305-0430 > >(304) 558-9613 > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2595 - Release Date: 01/04/10 >03:24:00 > > > > > >

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FW: Morgantown Bike Lane
by Frank Gmeindl 05 Jan '10

05 Jan '10

Bicycle Board Members, Any comments? Frank Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles From: Bill Austin [mailto:baustin@moncpc.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 9:39 AM To: 'Damien Davis'; 'Terry Hough'; fgmeindl(a)verizon.net Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane Damien, Terry, Frank, Please find below one preliminary response from DOH on the Monongalia Boulevard Bike Lane. We should be prepared to discuss the concerns expressed at the upcoming TTAC meeting. I do have a question about the statement that the shoulder is the same width on both sides of the Boulevard in the comment. I do not recall this being the case from when I have been out there. For your information Fouad Shoukry from the Division will not be at the TTAC Meeting since he will be at TRB on the 12th. Thanks, Bill Austin, AICP Executive Director Morgantown Monongalia MPO 180 Hart Field Road Morgantown, WVA 26508 304-291-9571 304-692-7225 Mobile From: Warner, Richard L [mailto:Richard.L.Warner@wv.gov] Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 1:37 PM To: Bill Austin; Lewis, Ray C Cc: Robinson, Bill C; Hudson, Jim E Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane Bill and Ray, FYI, Jim Hudson has reviewed the City's Monongahela Boulevard bike lane proposal and has generated the comments below. Jim is the primary author of the WVDOT/DOH statewide bicycle/pedestrian plan that is undergoing internal review prior to its official release for public review. In addition to his other responsibilities, Jim also assists Bill Robinson in his duties as WVDOT/DOH Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and has a background in law enforcement in Morgantown. These comments are intended for use as input to further discussions regarding the proposed bike lane. Additional comments from other reviewers may be supplied prior to the 1/12/10 TAC meeting (1:30 pm at the MPO offices, Morgantown Municipal Airport). Ray, Please forward these comments to Cindy Cramer and Fouad Shoukry as appropriate, and invite Mr. Shoukry to attend the TAC meeting. Per our earlier discussion, I'm assuming that implementation details will ultimately fall to him. --Richard _____________________________________________ From: Hudson, Jim E Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 9:52 AM To: Robinson, Bill C Cc: Warner, Richard L; Keller, Perry J Subject: Morgantown Bike Lane Bill, As I understand it, the proposed bicycle Lane in Morgantown includes one bicycle "climbing" lane delineated on the existing shoulder on the hill side of Monongahela Boulevard and some signs identifying it. Delineating the lane and installation of the signage is to be entirely funded by some entity other than WVDOH. I am not aware of who will be conducting or funding the maintenance on the delineated bicycle lane or the signage related to it. There will be no effort to widen the shoulder or to delineate a bicycle lane on the opposite side of the road (the PRT side) even though the shoulder on that side are the same width as the shoulder on the hill side. It should be noted that there are no entrances or exits to Monongahela Boulevard in this segment except for one maintenance access for the PRT system on the side opposite the proposal. Also, while the posted speed limit is 45 mph, traffic frequently exceeds this by a significant amount. Finally, the only "No Parking" signs I recall along this stretch of road are attached flat against the fence between the PRT and the Boulevard. I do not recall any "No Parking" signs on the hill side of the road where the proposed bicycle lane is to be established. I definitely recall seeing several vehicles parked along the hill side shoulder during basketball games, concerts and other events at the WVU Coliseum. First, let me say that I am opposed to establishing a one way bicycle lane on only one side of a street or road unless that street or road is also one way. This can only "invite" bicyclists to ride against traffic in violation of current traffic laws. In short I prefer a symmetrical bicycle lane on both sides of the road. In the proposed situation on Monongahela Boulevard, the proposed directional arrows on the pavement are insufficient as indicators of it being one way. The origin or destination of the vast majority of the bicycle traffic along this route will be on the same side of the boulevard as the proposed bicycle lane. Few bicyclists will cross the four lane boulevard to ride with the traffic when there is a designated bicycle lane on one side of the road. However, if WVDOH agrees to this proposed one way bicycle lane and the subsequent narrowing of the shoulder on that side of the road, I think additional signage to that proposed is necessary. "No Parking At Any Time" signs (R7-201) should be installed along both sides of the road which are clearly visible to motorists while driving. "Bicycle Specific Wrong Way" signs (R5-1b) and "Ride With Traffic" (R9-3c) placards should be installed on the reverse side of every "Bicycle Lane" (R3-17)sign proposed. In addition to the signage, I think the City of Morgantown and/or the MPO and/or the WVDOH should mail a letter to the WVU Security Police, the Morgantown City Police, The Monongalia County Sherriff's Office and the Morgantown Detachment of the WV State Police requesting strict enforcement of the traffic regulations relating to bicycles with an emphasis on enforcing the bicycle related laws along this stretch of Monongahela Boulevard. Thank you, Jim Hudson Community Development Specialist Building 5, Room 863 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E. Charleston, WV 25305-0430 (304) 558-9613 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2595 - Release Date: 01/04/10 03:24:00

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Bicycle Board meeting Thursday
by Frank Gmeindl 03 Jan '10

03 Jan '10

Bicycle Board Members, Attached is a tentative agenda for this Thursday's meeting. There's not much on it because I'm waiting to hear from several members to whom I sent e-mails asking if they want to be on the agenda. I will issue an update when I hear from them. Frank Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

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Re: [Bikeboard] Motorist Ed
by director 29 Dec '09

29 Dec '09

Frank, You probably don't want to lengthen your list, but there are 2 lessons I like to stress that might eliminate some of the other problems. These are DO's rather than DON'Ts 1) Drive at or below the posted speed limit. This gives everyone more time to predict, prevent and react to unpredicted incidents. 2) Keep off the cellphone (or have a passenger handle the call) while you are driving. Focus on driving and do everything else before you start or after you're stopped (makeup, putting on seatbelt, etc...) If an unpredicted emergency comes up, stop at the nearest safe place and deal with it out of traffic. Now for the stuff you asked for... > 1. Leave at least 3 feet of passing space between the right side of > your vehicle and a bicyclist. On Fayette St last week a car passed me in the 50ft before the light at Spruce St, forcing me into the door zone. As near as I could tell he was rushing to get through the light before it turned red, which was silly since you can turn left on red there. > 2. Pass only when you can see that it's clear far enough ahead to be > able to complete the pass before traffic comes. This happened to me approaching the intersection in Suncrest where Laurel St. comes to University Ave (across from Pocohontas). I was forced into the ditch, fortunately at low speed. > 3. Don't pass a cyclist and then cut them off. This happened to me on Mon Blvd at the intersection with 8th St. A driver in a big pickup truck passed me and then turned right in front of me, forcing me to brake evasively. I noticed he was on his cellphone. > 4. Look both ways for cyclists before pulling out of an intersection, driveway or alley. Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by vegetation or parked cars. Look for cyclists on sidewalks, too. This has happened too many times for me remember. I think the intersection of Fayette St with Spruce St is probably a good example since building corners obscure the view of street and sidewalk. ========================================================= at this point it's late and I'm tired. I'll try for the rest tomorrow. Thanks for your diligence on this and other issues. ========================================================= > 5. When turning left, yield to oncoming cyclists just as you would > yield to an oncoming motorist. Look for oncoming cyclists. > Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by passing cars. > 6. Watch for cyclist hand signals and lane position that indicate > that they are going to stop, turn right, go straight or turn left. > 7. Before opening your car door, look behind you for cyclists. > >Perhaps one way to think about this is to recall when and where you >almost crashed (or did crash :-( ) because a motorist didn't practice >one of these lessons. (For example, cars always seems to pass me really >close on Pleasant St. between So. Univ. and High St. even when I'm in >the middle of the right lane. So, that stretch might be a good example >of where they should leave 3 feet.) > >Thanks to Marilyn for leading the effort to get bicycling in the >Driver's Ed curriculum! > >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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Motorist Ed
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Dec '09

28 Dec '09

Bicycle Board Members, On February 15, Bicycle Board Education Committee members will be teaching the 4 Mon County Schools Driver's Ed Teachers how to teach their students how to drive around bicycles. To give them memorable mental images, we would like to cite specific locations around Morgantown at which each lesson could be applied. For example, Spruce St. would be an example of a place where a motorist could avoid colliding with a cyclist riding on the sidewalk if the motorist looked both ways before exiting a parking lot. Below, I've listed some of the lessons. If any of them remind you of a location at which proper practice of the lesson would be especially easy to visualize, I'd appreciate your telling me the location. 1. Leave at least 3 feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist. 2. Pass only when you can see that it's clear far enough ahead to be able to complete the pass before traffic comes. 3. Don't pass a cyclist and then cut them off. 4. Look both ways for cyclists before pulling out of an intersection, driveway or alley. Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by vegetation or parked cars. Look for cyclists on sidewalks, too. 5. When turning left, yield to oncoming cyclists just as you would yield to an oncoming motorist. Look for oncoming cyclists. Cyclists are hard to see. Cyclists riding far to the right can be obscured by passing cars. 6. Watch for cyclist hand signals and lane position that indicate that they are going to stop, turn right, go straight or turn left. 7. Before opening your car door, look behind you for cyclists. Perhaps one way to think about this is to recall when and where you almost crashed (or did crash :-( ) because a motorist didn't practice one of these lessons. (For example, cars always seems to pass me really close on Pleasant St. between So. Univ. and High St. even when I'm in the middle of the right lane. So, that stretch might be a good example of where they should leave 3 feet.) Thanks to Marilyn for leading the effort to get bicycling in the Driver's Ed curriculum! Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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TS 101 on-line
by Frank Gmeindl 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Bicycle Board Members, Now, you can take the classroom parts of the LAB course, Traffic Skills 101 on-line at your convenience. Finding 9 hours to take the Traffic Skills 101 class has always been the biggest obstacle to making the class happen. A couple weeks ago, we pilot tested a new arrangement that lets you complete about half the course on-line at your convenience and then the other half on your bike with a group. Recently, gunnar suggested that now would be a good time for Bicycle Board members to renew their understanding of traffic bicycling best practices. He even suggested that he'd like to take the course again since it was 2007 when we took it. Also, 5 of the current Bicycle Board members have not had the course so, when it comes to Bicycle Board road-oriented business, we risk spinning our wheels. So, I'm inviting you to complete the on-line course at your convenience between now and January 9 and then to bring your bike to WVU Coliseum Room 252 at 9 am on Saturday, January 9 where we will do parking lot drills and then go out on the road to test what you learned from the on-line course. We'll wrap up with lunch at Qdoba where we can review the day's fun. (If the roads are slick or the temp is below freezing, we'll reschedule.) I also encourage those of you that have completed Road I or Traffic Skills 101 to take the on-line course and tell me what you think of it compared to your face-to-face classroom experience in the course. Participating in the parking lot and road drills would be fun, too. The on-line course is at http://www.bikeed.org . If you complete the course and plan on taking the "hands-on" part, print your on-line test score results and bring them with you to the Coliseum. Passing the 4 on-line tests with a minimum score of 70 is a pre-requisite for the road work. To get a certificate of completion from the League of American Bicyclists, you have to complete and return to me the attached registration form. I will need it before January 2. Alternatively, if you want to register on-line, go to http://www.morgantown.com/Confident-cycling.htm . As you go through the registration process there, I'd appreciate your comments on the process since it's a work in progress. Happy Holidays! Frank LCI #1703 /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Lane positioning
by Frank Gmeindl 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Bicycle Board Members, The video at http://vimeo.com/7949969 produced by the Chicago Transit Authority is supposed to teach cyclists how to ride around buses and to teach bus drivers how to drive around cyclists but I found it most interesting to see how proper cyclist lane positioning can avoid so many hazards. Enjoy! Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Re: [Bikeboard] Main Street Granville
by Frank Gmeindl 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

Bill, Thank you for speaking on behalf of cyclists and for inviting our input. By copy of this message, I pass your invitation on to the Bicycle Board and ask them to provide their recommendations to me. I will roll them up, run the roll-up by the Board and send it to you. I personally am delighted with your response to them. Unfortunately, the scope being limited to the stretch between Dents Run and the Post Office doesn't address the worst problem bicyclists have coming into and leaving Granville. That is the railroad tracks heading north on Main St. and the huge potholes coming south into Granville. The transition from pavement to tracks is often riddled with huge holes and the elevation of the tracks above the pavement is often high enough to destroy a wheel and cause a crash. Water bottles popping out of their cages there is a common occurrence. The huge bone jarring wheel-damaging potholes coming south into Granville force cyclists to thread a swerving line between them. Of course, the root cause is that this roadway does not have sufficient strength and toughness for the trucks that travel it. The roadway within the scope of their project is just fine for cyclists. It's already wide and smooth enough. Putting money into striping a bike lane on it would be absurd when to get to it, cyclists must exercise all their skill, strength and toughness just to avoid destroying their machine, swerving in front of an overtaking motor vehicle or falling down. Since you need the input by next Tuesday night, I ask the Bicycle Board members to send me their input by next Monday. Thanks again for working on behalf of bicyclists! Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/ On 12/17/2009 3:26 PM, Bill Austin wrote: > > Frank, > > > > The Town of Granville has received an enhancement grant for > sidewalk/street lighting improvements on Main Street from the Dent's > Run Creek Bridge to the post office. The Town met with DOH today and > they seemed to be very receptive to the Town's desires. The Town > wishes to be sensitive to the needs of cyclists as well as pedestrians > and they had an interest in bike lanes. In discussing the issue with > them I have suggested that providing slightly wider lanes and Share > the Road signs may be of better service to cyclists. > > > > I told the Town I would contact your group for any feedback you may > have on this issue. The Town Council will be considering this matter > in more depth on Tuesday night. Thank you for your assistance in this > matter. > > > > > > > > Bill Austin, AICP > > Executive Director > > Morgantown Monongalia MPO > > 180 Hart Field Road > > Morgantown, WVA 26508 > > 304-291-9571 > > 304-692-7225 Mobile > > >

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Slideshow
by Frank Gmeindl 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

Bicycle Board Members, The attached slide show shows various treatments around the world for bike routes, paths and trails. I received this from the Maryland DOT Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access. I'm forwarding it to you because just flipping through the slides in about a minute has some interesting pics. Many of the slides also might trigger some ideas about things we're working on such as bike routes and education. Happy Holidays! Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Secretary LaHood promotes Safe Routes to Schools
by director 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

Good morning, On Thursday the transportation secretary cited the Safe Routes to Schools partners and their accomplishments at improving the safety, health and independence of school-age children in his daily blog. http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/12/new-report-points-the-way-to-safe-routes-to… Note that 20-30% of daily rush-hour car trips are school-related. I would expect that the number in Morgantown is much higher since all schools I know of (except WVU) actively discourage biking/walking. Naturally the way to improve our numbers would be education (driver and biker/walker) as well as infrastructure improvements. Positive Spin would be interested in working with anyone on the board (or in the community at-large) in developing proposals to do so. We're making our plans for 2010 at this time and we'd like this to be a big part of them. Thanks, Nick -- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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