Thanks for finding and sharing the attached article. It is quite good. If all the Bicycle Board members, MPO members and Traffic Commission members read it, we could increase our understanding of cycling challenges and solution options for hilly areas such as Morgantown. What do you see in the article that we should add to the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan?
Following are some section-by-section minor comments.
Section heading: comments
Prioritize connections and routes without hills: Seems to be a sales pitch for more separated facilities. The advantages are extolled but the dangers, particularly at crossings are ignored. Except for exchanging "tow away" space for bike lane, no other motor vehicle traffic compromises, e.g. reduced motor speeds are presented.
Help people avoid hills: The SF Wiggle example is good. It stitched together routes that bicyclists were using and they signed it and provide maps of it. The Morgantown commuter map http://bikemorgantown.com/route_map.php was a start on that. I wonder if we could "crowd source" further development of the Morgantown commuter map.
Build the right facilities for hills: This is good except they show bike lanes in the car door zone. The graphic should show a door zone buffer. The text recognizes this but the graphic doesn't. Again, the discussion ignores issues at crossings: how to avoid cyclists getting right hooked however this becomes less of an issue when cyclists are traveling at walking speeds, say up >6% grades but it still exists.
Help people get up hills: Very good. Let's do it! Runnel discussion is excellent. It says since 2007 Seattle DOT includes runnels in their stairway standard. We should find their standard and see if we can adopt it in Morgantown. Hey, checkout the insert about the Oregon University 3,300 feet tram. Let's build a tram from Mountainlair to Law School! Not only would it be a real campus connector, it would be a touri$t attraction.
And, hey, Bike Pgh "Celebrates Hills" . Some of us do, too:)
Frank
Positive Spin will be providing a free bicycle valet service (donations
in the form of tips welcomed) for the showing of Reel Rock 8 at the
Morgantown Metropolitan on November 14 from 6:30pm. to 10:15pm. that
benefits the Chris Schwer Memorial Scholarship and the Coopers Rock
Foundation. All riders will receive an extra raffle ticket! Bicycle
valets will meet patrons at the front of the Met, please note that we
will be competing with a new car valet service being held in the loading
zone in front of the Met., so look for bicycle valet name tags. Your
bicycle will be parked on the parking entrance side of the public safety
building on the other side of Wall St. under the building canopy and
vigilantly monitored. This is the second time a bicycle valet service
has been held in Morgantown's history.
http://www.showclix.com/event/ReelRockFilmTour
-Jonathan
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Damien Davis <ddavis(a)cityofmorgantown.org>
> Date: November 11, 2013 3:10:07 PM EST
> To: Robert Jones <rjoneswvu(a)gmail.com>, micynster(a)gmail.com, cgabildso(a)hsc.wvu.edu, david mckain <david.mckain(a)gmail.com>, Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl(a)comcast.net>, lisa k mardis <lisa.k.mardis(a)gmail.com>, normawyant(a)comcast.net, Susan Sullivan <ssullivan(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, Bethany Sypolt <bsypolt(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, Linda Little <llittle(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, William Wyant <wwyant(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, mmccabe(a)cityofmorgantown.org, Jeff Mikorski <jmikorski(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, christophergluck(a)gmail.com, psteel(a)access.k12.wv.us, Barbara Shellito <bshellito(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, Roy Nutter <rnutter(a)wvu.edu>
> Subject: Re: November Traffic Commission Meeting
> Reply-To: ddavis(a)cityofmorgantown.org
>
> Sorry, agenda is now attached.
>
> J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM
> Assistant City Engineer
> City of Morgantown
> Public Works Department - Engineering Division
> 389 Spruce Street
> Morgantown, WV 26505
> Office: 304.284.7398
> Fax: 304.284.7409
> www.MorgantownWV.gov
>
> From: "Damien Davis" <ddavis(a)cityofmorgantown.org>
> To: "Robert Jones" <rjoneswvu(a)gmail.com>, micynster(a)gmail.com, cgabildso(a)hsc.wvu.edu, "david mckain" <david.mckain(a)gmail.com>, "Frank Gmeindl" <frank.gmeindl(a)comcast.net>, "lisa k mardis" <lisa.k.mardis(a)gmail.com>,normawyant(a)comcast.net, "Susan Sullivan" <ssullivan(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, "Bethany Sypolt" <bsypolt(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, "Linda Little" <llittle(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, "William Wyant" <wwyant(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, mmccabe(a)cityofmorgantown.org, "Jeff Mikorski" <jmikorski(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, christophergluck(a)gmail.com, psteel(a)access.k12.wv.us, "Barbara Shellito" <bshellito(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, "Roy Nutter" <rnutter(a)wvu.edu>
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 2:49:56 PM
> Subject: November Traffic Commission Meeting
>
> All,
>
> Attached is the agenda for this month's meeting. If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call. Thanks.
>
> J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM
> Assistant City Engineer
> City of Morgantown
> Public Works Department - Engineering Division
> 389 Spruce Street
> Morgantown, WV 26505
> Office: 304.284.7398
> Fax: 304.284.7409
> www.MorgantownWV.gov
>
>
BB member & cyclist presence could show we care about Enforcement and maybe even get the Chief's attention.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board <walkmgw(a)yahoo.com>
> Date: November 11, 2013 11:31:21 AM EST
> To: Bill Reger-Nash <wreger(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Bob Anderson <randerson(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, George Lilley <mgranlil(a)frontier.com>, Ilana Chertok <ichertok(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Jimmie Simmons <Jsimmons2642(a)yahoo.com>, Martha Summers <msummers(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Stan Cohen <Stanley.Cohen(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Sarah Bias <sarahbias(a)gmail.com>, Christiaan Abildso <cgabildso(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Dwight Harshbarger <dwight.harshbarger(a)gmail.com>, Maria Smith <mariasmith(a)busride.org>, Regina Mayolo <reginam(a)verizon.net>, Jan Derry <jderry(a)nwvcil.org>, Tom Bias <tbias(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Mike Fike <micynster(a)gmail.com>, Kim Hartsell <Kim.Hartsell(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Debbie Cain <sunnybeewv(a)gmail.com>, Margaret Stout <Margaret.Stout(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Dan Harris <harrisda(a)wvuhealthcare.com>, Jonathan Rosenbaum <jr(a)wvcompletestreets.org>, Matt Cross <crossnyc(a)hotmail.com>, Jim Rye <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Ella Belling <ella(a)montrails.org>, Damien Davis <ddavis(a)cityofmorgantown.org>, Roy Nutter <roy.nutter(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Mike Breiding <mike(a)EpicRoadTrips.us>, Bill Kawecki <wm_a_kawecki(a)comcast.net>, Bill Austin <baustin(a)labyrinth.net>, Josh Woods <joshua.woods(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Emily Vasile <emilyvasile(a)gmail.com>, Carol Rotruck <ccrotruck(a)aol.com>, Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)gmail.com>, Claire Chantler <cchantler(a)nwvcil.org>, Michael Simms <michael.d.simms(a)gmail.com>, Maria Brann <Maria.Brann(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Don Spencer <dspencer36(a)comcast.net>, Kelly Gurka <kellygurka(a)gmail.com>, Matt Gurka <matthewgurka(a)gmail.com>, Mary Gainer <marygainer(a)yahoo.com>, Peter Wentzel <wentzelp(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: Important Wednesday TC meeting
> Reply-To: Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board <walkmgw(a)yahoo.com>
>
> All -
> It has been confirmed that MPD Chief Preston will attend the TC meeting Wednesday at 6:30 in City Council chambers to discuss enforcement issues. I know a main barrier to enforcement is "limited employees" (ie, other safety priorities). I appreciate that barrier, but we must work around it in some way. Please feel free to attend Wednesday's meeting to mention your concerns and plead for help. We need an effective partnership with the MPD to positively influence driver, pedestrian, and cyclist behavior.
> Christiaan
>
> Walk more, safely
>
> Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board
> Christiaan Abildso, Chair
> Bill Reger-Nash, Vice Chair
> http://www.morgantownwv.gov/government/advisory-boards/pedestrian-safety-bo…
At tonight's BB meeting, I took an action item to send you the presentation that Chip and I put together on Bicycling Economics. It's too big to attach to an e-mail. You can download it from dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/s/bsmw43zgpmmj7tb/BikeEconBeneRegion6.pdf . We first delivered this presentation to the Region VI Planning & Development Council in Fairmont and then Chip presented it at the WVCC meeting in Richwood.
Frank
First draft.
Please advice on wording and any additions.
Thank you.
November Bike Board Meeting
November 7, 2013, 6:30pm -
Morgantown Public Safety Building
Open Action Items
223. Traci; Find out if any WVU sustainability interns are interested in
serving on the BB
224. Damien; Organize a meeting between city officials and BB to discuss
the Law & Order article that will include Damien, someone from the city
manager’s office, the police chief, Chip, Gunnar, and Traci
229. Frank; Find sharrow data and send to Jing and Damien
230. Damien; Talk to Fred about BFC sign
235. Damien; Pull counts from his counters and send to BB
236. Jing; Send information to BB about October traffic counts and send a
list of other suggested intersections for counts
239. Traci; Email BB to ask who is interested in meeting with Clement
Solomon at WVU
245. Frank; Send Law & Order article out as a pdf as the web link is dead
246. Chip; Downsize the 5x7 BFB sticker and send us a photo of it on a door
247. Derek; Contact Dave Bruffy to see if he needs any changes to the bike
parking map
248. Traci, Chip, Derek; Look at the ‘Find It, Fund It Table’ TA chart
given at the MAP 21 meeting and compare it to projects in the bike plan to
find intersections that may be viable for the DOH 'Intent to Apply'
249. Frank; Scan the ‘Find It, Fund It Table’ and send to BB
250. Damien, Chip; Email the traffic count numbers to Emily, Email bike
sales data to Emily by Wed, Oct 9th at noon
251. Traci; Send verbiage of her email invitation to legislators for the
Oct 20th bike ride to the rest of the BB
252. Frank; Send his Safe Routes to Schools presentation to the BB
Agenda-
* Schmooze Time
* Last minute agenda items
* Approve last month's minutes
* Action Items
* Ripe Bananas
* Report from presentation to the COW
Desired outcome:
* Discuss changes to membership definitions
Desired outcome: Accept changes and have them approved
* Report from Bike Plan Actions for Zoning meeting
Desired outcome: Bring folks up to speed and decide how to proceed
* Broadening Bike Board Positions, what positions are open?
* Report from Projects- Updates from Project leaders
* Bike Board openings. "Advertise w/ CityCouncil" Nominate and vote for a
new chair
* Review meeting
* Adjourn
Ongoing Projects-
1. Bike racks at schools
Jonathan, Alice, Marilyn
2. Bicycle safety programs at schools, teaching safety and Safe Routes to
School
Andrew, Frank
3. Create singletrack trails in city
Colin, Andrew, Alice, Mark Wise, Ella Belling
4. Complete parking inventory, identify parking gaps
Derek, Jing, Damien
5. Update SLM and STR sign locations
Derek, Jing, Damien, Emily
6. Identify signs, markings, facilities on BikeMorgantown.com
Derek, Jing, Damien, Traci
7. Other GIS ideas
Derek, Jing, Damien
8. Show WVU bike racks on WVU google map of campus
Traci
9. Represent BB on Connecting Communities
Frank, Jonathan, Bill (liason)
10. Morgantown Bicycling & Transit Map
Jing, Colin
11. White paper to recommend bike friendly elements in Evansdale & Hospital
redevelopment
Traci, Jonathan, Chip
12. Get all major employers rated Bicycle Friendly Businesses
Chip, Jonathan, Emily
14. Implement Complete Streets action in Bicycle Plan
Damien, Frank
15. Write grants (HSIP, etc.)
Jeff Mikorski, Traci
18. Build Stakeholder involvement
Emily, Jonathan, Frank, Traci
19. Moving the Bicycle Plan forward
Frank (reluctantly), Emily (but sure...), Traci (no tag line)
You can watch Traci and Emily's presentation to City Council last week at http://morgantown.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 .
Scroll down to the Archived Videos section and select the Video link at the right of "Committee of the Whole - October 2013" . Their presentation starts approximately 35 minutes into the meeting. After you open the video, you can go directly to their presentation by putting your cursor on the progress bar and sliding it to 35:00.
I was extremely impressed with their responses to tough questions asked by Councilors.
Frank