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Next week's meeting agenda
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Bicycle Board Members, Please reply to this message if you have any items for next week's agenda. Frank

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November Bicycle Board Meeting Minutes
by Elizabeth Shogren 26 Nov '07

26 Nov '07

Attached, please find the minutes for the November meeting of the Bicycle Board. BETSY SHOGREN

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FWD: Re: [Thunderhead] Paris's bicycle rental system gets a baptism by fire
by director 24 Nov '07

24 Nov '07

Good evening, I came across this exchange about how the French VelLibre bikeshare system held up under the load of a transit strike. Apparently the "LeFigaro" article presented it as crumbling under the load, the onsite reporter doesn't say exactly how it is doing but indicates that it's OK now that things have settled down. Besides being my main transportation, I consider my bike the best chance of getting to medical treatment if any of my family ever needs it during rush hour :-) Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Michael Wise" <mishaweis(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:34:06 +0100 I'm here in Paris. I arrived on the first day of the strike (talk about timing!). Luckily for me I brought my own bike. It has been crazy here: streets are chock full of cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. At first I thought I was witnessing a rabid acceptance of the Velib program: everyone was using those bikes; they were everywhere. Slowly I came to realize that it was just a reaction to the trains being shut down by the strike. It was more like a natural disaster, with people who've relied on a form of transportation suddenly need to find something else, like when the bay bridge collapsed and thousands of commuters needed to find new routes into the city. It took me a couple of days to catch on because there's not much news in English, and where I would normally be using the Metro to get around, I didn't need to because I had my own bike, so I didn't realize the strike was still on. That being said, there's still some reason to be excited. It has been very cold on a couple of days, but that did not seem to deter anyone. There have also been ladies wearing fine clothes out on bikes, and I've seen lots of old bikes get pressed back into service. Also, one of the sources listed in the article is the newspaper Le Figaro, which is relatively conservative, and would likely go out of their way to discredit Velib and the strikers both. On Nov 23, 2007 10:40 PM, Ralph Fertig <sb-ralph(a)cox.net> wrote: > What the article doesn't talk much about are all the people who > successfully turned to bikes. Any system will most likely stress when > demand doubles overnight unexpectedly, especially if it's a different > KIND of demand (commute to work). There were problems & complaints, but > what was the overall successful service level of the bike sharing system? > Out of the 175,000 trips a day, how many customers were dissatisfied? I > hope that those figures will eventually become available. > > ~~ Ralph Fertig > ~~ Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition > ========= > > Ralph Fertig received this email from John Boyle on 11/23/07 9:31 AM > > > Interesting test of the bikesharing system in Paris > > > >John Boyle > >Advocacy Director > >The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia > > > > Paris's bicycle rental system gets a baptism by fire > >International Herald > >Tribune<http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/22/europe/velib.php> > > >By Tara Mulholland > > Thursday, November 22, 2007 > > > >*PARIS:* As commuters searched for ways to avoid a paralyzed transport > >network it should have been a triumph for Vélib', the city's new bicycle > >rental system. > > > >Instead, as frustrated travelers sought the bikes to beat traffic gridlock, > >a new wave of frustration began to reverberate: Vélib' rage. > > > >"All the Vélib' places are taken," said Armelle Lalo, a product manager at > >l'Oréal, who lives in the 15th Arrondissement. "A friend of mine elbowed her > >way in front of someone to steal the last Vélib' space in a stand this week. > >She said it was the first time she had ever been rude to a stranger but she > >didn't care, she didn't have the time to wait." > > > >The very name Vélib', which fuses the word "vélo" (bike) with "liberté," > >became suspect this week, as record numbers of commuters fought over limited > >bikes and cycle stands. Le Figaro reported Tuesday that Vélib' rentals in > >Paris had almost doubled during the strikes, rising from an average of > >90,000 bike hires a day to almost 175,000. > > > >The leap created a double predicament, the report said: During the day, > >Vélib' stands near offices and commercial areas outside the city center are > >overcrowded, while in central Paris, near major Métro hubs like Châtelet and > >République, stands are empty. In the evenings, it is the reverse. > > > >"On Saturday, nobody was coming back, all the Vélib' stands were almost > >empty," said David Delannet, a professor at an American university program > >in Paris. "When you saw a Vélib' stand that had two bicycles, you'd get > >there and see that the wheels were broken." > > > >Patchy availability of bikes - and their racks - has led to tension. While > >cyclists, unable to park and frustrated as their Vélib' meter, which clocks > >the price by the half-hour, ticks on, rush to grab spaces. Those who have > >been waiting for bikes to come back to an empty stand explode when people > >who have prepaid jump ahead in line. > > > >"I had a ticket that I'd bought at a Vélib' stand, which wasn't working," > >said Sylvia Whitman, manager of a bookstore in the Latin Quarter. "When I > >found a stand that was working, there was a queue of people waiting to buy > >their ticket, but no queue for those who already had one. Yet when I went to > >get a bike everyone started shouting at me, yelling that they'd been waiting > >for an hour. What are you supposed to do?" > > > >For some, a solution was to ignore the cost and simply take a Vélib' for the > >week. Across the city the bikes can be seen locked to lampposts and > >railings, by cyclists who have given up finding a place or want to guarantee > >their transport home. Others have employed more devious methods: Buying > >personal bike locks to secure the bikes in their stands, thereby avoiding > >the charge. > > > >Paris officials were trying to calm irate bike hirers. The City Council has > >installed emergency stands in some particularly busy areas, including Saint > >Germain des Prés and Place de la Bourse. With constant usage leading to flat > >tires and brake problems, 300 workers are servicing the bikes during the > >strikes; usually there are 200. > > > >Maintenance workers have been instructed to deal efficiently with violations > >of Vélib' etiquette. "They are on the lookout for any malicious users who > >try to reserve with a personal lock," warned a bulletin on the Vélib' Web > >site, Velib.paris.fr. "It will be immediately severed." > > > >For Whitman, meanwhile, even an aggressive Vélib' experience had a positive > >side. "The strike has renewed my appreciation for Vélib's," she said. > >"Something that we take for granted every day has been taken away from us, > >and people who wouldn't normally take a Vélib' are taking them and are so > >grateful." > > > >For others, cycle rage - and travel distance - has become too much, and they > >are casting about for new ways to move around. "These past few days I have > >turned to hitchhiking to get into work," Lalo said. "It's the only way that > >I can get in on time." > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Thunderhead mailing list > >http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/thunderhead > >Thunderhead Archive: > >http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/private/thunderhead > _______________________________________________ > Thunderhead mailing list > http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/thunderhead > Thunderhead Archive: http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/private/thunderhead > -- How often I have lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home. _______________________________________________ Thunderhead mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/thunderhead Thunderhead Archive: http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/private/thunderhead

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Interesting Article - Accident mapping
by director 20 Nov '07

20 Nov '07

Good afternoon, I came across this on a Seattle bike blog I read occaisionally. I wonder if we could create this map in Morgantown(?) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20061208/Bike_collisions1208.pdf btw I'm back from Wisconsin

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FWD: RE: [Thunderhead] Bicyclists Licensing
by director 10 Nov '07

10 Nov '07

Good morning, Here are some interesting considerations on bicycle registration and cyclist licensing that I received from a list that I'm on. I'm not espousing these opinions, just sharing the thoughts. Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Mighk Wilson <mighkw(a)earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:57:00 -0500 Jerry wrote: >>perhaps you want to explain the difference between bicycle "license" and "registration" and why it seems so onerous to you? << Put simply, licensing is of the driver; registration is of the vehicle. I don't have a real problem with bicycle registration, though I see little value in it. I see the purpose of registration as a way to keep track of something that's both very valuable and mobile (we don't register houses, but we do register mobile homes...), and in the case of motor vehicles, to ensure that the vehicle is kept in safe working order (though that seems to have been thrown out in many states). Registering a $500 bike makes no sense in that case. Assessments of bicycle registration I have seen show it barely covers the administrative costs; that it would cover even a tiny fraction of the costs of accommodating bicyclists sounds unlikely to me. It's also somewhat onerous because the primary reason for bicycle facilities is that motorists have overrun our streets and often refuse to share them. Also, bicyclists and pedestrians already pay more than their fair share through property and sales taxes (only about 60% of road building and maintenance come from gas taxes). Bicyclist licensing is what I really abhor. First off it leads to an inevitable absurdity. At what age do you require someone to be licensed to use a bicycle? If the age is 12, are 11-year-olds not allowed to bike? And if they are, why is a less competent 11-year old bicyclist allowed to ride without a license while an experienced adult is not? More important is the core reason for licensing: to have a mechanism for removing drivers who pose a serious threat to the safety and property of others. The purpose of licensing is NOT to educate, or even to ensure good behavior. The proof is in the numbers: licensed motorists kill over 40,000 and injure over 2 million people a year. How many people do Un-licensed cyclists kill and injure per year? Licensing is not necessary for education, and considering how poorly some states educate their motorists, it's clear that the two have only a tenuous link. There are better ways to get bicyclists educated. For instance -- I'd like to see the driving age raised to 18 or higher, but if you want to get your license at 16 you can do so after passing comprehensive pedestrian, bicycling, and motoring tests on your own dime. That creates a market for bike-ed. (My ped and bike courses are not to _permit_ people to walk or bike, just to make them safer peds, cyclists AND motorists.) A license is literally Permission from the State to do something. Why should I ask permission to do something that poses such a miniscule threat to others? Until someone can demonstrate a real need for bicyclist licensing I will continue to oppose it. Mighk Wilson At 10:05 PM 11/9/2007, you wrote: >Mighk, >As I recall it was you and I that had the greatest differences in >the previous discussion, perhaps you want to explain the difference >between bicycle "license" and "registration" and why it seems so >onerous to you? While the Bicycle registration program WAS repealed >it certainly was not for its damage to cycling in general but rather >to a lackluster approach to its funding and application, all part of >the "anti tax" stupidity that has pervaded our culture in recent times. >Jerry Hiniker > > >>From: Mighk Wilson <mighkw(a)earthlink.net> >>To: "jerry hiniker" <velojerry(a)msn.com>,noah(a)transalt.org, >>mark@iowabicyclecoalition.org,thunderhead@thunderheadalliance.org >>Subject: RE: [Thunderhead] Bicyclists Licensing >>Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:26:16 -0500 >> >>That sounded rather odd, so I did a quick search. It appears Minn. >>HAD mandatory bicycle _registration_; it was repealed in >>2005. Bicycle registration is not bicyclist >>licensing. Unfortunately Minn. used the term "bicycle license" in >>some cases, when a closer look clearly indicated they meant "registration. >> >>Mighk Wilson >>FBA >> >>At 08:48 PM 11/9/2007, jerry hiniker wrote: >> >>>Oh Bull****. >>>Minnesota has had a statewide licensing program for at least 20 >>>years and we have more cyclists per capita than the rest of you. >>>Personally I strongly favor such a program for a variety of >>>reasons that I enumerated a couple of years ago but the advocacy >>>community seems too self obsessed to take note, I'll leave it at that. >>>Jerry Hiniker >>>NBDA >>>Superior North Outdoor Center >>>Grand Marais, MN >>> >>>>From: "Noah Budnick" <noah(a)transalt.org> >>>>To: "Mark Wyatt" >>>><mark(a)iowabicyclecoalition.org>,<thunderhead(a)thunderheadalliance.org> >>>>Subject: RE: [Thunderhead] Bicyclists Licensing >>>>Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 19:42:36 -0500 >>>> >>>>Ack! >>>> >>>>Please see: >>>>http://www.transalt.org/press/askta/041116bikebill.html >>>>http://www.transalt.org/press/magazine/045%20Winter/09bikebill.html >>>>http://www.transalt.org/press/askta/041119.html >>>> >>>>If you can get out in front and immediately make the case that licensing >>>>is a malicious attack on cycling that will discourage and decrease >>>>riding, then you can really rally cyclists around the cause. >>>> >>>>Good luck, Mark! >>>> >>>>Best, >>>>Noah >>>> >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>Transportation Alternatives >>>>127 West 26th Street, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10001-4010 >>>>Phone (212) 629-8080, 5, 1 >>>>Fax (212) 629-8334 >>>>Email: noah(a)transalt.org . www.transalt.org >>>> >>>>Our mission is to reclaim New York City's streets from the automobile, >>>>and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best >>>>transportation alternatives. >>>> >>>> >>>>-----Original Message----- >>>>From: thunderhead-bounces(a)thunderheadalliance.org >>>>[mailto:thunderhead-bounces@thunderheadalliance.org] On Behalf Of Mark >>>>Wyatt >>>>Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:32 PM >>>>To: thunderhead(a)thunderheadalliance.org >>>>Subject: [Thunderhead] Bicyclists Licensing >>>> >>>>Has anyone recently fought an attempt to license bicyclists or >>>>register bicycles on a statewide basis? I would like to look at the >>>>campaign if possible. Sounds like we might have a host of bad laws >>>>proposed this year. >>>> >>>>Mark Wyatt >>>>Iowa Bicycle Coalition >>>> >>>>On Nov 7, 2007 6:04 PM, <thunderhead-request(a)thunderheadalliance.org> >>>>wrote: >>>> > Send Thunderhead mailing list submissions to >>>> > thunderhead(a)thunderheadalliance.org >>>> > >>>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>>> > than "Re: Contents of Thunderhead digest..." and edit the content so >>>> > as not to send all the digest in your reply. >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > Today's Topics: >>>> > >>>> > 1. right hand right turn signal (John Williams) >>>> > 2. Share the road signs on state property (Jim Sayer) >>>> > 3. Re: Share the road signs on state property >>>> > (dennis.strawn(a)msbcbs.com) >>>> > 4. Re: Share the road signs on state property (Alan Wachtel) >>>> > 5. Re: right hand right turn signal (Alan Wachtel) >>>> > 6. RE: Seminars for adults teaching kids' bike safety >>>> > (Robin Stallings) >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> > >>>> > Message: 1 >>>> > Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 12:08:18 -0700 >>>> > From: John Williams <john(a)montana.com> >>>> > Subject: [Thunderhead] right hand right turn signal >>>> > To: thunderhead(a)thunderheadalliance.org >>>> > Message-ID: <p06240814c357bd5f5926(a)[192.168.0.100]> >>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" >>>> > >>>> > Anyone know how many states include "right hand extended" signal as a >>>> > lawful right turn signal? >>>> > >>>> > Thx/J >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > John Williams, editor >>>> > NCBW Forum & CenterLines >>>> > Montana Office/National Center for Bicycling & Walking >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > ------------------------------ >>>> > >>>> > Message: 2 >>>> > Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 11:12:33 -0800 >>>> > From: "Jim Sayer" <jsayer(a)adventurecycling.org> >>>> > Subject: [Thunderhead] Share the road signs on state property >>>> > To: <Thunderhead(a)thunderheadalliance.org> >>>> > Cc: John Weyhrich <jweyhrich(a)adventurecycling.org> >>>> > Message-ID: >>>> > >>>><A4EA67E1A6506E4A9245B58C715AEC9082610D(a)danny060524-1.advcyclingnet.com> >>>> > >>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >>>> > >>>> > A local advocate, John Weyhrich, has done a great job of getting the >>>> > city and county of Missoula to buy and place "Share the road" signs at >>>> > key junctures. However, we have discovered that the state DOT (all >>>>the >>>> > way up to our DOT director) refuses to do this on state rights of way >>>>or >>>> > properties b/c of concerns about lliability. I don't recall seeing a >>>> > list of other states that either prohibit or allow such signs on their >>>> > ROW/property. Can you pls share your experience and copy to all so >>>>John >>>> > can see? >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > Thanks, >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > Jim >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > Jim Sayer >>>> > >>>> > Executive Director >>>> > >>>> > Adventure Cycling Association >>>> > >>>> > Inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > 800/755-2453 x201; 406/721-1776 x201 >>>> > >>>> > jsayer(a)adventurecycling.org >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> >

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WV/Morgantown laws pertaining to bicycles
by director 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Good evening, In preparation for tomorrow's meeting I collected the state laws and Mtown ordinances and arranged them in the attached spreadsheet. It prints out neatly in landscape format on normal sized paper and is only 7 pages long. Thought it would be good to have for tomorrow's 8:30 meeting at the Blue Moose. I'll bring a single hardcopy along. It only took about 30 min to compose, and I wanted to have it for Positive Spin anyway. See you tomorrow. Nick Hein

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Polls shows Citizens prefer traffic reduction
by director 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

Good morning, Last nite at the meeting I mentioned a study I had seen indicating that 75% of Americans against roadbuilding and in favor of traffic reduction by improved transit, bike and pedestrian accomodation I finally remembered that I had seen it in the Bike League's monthly email update. Here is the article from that email. U.S. Wants Non-Road Congestion Solutions Three-fourths of Americans believe that being smarter about development and improving public transportation are better long-term solutions for reducing traffic congestion than building new roads, according to a survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors® and Smart Growth America. The 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey details what Americans think about how development affects their immediate community, and traffic congestion was a top concern. Nearly half of those surveyed think improving public transit would be the best way to reduce congestion, and 26 percent believe developing communities that reduce the need to drive would be the better alternative. Only one in five said building new roads was the answer. To read more about the survey, click here. http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/narsgareport2007.html Nick

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Monday Morning Breakfast!
by Elizabeth Shogren 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

For all Bicycle Board members that are interested in throwing around some ideas for the organization/direction of the not-yet-formed Law Committee and possible legislative forum in December, please attend a breakfast meeting at 8:30 AM, Monday (Nov. 5) at the Blue Moose.

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Bicycle Lift Trampe
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

Hi everyone, Here is the link for the Bicycle Lift Trampe I spoke about at the meeting: http://www.trampe.no/english/ The Chair of the Pedestrian Safety Board pointed out in the FAQ that the building costs are the same as an ordinary bicycle road in urban areas, and was wondering if there was a way to substantiate that in relation to bicycle facilities in the U.S. -Jonathan

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Bike safety statistics and essay
by director 28 Oct '07

28 Oct '07

Good evening, Another good link I came across recently http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/10/8/143547/109 Good recommendations on amenities that improve bike and pedestrian safety most effectively. I highly recommend reading the full article. Nick

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