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Bikeboard Vision
by Frank Gmeindl 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

Bike Board Members, Please recall that a Vision statement must be our shared view of the future and must compel us to act. A shared vision enables us to stay focused, to enjoy working together, and to be proud of our accomplishments. At our 2-Nov meeting we brainstormed vision statements. Then, Bill Reger-Nash, Linda Cooper and I offered a summary that the BB did not accept. Using the feedback from that cycle and the original list of ideas, on 1/8/2007, I recommended the following Vision statement: /All Morgantown residents can enjoy bicycling safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason. Morgantown residents choose to ride bicycles for transportation as well as recreation. Our state and our nation recognize Morgantown for the benefits of bicycling to our health, our environment, our economy and our quality of life./ Nick Hein, Jim Rye, Greg Good, John Lozier and Jonathan Rosenbaum responded to my request for feedback. Except for the addition of a comma behind the word "anytime", I'm not proposing any changes in reponse to their comments. Following are summaries of their comments and my responses. 1. Greg recommended adding a comma after "anytime". I agree and will make the change. 2. Greg, Jim, and John said the word "fearlessly" was redundant with "safely" while Nick suggested emphasizing "fearlessly". When we gathered vision statement inputs at our 2-Nov meeting, Sonitt's input explicitly included "feels safe to ride". Making cycling safe is a necessary but insufficient step to increasing cycling. Based on authoritative info (Forrester, John, /Effective Cycling/), fear is the main factor that discourages people from cycling. If we succeed at making cycling safe but don't eliminate fear, e.g. through education, we will probably not realize our vision for all Morgantown residents. Unless we want to argue further to delete "fearlessly", I will retain it. 3. John said the word "All" was superfluous. Marilyn's input at our 2-Nov meeting explicitly included "all citizens". I agree that one could argue that "Morgantowners" includes all residents but one could also argue that it doesn't. For example, consider, "Morgantowners choose to have parades on Friday evenings". I think we'd agree that this is true but it does not include all Morgantowners. I believe that including the word "All" in our vision statement says that if cycling is unsafe for anyone in the city, or if there are places in the city that you can't get to by bike, our job is not done. Therefore, unless there is further argument to delete it, I will retain "All". 4. John said, "The entire second sentence repeats much of the first, merely to detail 'any reason'". When we gathered vision statement inputs at our 2-Nov meeting, Jim's, Betsy's, Bill's, Sonitt's, and Nick's ideas all explicitly included the distinction of transporation and recreation. I believe deleting the second sentence loses their input. Unless we want to continue to argue to delete the second sentence, I will retain it. 5. John recommended replacing "All Morgantown residents can enjoy" with "Morgantowners choose to". Before I make that change, I need to hear from other members. If I accept John's argument that "All" is superfluous, then it follows that "Morgantowners" is synonymous with "All Morgantown residents". Then, to say, "Morgantowners choose to" would be equivalent to saying that "All Morgantown residents choose to". But, hey, I'm for everyone in Morgantown choosing to ride a bike rather than drive a motor vehicle and I can even visualize that. With regard to "choose" versus "can enjoy", when we gathered vision statement inputs on 2-Nov, Bruce's input explicitly included "enjoyment", and Nick's and Bill's inputs explicitly included "fun". 6. John said "the third sentence dwells on glory-seeking (recognition), a new and unnecessary concept". Jim responded that it adds to the importance of what we are about. It is also similar to what Jim proposed at our 2-Nov meeting although his input didn't say anything about national and state recognition. I added the recognition clause as a hook into the Traffic Commission and the City Council. Before I eliminate the last sentence, I need more input from the Board. 7. Jonathan suggested adding the sentence, "We are a people using our own power for a cooler planet." My reading is that the Board would not support lengthening the vision statement. Unless anybody wants to argue for adding a sentence, I will not add it. So, following is a proposed vision statement with the only change from that above being the addition of a comma: /All Morgantown residents can enjoy bicycling safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime, for any reason. Morgantown residents choose to ride bicycles for transportation as well as recreation. Our state and our nation recognize Morgantown for the benefits of bicycling to our health, our environment, our economy and our quality of life./ Perhaps I'm steamrolling on this. I'm trying to bring it to closure. However, if this vision statement is not clear and if it doesn't compel you to act to realize it, then it is a failure. If any one of us feels that "This is Frank's vision statement and not mine", it is a failure. If this is what you think, please reply to this message, either to the whole Bike Board or to me personally. I will continue shaping this until it is clear and every member of the Board, including the 8 members who have been silent, adopts it as his or her own. Or, I will turn it over to anyone who thinks they can do it better. Please reply. Frank

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education-minutes-bike board 16 Jan2007
by Marilyn Newcome 20 Jan '07

20 Jan '07

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Ecucation-minutes bike board-11Jan2007
by Marilyn Newcome 20 Jan '07

20 Jan '07

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Positive Spin Safe Routes proposal is complete
by director 13 Jan '07

13 Jan '07

Good morning, For anyone interested Positive Spin has completed its 2007 Safe Routes to Schools grant application. A total of $16000 was applied for to support education and site survey tasks that will make Suncrest Middle School a safer and more attractive place for kids who want to get daily exercise on the way to school. A printed copy is available for viewing at the Positive Spin world headquarters in Grand Central Station. An electronic version can be sent on request. It is my intent to make SMS a model school for other Morgantown schools so I'm making all materials and resources available to anyone (or group) who would like to start a similar program in any other school. Many valuable resources are available at no cost, including consulting from the State Coordinator, Becky Davison. Whatever happens to our application, we will begin working with the school on no-cost activities and invite participation from anyone else who's interested. I'd like to than Don Spencer for his support of the application. This morning as we were putting finishing touches on the proposal he brought support letters from the mayor, other council members and the Suncrest Neighborhood Assoc. John Lozier and Will Ravenscroft also contributed much-appreciated time and enthusiasm to getting this report in the mail on time. Have a great weekend. Nick Hein

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Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Re: [apbp] Share The Road - 10 Years Later
by director 12 Jan '07

12 Jan '07

Frank, Don Spencer stopped by my house yesterday and pointed out an example of the "Share the lane" sign from the League's Bike-Friendly Cities book. I couldn't find an image online, but it looks just like the sign in this image from Denver - only the word "road" is replaced by "lane". http://home.swbell.net/mpion/imagesdenver/STR11thav.jpg Sharing the lane is the only way that road users can compensate for poorly-designed roads (narrow, winding, ditch-edged). Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:28:48 -0500 >Jim, > >With the bicycle in the standard share the road graphic being replaced >by the motorcycle every summer day in the Dominon Post to advertise >Triple-S Harley Davidson and being replaced with a pedestrian to >advertise Health Works, IMHO, the standard share the road sign is now >even more confusing than reported in the excellent statement by Eric >Anderson at the bottom of this thread. I'd like to see an example of >"those used in San Francisco to inform users that bicycles are allowed >use of the full lane". Since Ron Eck is Chairman of the Traffic >Commission and he provided you Anderson's statement, the share the road >signs that we recommend to the Traffic Commission will probably have to >be accompanied by evidence of their effectiveness and a specific >recommendation for an accompanying education/advertising campaign to >make them so. Thanks to you and Ron Eck for the education on share the >road signs! > >Frank

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Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Re: [apbp] Share The Road - 10 Years Later
by director 11 Jan '07

11 Jan '07

Jim, My own opinion on this, which I've probably expressed before, is that roads are for people, - not just people in cars. Signs can only help to a certain extent as a reminder of what motorists should have been taught in drivers' ed. More important is to make sure that the message is in the drivers' ed class - If the road is unsafe for cyclists to share when the driver is going at the posted speed then the driver should slow down. We all pay for roads, we're all entitled to safe use of them. If there aren't sidewalks or shoulders then the roads weren't adequately designed for safe multi-mode use - then it take a behavior change to make an unsafe road safe. If motorists have to slow down to allow everyone to get by each other safely that's what they should do until the route can be adequately re-engineered and modified. Signs are good if everything else has been done well but if they aren't helping a situation, different signs won't help much either. Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Jim Rye" <Jim.Rye(a)mail.wvu.edu> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:24:37 -0500 >About share the road signs, including specific experiences in Marin Cty, >CA > >>>> Ronald Eck 1/11/2007 12:18 PM >>> >Jim, > >Thought this would be of interest to you. I share this fellow's >thoughts. To me, a good Share the Road sign/message should accomplish >the following. >1) Define to motorists the likely presence of bicyclists; 2) Encourage >cooperation between motorists and bicyclists and; 3) Reduce conflicts >and crashes, including verbal altercations, projectiles, etc. In the >absence of an accompanying publicity/educational campaign, I am not sure >that the existing signs do this. As I understand it, the national sign >committee is considering development of a different and/or more >understandable STR sign. I think this would certainly be a positive >step. Ron > > >>>> Eric Anderson <eanderson13(a)yahoo.com> 1/9/2007 12:56 PM >>> >Marin County CA has over 60 STR signs in place, in >various locales including narrow rural roads and >heavily travelled bike lane streets. To my knowledge >no formal study has been done in Marin county of the >effectiveness of reducing crashes or improving >motorist/cyclist behavior in the area of the signs. > >Historically signs have been installed for at least >two reasons: concern by locals about the need to get >cyclists to "Share the Road" on routes that are >heavily used by large groups of recreational cyclists >on the weekends; many signs were also installed at the >request of advocates, as a part of a countywide "Share >the Road" program that has gone through several >different incarnations. > >In one sense, the messaging of the signs is >appropriate to Marin County or any location with an >active "Share the Road" program. The signs, combined >with flyers, websites and stickers promote the phrase >and make it recognizable as part of a traffic safety >initiative. At this point it's pretty difficult to >imagine people who live in Marin who drive or bike on >routes used by cyclists not being aware of this >campaign. > >The gap in the messaging is definitely in the >interpretation of the sign by people who haven't been >exposed to the sign or are unaware of the context of >the larger campaign. As a warning sign, the message is >unclear. Is it directed at bikes, telling them to >"Share the Road" as many Marin motorists assert? If >that's the case, there is nothing in the sign (or >frequently in the roadway design) that guides or >informs cyclists as to how they should be "sharing". >Does the message target motorists, using the bike icon >to inform them of the presence of bikes on the road >and the need to "Share the Road" with them? Is it >targeted at both groups simultaneously (everyone >"Share the Road")? > >My analysis of the STR signs at the 10 year mark is >that they are much more effective as an element of a >larger outreach campaign, and that they are less >effective as a traffic control device or warning sign. >Signs with clearer messaging, such as those used in >San Francisco to inform users that bicycles are >allowed use of the full lane, or those in use in >Portland that simply state "Bikes on Roadway" are more >effective at warning motorists of the presence of >cyclists. In terms of targeting cyclists the Share the >Road signs are effective if the cyclists who see them >are aware of what is entailed with legally sharing the >road. Otherwise it's just a catchphrase, rather than a >device that guides you to a specific behavior. > >Eric Anderson >Alta Planning + Design > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com > >_______________________________________________ >Members mailing list >http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/members > >_______________________________________________ >Bikeboard mailing list >Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >

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Fwd: Re: [apbp] Share The Road - 10 Years Later
by Jim Rye 11 Jan '07

11 Jan '07

About share the road signs, including specific experiences in Marin Cty, CA >>> Ronald Eck 1/11/2007 12:18 PM >>> Jim, Thought this would be of interest to you. I share this fellow's thoughts. To me, a good Share the Road sign/message should accomplish the following. 1) Define to motorists the likely presence of bicyclists; 2) Encourage cooperation between motorists and bicyclists and; 3) Reduce conflicts and crashes, including verbal altercations, projectiles, etc. In the absence of an accompanying publicity/educational campaign, I am not sure that the existing signs do this. As I understand it, the national sign committee is considering development of a different and/or more understandable STR sign. I think this would certainly be a positive step. Ron >>> Eric Anderson <eanderson13(a)yahoo.com> 1/9/2007 12:56 PM >>> Marin County CA has over 60 STR signs in place, in various locales including narrow rural roads and heavily travelled bike lane streets. To my knowledge no formal study has been done in Marin county of the effectiveness of reducing crashes or improving motorist/cyclist behavior in the area of the signs. Historically signs have been installed for at least two reasons: concern by locals about the need to get cyclists to "Share the Road" on routes that are heavily used by large groups of recreational cyclists on the weekends; many signs were also installed at the request of advocates, as a part of a countywide "Share the Road" program that has gone through several different incarnations. In one sense, the messaging of the signs is appropriate to Marin County or any location with an active "Share the Road" program. The signs, combined with flyers, websites and stickers promote the phrase and make it recognizable as part of a traffic safety initiative. At this point it's pretty difficult to imagine people who live in Marin who drive or bike on routes used by cyclists not being aware of this campaign. The gap in the messaging is definitely in the interpretation of the sign by people who haven't been exposed to the sign or are unaware of the context of the larger campaign. As a warning sign, the message is unclear. Is it directed at bikes, telling them to "Share the Road" as many Marin motorists assert? If that's the case, there is nothing in the sign (or frequently in the roadway design) that guides or informs cyclists as to how they should be "sharing". Does the message target motorists, using the bike icon to inform them of the presence of bikes on the road and the need to "Share the Road" with them? Is it targeted at both groups simultaneously (everyone "Share the Road")? My analysis of the STR signs at the 10 year mark is that they are much more effective as an element of a larger outreach campaign, and that they are less effective as a traffic control device or warning sign. Signs with clearer messaging, such as those used in San Francisco to inform users that bicycles are allowed use of the full lane, or those in use in Portland that simply state "Bikes on Roadway" are more effective at warning motorists of the presence of cyclists. In terms of targeting cyclists the Share the Road signs are effective if the cyclists who see them are aware of what is entailed with legally sharing the road. Otherwise it's just a catchphrase, rather than a device that guides you to a specific behavior. Eric Anderson Alta Planning + Design __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Members mailing list http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/members

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[Fwd: [Fwd: Replacement members]]
by Frank Gmeindl 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

Another candidate to replace departed Greater Morgantown members: Marc Glass, Westover. Now the list is: a. Sam Chico III 309 Canyon School Road 26508 Canyon b. Steven Kite 115 Apolla Drive 26501 Dorsey Ave. c. Tim Nelms 221 Poplar Drive 26505 Bakers Ridge d. Chris Rassekh, MD 37 Pleasant Ridge Lane Outside Sabraton e. Judi Reckart 680 Brookhaven Road Cheat lake f. Than Saffel 117 KeenerRoad 26508 Dug Hill Rd. g. Josh Shriver 210 Stone Gate Circle 26505 h. Sam Stone 11 Nordic Drive Stewartstown Rd. i. Roger Toffle 11 Catalpa Street Stewartstown Rd. j. Alice Vernon Snake Hill k. Marc Glass Westover Frank -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Bikeboard] [Fwd: Replacement members] Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:55:11 -0500 From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> To: bikeboard(a)cheat.org Sorry, I missed one person who consented to Jim Rye recently: Alice Vernon, Snake Hill. Adding her name to the list makes: a. Sam Chico III 309 Canyon School Road 26508 Canyon b. Steven Kite 115 Apolla Drive 26501 Dorsey Ave. c. Tim Nelms 221 Poplar Drive 26505 Bakers Ridge d. Chris Rassekh, MD 37 Pleasant Ridge Lane Outside Sabraton e. Judi Reckart 680 Brookhaven Road Cheat lake f. Than Saffel 117 KeenerRoad 26508 Dug Hill Rd. g. Josh Shriver 210 Stone Gate Circle 26505 h. Sam Stone 11 Nordic Drive Stewartstown Rd. i. Roger Toffle 11 Catalpa Street Stewartstown Rd. j. Alice Vernon Snake Hill Frank -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Bikeboard] Replacement members Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:30:32 -0500 From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> To: bikeboard(a)cheat.org Bike Board Members, I just discovered yesterday that the Traffic Commission had a set of alternate candidates that they would have selected if we didn't consent to serve on the Bicycle Board. The alternate candidates from Greater Morgantown were: a. Sam Chico III 309 Canyon School Road 26508 Canyon b. Steven Kite 115 Apolla Drive 26501 Dorsey Ave. c. Tim Nelms 221 Poplar Drive 26505 Bakers Ridge d. Chris Rassekh, MD 37 Pleasant Ridge Lane Outside Sabraton e. Judi Reckart 680 Brookhaven Road Cheat lake f. Than Saffel 117 KeenerRoad 26508 Dug Hill Rd. g. Josh Shriver 210 Stone Gate Circle 26505 h. Sam Stone 11 Nordic Drive Stewartstown Rd. i. Roger Toffle 11 Catalpa Street Stewartstown Rd. At the next meeting, I suggest we prioritize this list using the multivoting technique that we used to prioritize our goal groups. Then, I will pass the prioritized list to the Traffic Commission. I received 2 recommendations from members after our last meeting. If those candidates express a willingness to serve, we can add them to the list before we prioritize the list. Frank _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard(a)cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard(a)cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

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January Minutes
by Elizabeth Shogren 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

Good Evening, Folks. Attached please find the minutes from last week's meeting (along with Jonathan's presentation). Also, you will find an updated version of our goals. Please let me know if there are any corrections! Thanks and have a nice evening, BETSY

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Vision
by Frank Gmeindl 10 Jan '07

10 Jan '07

Bike Board Members, Please give me your feedback on the following suggested Bicycle Board vision statement: All Morgantown residents can enjoy bicycling safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason. Morgantown residents choose to ride bicycles for transportation as well as recreation. Our state and our nation recognize Morgantown for the benefits of bicycling to our health, our environment, our economy and our quality of life. Frank

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