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MPO presentation
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Dec '07

28 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, I understand that the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization has put me on their 18-Jan agenda to make a presentation on bicycling. As you know, the MPO created the 2030 Transportation plan that includes some somewhat indefinite non-motorized components. The bicycling components were defined a few years ago by people, including me, who I don't think understood much about transportation bicycling back then. My current impression of the non-motorized plan is that is mostly to keep walkers and cyclists quiet as they increase the number, size and complexity of roadways to accommodate more motor vehicles operating at higher speeds: not to integrate bicycling into the Greater Morgantown transportation system. Obviously, I am challenged to make an objective and balanced presentation on 18-Jan so, in addition to seeking your approval of my presentation, I am asking for you help to maximize its impact on the MPO. If you could, please review the attached PowerPoint presentation and give me your recommendations at your earliest convenience, I would certainly be grateful. I would appreciate your comments by whatever means is most convenient for you: e-mail, marked-up printout, telephone (304-284-8094), or in person. Frank

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Article on Mandatory Bike Registration from Seattle Newspaper
by director 26 Dec '07

26 Dec '07

Good morning, I came across a link to this article on one of the HPV lists I read... http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/344924_bicyclelicense26.html Comments are listed here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/344924_bicyclelicense26.html My comment is that bicyclists should start paying their fare share of road costs right after motor vehicles do. According to the numbers I've seen this will do 2 things. 1) Make motorists aware of how much they are subsidized. 2) Make cyclists eligable for a rebate. Hope you had a merry Christmas Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown

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December meeting minutes
by autumn bliss 20 Dec '07

20 Dec '07

Hey ya'll, Here's the minutes from the December meeting. Sorry it took so long to get them out. You know how it goes with the holidays and all coming up. I hope everyone has safe and happy holidays. Keep the rubber side down and see you in '08! _________________________________________________________________ The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox 360 Console. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/

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Re: [Bikeboard] Quantifiable benefits of investment inwalkingandbiking?
by director 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Jonathan, They installed the station in Seattle just as I was leaving town. A friend of mine was manager for it. They are extremely expensive and probably not worth the cost here in Morgantown, unless they have come up with a simpler/cheaper system recently. As commuting committee chairman I'll check on it again. Nick ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Jonathan Rosenbaum <freesource(a)cheat.org> Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:49:49 -0500 >Nick, this is good information and the statistics are useful. The >Bikestation Organization (http://ww.bikestation.org) presently has >stations in large metropolitan areas in California, interestingly, the >City of Pittsburgh is one of their project partners. > > Bikestation is the parent organization that serves as an > information-clearinghouse and support system to the individual > operators that are responsible for the day-to-day operations of each > facility. Local operators vary per location and consist of > non-profit, for-profit and advocacy organizations. > > >The Bicycle Board should contact them to find out whether the City of >Morgantown could benefit from their program. > >-Jonathan > >director wrote: >> Good morning, >> I came across this message from a staff member at BikeStation listing the quantifiable measures of safe, sheltered, secure bike parking. >> Thought they might be of interest. I assume the numbers are for facilities in all 6 cities. (VMT = Vehicle Miles Travelled) >> Nick >> >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- >> From: "Andrea White" <awhite(a)bikestation.org> >> Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:25:04 -0600 >> >> We conduct ongoing research, including surveys and data gathering at our Bikestations. Investments in bike-commuter centers like Bikestations are very effective in achieving many of the goals you have asked about. Research at our 6 facilities (San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, Seattle) consistently shows the following (average): >> >> * 30% of Bikestation users previously drove their car alone to their destination and would still be doing so if the Bikestation werenâEUR^(TM)t available >> >> * An additional 60% who were already biking, cycle more often because of the convenience >> >> 2007 results: >> >> * Bicycles Parked: 86,720 >> >> * Cars taken off the road: 26,010 >> >> * Reduction in VMT: 520,320 >> >> * Reduction in CO2 and other auto-based pollutants: 555,620 lbs. >> >> * Over 1,300 barrels of oil saved >> >> If you need methodologies, call me. >> >> Good luck! >> >> Andrea >> >> >> >> >> >> â", AndrÃ©a White â", >> >> Executive Director >> >> Bikestation Coalition >> >> 110 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 810 >> >> Long Beach, CA 90802 >> >> Phone: 562.733.0106 >> >> Fax: 562.733.0107 >> >> awhite(a)bikestation.org >> >> www.bikestation.org >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: thunderhead-bounces(a)thunderheadalliance.org [mailto:thunderhead-bounces@thunderheadalliance.org] On Behalf Of Sabrina Merlo >> Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 1:07 PM >> To: Thunderhead Alliance >> Subject: [Thunderhead] quantifiable benefits of investment in walking andbiking? >> >> >> >> Hello Thunderhead. >> >> >> >> The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition is looking for any studies that show a correlation between investment in walking and biking infrastructure/programs and quantifiable results in the following categories: >> >> >> >> - reduction of VMT >> >> - increase in physical activity >> >> - mode shift overall to bike/ped >> >> - mode shift to bike/ped + transit use >> >> - collision rate reduction >> >> - reduction in trip rates per household >> >> - proof that if you have good infrastructure, you have lower vehicle ownership >> >> >> >> The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition is working with our regional transportation planning agency (MTC) right now to help them write one or two new Performance Targets that address their expressed goals of Safety, Mobility, and Access. We are also pushing them to look at physical activity levels, but public health is not yet a specific goal, so we'll see how far we get with that. For the first time, MTC is looking for ways to quantify bike/ped programs and set targets, and we are trying to gather relevant studies that they could utilize regarding (increased!) investment in bike/ped. >> >> >> >> If you know of any that address these results above, please let us know. We have a meeting on Friday with them, and thus are on a bit of a rush. >> >> Best, >> >> Sabrina >> >> >> >> P.S. For those of you interested, BABC has written a well-researched argument towards investment in Active Transportation in our advocacy platform paper for the Bay Area's 2009 Regional Transportation Plan revision. The articles in this document attempt to justify our ask for $2 billion in walking and biking investment (as well as better policy, data, and education) over the next 25 years. This is a 10 fold increase of current 9-county Bay Area bike/ped funding levels. The T2035 Platform for Active Transportation is available as a PDF here: http://www.bayareabikes.org >> >> >> >> ............................................................... >> >> Sabrina Merlo >> >> Regional Advocacy Director >> >> Bay Area Bicycle Coalition >> >> http://www.bayareabikes.org/ >> >> sabrina(a)bayareabikes.org >> >> 510.325.5178 >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Bikeboard mailing list >> Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >> > > > > >

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Re: [Bikeboard] Quantifiable benefits of investment in walkingandbiking?
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Nick, this is good information and the statistics are useful. The Bikestation Organization (http://ww.bikestation.org) presently has stations in large metropolitan areas in California, interestingly, the City of Pittsburgh is one of their project partners. Bikestation is the parent organization that serves as an information-clearinghouse and support system to the individual operators that are responsible for the day-to-day operations of each facility. Local operators vary per location and consist of non-profit, for-profit and advocacy organizations. The Bicycle Board should contact them to find out whether the City of Morgantown could benefit from their program. -Jonathan director wrote: > Good morning, > I came across this message from a staff member at BikeStation listing the quantifiable measures of safe, sheltered, secure bike parking. > Thought they might be of interest. I assume the numbers are for facilities in all 6 cities. (VMT = Vehicle Miles Travelled) > Nick > > ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- > From: "Andrea White" <awhite(a)bikestation.org> > Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:25:04 -0600 > > We conduct ongoing research, including surveys and data gathering at our Bikestations. Investments in bike-commuter centers like Bikestations are very effective in achieving many of the goals you have asked about. Research at our 6 facilities (San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, Seattle) consistently shows the following (average): > > * 30% of Bikestation users previously drove their car alone to their destination and would still be doing so if the Bikestation werenâEUR^(TM)t available > > * An additional 60% who were already biking, cycle more often because of the convenience > > 2007 results: > > * Bicycles Parked: 86,720 > > * Cars taken off the road: 26,010 > > * Reduction in VMT: 520,320 > > * Reduction in CO2 and other auto-based pollutants: 555,620 lbs. > > * Over 1,300 barrels of oil saved > > If you need methodologies, call me. > > Good luck! > > Andrea > > > > > > â", AndrÃ©a White â", > > Executive Director > > Bikestation Coalition > > 110 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 810 > > Long Beach, CA 90802 > > Phone: 562.733.0106 > > Fax: 562.733.0107 > > awhite(a)bikestation.org > > www.bikestation.org > > > > ________________________________ > > From: thunderhead-bounces(a)thunderheadalliance.org [mailto:thunderhead-bounces@thunderheadalliance.org] On Behalf Of Sabrina Merlo > Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 1:07 PM > To: Thunderhead Alliance > Subject: [Thunderhead] quantifiable benefits of investment in walking andbiking? > > > > Hello Thunderhead. > > > > The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition is looking for any studies that show a correlation between investment in walking and biking infrastructure/programs and quantifiable results in the following categories: > > > > - reduction of VMT > > - increase in physical activity > > - mode shift overall to bike/ped > > - mode shift to bike/ped + transit use > > - collision rate reduction > > - reduction in trip rates per household > > - proof that if you have good infrastructure, you have lower vehicle ownership > > > > The Bay Area Bicycle Coalition is working with our regional transportation planning agency (MTC) right now to help them write one or two new Performance Targets that address their expressed goals of Safety, Mobility, and Access. We are also pushing them to look at physical activity levels, but public health is not yet a specific goal, so we'll see how far we get with that. For the first time, MTC is looking for ways to quantify bike/ped programs and set targets, and we are trying to gather relevant studies that they could utilize regarding (increased!) investment in bike/ped. > > > > If you know of any that address these results above, please let us know. We have a meeting on Friday with them, and thus are on a bit of a rush. > > Best, > > Sabrina > > > > P.S. For those of you interested, BABC has written a well-researched argument towards investment in Active Transportation in our advocacy platform paper for the Bay Area's 2009 Regional Transportation Plan revision. The articles in this document attempt to justify our ask for $2 billion in walking and biking investment (as well as better policy, data, and education) over the next 25 years. This is a 10 fold increase of current 9-county Bay Area bike/ped funding levels. The T2035 Platform for Active Transportation is available as a PDF here: http://www.bayareabikes.org > > > > ............................................................... > > Sabrina Merlo > > Regional Advocacy Director > > Bay Area Bicycle Coalition > > http://www.bayareabikes.org/ > > sabrina(a)bayareabikes.org > > 510.325.5178 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikeboard mailing list > Bikeboard(a)cheat.org > http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >

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Reaction on Uphill Struggle
by John Lozier 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Natalie Ramsland is a triathlete and bike builder in Portland, Oregon, also my niece. This is her response when I told her about Uphill Struggle. John Begin forwarded message: > From: "Natalie Ramsland" <natalie(a)sweetpeabicycles.com> > Date: December 18, 2007 12:51:47 PM EST > To: "John Lozier" <jl(a)harpingforharmony.org> > Subject: Re: Hello from Portland! > > Hi John - > > I love the idea of the Uphill Struggle. It made me think that it > might be fun to organize a ride in which there were two options: 1) > get from one place to another by the shortest distance possible, > elevation be damned or 2) get to the same destination taking > whatever detours necessary to make the climb as gentle as possible > and have stops along the way. That way you can demonstrate that > biking doesn't have to be something for self-identified athletes > alone. A relaxed approach can be celebrated, too. > > There is a race that happens in Portland called the SS Pussycat > (all women's alleycat race) which has two racing options. You can > race for speed, which is, well, speedy. Or you can compete in the > spirit category, and you will be doing various fun challenges along > the way. > > It also brings to mind the Tequila Shortcut at the Single Speed > Cyclocross Championships a couple weeks back. There was a shortcut > in the race course (which is done in laps) - the only catch was > that if you were going to take the shortcut you had to take a shot > of tequila every time you came through. > > So, needless to say, I think you could have a lot of fun with > this. Let me know if you need help brainstorming crazy ideas! I am > full of them :) > > Love, > Natalie > > On 12/18/07, John Lozier <jl(a)harpingforharmony.org> wrote: > Hi, Natalie, > > We're at 345 Virginia Avenue, Morgantown WV 26505. > > I've never been very good about sending holiday cards. However, I > think of you and Austin quite often. I recently took a class in > Effective Cycling. You probably know about the American League of > Bicyclists. Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as > drivers of vehicles. A young woman in the group is a triathlete, > made me think of you. > > We're beginning to plan for an activity that I'm calling the "Uphill > Struggle." The whole concept is "It's and Uphill Struggle to get > people thinking of bicycles as a form of transportation." > > Here's a blurb I shared with our Bike Board (I'm a member): > > Max's Uphill Struggle is the insight of a child (Max, my 7-year-old > neighbor) who first learns to ride on the flat, then downhill, then > confronts (and meets) the challenge of UPHILL. > > This is, of course, the challenge faced by folks of all ages when > they consider biking in Morgantown. > > (Incidentally, the Uphill Struggle is a metaphor for life itself, > isn't it?) > > The idea would be to have a sponsored bike event that involves riding > uphill. Any hill could work. > > > On Dec 18, 2007, at 12:25 PM, Natalie Ramsland wrote: > > > Hi John, > > > > I have a holiday card I want to send to you and Kitty, but I don't > > think I have your address since you moved. Can you send that to me? > > > > Love, > > Natalie > >

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Copenhagen
by Frank Gmeindl 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, Copenhagen is one of those places that we usually think of as cycling paradise. A 9-page report at http://www.trafitec.dk/pub/Road <http://www.trafitec.dk/pub/Road%20safety%20and%20percieved%20risk%20of%20cy cle%20tracks%20and%20lanes%20in%20Copenhagen.pdf> safety and percieved risk of cycle tracks and lanes in Copenhagen.pdf summarizes their experience with rail trails and bike lanes. (They call them cycle tracks and cycle lanes.) Based on more than 1,500 traffic counts, construction of cycle tracks increased bicycle traffic 18-20% and reduced car traffic 9-10%. Cycle lanes increased bicycle traffic 5-7% but didn't change car traffic. Based on interviews of more than 1,000 cyclists, almost 90% perceived that cycle tracks are safe and more than 80% perceived that bike lanes are safe while only 55% of them perceived that cycling in mixed traffic is safe. Based on data from more than 8,500 accidents, between intersections (same direction traffic flow), cycle tracks reduced accidents and injuries by 10% and 4% respectively but at intersections, cycle tracks increased accidents and injuries by 18%. Cycle lanes increased injuries 15%. I found Table 1 in the report most interesting. While cycle tracks reduced car against same-direction-cyclist accidents 63%, they increased right-turning car against cyclist accidents 129% and increased left-turning car against cyclist accidents 48%. The report substantiates a dilemma we have to wrestle with: 1) people perceive bike paths and bike lanes to be safer than riding in traffic; 2) more people ride bikes when they have bike paths and bike lanes; 3) bike paths and bike lanes lead to a disproportionate increase in accidents and injuries. If you don't like these statistics, there are some cool pictures of Copenhagen in the article, too;) 4ank

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Law Moose Monday 6:30
by Frank Gmeindl 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, Anyone planning to participate in next Monday's Law klatch at the Moose I highly recommend you read the article "Equality for Cyclists" in this month's LAB /American Bicyclist/ magazine. It provides a list of discriminatory bicycle laws and how they negatively effect the Bicycle Friendly Community 5 E's: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Encouragement and Evaluation. I'll bring some copies of the article if you haven't received your /American Bicyclist/ yet. Frank

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Just for fun
by director 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Good morning, A friend from Working Bikes in Chicago sent us this video. It will be entered in the Google "Innovate or Die" contest. We have one of these generators at our shop, I'm not sure where they got the LED streetlights though. bikeboard(a)cheat.org

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[Fwd: [monbikeclub] tour of america coming to morgantown!?]
by Frank Gmeindl 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, This looks like the Tour of America that Don Spencer described at the last Bicycle Board meeting. http://thetourofamerica.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Frank -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [monbikeclub] tour of america coming to morgantown!? Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:01:39 -0800 (PST) From: ricky denis <ricky3801(a)yahoo.com> Reply-To: monbikeclub(a)yahoogroups.com To: monbikeclub(a)yahoogroups.com http://thetourofamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&It… <http://thetourofamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&It…> Ricky __o _ \<_ (_)/(_) __________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ <http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/message/4894;_ylc=X3oDMTM0ZzBrdGd…> (2) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwbTBhanV1BF9TAzk…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNjZhbDh0BF9TAzk…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcWFoaTYyBF9…> | Files <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbnEydmw2BF9TAz…> | Photos <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYWprYWNtBF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJma2c2cTRrBF9TAz…> | Database <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaGE3NzJzBF9…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmY2Zvcm0xBF9TAz…> | Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMXJtZjcwBF9T…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMW5zZW9wBF9…> MARKETPLACE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earn your degree in as few as 2 years - Advance your career with an AS, BS, MS degree <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12mcbq5h9/M=571476.11873916.12370328.11509771/D…> - College-Finder.net. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fed Lowers Rates Again <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12miaout7/M=571699.11901686.12405080.10835568/D…> - $270,000 Mortgage for $1,498/Mo. No Credit Check Needed No Credit Check Needed - Estimate New Payment <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12miaout7/M=571699.11901686.12405080.10835568/D…>. Yahoo! Groups <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkamFmZjY4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzYzN…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmM3E0dm1qBF9TAzk…> (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest <mailto:monbikeclub-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> | Switch format to Traditional <mailto:monbikeclub-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMzJsYnNwBF9TAzk3MzU5…> | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:monbikeclub-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 2 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJma3QxdTJqBF9T…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monbikeclub;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbWc1bWIxBF9TAzk3MzU5…> Y! Sports for TV Access it for free <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12jaf9sha/M=493064.10729671.11699924.9977693/D=…> Get Fantasy Sports stats on your TV. Yahoo! News Fashion News <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12jmbvmu8/M=493064.10729659.12153716.8674578/D=…> What's the word on fashion and style? Yahoo! Finance It's Now Personal <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12js6r9qu/M=493064.10729649.11333340.8674578/D=…> Guides, news, advice & more. . __,_._,___

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Max's Uphill Struggle
by John Lozier 09 Dec '07

09 Dec '07

This note is to put folks in touch with Max's mom, Laura Kemp-Rye, for purpose of discussing the idea of Max's Uphill Struggle. I missed the Bike Board meeting, but got some feedback from Nick Hein and Don Spencer. I gather that the idea is getting some traction. This morning I met briefly with Max and his mom. Max related a little about how he started riding a bike at age 4, and about riding uphill. Laura expressed interest and willingness to attend a Bike Board meeting and perhaps work with a committee to plan this event. (below I'm pasting my draft write-up of the concept.) John Lozier Max's Uphill Struggle is the insight of a child (Max) who first learns to ride on the flat, then downhill, then confronts (and meets) the challenge of UPHILL. This is, of course, the challenge faced by folks of all ages when they consider biking in Morgantown. (Incidentally, the Uphill Struggle is a metaphor for life itself, isn't it?) The idea would be to have a sponsored bike event that involves riding uphill. Any hill could work. My ideal would be up Monongahela Blvd, then down to Star City Park. Access to the trail there would make a convenient end. This would require involvement of both municipalities (Star City and Morgantown) plus probably the State Police.

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Max's Uphill Struggle
by John Lozier 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

Max is seven years old, my neighbor across the street. Max came up with this idea, and it has been discussed already by some of us (Frank, Nick, Bill Reger, maybe others, plus some cyclists who are not on the Bike Board). As I express it, Max's Uphill Struggle is the insight of a child who first learns to ride on the flat, then downhill, then confronts (and meets) the challenge of UPHILL. This is, of course, the challenge faced by folks of all ages when they consider biking in Morgantown. (Incidentally, the Uphill Struggle is a metaphor for life itself, isn't it?) The idea would be to have a sponsored bike event that involves riding uphill. Any hill could work. My ideal would be up Monongahela Blvd, then down to Star City Park. Access to the trail there would make a convenient end. This would require involvement of both municipalities (Star City and Morgantown) plus probably the State Police. I think it is very important to keep Max in front, and to include him (and his mom, Laura Kemp-Rye) in the development of this idea, perhaps inviting him to talk with the Bike Board. I can't be at the Bike Board meeting today, but since it is on the agenda this is my input. John

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Membership
by Frank Gmeindl 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, As you know, tomorrow night, we will select a replacement for Jim Rye. Besides his bicycle-commuter savvy, strong emphasis on social, environmental and health impacts of our transportation systems, and generosity to do whatever needed done, Jim brought to the Bicycle Board another very valuable asset that will be challenging to replace: personal rapport with Bobbie Roberts, the head of WVU transportation and public safety, and Ron Eck, Chairman of the Traffic Commission, WVU Civil Engineering professor and general alternative transportation expert and activist. Between now and tomorrow night's meeting, when you're thinking of candidates, please try to identify people who can have a substantial impact on realizing our vision of being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason. For example, having authoritative representatives of WVU, property developers and the police on our Board would surely help us achieve our goals. See you tomorrow! Frank

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Agenda for this Thursday's 6-Dec meeting
by Frank Gmeindl 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Bicycle Board members, Please find attached a zip folder. The zip folder contains 4 documents: 1. Agenda for this Thursday's meeting. 2. Minutes of our last meeting. 3. A list of replacement candidates that we defined the last time we replaced some members. (We will add to this list and prioritize the candidates.) 4. A list of the goals that we defined last January. (Two topics on the agenda pertain to these: Maps and Law.) See you Thursday! Frank

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[FW: Transportation Enhancement Grant]
by Frank Gmeindl 01 Dec '07

01 Dec '07

Bicycle Board Members, The state has approved our intent-to-apply form for a $60K grant to support a Greater Morgantown Effective Cycling Education Project. Now, we have about 1 month to write and submit through the City a detailed grant proposal. Attached is the approval letter and the intent-to-apply form that we submitted. We are getting traction! Frank ________________________________________ From: Jeff Mikorski [jmikorski(a)cityofmorgantown.org] Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:11 PM To: Frank D. Gmeindl Subject: Transportation Enhancement Grant Frank, We received an approval letter for the submission of an Effective Cycling Education Project application. Attached is the letter and a comment sheet from the reviewers. Grant applications are due January 15, 2008. We need a few days to review before it can be sent. If you need anything please contact me. Sincerely, Jeff Mikorski Assistant City Manager 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304-284-7404

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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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