Aira,

I have learned that changing the name of the Bicycle Board will at least be difficult.  To change the name to the names suggested would require a reorganization by the City Council. Within the structure of the Morgantown City government, we are already completely "official".  We have no "teeth" as we do make rules or deliver a service as say, the Parking Authority or Transit Authority do.  Since we are subordinate to the Traffic Commission, being a commission of a commission would be problematic. 

Traffic Commission members have told me that we have led them to understand that bicyclists are a legitimate part of traffic and to consider how their decisions will affect bicyclists.  I dare say we may even be having a similar impact at the State level. 

Our performance will prove our authority.

Perhaps we should first focus on an image before adding words to it.

Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

On 12/4/2009 3:00 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Aira,

I'm copying the Bicycle Board members on this and asking them to reply-all to this message with:
  1. Any text they think should be on the logo
  2. Any iconic local buildings that they think would appropriate for a background skyline
  3. Their thoughts about changing the name of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board.
Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles


On 12/4/2009 11:25 AM, Aira Loren Burkhart wrote:
Frank,

I just sent you that article because I thought it was neat, not as an action item, just something aspire to in the future.

I didn't receive the newsletter. Maybe they are getting sent to spam? I did not see it in my spam folder, though. Please attach it and resend.

Can you have the bike board email me about the text to appear on the logo? If everyone is copied on the correspondence, I think an email discussion will probably be reflective of everyone's ideas, at least enough to get a start. Are there any iconic local buildings that the board thinks would appropriate for a background skyline? (In a concept with such a skyline. I'm not married to any particular concept.)

Do you have an feeling about the name, aside from the procedural hoops of suggesting such a change? Does it strike you as a good idea, or not worth the hassle?

thanks,
aira

On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 11:14 AM, Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl@verizon.net> wrote:
We'd need at least 14 feet of lane width to add a bike lane, green or otherwise.  I am not aware of any lanes that wide in Morgantown or WV.  The reason we advocated for sharrows (Shared Lane Markings) is that they can be installed on lanes that are less than 14 feet wide (at least 4 feet from the curb with no car pakring or 11 feet the curb with on-street parking (MUTCD standard) and when accompanied by Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs can be effective.  That's what we succeeded in getting through the City and the State until there was a personnel change in the WVDOH that resulted in their retracting their approval.  Now, Janel is leading a project intended to get that approval again.

The BB will have to decide by consensus what the logo will represent, i.e. whether or not it has the BB name.  To change the name of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board we will have to get concurrence from the Traffic Commission that formed and governs us.  Attached are the Procedural Guidelines that define us.  Please also be aware that the BB's vision states: "All Morgantown residents can enjoy bicycling safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime, for any reason. "

Aira, last night, I sent you the Bicycle Board's November report to the Traffic Commission.  The report is organized by the E's.  You might also look at our application for a LAB Bicycle Friendly Community award at http://www.morgantown.com/bike-board-documents/BFC%20Application.zip .  The criteria for the award are the E's and reading through the criteria provides a clear idea of what each E means. FYI, since we applied for the award in 2008, the LAB added a 6th E: Equality.  The BB November report to the TC explains it.

Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles



On 12/4/2009 10:41 AM, Aira Loren Burkhart wrote:
Here is the Austin article I was talking about. I think the large painted road areas look very understandable to drivers and cyclists alike.
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/fitcity/entries/2009/10/21/city_installs_experimental_str.html

Also, will the logo depict the name as "Morgantown Bicycle Board"? My husband suggested that "Morgantown Bicycle Authority" (MBA) has more teeth to it. "Morgantown Bicycle Commission" also sounds somewhat more official than "Board" though less so than "Authority".

Please send the newsletter with the "E" statements and also specify if you would like any kind of slogan incorporated into the "seal/logo" itself.

Thanks!
aira

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