----- Original Message -----From: John LozierTo: gunn4r ShogrenSent: Friday, September 07, 2007 5:22 PMSubject: Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis RoadThanks, Gunnar, for interesting links and supportive words. I don't want to be involved in rigid thinking one way or another.I encourage folks to read the following links you sent, and consider in relation to the loudest voices on our bike board.On Sep 7, 2007, at 3:57 PM, gunn4r Shogren wrote:
Judging from the results from google using "cyclists fare best when they"-and these few pages that I brought up-It seems that we're not alone in our two sided argument and such.Bicycles are in a really interesting postion, they can go both ways,they are quite flexible, square-peg-round-hole. Whether you like itor not.And children, kids, use them, which only adds to the confusion and problems.Education can goe a long way, but insistence of either way probablywon't do it all.So somewhere compromise probably has to rear it's ugly head and stepin. Strange but true.Sometimes gray can be good. Sometimes gray is better than nothing.It's not the same as selling your soul.I personally think that each situation can demand a different answer,no one-size-fits-all.Let's keep harping for Harmony. Sounds nice.gunnar.On 9/7/07, John Lozier <jl@harpingforharmony.org> wrote:All:That stretch of Van Voorhis is curvy and very steep. To me it doesn't seempractical to widen the traffic lanes and expect bicyclists to vie with carsfor priority. Downhill maybe, but not uphill.That would be a near-perfect example of a place where I would like to seeeither 1) a separate bike path, with a curb or other physical barrierbetween it and the auto lane, or 2) a wide sidewalk designated for bike-peduse.Actually, my two options are not really different, as I would allowpedestrians on my bike path (keep to the right, of course).Okay, this is not what the loudest voices want to hear. However, that is mystory and I'm sticking to it.JohnOn Sep 7, 2007, at 8:54 AM, Nick Hein wrote:Paula,The best recommendation to make is that the road be built with a pavedshoulder so there is room for bikes, pedestrians AND motor vehicles. As abike board member (and personally as well) my experience has been thatdedicated bike lanes confuse motorists about where bikes are allowed -essentially giving them the mistaken impression that they don't belong inthe traffic lane. Under state and federal law bicyclists are a vehiclesubject to the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicleoperator, so they should be in the vehicle lane except when there isovertaking traffic (ie when they are going below the speed limit).Thanks for bringing up this issue. I've cc'ed this to the bike board. Idon't believe the road is in the city limits, but it certainly feeds alot oftraffic to the city - many of whom are potential cyclists. I'll call Chettoday and ask him about the issue.Sorry if it sounded like a rant.Nick----- Original Message -----From: Paula HuntTo: Bill Reger-Nash ; Nick HeinSent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:15 PMSubject: "Improvements" to Van Voorhis RoadDear Bill and Nick,Tim and I attended the "Road Service Fee" meeting last night, and I wasintrigued when Chet Parson said a bike lane or trail was proposed to go downVan Voorhis Rd. and end at West Run Rd. The following is my note to himasking him to "connect" the lane/trail all the way to the Mon River Trail(Rail Trail). I thought I would keep you both in the loop. Maybe you wereaware of this already (?).Thanks to you both for all your good work to make Morgantown a more walkableand cyclable place!paulaSubject: Improvements for Van Voorhid Road [yes, I spelled Van Voorhisincorrectly!]From: "Paula Hunt" <pjhunt@xemaps.com>Dear Mr. Parsons,During the meeting at South Middle School last night I was interested tohear that one of the suggested road improvements was safe bicycle accessalong Van Voorhis Road ending at West Run Road. I respectfully ask you toconsider continuing the bicycle lane all the way down to the Rail Trail atthe end of Van Voorhis Road. Stopping at West Run is sooooooo close, butnot close enough. I calculate that it will only add 1¼ miles to the bikelane. As you know, VanV Road is steep, narrow, and twisty down there, anda lot of people live on it. A bike lane would be an inexpensive andwelcome improvement.I'm sure you know that many people use the Trail to commute in toMorgantown. I live along the newly opened northern section of the MonRiver Trail, and I know a few people who live in Point Marion and areusing the Trail to commute to work in Morgantown. The number of cycliststhat go by our house all times of the day is amazing! My husband is nowriding his bike to work at the University via the Trail. Many otherstravel from the south. Students living in The District could safelyaccess the Trail. I'm sure you agree that linking the Trail toneighborhoods, major apartment blocks, schools, and major employers willget a lot of people out of their cars. As you know, bike lanes andwalking trails are much cheaper to build than roads. Perhaps we could dothem as a first step rather than as a last step?I wish *I* could ride the Trail to work!Thanks for all your time with this,Paula HuntTreasurerMon River Trails Conservancy________________________________No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.6/991 - Release Date: 9/5/20072:55 PM_______________________________________________Bikeboard mailing list_______________________________________________Bikeboard mailing list
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