In 2007, the Bicycle Board recommended and the Traffic Commission approved putting Shared Lane Markings and Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs (see attached) on Spruce Street. The City budgeted for them. The WVDOH first approved our recommendations but then rescinded their approval when they realized that the shared lane markings and BMUFL signs weren't in the 2003 version of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices that they're using. We're still waiting for the WVDOH to adopt the 2009 MUTCD which has them.
One reason (besides being afraid of motor traffic) that people bicycle on the sidewalks in Morgantown is the totally MV-centric traffic layout of downtown.
Say you rode your bike to the Morgantown library and then decided you wanted to go to the Blue Moose, 2 blocks away for a coffee. You'd have to ride your bike 10 blocks, including a slight uphill from Fayette to Willey and perhaps wait for 7 red lights to get there if your drove your bicycle on the streets as a vehicle.
I've heard that there has been some discussion about converting some downtown streets from one-way to two-way. The Bicycle Board hasn't been invited to these but would be happy to participate. For travel within downtown and from a mile or three into town, walking and bicycling are certainly the most appropriate transportation. Wouldn't it be nice if some of the people who control the infrastructure realized that?
Frank
On Jul 14, 2012, at 11:38 AM, Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board wrote:
One sentence of Chief Preston's email highlights the approach that we need to flip: "It would be much safer to remove/move the benches to someplace where they are not in close proximity to motor vehicles." Why do we not "move the vehicles so they are not in close proximity to the benches (pedestrians)" by widening sidewalks & adding a green space buffer?
*Spruce Street improvements are on our Pedestrian Safety Plan...many ped-vehicle crashes occur on Spruce. Frank, is Spruce on the Bicycle Board's Plan for improvement?
Thus, Bill - why not use this to suggest that Spruce Street, a very common pedestrian arterial, is designed inapropriately. That is, rather than a 3 lane, high speed design, with EXTREMELY narrow sidewalks (esp on Library/Health Right side), it is my recommendation to have the City & DOH study reducing it to 2 lanes and widening the sidewalk...I'd suggest adding a bike lane, but my instinct is that a bike lane would not make riding any more safe...Frank, you know better than I.
Thank you for looping me in. Christiaan
Walk more, safely
Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Christiaan Abildso, Chair Bill Reger-Nash, Vice Chair http://www.morgantown.com/ped-safety-board.htm
From: Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@gmail.com To: Bill Byrne bbyrnewv@me.com Cc: Christiaan Abildso walkmgw@yahoo.com Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 3:51 PM Subject: Fwd: City Council Information Newsletter
Hi Bill,
I do not agree with removing the benches from Wall Street (Sadie Crow park) as described in the attached City Manager's weekly newsletter.
We have too little public space for citizens to sit in downtown Morgantown. Citing the presence of motor vehicles is a weak argument since the only cars driving through Sadie Crow park are entering and leaving the parking lot behind the former Morgan's. If necessary, I would advocate for eliminating motor vehicles from Sadie Crow park.
I recognize that the Sadie Crow park benches are predominantly occupied by people that may not appeal to the downtown merchants, i.e. people that probably don't spend much money downtown. Is poverty a reason to discriminate against them; to deny them a place to sit? Where will they go next? I would rather see the City recognize that we have such people and treat them with respect. The Public Safety Center parking garage is right across the street. Why not expand Sadie Crow park to encompass the lot behind Morgan's and provide sufficient space for all the non-motorized people that use that area. When will the City start to give equal respect to pedestrians as it does to motorists?
Frank Gmeindl 491 Wilson Av.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Carol Allen callen@cityofmorgantown.org Date: July 13, 2012 3:19:29 PM EDT To: cdale@mub.org, frank gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net, afrizze1@mix.wvu.edu, wvubassoon@hotmail.com, wwetzel@wdtv.com, cfitzge4@mix.wvu.edu, akoscevi@mix.wvu.edu, john kirkhoff john.kirkhoff@wvradio.com, bmg532@comcast.net, david mckain david.mckain@gmail.com, kfreda@wboy.com, lisacarolmoore@frontier.com, jeffhhr@frontier.com, news@wdtv.com, krippin@wboy.com, btolle@wdtv.com, vsmith@ap.org, Margaret Stout Margaret.Stout@mail.wvu.edu, fas4@labs.net, edelon@mix.wvu.edu, ssullivan@cityofmorgantown.org, amarra@wdtv.com, dspencer36@comcast.net, emokay@mix.wvu.edu, aforgotch@wdtv.com, dt2078@aol.com, lcobb1@mix.wvu.edu, nelsonfrance27@gmail.com, emily vennare emily.vennare@gmail.com, lammer@mix.wvu.edu, jlemieux@mix.wvu.edu, aclay@wboy.com, lydia nuzum lydia.nuzum@mail.wvu.edu, pqueen@dominionpost.com, bchambers@herald-dispatch.com, smoniot@wboy.com, gpapandreas@gmail.com, teddy@dominionpost.com, bkatko@wdtv.com, Hgentile@jacksonkelly.com, lneff@wvradio.com, cshaner@dominionpost.com, danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu, shawn@wvradio.com, badducchio@wvpubcast.org, kmurray@wvradio.com, kplum@dominionpost.com, exdirector@downtownmorgantown.com, chofmann@mix.wvu.edu, capessos@mix.wvu.edu, darquilla@wboy.com, editor@dominionpost.com, Brent Burton bburton@cityofmorgantown.org, Department Heads Group departmenthead@cityofmorgantown.org Subject: City Council Information Newsletter
Attached is the weekly information newsletter.
As Mr. Moore will be briefly away from Morgantown Thursday, July 19th and Friday, July 20th to tend to various family matters, please note that no information letter report will be issued next week.
Carol Allen City Managers Office City of Morgantown
