This is a ripe time to work with the University, and it would be foolhardy to wait for our own infrastructure to come online. It's like the old adage "Which came first, the chicken or the egg." I have definitely met a large share of students who don't bring bicycles to Morgantown for a variety of reasons. We need to convince the traffic commission to work with the University to establish programs that encourage bicycling at WVU. As you know the City Bus Service for WVU Faculty, Staff and Students is prepaid in an arrangement made between the University and the City. Why can't we send a similar message to WVU for bicycling by actively supporting their development of bicycling programs? In the case of the Bicycle Library the City could help start the program by funding 2-3 bicycles. Obviously, the University is going to have to do the brunt of the work and share notes with other successful programs like the one at City Cycles - http://www.city-cycles.com/ .
On the education front, we should be part of the orientation process at WVU, so that incoming freshmen know that WVU actively encourages bicycling as a form of transportation. I don't agree with this sequential infrastructure approach, but rather that everything is intertwined and that a comprehensive approach will be many more times effective. We need a committee that will actively interact with the University and the Traffic commission to accomplish this goal.
Jonathan
Don Spencer wrote:
Interesting thoughts, Jonathan. I do think that we need to work on the chevrons and bike storage capacities first. I encourage you to bring up the issue at the next meeting. Perhaps we can propose some steps toward improved bicycle transportation for the University to Mike Garrison sometime soon.
Don
-----Original Message----- From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Rosenbaum Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 12:51 AM To: Bike Board Subject: [Bikeboard] WVU Bicycle Library
I have always strongly held that if we really want to make a significant change here in Morgantown we need to target WVU. While community bike programs in the United States (vs Europe) are often riddled with vandalism and theft issues, this blog at AASHE - http://www.aashe.net/staffblog/campus-culture/community-yellow-bike-programs
- claims the Bicycle Library -
http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/wildcatwheels.html - at the University of Kentucky is set-up in a way that avoids these problems via a check-out system with accountability.
Now that WVU is back in session this may be an interesting approach to bring to the awareness of the SGA. What do you all think?
Jonathan
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