Ben,
I forwarded your message to the Bicycle Board and invited them to contact you if they want to be interviewed. Don Dickerson is no longer a member of the Bicycle Board. Gunnar Shogren is now Vice Chairman.
I will try to answer your questions. Please see my responses embedded below.
On Feb 3, 2011, at 1:16 PM, Benjamin Scott wrote:
Thank you for your help Mr. Gmeindl. Some questions I have are: How many people riding bikes do you think it would take to reduce traffic in Morgantown to a steadier flow?
This is a tough question to answer quantitatively. Morgantown's traffic jams are a result of there being too many motor vehicles on Morgantown's roads. The solution to the traffic problem is to reduce the number of motor vehicles. Alternatives are bicycling, walking, public transit (including PRT and Mountain Line) and carpooling. Every person that chooses one of these alternatives takes a step toward reducing Morgantown traffic congestion. To get people to choose one of these alternatives over their private car, these alternatives must be made more attractive. People that want to walk need sidewalks. People that want to ride bikes need bicycling to be safe and convenient. People who want to use public transit need to have buses or PRT cars available when and where they need them. Morgantown's emphasis has always been on making private motoring as fast and convenient as possible, often at the expense of alternatives. Perhaps it's time to focus on making the alternatives more attractive.
Also, are there any programs or advertisements promoting bike riding over driving?
The Bicycle Board is an all volunteer group that is trying to make Morgantown a more attractive place to bicycle. I've attached a report of our 2010 accomplishments. You might find some useful info in there. Feel free to plagiarize;)
Are there road maps that show where bikes are allowed to be on the road?
Except for the interstate highway, bicycles are allowed on every road. Obviously, some roads are more pleasant to ride on than others. The Bicycle Board is developing a bike route map for Morgantown. I've attached a rough draft. It represents routes that local bicyclists frequently use to get around town. You'll also notice that sections of the route are color coded: Green = Pleasant; Blue = OK; Brown = Scary; Red = Dangerous. The Bicycle Board is working first to change the red sections by getting the City or State to erect Share the Road signs on them. We're also developing a signage plan to mark the routes.
What are some benefits for riding a bike instead of driving?
In a more bicycle-friendly Morgantown, residents will enjoy reduced congestion, greater transportation efficiency, better community health and wellbeing, an improved physical environment, and a more prosperous local economy.
For most Morgantown residents, the private motor vehicle is perceived to be the only practical transportation option. Morgantown’s hilly environment naturally makes bicycling and walking challenging. Our narrow roads, heavy traffic and ignorance of bicyclists’ rights and duties make bicycling terrifying to any but the most experienced, fit and intrepid cyclists. To get more Morgantown residents to use bicycles rather than private motor vehicles, we must make bicycling safer and more personally satisfying than driving the car, at least for some trips.
Reduced Congestion
One car takes up more space than 6 bicycles. The next time you’re stuck in a traffic jam, look around and imagine if all the cars disappeared leaving only their occupants. Where’s the congestion? [1] Of course, bicycles usually travel slower than motor vehicles so to take advantage of the reduced congestion that bicycling offers, the infrastructure must accommodate the speed differences with no compromise in safety or convenience for either traveler.[2]
Greater Transportation Efficiency
· Bicycling is the most energy efficient mode of transportation and generates practically no pollution. Bicyclists get approximately 700 mpg [FG3]gasoline equivalent if their food energy is converted to equivalent gallons of gasoline[1].
· Cycling is often the fastest mode of transportation for trips less than 3 miles in urban cores. More than 50% of trips in urban areas are less than 3 miles.[2] (Morgantown is only 5 miles across.)
· Bicycles take up less valuable real estate both while traveling and parked. Ten bicycles can be parked in the space required for a single automobile. The cost of a typical car parking space in a parking structure can be up to[5] $10,000 compared to $300 to manufacture and install a post-and-ring bike stand accommodating two bicycles, or $1,000 for a high security bicycle locker.[7]
· The addition of a through traffic lane on an existing road costs from $350,000 to $500,000 per kilometre to design and construct in Toronto. This widening would provide an additional roadway capacity of 800 vehicles per hour. By comparison, the costs associated with the addition of a single 5 ft. bike lane, which can accommodate approximately 2,000 trips per hour, can range from $5,000 to $10,000 for a simple restriping, or from $35,000 to $150,000 per kilometre where a road widening is required.
· In 2009, Monongalia County spent $2,600,000 busing 8,500 children to school. The average distance bused to school was 1 mile.[3] $2,600,00 could stripe 52 miles of bike lanes.[4]
Better Community Health and Well-being
· Bicycling can mitigate our obesity epidemic. Nationally, from 1969 to 2004, childhood obesity increased from 10% to 40% while walking or bicycling to school decreased from 90% to 48%.[5] Since West Virginia has one of the highest obesity rates in the U. S., the situation in WV is probably worse.
· Cycling contributes to personal health by enhancing fitness and providing an enjoyable, convenient and affordable means of exercise and recreation. The most effective fitness routines are moderate in intensity, individualized and incorporated into our daily activities. Cycling and walking can accomplish this while also providing mobility.
· Cycling can eliminate road rage and increase civility among community members. The freedom from entrapment in a vehicle, higher intimacy with the natural environment and other travelers and the feeling of satisfaction of getting around on one’s own power improves the cyclist’s general attitude.[9]
· Most Americans are physically inactive, resulting in billions of dollars of direct health care costs. Increased physical activity, such as walking and cycling, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and the cost of medical care, decrease workplace absenteeism and maintain the independence of older adults.
· Cycling provides access and transportation to segments of the population who would not otherwise be able to travel independently including those who:
o Cannot or choose not to own a motor vehicle;
o Do not have access to a motor vehicle when needed;
o Cannot or choose not to use public transportation.
· A forthcoming review article demonstrates significantly higher levels of health and fitness were associated with bike commuting. (Scandinavian Journal of Health Promotion, 2011)
Improved Physical Environment
· Bicycling reduces air pollution, reduces the exhaust dirt that sullies our houses, buildings and infrastructure, and frees up valuable space that could be used for other more productive and attractive applications.
· Bicycling can most easily replace 1-5 mile motor-vehicle trips that are the least fuel-efficient and generate the most pollution per mile.
· Replacing auto trips with bicycling mitigates ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect, ground-level air pollution, photochemical smog, acid rain and noise pollution.
More Prosperous Local Economy
· Bicycling accommodations increase property values, business revenue and jobs.[6][13]
· Bicycle friendly communities attract educated highly paid residents and visitors that contribute to the local economy.
· Since bicycles take up less space, a significant shift in transportation from motorized to bicycling frees space for other more productive uses. For example, automobile parking currently occupies approximately[15] 15%of valuable land within Morgantown.[7] As a business person, which would you prefer to own, Ruby Memorial Hospital or its parking lot that occupies approximately the same area?
[1] Cycling at a rate of 11 mph expends approximately 6 kcal/kg-body-weight/hr a.
A 180 lb (81.8 kg) adult cycling at 11 mph for 1 hour would expend 6 kcal/kg/hr * 81.8 kg = 491 kcal.
Therefore, 491 kcal/11 miles = 44.6 kcal/mile.
One gallon of gasoline contains approximately 31,000 kcal.
So, cyclist’s gasoline-equivalent mileage is 31,000 kcal / 44.6 kcal/mile = 695 miles.
a http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/tools/compendium.htm
[2] U.S. National Bicycle and Walking Study, 1994
[3] The Dominion Post, Sep. 7, 2009 p.1-A
[4] Based on maximum of $50,000/mile estimated cost from Bikesafe: Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System, Federal Highway Administration, FHWA-SA-05-006, May 2006, p. 27.
[5] http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WalkToSchool/
[6] 11% higher home value near bike facilities – Indianapolis
· $133 Billion/year revenue; 1.1 Million jobs – U. S.
· $ 1 Billion/year revenue; 1,231 jobs – Colorado
· $556 Million/ year revenue; 3,418 jobs –Wisconsin
· $60 Million/year revenue; 1,440 jobs on $6.7 Million investment – Outer Banks
· $181 Million/year revenue; 2,800 jobs from La Route Verte bike route; bike tourists spend 26% more than other tourists – Quebec
Source: Flusche, Darren, The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments, League of American Bicyclists, June 2009, http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/reports/report_economics.php
[7] On-street and parking garages.
Are there any plans to promoting future bicycle use?
The Bicycle Board is working on a Comprehensive Bicycling Plan. It is too pre-mature to release to you now. We'll discuss it tonight.
What kind of bike would you recommend for a beginner bicycle rider to get around Morgantown safely and quickly?
One that fits and has a wide range of gears.
Where is the best place to ride a bike in Morgantown?
This depends on where you want to go and your level of education, experience and skill. Morgantown's rail trails are very popular but don't go everywhere that the roads go. See the green and blue sections of the attached bike route map. Unfortunately, if you want to go across town or through town to get out of town, some riding on the brown sections and maybe even a little on the red sections. May be necessary. Taking the Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 class http://bikemorgantown.com/courses.php will enable you to ride anywhere, any time for any reason.
Are there any bicycle clubs or groups in Morgantown and how would someone get in contact with them?
Yes, WVU Cycling Club, http://www.wvucycling.com/ ; Monongalia Bicycle Club, http://groups.google.com/group/monbikeclub?lnk=srg&hl=en and Country Roads Cyclists http://groups.google.com/group/CRcyclists?lnk=srg&hl=en.
Answers to these questions will greatly shorten the interview. Also, our teacher would like us to multiple sources for our story. Do you have the contact information for Don Dickerson the Vice Chairman for the bicycle board? Thank you again for your time.
Ben Scott
On 02/03/11, Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@gmail.com wrote:
Ben,
I'm glad you're doing this and I'd like to help. I'm usually somewhat burned out at the end of the Bicycle Board meetings but I'll do what I can. Perhaps if you already have questions that you're planning to ask, I could write you some answers. That might shorten the interview.
Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
On Feb 3, 2011, at 12:05 PM, Benjamin Scott wrote:
Hello Sir, my name is Ben Scott and I am a journalism student at WVU. I am writing a story for class on how bicycles could help reduce the traffic problems of Morgantown. I will be attending tonight's Morgantown Bicycle Board and I was hoping I could get an interview with you either after the meeting or even sometime tomorrow. Also I would like to ask if you could supply me with contact information for any of the other board members. Thank you so much for your time and your help would be greatly appreciated.
Ben Scott