To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM
Assistant City Engineer
City of Morgantown
Public Works Department - Engineering Division
389 Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
Office: 304.284.7398
Fax: 304.284.7409
www.morgantown.com
From: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com To: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM Subject: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Date: August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT
To: "frank.gmeindl@comcast.net" frank.gmeindl@comcast.net
Subject: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Reply-To: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
_______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
_______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown , WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com ----- Original Message -----
From: "Chip Wamsley" chip@wamsleycycles.com To: ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown , WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com ----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com To: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM Subject: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Matthew Watson < mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com >
Date: August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT
To: " frank.gmeindl@comcast.net " < frank.gmeindl@comcast.net >
Subject: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Reply-To: Matthew Watson < mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com >
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
_______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help: • Mylan • Dynamic Physical Therapy • Centra Bank • Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com
From: "Chip Wamsley" chip@wamsleycycles.com To: ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com
From: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com To: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM Subject: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com Date: August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT To: "frank.gmeindl@comcast.net" frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Subject: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School Reply-To: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
It's precisely that attitude by those running schools that makes me furious. I ran into the EXACT same attitude when dealing with the UHS principal, and ran into when I was a student at Robert C Byrd in 2002 and rode my bike 7miles to school once.
I might be wrong, but I don't think it's the principals duty to restrict how students get to school, provided it's legal and parents approve. As an educated cyclist, I believe (and stake my life on it) that the roads are as safe for riding a bike as any other form of transport, provided those riding a bike are doing so properly. If the principal does believe they are not safe, he is entirely within his rights to keep himself off them, but he is not right to restrict others. (This could get ugly, I should probably just delete this whole paragraph, but I've been 100% upset by WV educators activity towards cycling in my dealings)
If he's willing to offer a cycling class, I would jump on that ASAP. This might be a prime opportunity to either incorporate it into 2 weeks of PE classes, or an after school program. SMS kids were amazingly into cycling, and very open to being taught when I rode with them when WVU Cycling assisted that activity back in 2005.
Per your photo, I would not think anything to lock my bike to any of those, but I suspect the chain linked area is the only one which the school could not complain that the bike is in the way. I understand the necessity of the BB's response to be a bit neutral, but I really would hate to see the school squelch this young determined mind to better himself and his future.
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@gmail.com wrote:
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
*Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?*
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help: • Mylan • Dynamic Physical Therapy • Centra Bank • Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *****Assistant**** ****City****** Engineer* **City of ****Morgantown**** ********Public Works Department - Engineering Division ****389 Spruce Street**** ************Morgantown**, **WV** **26505**** ********Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com****
*From: *"Chip Wamsley" chip@wamsleycycles.com *To: *ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com *Cc: *bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent: *Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM *Subject: *Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant** **City** Engineer* **City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com
*From: *"Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com *To: *bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent: *Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM *Subject: *[Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
*From: *Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com *Date: *August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT *To: *"frank.gmeindl@comcast.net" frank.gmeindl@comcast.net *Subject: **Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School* *Reply-To: *Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454*
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing listBikeboard@bikemorgantown.orghttp://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
I am absolutely delighted by Matthew's initiative, and very impressed by the results he is getting so far!
Over the last six years I have mentioned this several time that when I attended that same school, I asked the principal if a secure place could be provided to park my bicycle. His basic answer (minus the walking part), and this isn't even the same principal .. deja vu ..
He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school.
Because I was pretty persistent and the principal realized he couldn't prevent me from bicycling to school, he said I could ride my bicycle to school, but I couldn't park it there because the school would be liable. At the time, the interest and support for bicycling to school by my peers was non-existent. Being an aberration, I did ride my bicycle to school, but parked it in the garage of a friend of the family about a block away. Even more recently, one of Nick Hein's child experienced the same thing, and they practically lived across the street from the school. :)
This school has an established history of not allowing children to park their bicycles on school property, despite the fact that Suncrest provides an extremely bikable neighborhood. What irony.
Some of you should remember my recent email on 5/2 with the subject, Bicycle Plan Funding. Please read it again if you have forgotten. In that email I established that what we really needed was *strategic funding team/committee* as a prerequisite to grant-writing. There are many, many sources of money for SRTS programs at schools, but it is futile to pursue them until there is strong support from the target audience. Most SRTS initiatives have started from within schools just like Matthew is doing, and he is going around it in the exactly correct way. In fact, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could be a possible source of funding, as could fund-raisers by the students. I highly recommend watching these two webinars:
Building a SRTS Bike Brigade: Tips on Getting Started and Spreading the Success:http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/bbrigade
Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tips and Tricks for Funding Your SRTS Program: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/funding-tips
At this point, the Bicycle Board needs to provide moral support, we need to break down barriers, and help foster a new culture in this school. We should get a representative to the PTA meeting Matthew has scheduled. But keep this in mind because it is absolutely the key to success based on what I have learned from real-world stories, that crucial support and impetus for this change needs to be coming from the parents and their children attending Suncrest Middle .. exactly what Matthew is working towards.
While the APBP guidelines are good for rack specs, what students at schools really need and want, remember I was once a student at that school, are secure *and sheltered parking*. I rode to that school all year long in all types of weather; contrary to popular opinion, snow and rain do not prevent children from bicycling to school. Several years ago when we talked to the UHS and MHS principals, we showed them a variety of shelter designs. One such design, a permaculture bike shelter would compliment the educational purpose of Suncrest Middle School and would be another feather in this National Blue Ribbon School.
This situation is all very exciting, revolutionary and could be transformative for Morgantown!
-Jonathan Sources of Funding:
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) Business sponsorship School District Foundation Hospital Foundation (good advocacy for them) Public Health (city or county) - if not grants may provide in-kind support (printing, mailing) State Department of Health grants. Local Health Department could help write the grants SRTS has a mini-grant program of about $1,000 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation (lots of money) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (reverse child obesity) Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (Added by Jonathan Rosenbaum)
On 8/20/2012 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
*Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?*
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help: . Mylan . Dynamic Physical Therapy . Centra Bank . Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com
*From:*"Chip Wamsley" <chip@wamsleycycles.com mailto:chip@wamsleycycles.com> *To:*ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *Cc:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM *Subject:*Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" <ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org> Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> Cc:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com
*From:*"Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *To:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM *Subject:*[Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
*From:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> *Date:*August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT *To:*"frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>" <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>> *Subject:**Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School* *Reply-To:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> Dear Mr. Gmeindle, My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September. My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help? Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at304-692-1454** Sincerely, Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Jonathan,
Thanks for your comprehensive, compelling and idea-ful response!
Can you send me info on permaculture bike shelter that I can include in my response to Matthew?
Looking at the BB membership, you and Marilyn are our 7th Ward reps and would be most appropriate for representing the BB at the September PTA meeting at which Matthew will present.
Besides adding the permaculture bike shelter info, is there anything else in my response to Matthew that you would like me to change?
Frank
On Aug 21, 2012, at 12:47 AM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
I am absolutely delighted by Matthew's initiative, and very impressed by the results he is getting so far!
Over the last six years I have mentioned this several time that when I attended that same school, I asked the principal if a secure place could be provided to park my bicycle. His basic answer (minus the walking part), and this isn't even the same principal .. deja vu .. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. Because I was pretty persistent and the principal realized he couldn't prevent me from bicycling to school, he said I could ride my bicycle to school, but I couldn't park it there because the school would be liable. At the time, the interest and support for bicycling to school by my peers was non-existent. Being an aberration, I did ride my bicycle to school, but parked it in the garage of a friend of the family about a block away. Even more recently, one of Nick Hein's child experienced the same thing, and they practically lived across the street from the school. :)
This school has an established history of not allowing children to park their bicycles on school property, despite the fact that Suncrest provides an extremely bikable neighborhood. What irony.
Some of you should remember my recent email on 5/2 with the subject, Bicycle Plan Funding. Please read it again if you have forgotten. In that email I established that what we really needed was strategic funding team/committee as a prerequisite to grant-writing. There are many, many sources of money for SRTS programs at schools, but it is futile to pursue them until there is strong support from the target audience. Most SRTS initiatives have started from within schools just like Matthew is doing, and he is going around it in the exactly correct way. In fact, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could be a possible source of funding, as could fund-raisers by the students. I highly recommend watching these two webinars:
Building a SRTS Bike Brigade: Tips on Getting Started and Spreading the Success:http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/bbrigade
Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tips and Tricks for Funding Your SRTS Program: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/funding-tips
At this point, the Bicycle Board needs to provide moral support, we need to break down barriers, and help foster a new culture in this school. We should get a representative to the PTA meeting Matthew has scheduled. But keep this in mind because it is absolutely the key to success based on what I have learned from real-world stories, that crucial support and impetus for this change needs to be coming from the parents and their children attending Suncrest Middle .. exactly what Matthew is working towards.
While the APBP guidelines are good for rack specs, what students at schools really need and want, remember I was once a student at that school, are secure and sheltered parking. I rode to that school all year long in all types of weather; contrary to popular opinion, snow and rain do not prevent children from bicycling to school. Several years ago when we talked to the UHS and MHS principals, we showed them a variety of shelter designs. One such design, a permaculture bike shelter would compliment the educational purpose of Suncrest Middle School and would be another feather in this National Blue Ribbon School.
This situation is all very exciting, revolutionary and could be transformative for Morgantown!
-Jonathan Sources of Funding:
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) Business sponsorship School District Foundation Hospital Foundation (good advocacy for them) Public Health (city or county) - if not grants may provide in-kind support (printing, mailing) State Department of Health grants. Local Health Department could help write the grants SRTS has a mini-grant program of about $1,000 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation (lots of money) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (reverse child obesity) Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (Added by Jonathan Rosenbaum)
On 8/20/2012 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help:
• Mylan • Dynamic Physical Therapy • Centra Bank • Dan Ryan Builders.If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com
From: "Chip Wamsley" chip@wamsleycycles.com To: ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com
From: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com To: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM Subject: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com Date: August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT To: "frank.gmeindl@comcast.net" frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Subject: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School Reply-To: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Great ideas by everyone...may I also recommend asking Matt to have his mom and/or dad recruit other parents to voice their support at the PTA meeting? In the end, principals can be influenced by a vocal group of parent, in my opinion. I work with Matt's dad so I can nudge him.
I very much like the idea of educating a group of students in multiple grade levels on safe riding over the span of a few weeks while the rack is being constructed, and at the end of the education they have a big event celebrating their ride to school...I'm happy to volunteer to be part of a bike brigade if given enough advanced warning.
I would think that Dynamic PT, given their past support of cycling, would be a good partner. Might money be used to pay for both the rack and the education program? Great job all around. Christiaan
________________________________ From: Frank Gmeindl fgmeindl@gmail.com To: Jonathan Rosenbaum jr@wvcompletestreets.org Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 8:08 AM Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Jonathan,
Thanks for your comprehensive, compelling and idea-ful response!
Can you send me info on permaculture bike shelter that I can include in my response to Matthew?
Looking at the BB membership, you and Marilyn are our 7th Ward reps and would be most appropriate for representing the BB at the September PTA meeting at which Matthew will present.
Besides adding the permaculture bike shelter info, is there anything else in my response to Matthew that you would like me to change?
Frank
On Aug 21, 2012, at 12:47 AM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
I am absolutely delighted by Matthew's initiative, and very impressed by the results he is getting so far!
Over the last six years I have mentioned this several time that when I attended that same school, I asked the principal if a secure place could be provided to park my bicycle. His basic answer (minus the walking part), and this isn't even the same principal .. deja vu ..
He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school.
Because I was pretty persistent and the principal realized he couldn't prevent me from bicycling to school, he said I could ride my bicycle to school, but I couldn't park it there because the school would be liable. At the time, the interest and support for bicycling to school by my peers was non-existent. Being an aberration, I did ride my bicycle to school, but parked it in the garage of a friend of the family about a block away. Even more recently, one of Nick Hein's child experienced the same thing, and they practically lived across the street from the school. :)
This school has an established history of not allowing children to park their bicycles on school property, despite the fact that Suncrest provides an extremely bikable neighborhood. What irony.
Some of you should remember my recent email on 5/2 with the subject, Bicycle Plan Funding. Please read it again if you have forgotten. In that email I established that what we really needed was strategic funding team/committee as a prerequisite to grant-writing. There are many, many sources of money for SRTS programs at schools, but it is futile to pursue them until there is strong support from the target audience. Most SRTS initiatives have started from within schools just like Matthew is doing, and he is going around it in the exactly correct way. In fact, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could be a possible source of funding, as could fund-raisers by the students. I highly recommend watching these two webinars:
Building a SRTS Bike Brigade: Tips on Getting Started and Spreading the Success:http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/bbrigade
Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tips and Tricks for Funding Your SRTS Program: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/funding-tips
At this point, the Bicycle Board needs to provide moral support, we need to break down barriers, and help foster a new culture in this school. We should get a representative to the PTA meeting Matthew has scheduled. But keep this in mind because it is absolutely the key to success based on what I have learned from real-world stories, that crucial support and impetus for this change needs to be coming from the parents and their children attending Suncrest Middle .. exactly what Matthew is working towards.
While the APBP guidelines are good for rack specs, what students at schools really need and want, remember I was once a student at that school, are secure and sheltered parking. I rode to that school all year long in all types of weather; contrary to popular opinion, snow and rain do not prevent children from bicycling to school. Several years ago when we talked to the UHS and MHS principals, we showed them a variety of shelter designs. One such design, a permaculture bike shelter would compliment the educational purpose of Suncrest Middle School and would be another feather in this National Blue Ribbon School.
This situation is all very exciting, revolutionary and could be transformative for Morgantown!
-Jonathan Sources of Funding:
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) Business sponsorship School District Foundation Hospital Foundation (good advocacy for them) Public Health (city or county) - if not grants may provide in-kind support (printing, mailing) State Department of Health grants. Local Health Department could help write the grants SRTS has a mini-grant program of about $1,000 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation (lots of money) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (reverse child obesity) Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (Added by Jonathan Rosenbaum)
On 8/20/2012 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote: Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp%C2%A0of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that
the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson. Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help:
• Mylan
• Dynamic Physical Therapy
• Centra Bank
• Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients....
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf%C2%A0. Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 http://www.morgantown.com/
From: "Chip Wamsley" chip@wamsleycycles.com To: ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com Cc: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM Assistant City Engineer City of Morgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 http://www.morgantown.com/
From: "Frank Gmeindl" fgmeindl@gmail.com To: bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM Subject: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Date: August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT
To: "frank.gmeindl@comcast.net" frank.gmeindl@comcast.net
Subject: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Reply-To: Matthew Watson mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Gmeindle,
My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early
September.
My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help?
Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at 304-692-1454
Sincerely,
Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
_______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
The plan for representation at the PTA meeting is perfect. It looks like the meeting is September 4 at 6:30.
In your response to Matthew you could mention that there are additional sources of funding that can be pursued.
I compiled a page with links to this information, but, the website that had the design plans has changed their layout. However, there are some new pamphlets out there. Most of the good information about bicycle parking at schools comes from successful SRTS initiatives in the U.K. and Australia.
This provides a good overview of bicycle parking at schools, note the eco-shed which is the essence of a permaculture design: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Safe%20Routes/resources/infosheets/S...
This goes into extensive details about sustainable bicycle parking design (Habitat shelters): http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Safe%20Routes/resources/toolkit/srs_...
What are permaculture principles? http://www.heathcote.org/PCIntro/4Principles.htm
-Jonathan
On 8/22/2012 8:08 AM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Jonathan,
Thanks for your comprehensive, compelling and idea-ful response!
Can you send me info on permaculture bike shelter that I can include in my response to Matthew?
Looking at the BB membership, you and Marilyn are our 7th Ward reps and would be most appropriate for representing the BB at the September PTA meeting at which Matthew will present.
Besides adding the permaculture bike shelter info, is there anything else in my response to Matthew that you would like me to change?
Frank
On Aug 21, 2012, at 12:47 AM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
I am absolutely delighted by Matthew's initiative, and very impressed by the results he is getting so far!
Over the last six years I have mentioned this several time that when I attended that same school, I asked the principal if a secure place could be provided to park my bicycle. His basic answer (minus the walking part), and this isn't even the same principal .. deja vu ..
He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school.Because I was pretty persistent and the principal realized he couldn't prevent me from bicycling to school, he said I could ride my bicycle to school, but I couldn't park it there because the school would be liable. At the time, the interest and support for bicycling to school by my peers was non-existent. Being an aberration, I did ride my bicycle to school, but parked it in the garage of a friend of the family about a block away. Even more recently, one of Nick Hein's child experienced the same thing, and they practically lived across the street from the school. :)
This school has an established history of not allowing children to park their bicycles on school property, despite the fact that Suncrest provides an extremely bikable neighborhood. What irony.
Some of you should remember my recent email on 5/2 with the subject, Bicycle Plan Funding. Please read it again if you have forgotten. In that email I established that what we really needed was *strategic funding team/committee* as a prerequisite to grant-writing. There are many, many sources of money for SRTS programs at schools, but it is futile to pursue them until there is strong support from the target audience. Most SRTS initiatives have started from within schools just like Matthew is doing, and he is going around it in the exactly correct way. In fact, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could be a possible source of funding, as could fund-raisers by the students. I highly recommend watching these two webinars:
Building a SRTS Bike Brigade: Tips on Getting Started and Spreading the Success:http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/bbrigade Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tips and Tricks for Funding Your SRTS Program: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/funding-tipsAt this point, the Bicycle Board needs to provide moral support, we need to break down barriers, and help foster a new culture in this school. We should get a representative to the PTA meeting Matthew has scheduled. But keep this in mind because it is absolutely the key to success based on what I have learned from real-world stories, that crucial support and impetus for this change needs to be coming from the parents and their children attending Suncrest Middle .. exactly what Matthew is working towards.
While the APBP guidelines are good for rack specs, what students at schools really need and want, remember I was once a student at that school, are secure *and sheltered parking*. I rode to that school all year long in all types of weather; contrary to popular opinion, snow and rain do not prevent children from bicycling to school. Several years ago when we talked to the UHS and MHS principals, we showed them a variety of shelter designs. One such design, a permaculture bike shelter would compliment the educational purpose of Suncrest Middle School and would be another feather in this National Blue Ribbon School.
This situation is all very exciting, revolutionary and could be transformative for Morgantown!
-Jonathan Sources of Funding:
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) Business sponsorship School District Foundation Hospital Foundation (good advocacy for them) Public Health (city or county) - if not grants may provide in-kind support (printing, mailing) State Department of Health grants. Local Health Department could help write the grants SRTS has a mini-grant program of about $1,000 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation (lots of money) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (reverse child obesity) Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (Added by Jonathan Rosenbaum)
On 8/20/2012 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
*Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?*
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help: • Mylan • Dynamic Physical Therapy • Centra Bank • Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com/
*From:*"Chip Wamsley" <chip@wamsleycycles.com mailto:chip@wamsleycycles.com> *To:*ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *Cc:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM *Subject:*Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" <ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org> Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> Cc:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com/
*From:*"Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *To:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM *Subject:*[Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
*From:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> *Date:*August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT *To:*"frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>" <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>> *Subject:**Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School* *Reply-To:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> Dear Mr. Gmeindle, My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September. My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help? Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at304-692-1454** Sincerely, Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Here's an informative webinar about bicycle parking at schools from the SRTS: http://saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/SRAM-Bicycling-Webinars/bike...
-Jonathan
On 8/23/2012 2:05 AM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
The plan for representation at the PTA meeting is perfect. It looks like the meeting is September 4 at 6:30.
In your response to Matthew you could mention that there are additional sources of funding that can be pursued.
I compiled a page with links to this information, but, the website that had the design plans has changed their layout. However, there are some new pamphlets out there. Most of the good information about bicycle parking at schools comes from successful SRTS initiatives in the U.K. and Australia.
This provides a good overview of bicycle parking at schools, note the eco-shed which is the essence of a permaculture design: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Safe%20Routes/resources/infosheets/S...
This goes into extensive details about sustainable bicycle parking design (Habitat shelters): http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Safe%20Routes/resources/toolkit/srs_...
What are permaculture principles? http://www.heathcote.org/PCIntro/4Principles.htm
-Jonathan
On 8/22/2012 8:08 AM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Jonathan,
Thanks for your comprehensive, compelling and idea-ful response!
Can you send me info on permaculture bike shelter that I can include in my response to Matthew?
Looking at the BB membership, you and Marilyn are our 7th Ward reps and would be most appropriate for representing the BB at the September PTA meeting at which Matthew will present.
Besides adding the permaculture bike shelter info, is there anything else in my response to Matthew that you would like me to change?
Frank
On Aug 21, 2012, at 12:47 AM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
I am absolutely delighted by Matthew's initiative, and very impressed by the results he is getting so far!
Over the last six years I have mentioned this several time that when I attended that same school, I asked the principal if a secure place could be provided to park my bicycle. His basic answer (minus the walking part), and this isn't even the same principal .. deja vu ..
He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school.Because I was pretty persistent and the principal realized he couldn't prevent me from bicycling to school, he said I could ride my bicycle to school, but I couldn't park it there because the school would be liable. At the time, the interest and support for bicycling to school by my peers was non-existent. Being an aberration, I did ride my bicycle to school, but parked it in the garage of a friend of the family about a block away. Even more recently, one of Nick Hein's child experienced the same thing, and they practically lived across the street from the school. :)
This school has an established history of not allowing children to park their bicycles on school property, despite the fact that Suncrest provides an extremely bikable neighborhood. What irony.
Some of you should remember my recent email on 5/2 with the subject, Bicycle Plan Funding. Please read it again if you have forgotten. In that email I established that what we really needed was *strategic funding team/committee* as a prerequisite to grant-writing. There are many, many sources of money for SRTS programs at schools, but it is futile to pursue them until there is strong support from the target audience. Most SRTS initiatives have started from within schools just like Matthew is doing, and he is going around it in the exactly correct way. In fact, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) could be a possible source of funding, as could fund-raisers by the students. I highly recommend watching these two webinars:
Building a SRTS Bike Brigade: Tips on Getting Started and Spreading the Success:http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/bbrigade Leaving No Stone Unturned: Tips and Tricks for Funding Your SRTS Program: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/events-and-training/srts-webinars/funding-tipsAt this point, the Bicycle Board needs to provide moral support, we need to break down barriers, and help foster a new culture in this school. We should get a representative to the PTA meeting Matthew has scheduled. But keep this in mind because it is absolutely the key to success based on what I have learned from real-world stories, that crucial support and impetus for this change needs to be coming from the parents and their children attending Suncrest Middle .. exactly what Matthew is working towards.
While the APBP guidelines are good for rack specs, what students at schools really need and want, remember I was once a student at that school, are secure *and sheltered parking*. I rode to that school all year long in all types of weather; contrary to popular opinion, snow and rain do not prevent children from bicycling to school. Several years ago when we talked to the UHS and MHS principals, we showed them a variety of shelter designs. One such design, a permaculture bike shelter would compliment the educational purpose of Suncrest Middle School and would be another feather in this National Blue Ribbon School.
This situation is all very exciting, revolutionary and could be transformative for Morgantown!
-Jonathan Sources of Funding:
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) Business sponsorship School District Foundation Hospital Foundation (good advocacy for them) Public Health (city or county) - if not grants may provide in-kind support (printing, mailing) State Department of Health grants. Local Health Department could help write the grants SRTS has a mini-grant program of about $1,000 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation (lots of money) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (reverse child obesity) Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (Added by Jonathan Rosenbaum)
On 8/20/2012 8:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Thanks to Damien, Chip and Ryan for their prompt, positive and useful responses. Below, is my planned response to Mr. Watson. In it, I will list Suncrest Middle School's Partners in Education, recommend that the School contact them for bike rack funding, provide the attached bike rack selection guidelines, etc..
But, before I respond to Mr. Watson, I would like your thoughts on the following. Following up on Ryan's suggestion, I rode out to the school and took several photos, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hdvv2361kyg9h3z/hySxUOVkBp of good places that already exist for locking a bike.
School was just letting out while I was there and the principal, James Napoleo was outside and asked me what I was doing. I said I was taking photos of good locations for a bike rack. He said, "I don't need that problem". He said that students' safety is his top priority and that the streets and sidewalks are not safe to bicycle or walk to school. He doubted that we would get the money for the rack but said he wouldn't install it until the streets were safe for bicycling to school. We did talk for about 10 minutes. I explained to him that SRTS is our top priority and that work in all 6 Es would be required to make SRTS. He said he and his wife are cyclists and that they love the rail trail. He recognized that students need more physical activity. He suggested that we could deliver a one-week safe cycling class at his school. He also suggested that the school have a bicycle club. I don't know what it would take for him to say that the streets are adequately safe for kids to ride to school but he did mention bike lanes and sidewalks.
*Do you think I should send the following message to Mr. Watson? Anything else?*
Here's the message that I plan to send to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Watson,
Thank you for contacting me about obtaining a bicycle rack for Suncrest Middle School. I am chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board and our program is called Bike Morgantown. The Bicycle Board does not have a budget so we can't provide you funding for the bicycle rack. However, the following businesses which are Partners in Education with Suncrest Middle School may be able to help: . Mylan . Dynamic Physical Therapy . Centra Bank . Dan Ryan Builders.
If you can't get help from your school's Partners in Education, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has a grant program that might provide a mini-grant for your bike rack. You can find information on the program at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/funding-portal/mini-grants/previous-recipients... .
I've attached Bicycle Parking Guidelines that might help you select an appropriate rack.
If your Parent-Teacher-Group favors getting a rack, I'd also suggest that they contact Morgantown City Council for support. Last May, the Morgantown City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://bikemorgantown.com/Plan/morgantown_bicycle_plan_v15.pdf . Establishing Safe Routes to School in Morgantown is one of the City's highest priority actions in the plan and having a secure place to store your bike when you've ridden safely to school is a logical part of that action.
On Aug 20, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Damien Davis wrote:
I like Chip's idea. Most of the schools have a "Partner in Education" Suncrest Middle's Partners in Education are Panera Bread, Mylan and Centra Bank (although I don't know if Centra Bank exist anymore). Those three should be able to scratch together enough to purchase a bike rack.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com/
*From:*"Chip Wamsley" <chip@wamsleycycles.com mailto:chip@wamsleycycles.com> *To:*ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org, "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *Cc:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 11:01:12 AM *Subject:*Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
To All,
Don't the schools have larger companies that partner with that specific school. They might want to do a bike rack as part of their partnership.
Chip
-----Original Message----- From: "Damien Davis" <ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org> Sent 8/20/2012 9:16:45 AM To: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> Cc:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
Frank,
Maybe the Bike Board could partner with the School or the School Board and apply for a Bikes Belong grant to get bike rack for more than one school.
*J. Damien Davis, PE, CFM* *Assistant****City**Engineer* **City ofMorgantown Public Works Department - Engineering Division 389 Spruce Street Morgantown,WV26505 Office: 304.284.7398 Fax: 304.284.7409 www.morgantown.com http://www.morgantown.com/
*From:*"Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@gmail.com mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com> *To:*bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com mailto:bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com *Sent:*Monday, August 20, 2012 7:31:28 AM *Subject:*[Bikeboard] Fwd: Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School
What shall I tell Mr. Watson?
Begin forwarded message:
*From:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> *Date:*August 19, 2012 10:25:07 PM EDT *To:*"frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>" <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net <mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>> *Subject:**Bike Rack at Suncrest Middle School* *Reply-To:*Matthew Watson <mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com <mailto:mwlittlejeter2@yahoo.com>> Dear Mr. Gmeindle, My name is Matthew Watson. I am an 8th grader at Suncrest Middle School here in Morgantown, WV. I have a strong interest in riding my bike to school, but my school does not have a bicycle rack for me to lock my bicycle to when I get there. I have already written a petition to have my classmates sign to show their interest in getting this bicycle rack at our school, and hope that this will show the administration the interest in getting one. To this point, my petition has approximately 70 signatures, but I am sure that I will have many more in the days to come. In fact, many students and their parents have approached me to say that they are really excited about the idea of getting a bicycle rack so that they can ride to school. I have also approached the school Parent-Teacher-Group to ask that I be allowed to talk at their next meeting about getting this bicycle rack. I have been placed on the agenda for the next meeting in early September. My father works at the Coliseum with Dr. Christiaan Abildso and was talking with him about my push to get a bicycle rack at my school. Dr. Abildso mentioned your name and the Bike Morgantown initiative. He also indicated that you might have a budget or grant program that might allow me to secure the funds to purchase a bicycle rack for my school. I would love to talk with you more about this opportunity. I am very excited about this possibility given the mission of your group as I read more about it on your website ("....advocate for the provision of bicycle travel opportunities to and from locations such as residential, employment, commercial, education, recreation and transit centers; promote the development of safe bicycle routes to schools;"). Based upon what I have read, I feel as if your group is the perfect group for me to ask for help from. If you are unable to help me, do you have any ideas where I might go for help? Thank you very much for any help that you might be able to give me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. You may contact me at this e-mail address, or call my father on his cell phone at304-692-1454** Sincerely, Matthew Watson
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org mailto:Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.org http://wvcompletestreets.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
-
Chip Wamsley -
Christiaan Abildso -
Damien Davis -
Frank Gmeindl -
Jonathan Rosenbaum -
Ryan Post