Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.netwrote:

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial

areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard.

...

Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on

sidewalks. See Agenda.

...

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning

unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

...

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of

positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

...

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY

VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

...

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards (http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

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

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists. Thanks for including me on the discussion. Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote: Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard. Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on sidewalks. See Agenda.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

-- Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.netwrote:

FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a meeting the week of September 11.

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely,

Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that riding on streets. Citing them may cause them to stop riding their bikes and use their cars instead. Before citing sidewalk cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. Direct them to Morgantown’s Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles. Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back.

I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

*From: *Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net *Date: *January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST *To: *Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org *Cc: *Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu *Subject: **Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling*

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards ( http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

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*

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists. Thanks for including me on the discussion. Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.netwrote:

...

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial

areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard.

...

Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on

sidewalks. See Agenda.

...

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning

unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

...

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of

positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

...

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY

VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

...

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

-- *Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha* ** ** *“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells*

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

Roy Nutter is also Chairman of the Traffic Commission.

At tonight's CC COW meeting, I do not plan to say anything if the discussion stays on unicycles because they are not bicycles and I am the Chairman of the Bicycle Board. However, personally, I would encourage anyone that is opposed to the proposed code amendments to write to their Councilor, Terrence and anyone else you care to. If the conversation at tonight's meeting moves to discussion of bicyclists riding on the sidewalk, I will simply read from the message that I sent to Terrence and from the paper that we delivered to Chief Preston in September that I attached to my last message.

Frank

On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:24 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

I did reply, first just to Frank then I sent a personal email to the city, asking them to reconsider. I didn’t think opinion on Unicycles pertained to the BB, so I didn’t include the BB.

I got a reply back from Preston implying that he thought they should already be banned, and they were merely clarifying the law. To that response, Nutter, who was my advisor and instructor at WVU and who saw me with my unicycle with me a lot, backed me up, asking them to reconsider the ban.

I can see Frank’s point about this leading towards enforcement of bicycle on sidewalks, but I don’t think that’s where Preston is going with this, but honestly, I don’t see his point at all.

In the event that Terrence is still on our side, and to keep from wasting both of your time, I’d just have you ask Terrance if there’s any new ideas he has that could help us meet our goals better.

From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Gunnar Shogren Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:10 AM To: Frank Gmeindl Cc: Bicycle Board Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Sidewalk cycling

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote: FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a meeting the week of September 11.

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely, Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that riding on streets. Citing them may cause them to stop riding their bikes and use their cars instead. Before citing sidewalk cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. Direct them to Morgantown’s Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles. Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back. I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Date: January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards (http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

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

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists. Thanks for including me on the discussion. Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote: Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard. Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on sidewalks. See Agenda.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

-- Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

I have been doing a little research, and according to this article, http://stason.org/TULARC/sports/unicycling/1-6-What-is-a-unicycle-under-the-... in California, unicycles are considered pedestrians. In WV, as many of you know, bicycles are defined differently:

§17C-1-8. Bicycle. "Bicycle" means every device which does not have a motor attached and which is propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.

§17C-1-30. Pedestrian. "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or any person using a wheelchair.

However, according to WV's definition, a unicycle isn't a bicycle nor is it a pedestrian. Ofcourse, an adult tricycle isn't a bicycle either .. hmm.

However, Ames, Iowa, does allows unicycles everywhere: http://www.cityofames.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=282

So how should we define Unicycles? I strongly advise that the City not rush to a decision.

-Jonathan

On 1/31/2012 12:24 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

I did reply, first just to Frank then I sent a personal email to the city, asking them to reconsider. I didn't think opinion on Unicycles pertained to the BB, so I didn't include the BB.

I got a reply back from Preston implying that he thought they should already be banned, and they were merely clarifying the law. To that response, Nutter, who was my advisor and instructor at WVU and who saw me with my unicycle with me a lot, backed me up, asking them to reconsider the ban.

I can see Frank's point about this leading towards enforcement of bicycle on sidewalks, but I don't think that's where Preston is going with this, but honestly, I don't see his point at all.

In the event that Terrence is still on our side, and to keep from wasting both of your time, I'd just have you ask Terrance if there's any new ideas he has that could help us meet our goals better.

*From:*bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] *On Behalf Of *Gunnar Shogren *Sent:* Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:10 AM *To:* Frank Gmeindl *Cc:* Bicycle Board *Subject:* Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Sidewalk cycling

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net> wrote:

FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a

meeting the week of September 11.

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely,

Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that
riding on streets.  Citing them may cause them to stop riding
their bikes and use their cars instead.  Before citing sidewalk
cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road
as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. 
Direct them to Morgantown's Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills
101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles.  
Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board
produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have
the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back.

I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

*From: *Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>

*Date: *January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST

*To: *Bicycle Board <bikeboard@cheat.org mailto:bikeboard@cheat.org>

*Cc: *Christiaan Abildso <Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu mailto:Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu>

*Subject: **Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling*

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on
sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic
congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community.
 Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and
get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous
to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians.  Our approach to getting
bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate
them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists
and subjects them to the same duties.  We produced 5,000 police
information cards
(http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html)
and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose.
 We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as
motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the
Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to
article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks,
the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on
sidewalks.  I explicitly request that you consider our points
above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling.  Perhaps you
could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City
chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the
implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the
Morgantown Municipal Code."  We have been working on this for
years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are
not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission.  One of
those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since
373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles.  Another reason for
removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so
would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller
skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may
choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is
that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous.  Until we can
educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we
can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws
whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the
373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for
bicyclists and pedestrians.  One such measure could be to amend
373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater
than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee
of the Whole meeting.

Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446 <tel:304-376-0446>
/Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of
vehicles/

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists.

Thanks for including me on the discussion.

Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, <dspringston@gmail.com

mailto:dspringston@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net> wrote:

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in

commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard.

...

Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net

mailto:frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>

...

Cc: Christiaan Abildso <Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu

mailto:Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu>

...

To: Bicycle Board <bikeboard@cheat.org mailto:bikeboard@cheat.org>

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on

sidewalks. See Agenda.

...

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're

banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

...

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of

positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

...

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02

TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

...

Frank D. Gmeindl Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board LCI #1703 491 WilsonAvenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 tel:304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org mailto:Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

--

*/Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha/*

*/"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race." -H.G. Wells/*

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org mailto:Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

The unicycle ordinance revisions will not be read tonight. More later. Frank

On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:53 PM, Gunnar Shogren gshogren@gmail.com wrote:

What's the Bike League's view on what exactly a Unicycle is? A toy? Sidewalk toy?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:42 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum freesource@cheat.org wrote: I have been doing a little research, and according to this article, http://stason.org/TULARC/sports/unicycling/1-6-What-is-a-unicycle-under-the-... in California, unicycles are considered pedestrians. In WV, as many of you know, bicycles are defined differently: §17C-1-8. Bicycle. "Bicycle" means every device which does not have a motor attached and which is propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.

§17C-1-30. Pedestrian. "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or any person using a wheelchair.

However, according to WV's definition, a unicycle isn't a bicycle nor is it a pedestrian. Ofcourse, an adult tricycle isn't a bicycle either .. hmm.

However, Ames, Iowa, does allows unicycles everywhere: http://www.cityofames.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=282

So how should we define Unicycles? I strongly advise that the City not rush to a decision.

-Jonathan

On 1/31/2012 12:24 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

...

I did reply, first just to Frank then I sent a personal email to the city, asking them to reconsider. I didn’t think opinion on Unicycles pertained to the BB, so I didn’t include the BB.

I got a reply back from Preston implying that he thought they should already be banned, and they were merely clarifying the law. To that response, Nutter, who was my advisor and instructor at WVU and who saw me with my unicycle with me a lot, backed me up, asking them to reconsider the ban.

I can see Frank’s point about this leading towards enforcement of bicycle on sidewalks, but I don’t think that’s where Preston is going with this, but honestly, I don’t see his point at all.

In the event that Terrence is still on our side, and to keep from wasting both of your time, I’d just have you ask Terrance if there’s any new ideas he has that could help us meet our goals better.

From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Gunnar Shogren Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:10 AM To: Frank Gmeindl Cc: Bicycle Board Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Sidewalk cycling

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:

FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a

meeting the week of September 11.

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely,

Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that riding on streets. Citing them may cause them to stop riding their bikes and use their cars instead. Before citing sidewalk cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. Direct them to Morgantown’s Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles. Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back.

I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net

Date: January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST

To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu

Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards (http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

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

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists.

Thanks for including me on the discussion.

Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard. Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on sidewalks. See Agenda.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

--

Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

Why the sudden interest in Uni's? Is there like... 5 of them?

It seems like a pretty big waste of time and resources for such a *very* number of affected folks.

I would rather have time and resources spent on ticketing people (in blasted cars that seem to be impervious to having any of their bad and dangerous habits changed!) that run red lights and stop signs, people that don't use their turn signals, disregard pedestrian in crosswalks and/or through their disregard of anyone but themselves put others (and especially peds and bicyclists, the non-cars using minority) at risk.

Where and to whom should I address my complaints to?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 5:44 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.netwrote:

Bicycle Board Members,

I met with Terrence at 4 pm today to discuss the city code amendments that were supposed to undergo their first reading at tonight's City Council Committee Of the Whole meeting. Those amendments would essentially ban unicycles from City sidewalks and streets. When Council comes to that item on the agenda, Terrence will tell them that he is not ready to read the amendments because he needs more time to meet with relevant stakeholders on the topic. (Curious: I just went to the City's website to review the proposed amendments that were in the agenda and the agenda's not there anymore.) Terrence asked the Bicycle Board to discuss the issue and to prepare to participate in a meeting with him, Chief Preston, legal counsel and others that have an interest in the topic. He will contact me Friday to set up that meeting. I pointed out that unicycles are not in the Bicycle Board's scope but agreed to take up the subject with the BB and establish recommendations. I guess this could be a ripe banana issue for tomorrow's BB meeting.

During our discussion, I emphasized that we need the police to enforce laws that endanger cyclists and to get on board with our effort to educate cyclists as summarized on the police info cards and the CCC business cards. Next week, at 3 pm on Feb. 8, Terrence has a meeting scheduled with Chief Preston to discuss police performance goals and objectives and their budget for the coming year. Terrence invited me to participate in that meeting. On Monday, Feb. 13, Terrence will present his departments' budgets, goals and objectives to a special meeting of City Council. It would be nice if that presentation included goals and objectives that were aligned with ours. What do you think they should be?

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 Jan 31, 2012, at 4:14 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:

The unicycle ordinance revisions will not be read tonight. More later. Frank

On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:53 PM, Gunnar Shogren gshogren@gmail.com wrote:

What's the Bike League's view on what exactly a Unicycle is? A toy? Sidewalk toy?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:42 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum <freesource@cheat.org

...

wrote:

...

** I have been doing a little research, and according to this article, http://stason.org/TULARC/sports/unicycling/1-6-What-is-a-unicycle-under-the-... California, unicycles are considered pedestrians. In WV, as many of you know, bicycles are defined differently:

§17C-1-8. Bicycle. "Bicycle" means every device which does not have a motor attached and which is propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.

§17C-1-30. Pedestrian. "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or any person using a wheelchair.

However, according to WV's definition, a unicycle isn't a bicycle nor is it a pedestrian. Ofcourse, an adult tricycle isn't a bicycle either .. hmm.

However, Ames, Iowa, does allows unicycles everywhere: http://www.cityofames.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=282

So how should we define Unicycles? I strongly advise that the City not rush to a decision.

-Jonathan

On 1/31/2012 12:24 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

I did reply, first just to Frank then I sent a personal email to the city, asking them to reconsider. I didn’t think opinion on Unicycles pertained to the BB, so I didn’t include the BB.****

---

I got a reply back from Preston implying that he thought they should already be banned, and they were merely clarifying the law. To that response, Nutter, who was my advisor and instructor at WVU and who saw me with my unicycle with me a lot, backed me up, asking them to reconsider the ban. ****

---

I can see Frank’s point about this leading towards enforcement of bicycle on sidewalks, but I don’t think that’s where Preston is going with this, but honestly, I don’t see his point at all. ****

---

In the event that Terrence is still on our side, and to keep from wasting both of your time, I’d just have you ask Terrance if there’s any new ideas he has that could help us meet our goals better.****

---

*From:* bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.orgbikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] *On Behalf Of *Gunnar Shogren *Sent:* Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:10 AM *To:* Frank Gmeindl *Cc:* Bicycle Board *Subject:* Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Sidewalk cycling****

---

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?****

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:****

FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)****

---

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a ****

meeting the week of September 11.****

---

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely,****

Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that riding on streets. Citing them may cause them to stop riding their bikes and use their cars instead. Before citing sidewalk cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. Direct them to Morgantown’s Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles. Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back.****

I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.****

---

Frank****

---

---

Begin forwarded message:****

---

*From: *Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net****

*Date: *January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST****

*To: *Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org****

*Cc: *Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu****

*Subject: **Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling*****

---

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object. ****

---

Dear Terrence,****

---

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars. ****

---

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards ( http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety. ****

---

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.****

---

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.****

---

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic. ****

---

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.****

---

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*

---

---

What say youy?****

---

Frank****

---

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:****

---

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists.****

Thanks for including me on the discussion.****

Christiaan

...

...

...

On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:****

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek ****

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:****

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank****

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial

areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard.

...

Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on

sidewalks. See Agenda.

...

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning

unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

...

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of

positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

...

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY

VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

...

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard****

-- ****

*Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha*****

*“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells*****

---

---

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard****

---

---

Bikeboard mailing listBikeboard@cheat.orghttp://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

---

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On Jan 31, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Gunnar Shogren wrote:

Why the sudden interest in Uni's?

My understanding is that a police officer ticketed a unicyclist (I don't know what for, probably riding on the sidewalk) and then in traffic court, the court judge dismissed because unicycle is undefined in the code.

Is there like... 5 of them?

It seems like a pretty big waste of time and resources for such a *very* number of affected folks.

I vaguely recall that several months ago, shortly after Chief Preston was hired, Terrence, or maybe it was Damien, asked him to support our recommendations for enforcement. I vaguely recall that Chief Preston said something like, "Do you want me to address the drug problem or bicycling?" I think Chief Preston has now shown that he has time to attend to our recommendations.

I would rather have time and resources spent on ticketing people (in blasted cars that seem to be impervious to having any of their bad and dangerous habits changed!) that run red lights and stop signs, people that don't use their turn signals, disregard pedestrian in crosswalks and/or through their disregard of anyone but themselves put others (and especially peds and bicyclists, the non-cars using minority) at risk.

Where and to whom should I address my complaints to?

I already have your name on the list of participants in the "relevant stakeholders" meeting. After I talk with Terrence Friday, I'll let you know when and where it is. I think it will be fair to ask your questions and state your claims. I think it would be good to have some data on the claims. I also think we should go willing to help them craft solutions.

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 5:44 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote: Bicycle Board Members,

I met with Terrence at 4 pm today to discuss the city code amendments that were supposed to undergo their first reading at tonight's City Council Committee Of the Whole meeting. Those amendments would essentially ban unicycles from City sidewalks and streets. When Council comes to that item on the agenda, Terrence will tell them that he is not ready to read the amendments because he needs more time to meet with relevant stakeholders on the topic. (Curious: I just went to the City's website to review the proposed amendments that were in the agenda and the agenda's not there anymore.) Terrence asked the Bicycle Board to discuss the issue and to prepare to participate in a meeting with him, Chief Preston, legal counsel and others that have an interest in the topic. He will contact me Friday to set up that meeting. I pointed out that unicycles are not in the Bicycle Board's scope but agreed to take up the subject with the BB and establish recommendations. I guess this could be a ripe banana issue for tomorrow's BB meeting.

During our discussion, I emphasized that we need the police to enforce laws that endanger cyclists and to get on board with our effort to educate cyclists as summarized on the police info cards and the CCC business cards. Next week, at 3 pm on Feb. 8, Terrence has a meeting scheduled with Chief Preston to discuss police performance goals and objectives and their budget for the coming year. Terrence invited me to participate in that meeting. On Monday, Feb. 13, Terrence will present his departments' budgets, goals and objectives to a special meeting of City Council. It would be nice if that presentation included goals and objectives that were aligned with ours. What do you think they should be?

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 Jan 31, 2012, at 4:14 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:

...

The unicycle ordinance revisions will not be read tonight. More later. Frank

On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:53 PM, Gunnar Shogren gshogren@gmail.com wrote:

...

What's the Bike League's view on what exactly a Unicycle is? A toy? Sidewalk toy?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:42 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum freesource@cheat.org wrote: I have been doing a little research, and according to this article, http://stason.org/TULARC/sports/unicycling/1-6-What-is-a-unicycle-under-the-... in California, unicycles are considered pedestrians. In WV, as many of you know, bicycles are defined differently: §17C-1-8. Bicycle. "Bicycle" means every device which does not have a motor attached and which is propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.

§17C-1-30. Pedestrian. "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or any person using a wheelchair.

However, according to WV's definition, a unicycle isn't a bicycle nor is it a pedestrian. Ofcourse, an adult tricycle isn't a bicycle either .. hmm.

However, Ames, Iowa, does allows unicycles everywhere: http://www.cityofames.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=282

So how should we define Unicycles? I strongly advise that the City not rush to a decision.

-Jonathan

On 1/31/2012 12:24 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

...

I did reply, first just to Frank then I sent a personal email to the city, asking them to reconsider. I didn’t think opinion on Unicycles pertained to the BB, so I didn’t include the BB.

I got a reply back from Preston implying that he thought they should already be banned, and they were merely clarifying the law. To that response, Nutter, who was my advisor and instructor at WVU and who saw me with my unicycle with me a lot, backed me up, asking them to reconsider the ban.

I can see Frank’s point about this leading towards enforcement of bicycle on sidewalks, but I don’t think that’s where Preston is going with this, but honestly, I don’t see his point at all.

In the event that Terrence is still on our side, and to keep from wasting both of your time, I’d just have you ask Terrance if there’s any new ideas he has that could help us meet our goals better.

From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Gunnar Shogren Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:10 AM To: Frank Gmeindl Cc: Bicycle Board Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Fwd: Sidewalk cycling

I'll be interested in hearing what becomes of the meeting.

And though I didn't say so earlier, why the sudden "attacks" or "interest" in unicycles? (I thought Ryan would have replied to this...) But having said that, I will note that we saw a Uni on High St.(sidewalk), Thursday (?) evening, I think he was delivering something, and just yesterday I saw a Uni locked outside the new entrance to White Hall. Are these events related?

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:

FYI, I have a meeting with Terrence today at 4 pm (Think of me while you're riding!)

For those of us who have short memories, attached is a list of talking points that we developed and provided to Chief Preston in a

meeting the week of September 11.

I'm sending this because some of you have responded with recommendations that were already in the attached. Namely,

Cyclists may perceive that riding on sidewalks is safer that riding on streets. Citing them may cause them to stop riding their bikes and use their cars instead. Before citing sidewalk cyclists, instruct them that they have the same rights to the road as drivers of vehicles and that they must obey the same rules. Direct them to Morgantown’s Confident City Cycling Traffic Skills 101 course to learn to drive their bicycles as vehicles. Distribute the Police Information Cards that the Bicycle Board produced and the Confident City Cycling business cards that have the Five Steps for Better Riding on the back.

I thought Chief Preston agreed with this. Perhaps his memory is short, too.

Frank

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net

Date: January 30, 2012 10:09:10 AM EST

To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu

Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

I tried to schedule a meeting with Terrence but he's out of town today and tomorrow. I propose to send the following message to him by 1 pm today unless you object.

Dear Terrence,

The proposed amendments of the City code to control unicycles on sidewalks and streets could damage our efforts to reduce traffic congestion and to make Morgantown a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our concern is that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will end up driving cars.

The Bicycle Board recognizes that sidewalk bicycling is dangerous to bicyclists as well as to pedestrians. Our approach to getting bicyclists off the sidewalks and onto the streets is to educate them that the law gives them same rights to the road as motorists and subjects them to the same duties. We produced 5,000 police information cards (http://bikemorgantown.com/articles.php?str=2012/01/ticketing-cyclists.html) and gave them to Chief Preston and WVU police for this purpose. We encourage police to give these cards to bicyclists as well as motorists that violate laws that jeopardize bicyclists' safety.

Now, I recognize that the subject for Tuesday's Committee of the Whole is unicycles but since one of the code amendments is to article 373. Bicycles, specifically 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks, the discussion is likely to stray from unicycles to bicycling on sidewalks. I explicitly request that you consider our points above if discussion does stray to sidewalk bicycling. Perhaps you could even distribute some police information cards.

One element of the procedural guidelines under which the City chartered the Bicycle Board is "review and support the implementation of Article 373 on Bicycles of the Morgantown Municipal Code." We have been working on this for years and have preliminary recommendations for updates but we are not yet ready to propose them to the Traffic Commission. One of those recommendations is to remove 373.08 (d) from 373 since 373.08 (d) has nothing to do with bicycles. Another reason for removing the language of 373.08 (d) from 373 is that doing so would diminish the grouping of bicycles with skateboards, roller skates, and soon, unicycles.

We need to recognize that one reason Morgantown residents may choose to bicycle on the sidewalks rather than on the streets is that they perceive the streets to be more dangerous. Until we can educate them that they can ride safely on the streets and until we can make the streets safer for bicycling, e.g. by enforcing laws whose violation endangers cyclists, we could consider amending the 373.08 Riding on Sidewalks to make riding on sidewalks safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. One such measure could be to amend 373.08 to permit bicycling on the sidewalks at a speed no greater than the prevailing speed of pedestrian traffic.

I hope that we will discuss this matter before Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

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

What say youy?

Frank

On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Christiaan Abildso wrote:

A great idea. I, too, cringe when I see those on sidewalks and fear for their safety, especially if they are novice cyclists.

Thanks for including me on the discussion.

Christiaan

...

...

> On 1/30/2012 at 8:52 AM, dspringston@gmail.com wrote:

Hey guys, I cringe when I see cyclists riding on the sidewalks, but at the same time I see a potential teaching opportunity to those riding on sidewalks. Is there any way we could allocate some financial resources to make the Traffic Skills 101 class free for those folks we see riding on the sidewalks and encourage the police to recommend the course? What about giving them a ticket or warning with the understanding that attending a Traffic Skills 101 course could release the fee for the ticket? This could create an influx of educated cyclists in a best case scenario! I imagine many folks riding on the sidewalks just aren't aware of the law, and I'd hate to be too harsh on them, even though it is dangerous. After all, they are just as motivated to be out riding as we are. Thanks, ~Derek

On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:

Hugh,

I'm certainly not suggesting that we advocate for sidewalk cycling. Cycling on the sidewalk is more dangerous for the cyclist than riding on the roadway. Anyone who's taken Traffic Skills 101 understands why. Our strategy has been to guide sidewalk cyclists from the sidewalks onto the roadway through education. I'm concerned that the extended outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be that those who are bicycling on the sidewalks and get tickets will drive cars.

The police information cards that we developed and distributed to both Morgantown and WVU police tell people not to ride on the sidewalk. But, the cards also say that cyclists have the same rights to the roads as motorists and instructs them to drive their bicycles as they would drive vehicles. I wonder how many of those cards the police have given out? I wonder how many citations the police wrote to motorists that pulled out in front of cyclists, passed cyclists when it was unsafe to do so.

If you could show me how, I'd like to direct any discussion Tuesday from penalizing sidewalk cyclists to getting more people out of the cars and on bikes on the streets. What do you recommend?

Frank

On Jan 29, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Hugh Kierig wrote:

...

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard. Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on sidewalks. See Agenda.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

--

Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” -H.G. Wells

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

I'm no expert but I interpret the ordinance changes to disallow unicycles from both sidewalks and roadways: 1st-not allowed on the road in 311.03: "No person on roller skates or riding in or by means of any sled, toy vehicle, skateboard, unicycle or similar device shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and except on streets set aside as play streets." 2nd- not allowed on a sidewalk in the business district in 373.08(a): "No person shall ride a unicycle, bicycle, or human-powered vehicle with wheels designed to transport, by the action of pedaling, one or more persons, upon a sidewalk within a business district."

I appreciate the changes to 373 as distributed. If consensus, maybe those changes should be proposed at the Traffic Commission meeting tonight or next month. Again, thank you for allowing my input. Christiaan

...

...

On 2/1/2012 at 7:55 AM, frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote:

Bicycle Board Members,

I preparation for our discussion of the unicycle issue, the following link is to the agenda for last night's CC COW meeting. It contains the proposed ordinance amendments: http://www.morgantown.com/agendas/2012/Council-packet-1-31-12.pdf

Attached to this message are proposed amendments to Morgantown Code article 373. Bicycles. I have proposed these changes more than once to the BB. We've had some discussion but didn't do anything. Perhaps this is the right time to do something.

Frank

Hugh said "in commercial areas." I agree.

Cyclists on sidewalks should be required to dismount when pedestrians are present. That is all.

I agree with Hugh. Riding on sidewalks is not always a terrible thing.

My two cents (folks may know I've held this view forever).

On Jan 30, 2012, at 8:59 AM, Bill Austin wrote:

I agree with Hugh's assessment. The last time I reviewed standards for bicycles and pedestrians sharing facilities such interactions were only allowed on facilities like the Rail Trail with a minimum 8' travel lane, with 10' to 12' travel lanes recommended.

Bill Austin, AICP Executive Director Morgantown Monongalia MPO 82 Hart Field Road Ste. 105 Morgantown, WVA 26505 304-291-9571 304-692-7225 Mobile

"Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly." ~Francis Bacon

"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof." ~John Kenneth Galbraith

-----Original Message----- From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard- bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Hugh Kierig Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 7:03 PM To: bikeboard@cheat.org; frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycles should not be allowed to be riden on sidewalks in commercial areas. In these instances the present a pedestrian hazard. Hugh E. Kierig -----Original Message----- From: Frank Gmeindl frank.gmeindl@comcast.net Cc: Christiaan Abildso Christiaan.Abildso@mail.wvu.edu To: Bicycle Board bikeboard@cheat.org

Sent: 1/29/2012 6:57:09 PM Subject: [Bikeboard] Sidewalk cycling

Bicycle Board Members,

At this Tuesday's meeting, City Council will discuss riding on sidewalks. See Agenda.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? We have 2 days to decide.

Primarily, in response to a request from Chief Preston, they're banning unicycles from sidewalks and streets, effectively banning unicycles. I imagine this will lead to discussing bicycling on sidewalks which I imagine could lead to police ticketing bicyclists who ride on sidewalks. IMO, that won't exactly help us realize our vision of every resident being able to bicycle safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason or to achieve our goal of having 1 or every 20 vehicles on Morgantown streets be a bicycle by 2020.

I would like to turn this around from being negative to some kind of positive action to support our vision, goal, objectives and recommended action but I don't know how. Ideas?

Specifically, they're going to revise two parts of the code: 311.02 TOY VEHICLES ON STREETS and 373.08 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS, specifically 373.08 (d). Personally, I've always had a problem with 373.08 (d) because 373 is entitled "Bicycles" but 373.08 (d) is about skateboards and roller skates and soon to include unicycles. If they had asked me about this ordinance change, I would first have recommended that they remove part (d) from 373. (See Bicycle Law .)

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

---

Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard

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