Bikeboard March 2009

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15 discussions

Good biking news from the Univ of Minnesota
by director 30 Mar '09

30 Mar '09

Good evening, I found this article after reading about the program from a LAB newsletter. I'm a Minnesota grad (BS Aero 1980) - it's good to see what's happening there for bikes. I also have spies in the area who can give us inside info. uwire.com/Article.aspx?id=3853120 Hope this helps, inspires and amazes, Nick -- Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --

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BB meeting this Thursday
by Frank Gmeindl 28 Mar '09

28 Mar '09

Bicycle Board Members, Agenda: ASAP, please send me any topics that you would want on the agenda for this Thursday's BB meeting. Please include the desired outcome of discussion and an estimated amount of time for discussion. Traffic Commission Report: Please send me anything that you would want me to report or discuss with the Traffic Commission at their regular meeting this Wednesday. Frank /Same Roads Same Rights Same Rules /

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WV Statewide Multi-Modal Long Range Transportation Plan
by Frank Gmeindl 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

Bicycle Board Members, Here's our chance to effect the WV Statewide Multi-Modal Long Range Transportation Plan. On April 7, 4-7 pm at the MPO office at the Morgantown Airport, the Policy Committee of the Statewide Multi-modal Long Range Transportation plan will take public comments on the plan. You can read the plan at http://www.wvtransplan.com/Policy_Workshop_Summary_Draft_10_9_08_dj.pdf . The Policy Committee seems to be pretty well balanced. Dennis Strawn who I think is a member of the Mountain State Wheelers is on it. You'll find stuff like Complete Streets in the plan but you won't find bicycles mentioned at all and the emphasis is clearly on motor transportation and economic development. Very few people were involved in formulating the plan so I'm thinking it's still somewhat malleable. Whether you attend the meeting or not, I encourage you to read the plan (at least the last page) and send comments either through the website: http://www.wvtransplan.com/docs.htm or by letters. Frank P.S. Following is a dialog that I had with Dennis about the plan. You don't need to read it but it might give you an idea of what led to the message above. > Subject: > Re: Statewide long range transportation plan meetings > From: > dennis.strawn(a)msbcbs.com > Date: > Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:23:42 -0400 > To: > "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net> > CC: > "Bill Nesper" <BillNesper(a)bikeleague.org>, "Robinson, Bill C" > <Bill.C.Robinson(a)wv.gov>, "Dave Pray" <dave(a)prayworks.com>, > jeff(a)thunderheadalliance.org, "Jeff Peel" <Jeff(a)bikeleague.org>, "JR > Petsko" <jrpetsko(a)hotmail.com>, "Kimberly Jo" <kimberlyjoshi(a)gmail.com> > > Frank, > Great presentation. I will forward this on to the chairman for > consideration. I hope you can present this. Or at the very least it will > be received by my forwarding it. > > But a more important task is getting every day folks to send comments on > this plan. So many times public officials hold required meetings only to > have minimal turnout or comments received. Our task is to let the public > officials know there are a lot of residents who believe walking and > cycling > are another form of transportation that need to be accommodated better. > > I am sure your comments will address this while at the meeting. And I > encourage you write a letter also. > > Thanks > Dennis Strawn > Application Developer II > 304-347-7703 > > > > > > Frank > Gmeindl > > <fgmeindl@verizon > > .net> To > > <dennis.strawn(a)msbcbs.com> > 03/26/2009 > 09:29 cc > AM Kimberly > Jo > <kimberlyjoshi(a)gmail.com>, > Bill > Nesper > <BillNesper(a)bikeleague.org>, > Dave Pray > <dave(a)prayworks.com>, > Jeff Peel > <Jeff(a)bikeleague.org>, JR > Petsko > <jrpetsko(a)hotmail.com>, > "Robinson, Bill > C" > > <Bill.C.Robinson(a)wv.gov>, > > <jeff(a)thunderheadalliance.org> > > Subject > Re: Statewide long > range > transportation plan > meetings > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dennis, > > I am delighted to learn that you and Bill Robinson are on the Statewide > Multi-Modal Long Range Transportation Plan Policy Committee! I have been > planning to attend the April 7 meeting in Morgantown. It has been > advertised in the Morgantown Dominion Post at least twice. > > Please look at a presentation Accommodating Bicycles > http://www.morgantown.com/bike-board-documents/Accommodating_Bicycles_prese… > > that was well received by the Greater Morgantown MPO last February. Is > there some way I can make that presentation to the Policy Committee? > > Frank > Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board > LCI #1703 > Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles > > On 3/26/2009 8:39 AM, dennis.strawn(a)msbcbs.com wrote: > Hi everyone, > The state of WV is currently updating its transportation plan. Bill > Robinson and I are members of the Policy Committee that is helping > with > this project. I think it would be helpful for everyone to know the > meeting > dates but more importantly just get the information out to folks so > they > can respond via a letter. > > What better time than now to alert cyclists in the state that their > voice > can count while this plan is being finalized. > > I hope this can be addressed at the symposium and/or broadcast > to the > group > now so they may attend the local meetings. Sorry for the tardiness, > two > meetings have already been held. > > Thanks > Dennis Strawn > Application Developer II > 304-347-7703

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GIS networking and data...
by Derek Springston 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Hi Hugh, I am working on the GIS collection and analysis for the Bike Board and am trying to network with folks around Morgantown to find out who has what data that we could use to help us. I've been collecting Bike Parking locations recently and previously worked on mapping the Shared Lane Markings and signs. I was wondering if you had GIS data that related to our projects. Even building outlines or points, GIS traffic data for Morgantown, trails around town, traffic and populations density could be quite valuable. We're also trying not to duplicate work that may have already been collected. Could you please let me know what GIS data or other data you have? If you know other folks in town that could help as well, give me their contact info, etc. Thanks! Have a nice day! ~Derek Springston _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_skydrive_032009

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GIS / Mapping Contact Networking....
by Derek Springston 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Hey guys... I met with Frank last night to show him what I've done with the GIS mapping. I planned on giving a short presentation on where we're at with my GIS mapping, but I'll be out of town for the next Bike Board meeting. I'll be in Belize on vacation! We discussed having the BB (or at least those interested in the mapping) meet during the week of the April 13th-17th to discuss where we're at with it. If we can't meet then, I guess we'll just have to wait until the regularly scheduled May meeting. That just seems too far off to me. Let me know if you can meet during the week of the 13th-17th of April. We also discussed trying to network with folks around the city to pull mapping resources from folks who are involved in overlapping projects. For instance, maybe WVU has a file that they've already collected for existing bike racks. Maybe MountainLine transit has some transportation files we could use. Please, please, if you have names, contact info, and how certain people may be valuable to network with, please send it to me. Brainstorm and give me some good contacts! We thought there might be a chance that we're duplicating work and could speed up some of our tasks if we just knew who to talk to. I've collected data points with some pictures for about 34 locations in Morgantown where bike parking is available. Most of these are on campus. If we could get 90% or 100% of the racks in Morgantown mapped, we could begin an analysis of where we wish to place bike parking in the future after our initial downtown bike parking installment. At the meeting I'm trying to set up on the 13th-17th, I would like to present locations where I've found racks and then fill in some of the gaps for ones I've probably missed. So, 1. Can you meet between the 13th-17th of April? 2. Send me contacts for mapping/ GIS people. 3. Think of all areas where you know bike parking exists and bring that to the next meeting I am at! 4. Have fun riding until I see you again. Thanks, ~Derek Springston _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Life without walls. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009

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LaHood says Bikes are part of US transportation
by Frank Gmeindl 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/03/cyclists-are-important-users-of-transportat… is USDOT Secretary LaHood commenting on his presentation to the National Bike Summit last week. He says, "I am committed to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges." Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Ed committee minutes
by Frank Gmeindl 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

Bicycle Board Members, Please find attached minutes of 8-January Education Committee meeting. The minutes summarize action items and discussion for planning implementation of the Morgantown Effective Cycling Education Program grant. Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Parking
by Frank Gmeindl 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Bicycle Board Members, The MainStreet Morgantown Design Committee heartily supports the post-and-loop bicycle parking device plan the we defined for High and Spruce Streets. Furthermore, they're developing a downtown design standard book and they are open to incorporating bicycle parking in the standard if we can give it to them. Main Street Morgantown includes Spruce Street to the River; Falling Run to Deckers Creek and the Waterfront up to the 9/11 memorial. On Thursday, March 12, Chip Wamsley delivered a very, very sharp presentation of the post-and-loop design and the locations to the design committee. He stated that the goal of this project is to stimulate bicycle use downtown and to serve as a template for further installation of racks both downtown and around town. The Design Committee: * Unanimously stated, "This is something we really need!"; * Recommended that we make this presentation to the City Planning Commission so they can incorporate it in their nascent downtown re-plan; * Asked if the posts could be 8 feet tall so that they could install way finding signs on them to avoid having two posts: one for bike parking and the other for signs. The meeting was at Mills Design Group studio on High Street. In attendance were Cara Hearst, Mike Mills, Michael Biafore, Barbara Watkins, Sean Matthis, and Robert Merrow (who is with WVU Planning and has worked with Hugh Kierig). Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Parking Meeting tonight?!
by gunn4r Shogren 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

We were away all w/e. Don't think anybody posted this. But I believe we're to have a Parking Committee meeting at Wamsley's, 6pm. Any and all are welcome to review and plan on the *next* step, i.e. Parking Garage places.

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Check out the League of American Bicyclists' Advocacy Center!
by Frank Gmeindl 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

Bicycle Board Members, The LAB will send on your behalf to Governor Manchin your ideas for spending stimulus money. Click on this URL to take action on bicycling issues now http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/2/?a=12859566&i=1234&c= If your email program does not recognize the URL as a link, copy the entire URL and paste it into your Web browser. Following is what I sent: Soon you'll be deciding to fund "shovel ready" infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy. I urge you to set a goal to make every roadway curb lane 14-feet wide. 14-foot wide curb lanes would enable motor vehicles and bicycles to travel together in the lane. Last year, bicycle sales almost equaled car and light truck sales [Spiegel]. Wide curb lanes would give people the option of bicycling safely to any destination that they would otherwise drive. 14-foot curb lanes could: . Reduce our dependence on foreign oil; . Reduce obesity and all its attendant issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and health care expense; . Reduce pollution; . Reduce future roadway maintenance expense; . Return some civility to our society. [Spiegel] Spiegel, Jan Ellen; A Surge in Bicycles Seems to be Waiting; New York Times Business/Small Business, January 01, 2009. ------------------------------------- Powered by Capitol Advantage, LLC http://www.capitoladvantage.com "Connect and Be Counted" ------------------------------------- Frank /Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles/

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Bikeboard March 2009