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[Fwd: [monbikeclub] MMS Sept Meeting]
by Frank Gmeindl 20 Sep '07

20 Sep '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [monbikeclub] MMS Sept Meeting Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:17:45 +0000 From: Mark <markjack99(a)hotmail.com> Reply-To: monbikeclub(a)yahoogroups.com To: monbikeclub(a)yahoogroups.com Morgantown Multisport Presents Effective Cycling by Frank Gmeindl Wednesday Sep 26th @ 7 pm at the WVU Student Rec Center in Morgantown http://www.morgantownmultisport.com/Forms/2007_09%20Meeting%20Flyer.pdf <http://www.morgantownmultisport.com/Forms/… [View More]

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Cyclists ' share of road use expenses
by director 17 Sep '07

17 Sep '07

Good evening, I was just about to head to bed when I came across this article from the Seattle newspaper. It woke me up a bit. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/331734_firstperson17.html Enjoy, Nick

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WVU Energy Conservation Program/BB WVU subcommittee
by director 12 Sep '07

12 Sep '07

Jonathan, et al, Concerning the WVU committee, I'm forwarding this response I sent to Brett White last nite. I'd suggest you contact him with a message that a substantial reduction can be made in WVU's energy usage in the area of transportation. I had contacted him as a non-governmental organization with suggestions about the things that NGOs usually do (non-infrastructure low-budget things like education, research, amenities). The bike board could talk to them about infrastructure and other … [View More]items that require more planning and funding. I have some concern that he'll be limited in his scope to facilities, but if that's the case I hope he has a counterpart working to reduce transportation energy use who will be at the meeting. In any case we should attend the program kickoff meeting Oct. 1. Nick Hein ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "director " <director(a)positivespin.org> Reply-To: <director(a)positivespin.org> Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:30:06 -0400 Brett, As director of Positive Spin I'm excited to read about the WE CAN program and I'd like to know how we can help. Our mission is to support Morgantown citizens who walk, bike, bus and carpool for a better environment. We realize that WVU bus/PRT transit is already the envy of the nation and we'd like to know what we could do to bring pedestrian, bike and carpooling to a comparable level. I just received this link about the Ft. Collins campus bike loan program and wonder if you would consider something similar at WVU: http://www.ramwheels.colostate.edu/ We are just as interested and committed to supporting walking and carpooling to an extent that will reduce the traffic load in town and on campus. Although we are a volunteer organization we would welcome the opportunity to share our information and resources in any way that improves things for those who live, move and breathe in our community. Please give me a call at your convenience if you wish to discuss this further. Nick Hein Director, Positive Spin Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Brett White" <Brett.White(a)mail.wvu.edu> Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:42:49 -0400 >Community Partner- > >We would like you to invite you to attend a major WVU event/announcement. I've attached a PDF of the invite for your convenience. > >WVU is kicking off our new Energy Conservation Program, WE CAN (West Virginia University Environmental Conservation Awareness Now) on October 1, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. > >We will have a major event in the Mountainlair commons area with WVU President Mike Garrison, WV DEP Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer and WVU Student Body President David Kirkpatrick. > >This is a major initiative for WVU and the CCE is one of the main sponsors of the program, so we would like to have as many community members at the event as possible. > >There will be free giveaways and prize drawings for all who attend. > >Also, we will be holding a lightbulb exchange. You can bring in an old incandescent light bulb and we will exchange it for a new CFL bulb...for free!!! > >We hope you will consider joining us. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to me at brett.white(a)mail.wvu.edu. > >We hope to see you there! Thanks for your commitment and partnership. > >-Brett > > > > > > > >_____________________________ >Brett J. White >Administrative Assistant Sr. >Center for Civic Engagement >West Virginia University >PO Box 6412, 109 White Hall >Morgantown, WV 26506 > >Phone: (304) 293-8761 x4481 >Fax: (304) 293-2906 >Email: brett.white(a)mail.wvu.edu >http://cce.wvu.edu ( http://cce.wvu.edu/ ) >http://www.wvstudentservice.com ( http://www.wvstudentservice.com/ ) >http://www.wvu.edu/kindness > > > > [View Less]

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WVU Committee - Interested?
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 12 Sep '07

12 Sep '07

Hi everyone, When I enrolled as a freshmen at WVU, and came in for my photo ID, the woman working there asked me for my Driver's License. When I explained that I didn't have one because I refused to drive, she said "Oh, you are one of those people." The first message I got at WVU, a place of higher learning, was that I was somehow a failure to society because of my choice not drive, and it really bothered me. Ofcourse, this message is still alive and strong at WVU, and lot of work and … [View More]

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Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road
by Nick Hein 10 Sep '07

10 Sep '07

Paula, The best recommendation to make is that the road be built with a paved shoulder so there is room for bikes, pedestrians AND motor vehicles. As a bike board member (and personally as well) my experience has been that dedicated bike lanes confuse motorists about where bikes are allowed - essentially giving them the mistaken impression that they don't belong in the traffic lane. Under state and federal law bicyclists are a vehicle subject to the same rights and responsibilities as any … [View More]other vehicle operator, so they should be in the vehicle lane except when there is overtaking traffic (ie when they are going below the speed limit). Thanks for bringing up this issue. I've cc'ed this to the bike board. I don't believe the road is in the city limits, but it certainly feeds alot of traffic to the city - many of whom are potential cyclists. I'll call Chet today and ask him about the issue. Sorry if it sounded like a rant. Nick ----- Original Message ----- From: Paula Hunt To: Bill Reger-Nash ; Nick Hein Cc: tim.warner(a)mail.wvu.edu Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:15 PM Subject: "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road Dear Bill and Nick, Tim and I attended the "Road Service Fee" meeting last night, and I was intrigued when Chet Parson said a bike lane or trail was proposed to go down Van Voorhis Rd. and end at West Run Rd. The following is my note to him asking him to "connect" the lane/trail all the way to the Mon River Trail (Rail Trail). I thought I would keep you both in the loop. Maybe you were aware of this already (?). Thanks to you both for all your good work to make Morgantown a more walkable and cyclable place! paula Subject: Improvements for Van Voorhid Road [yes, I spelled Van Voorhis incorrectly!] From: "Paula Hunt" <pjhunt(a)xemaps.com> To: parsons(a)plantogether.org Dear Mr. Parsons, During the meeting at South Middle School last night I was interested to hear that one of the suggested road improvements was safe bicycle access along Van Voorhis Road ending at West Run Road. I respectfully ask you to consider continuing the bicycle lane all the way down to the Rail Trail at the end of Van Voorhis Road. Stopping at West Run is sooooooo close, but not close enough. I calculate that it will only add 1¼ miles to the bike lane. As you know, VanV Road is steep, narrow, and twisty down there, and a lot of people live on it. A bike lane would be an inexpensive and welcome improvement. I'm sure you know that many people use the Trail to commute in to Morgantown. I live along the newly opened northern section of the Mon River Trail, and I know a few people who live in Point Marion and are using the Trail to commute to work in Morgantown. The number of cyclists that go by our house all times of the day is amazing! My husband is now riding his bike to work at the University via the Trail. Many others travel from the south. Students living in The District could safely access the Trail. I'm sure you agree that linking the Trail to neighborhoods, major apartment blocks, schools, and major employers will get a lot of people out of their cars. As you know, bike lanes and walking trails are much cheaper to build than roads. Perhaps we could do them as a first step rather than as a last step? I wish *I* could ride the Trail to work! Thanks for all your time with this, Paula Hunt Treasurer Mon River Trails Conservancy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.6/991 - Release Date: 9/5/2007 2:55 PM [View Less]

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Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road
by John Lozier 09 Sep '07

09 Sep '07

Don, I appreciate your points, I would say I'm in substantial agreement. On Sep 9, 2007, at 7:27 PM, Don Spencer wrote: > Hi, All – Just a couple soap box comments and one correction. I do > happen to know that the width of the Beechurst lanes are 10 feet.: > (3 x 10 = 30). > > > > I do hope that there can be a shoulder on Van Voorhis. My up-hill > bike speed on steep slopes such as Van Voorhis tends to be about 4 > miles an hour – and if loaded, a tad less. … [View More]This happens to be the > same speed as I walk. Regardless of my EC experience, I am not > about to travel at walking speed, with my back to the traffic, at > any site where there are vehicles (cars, trucks or even bikes) > traveling at 45 miles an hour if I have the option of not doing so. > > > > There is a place for diversity for bike travel preferences and > abilities. Even though trained cyclists, especially with automobile > driving experience, should take a proper position in a travel lane, > we still need shoulders for some types (and ages) of cyclists who > are not ready for this step. We cyclists also need shoulders for > steep hill climbing and even for occasional safety and maintenance > stops. (Ever had to walk you bike along a highway to a next place > for some kind of assistance?) We need complete streets…and > shoulders when there are no sidewalks or wide lanes are part of > “complete roads.” > > > > So much for my 2 cents! > > > > Don > > > > > > > > From: bikeboard-bounces(a)cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard- > bounces(a)cheat.org] On Behalf Of Frank Gmeindl > Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 6:40 AM > To: Nick Hein > Cc: Paula Hunt; bikeboard(a)cheat.org > Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road > > > > Since Nick's reply to John missed my earlier reply to John and > gunnar, I repeat it here to keep it in the thread-Frank > > If Van Voorhis had a wide lane uphill, we wouldn't have to "vie > with cars". They would be able to pass us leaving a 3-foot gap > between them and us. A wide lane is 14-feet wide. The lanes on > Beechurst are 8-feet wide. > > I hope everyone reads the links that gunnar provided. Our > discussions and decisions would be more productive if they came > from information rather than just personal opinion. > > I will take issue with the second link "How to Not Get Hit by Cars > vs."Effective Cycling"", however. The unidentified author claims > that Effective Cycling teaches that bicycles = cars. Saying that > "Cyclists fare best when they ACT and ARE TREATED AS DRIVERS of > vehicles" in no way says that bicycle = car. That fundamental > principle of Effective Cycling is about behavior not machinery. > > Having taken the Road I course, gunnar knows well that our > instructor explicitly stated that bicycles are narrower, lighter > and slower than cars. gunnar can also tell you that our instructor > taught us how to optimize the advantages and how to minimize the > disadvantages that those differences present. We learned that > being visible, predictable, assertive and courteous = safe > cycling. We learned that our body language and our lane position > informs the motorist of what to expect and we learned appropriate > body language and lane position for every situation. We learned how > to ride straight and how to scan, signal and negotiate to obtain > the right of way. We also learned that most crashes occur at > intersections and that's where proper body language and lane > position are most important. > > I can only suppose adults riding bikes on sidewalks downtown is > illegal because bicycles present an unacceptable danger to > pedestrians. I really doubt the law was passed to protect > bicyclists from getting hit by a car exiting a driveway or parking > lot, or getting hit by a car that doesn't expect to see the cyclist > pop off the sidewalk in mid-block or at the corner. I also suppose > that riding on sidewalks outside of downtown is not illegal because > there aren't many sidewalks and they're not very used. This week, > the Traffic Commission created a Pedestrian Safety Board. If that > Board is successful, and I hope it is, we will have sidewalks along > all roadways and they will be used by multitudes of pedestrians. > Of course that will take years. In the meantime, if the community > gets the idea that bicycles are not supposed to ride on the roads > and bicycles present an unacceptable danger to pedestrians we will > be left to ride our rollers in our living rooms. > > My voice is so loud because I dearly love road cycling. I have > ridden well over 100,000 miles and I've ridden in London, Paris, > Munich, Vienna, Venice, New York, DC, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San > Francisco, Denver, Austin and many of the roads and the biggest > mountains in between. Until I studied Effective Cycling and took > the Road I course, every time I rode in traffic, I was afraid. > When I heard a loud motor vehicle come up behind me I would > cringe. Since studying and implementing Effective Cycling, > confidence and relaxation have replaced that fear and now, 99.99% > of the motorists I encounter treat me with respect. Heck, many of > them even smile and wave! > > My voice is so loud because I can imagine a time when it will > become impossible for you to experience what I have. > > Frank > > > > Nick Hein wrote: > > John, > > I don't see where there's any conflict with recommending paved > shoulders. I DONT contend that they should be marked as bike > lanes. I DO contend that cyclists should have some training before > using them, and that they have a place to practice that training > without undue risk of getting hit by cars. If you don't consider > that a suitable solution, what would you propose - under the > assumption that a separated path along VanVoorhis would be > impractical? Would a path along West Run (creek) be acceptable as > the training ground? > > > > I'm as interested as anyone in coming up with a solution that > serves the most people in the best way for the longest time - and I > agree that the ECer's get a little myopic (they dis recumbents for > instance) and I don't want to get sucked into anyone's myopia. If > you think there's a way to put a separated path along VanVoorhis > please give details. > > > > For such a task I'd recommend the website mapmyride.com. You can > overlay topo and satellite maps to help with routing. > > > > You can also find mon county plat maps at www.assessor.org if > there's any question about property ownership. > > > > For information, the entire length of Van Voorhis from Burroughs > (BBT) is 2 miles. From VanVoorhis to the Mon River trail on West > Run Creek is 1.5 miles. What are the thoughts on a suggestion for > paved shoulders on VanVoorhis and a bike trail along West Run > Creek. What do you propose instead? What do you object to in this > proposal? > > > > Nick > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: John Lozier > > To: gunn4r Shogren > > Cc: Nick Hein ; Paula Hunt ; bikeboard(a)cheat.org > > Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 5:22 PM > > Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road > > > > Thanks, Gunnar, for interesting links and supportive words. I > don't want to be involved in rigid thinking one way or another. > > > > I encourage folks to read the following links you sent, and > consider in relation to the loudest voices on our bike board. > > > > http://bicyclesafe.com/index.html > > > > http://bicyclesafe.com/eci.html > > > > > > On Sep 7, 2007, at 3:57 PM, gunn4r Shogren wrote: > > > > > Judging from the results from google using "cyclists fare best when > they"- > > http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=mozilla&rls=org.mozilla% > 3Aen-US%3Aunofficial&q=cyclists+fare+best+when+they&btnG=Search > > and these few pages that I brought up- > > http://bicyclesafe.com/eci.html > > http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1119262 > > > > It seems that we're not alone in our two sided argument and such. > > > > Bicycles are in a really interesting postion, they can go both ways, > > they are quite flexible, square-peg-round-hole. Whether you like it > > or not. > > And children, kids, use them, which only adds to the confusion and > problems. > > Education can goe a long way, but insistence of either way probably > > won't do it all. > > > > So somewhere compromise probably has to rear it's ugly head and step > > in. Strange but true. > > > > Sometimes gray can be good. Sometimes gray is better than nothing. > > It's not the same as selling your soul. > > > > I personally think that each situation can demand a different answer, > > no one-size-fits-all. > > > > Let's keep harping for Harmony. Sounds nice. > > > > gunnar. > > > > On 9/7/07, John Lozier <jl(a)harpingforharmony.org> wrote: > >> All: >> >> >> >> That stretch of Van Voorhis is curvy and very steep. To me it >> doesn't seem >> >> practical to widen the traffic lanes and expect bicyclists to vie >> with cars >> >> for priority. Downhill maybe, but not uphill. >> >> >> >> That would be a near-perfect example of a place where I would like >> to see >> >> either 1) a separate bike path, with a curb or other physical barrier >> >> between it and the auto lane, or 2) a wide sidewalk designated for >> bike-ped >> >> use. >> >> >> >> Actually, my two options are not really different, as I would allow >> >> pedestrians on my bike path (keep to the right, of course). >> >> >> >> Okay, this is not what the loudest voices want to hear. However, >> that is my >> >> story and I'm sticking to it. >> >> >> >> John >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Sep 7, 2007, at 8:54 AM, Nick Hein wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Paula, >> >> The best recommendation to make is that the road be built with a >> paved >> >> shoulder so there is room for bikes, pedestrians AND motor >> vehicles. As a >> >> bike board member (and personally as well) my experience has been >> that >> >> dedicated bike lanes confuse motorists about where bikes are >> allowed - >> >> essentially giving them the mistaken impression that they don't >> belong in >> >> the traffic lane. Under state and federal law bicyclists are a >> vehicle >> >> subject to the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle >> >> operator, so they should be in the vehicle lane except when there is >> >> overtaking traffic (ie when they are going below the speed limit). >> >> >> >> Thanks for bringing up this issue. I've cc'ed this to the bike >> board. I >> >> don't believe the road is in the city limits, but it certainly >> feeds alot of >> >> traffic to the city - many of whom are potential cyclists. I'll >> call Chet >> >> today and ask him about the issue. >> >> >> >> Sorry if it sounded like a rant. >> >> Nick >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: Paula Hunt >> >> To: Bill Reger-Nash ; Nick Hein >> >> Cc: tim.warner(a)mail.wvu.edu >> >> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:15 PM >> >> Subject: "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road >> >> >> >> Dear Bill and Nick, >> >> >> >> Tim and I attended the "Road Service Fee" meeting last night, and >> I was >> >> intrigued when Chet Parson said a bike lane or trail was proposed >> to go down >> >> Van Voorhis Rd. and end at West Run Rd. The following is my note >> to him >> >> asking him to "connect" the lane/trail all the way to the Mon >> River Trail >> >> (Rail Trail). I thought I would keep you both in the loop. >> Maybe you were >> >> aware of this already (?). >> >> >> >> Thanks to you both for all your good work to make Morgantown a >> more walkable >> >> and cyclable place! >> >> paula >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Subject: Improvements for Van Voorhid Road [yes, I spelled Van >> Voorhis >> >> incorrectly!] >> >> From: "Paula Hunt" <pjhunt(a)xemaps.com> >> >> To: parsons(a)plantogether.org >> >> >> >> Dear Mr. Parsons, >> >> >> >> During the meeting at South Middle School last night I was >> interested to >> >> hear that one of the suggested road improvements was safe bicycle >> access >> >> along Van Voorhis Road ending at West Run Road. I respectfully >> ask you to >> >> consider continuing the bicycle lane all the way down to the Rail >> Trail at >> >> the end of Van Voorhis Road. Stopping at West Run is sooooooo >> close, but >> >> not close enough. I calculate that it will only add 1¼ miles to >> the bike >> >> lane. As you know, VanV Road is steep, narrow, and twisty down >> there, and >> >> a lot of people live on it. A bike lane would be an inexpensive and >> >> welcome improvement. >> >> >> >> I'm sure you know that many people use the Trail to commute in to >> >> Morgantown. I live along the newly opened northern section of the >> Mon >> >> River Trail, and I know a few people who live in Point Marion and are >> >> using the Trail to commute to work in Morgantown. The number of >> cyclists >> >> that go by our house all times of the day is amazing! My husband >> is now >> >> riding his bike to work at the University via the Trail. Many others >> >> travel from the south. Students living in The District could safely >> >> access the Trail. I'm sure you agree that linking the Trail to >> >> neighborhoods, major apartment blocks, schools, and major >> employers will >> >> get a lot of people out of their cars. As you know, bike lanes and >> >> walking trails are much cheaper to build than roads. Perhaps we >> could do >> >> them as a first step rather than as a last step? >> >> >> >> I wish *I* could ride the Trail to work! >> >> >> >> Thanks for all your time with this, >> >> >> >> Paula Hunt >> >> Treasurer >> >> Mon River Trails Conservancy >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> >> Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.6/991 - Release Date: >> 9/5/2007 >> >> 2:55 PM >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Bikeboard mailing list >> >> Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >> >> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Bikeboard mailing list >> >> Bikeboard(a)cheat.org >> >> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >> >> >> >> >> > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.6/991 - Release Date: > 9/5/2007 2:55 PM > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikeboard mailing list > Bikeboard(a)cheat.org > http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard > > _______________________________________________ > Bikeboard mailing list > Bikeboard(a)cheat.org > http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard [View Less]

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Re: [Bikeboard] "Improvements" to Van Voorhis Road
by director 09 Sep '07

09 Sep '07

Good evening, I hope I haven't stirred up an irreversible hornets' nest with my comments. My apologies to Paula Hunt who has been cc'ed on every exchange. I should have probably have indicated earlier what I have done to date on this issue. I called Chet Parsons and left a voicemail message asking (as an affected cyclist - but not as a bicycle boardmember) to ensure that VanVoorhis has paved shoulders all the way to its end. In the brief (and calm) message I expressed my interest in having … [View More]

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Agenda Item for next meeting: Calendar for the year
by director 06 Sep '07

06 Sep '07

Good evening, May I suggest that we make up a calendar for the next year, making note of when the city meetings and local events are? We've been in kind of a reactive mode all this past year and I was wondering if looking at the calendar a year in advance might help us to prepare better. I do this for Positive Spin (we're doing it at the moment in fact) and it helps us know when to get out news stories and recruit volunteers. I realize the bike board functions differently, but looking … [View More]

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Meeting
by Sam Stone 06 Sep '07

06 Sep '07

I will be unable to attend this evening's meeting due to a death in the family. Sam Stone Samuel Spencer Stone Attorney At Law 221 Willey Street Morgantown, WV 26505 Phone: (304) 296-2553 Ext. 1 Fax: (304) 292-4034 fax Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the … [View More]

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Thursday, 9/6 Bike Board Agenda
by Frank Gmeindl 02 Sep '07

02 Sep '07

Bike Board Members, The attached zip folder contains the agenda and read-aheads for our meeting next Thursday 9/6. This meeting will focus on the Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award application and a review of the 8 goals that we defined back in December: Infrastructure, Education, Bike Commuting, Public Relations, Bicycle Friendly Community Award, Law, Maps and Bike Parking and the 84 ideas we had for achieving those goals. The BFC application provides a baseline in the areas of … [View More]

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