Good afternoon,
Last night I spent about an hour collecting pictures and info on bike parking options. Instead of trying to list every vendor I organized the info in a matrix according to the number of bikes to be store and the duration of storage. This should help us come up with an idea for the (1 or more) parking systems needed at each high school. I've attached a Lo-res version of the pdf. If someone has an idea where we could keep the full-resolution version let me know. I'd like to …
[View More]make it available on the web so it's universally accessible.
Thanks.
Nick Hein
--
Nick Hein
Director, Positive Spin
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--
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Hi, at the last meeting it was decided that we (Alice and Jonathan)
should email the Bicycle Board about what will be our plan for
recommending Bicycle Shelter facilities to the respective principals of
MHS and UHS. It should be duly noted that presently we do not have any
"approved" recommended Bicycle Shelters. If our proposal below is
accepted without any objection, it would be our hope that by the next
Bicycle Board meeting, but no later than by the May 1 meeting that the
BB could …
[View More]provide us with a list of shelters that have been approved for
our purpose of demonstrating appropriate solutions to the principals.
Proposal:
We propose that a meeting will be set up before the end of May with both
Principal Desantis from MHS and Principal Forrest from UHS. We want to
make the arrangements for this meeting relatively soon because of the
busy schedules of both principals. The meetings desired outcome will be
the provide both Principals with enough information and details so that
they can embark on the Bicycle Board's recommendation that sheltered and
secure bicycle facilities be provided at their respective school
locations. One approach besides recommending purchasing such facilities
will be to suggest that the Schools look at getting Vo-Tech to build all
or part of the facilities thereby saving the Schools money as well as
engaging students in bicycling. If possible we want to have
representation from actual High School students who are bicyclists so
that we can present a more convincing message at the meeting (1).
Our request to the Bicycling Board is to approve our proposal and to
provide us with relevant literature and information about recommended
bicycling shelters. Information can be delivered to Jonathan either via
email, snail mail, or any other relevant manner.
(1) Nick Hein told us that he has UHS bicyclists working at Positive Spin.
Jonathan and Alice
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Good morning,
I received this link from a list I read. It doesn't look like it's got anything to do with bicycling until the surprise ending. I'm considering asking for permission to use it as a Bike Month PSA. Watch it, and let me know what you think.
http://www.dothetest.co.uk/
Thanks.
Nick
--
Nick Hein
Director, Positive Spin
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--
Jonathan,
The article was posted on the Monbikeclub list too. I got a copy and will put it up at the shop. It reminded me of something I learned when I went to my first city council in high school. They would never hash things out in the general meeting. Everything had been decided in advance by committees. That way, when the press showed up they saw everyone happily agreeing on things.
This article played up the drama, and mis-emphasized safety. I thought we had a model meeting - …
[View More]especially since we re-evaluated our agenda as part of it to make sure it fit our mission.
I think the article was probably a net benefit though, and I'm certainly glad the reporter stayed for the whole thing.
Nick
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Jonathan Rosenbaum <freesource(a)cheat.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:06:21 -0400
>There is an article about the BB in today's Daily Athanaeum titled
>"Morgantown Bike Board pushes safety agenda":
>
>http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=33553&archive_date=2008-03…
>
>-Jonathan
>
>_______________________________________________
>Bikeboard mailing list
>Bikeboard(a)cheat.org
>http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
>
--
Nick Hein
Director, Positive Spin
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--
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That's the word I was thinking of,
To describe, kind-of, my "one thing".
Course it's too broad and general, but that's the way it is.
Bike routes and such can legitimize the use of bicycles, as Don S.
said, and this can empower folks to try something new and different.
Encouraging folks and showing them that they can commute, or just make
a trip on a bike, empowers them as well.
Etc.
And all the other things we talk about and do help to empower the people.
Most of the time folks just need …
[View More]some help.
I'd just like to say that the last couple of MBB meetings have been
positive and it seems as though a fair amount of things *are* coming
to fruition.
That's all for now, thanks, and have a nice day further,
gunnar.
"Empower the People!"
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Chet,
Thanks for including me on your transmittal!
I would like to encourage the MPO to consider widening the curb lane
with those items on the list that seem to offer a ready opportunity to
do so. In the attached, I highlighted 14 items that appear to involve
roadway modifications and may offer the opportunity to widen curb
lanes. As I presented to the MPO 28-Feb., widening curb lanes to 14
feet would enable motor vehicles and bicycles to drive side-by-side
within the lane and would …
[View More]remove the speed difference problem that must
annoy motorists, scare cyclists and potentially cause congestion if we
are to have 10% of all trips by bicycle.
I hope you will be able to include this request on the list for the
March 11 meeting.
Frank
Chet Parsons wrote:
> All - we will be meeting this month on March 11, at 1:30 pm in the
> second floor conference room of the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
>
> We have been asked by the MPO Policy Board to discuss a listing of
> lower-cost traffic ideas that may be implemented to improve
> conditions. These ideas were presented at the Morgantown City COuncil
> committee-of-the-whole meeting on February 26 and contain a number of
> items that had been identified previously by the MPO as possible
> solutions. Morgantown City Council has identified funds that can be
> made available to the MPO for research and testing to make sure some
> of these technologies and methods can actually make an impact on traffic.
>
> The MPO Policy Board has asked that the committee make a
> recommendation of a handful of these ideas to move forward with and
> begin the research and testing work. I am attaching the list for your
> review prior to the meeting. Please bring other ideas with you as well.
>
> Chet
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> _______________
>
> *Chet Parsons*
> Executive Director
> Greater Morgantown MPO
> 180 Hart Field Road
> Morgantown, WV 26505
> 304.291.9571
>
>
>
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Nick,
Here's what I mean when I say torpedo: A little over a year ago the
whole bike board identified and organized sets of goals: Infrastructure,
Education, Commuting, etc. Committees formed and worked way above and
beyond the call of duty to create comprehensive recommendations to the
Traffic Commission in the areas of Infrastructure, Education and
Commuting. The TC accepted those recommendations. Among the
Infrastructure recommendations were the chevrons and the Campus
Connector. …
[View More] Those both have traction with the Traffic Commission. The
City has budgeted for the chevrons. The City Manager has directed the
Director of Public Works to make them happen. They have been reviewed
by the WVDOH. To support our Eduction recommendations, the City Manager
has submitted a grant application to the WVDOH. The Mayor, City Manager
and Executive Director of the MPO carefully reviewed, discussed with us
and signed and submitted our Bicycle Friendly Community award
application. Having people who are not members of the Bicycle Board
presenting ideas to government officials as if they were approved by the
Bicycle Board when they were not even reviewed by the Bicycle Board can
torpedo both our recommendations and our team spririt, as it were.
Frank
director wrote:
> Frank,
> I'll be giving the update on this. I've been attending the meetings. Please contact me privately with your concerns, I wouldn't want to do anything that would torpedo anything else I'm doing. I'm not certain how you see that would happen with this but I'm happy to listen.
>
> I would like to share a story from a pre-school bike rodeo I did last Saturday. We had an indoor course setup in a room at the Fun Factory last Saturday. All day long pre-school kids were driving around this course with mini-traffic signs. Toward the end of the day as discipline started getting a little slack some older siblings started coming onto the course. When they would get a little too wild we'd take them aside and tell them that we were teaching the younger kids to share the road safely. Older kids could either help with the teaching or would have to leave. They stayed and taught. At the very end a baby crawled from another room right into the middle of the track. The kids' first reaction was "We've got to get the baby out of the way!" to which I responded "No, this road is for everyone - not just the ones on wheels."
>
> I didn't have to do anything else. The kids all made room for the baby and everyone continued to ride safely, just because they were all looking out for each other.
>
> It drove home with me the point that if we can change the minds of drivers, we'll have a lot less work to do changing roads.
>
> Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you.
> Thanks.
> Nick
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net>
> Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:54:09 -0500
>
>
>> Bicycle Board Members,
>>
>> Please read the thread below. I have no idea what the Bicycle Board
>> should do about this, if anything. I'm concerned that things like this
>> can torpedo the projects to which the Traffic Commission and the
>> Assistant City Manager, and, most recently, the MPO have signed up for.
>> Perhaps we can discuss this during the action items update on Thursday
>> when somebody gives an update on Max's Challenge. I understand neither
>> John Lozier nor Marilyn Newcome will be there.
>>
>> Frank
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: Uphill Struggle]
>> Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:07:17 -0500
>> From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net>
>> To: John Lozier <jl(a)harpingforharmony.org>
>> CC: Newcome Marilyn <mjcycling(a)msn.com>, Laura Kemp-Rye
>> <Kemprye(a)verizon.net>
>> References: <45E6C992.8020509(a)verizon.net>
>> <DF8CEEBB-5F9B-428D-8523-62454276B0F9(a)harpingforharmony.org>
>>
>>
>>
>> John,
>>
>> So no one is responsible for this project. Then, how do you see the
>> relationship between this project and its task groups and the Bicycle Board?
>>
>> Frank
>>
>> John Lozier wrote:
>>
>>> Frank, I'm out of the picture till March 25, so I'll say little more.
>>>
>>> The project has lots of energy, several new participants, has grown
>>> beyond Bike Board. Although Marilyn is chair, there are several task
>>> groups, Laura Kemp-Rye chairs one of them, there is a lot of mutual
>>> trust so "responsibility for leading" is somewhat distributed.
>>>
>>> Took a ride today, along Uphill Struggle route, I think it will work
>>> out great. 15 minutes, at moderate speed, from Seneca Center to Star
>>> City Park. I hope the chevrons can be placed on Monongahela Boulevard
>>> before August.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> On Mar 1, 2007, at 7:39 AM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> John, Marilyn,
>>>>
>>>> What is this about a path? I don't recall that being part of Max's
>>>> Challenge. You guys need to come back through the Bicycle Board if
>>>> you're going to change the scope. Rr, quit saying that these things
>>>> have been approved by the Bicycle Board.
>>>>
>>>> Will one of you please take responsibility for leading this project
>>>> and contain errant communications?
>>>>
>>>> Frank
>>>>
>>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>>> Subject: RE: Uphill Struggle
>>>> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:45:45 -0500
>>>> From: Laura Kemp-Rye <kemprye(a)verizon.net>
>>>> To: 'John Lozier' <jl(a)harpingforharmony.org>, 'Gmeindl
>>>> Frank' <fgmeindl(a)verizon.net>
>>>> CC: 'Newcome Marilyn' <mjcycling(a)msn.com>
>>>> References:
>>>> <A0A242E5-EF10-4FC2-98B9-C7D176FCA364(a)harpingforharmony.org>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi -- I've got an even more recent update. Max and I met with Chet
>>>> Parsons of the MPO today at the Moose. I wanted to work with him to
>>>> get an estimate for the path. He heard about the whole thing and is
>>>> really helpful on some next steps to take. I think he sees this as a
>>>> simple opportunity to get support for the non-vehicular part of the
>>>> transportation plan, which the county will just have to inch toward.
>>>>
>>>> In the past, he has worked with Barbara Evans Fleisheur (sp?) on Safe
>>>> Routes To School. He would support and assist in transportation
>>>> enhancement (through Bikes Belong) and Safe Routes to Schools Grants.
>>>>
>>>> Great meeting overall. He saw some potential alliances that could
>>>> all work in the same direction, the Green team, bikes, schools, etc.
>>>> These are all groups that they've had lackluster support from before.
>>>>
>>>> He asked if I would email him the resolution and if you would present
>>>> it this evening.
>>>>
>>>> Call if you need me.
>>>>
>>>> Laura Kemp-Rye
>>>> Office: 304.291.5485
>>>> Cell: 304.216.5485
>>>> kemprye(a)verizon.net
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> *From:* John Lozier [mailto:jl@harpingforharmony.org]
>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:57 AM
>>>> *To:* Gmeindl Frank
>>>> *Cc:* Laura Kemp-Rye; Newcome Marilyn
>>>> *Subject:* Uphill Struggle
>>>>
>>>> Frank, this is just a heads-up for MPO presentation.
>>>>
>>>> Uphill Struggle met Tuesday and will meet again next Tuesday. I'm
>>>> leaving for three weeks starting Wednesday, this is why I'm trying
>>>> not to be the spokesperson, but Marilyn might not be in touch before
>>>> tonight. We have working groups, budget (and sponsorship goals), good
>>>> energy, new participants, contacts with Mon County Schools, etc.
>>>>
>>>> In a nutshell, Uphill Struggle is a project to
>>>> encourage Morgantown residents of all ages to consider bicycles as an
>>>> appropriate form of transportation. It involves a program of uphill
>>>> training on Decker's Creek trail, starting in April, and a "main
>>>> event" on Monongahela Boulevard in August.
>>>>
>>>> Here are two points for you to consider in relation to MPO:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Uphill Struggle is considering raising money to create a path
>>>> (bike, walking) to Mountainview School, from the top ofGrand Avenue.
>>>> Maybe raise matching funds for WV Transportation Enhancement grant?
>>>>
>>>> 2) Uphill Struggle is soliciting endorsements from organizations,
>>>> perhaps from MPO. (Draft resolution in a separate message.)
>>>>
>>>> John Lozier
>>>> "It's an UPHILL STRUGGLE to get folks to think of bikes as
>>>> TRANSPORTATION"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Nick Hein
> Director, Positive Spin
> Morgantown, WV
> ph 304-276-0213
> --
>
>
>
>
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