Jenny,
Thank you for speaking out on behalf of bicyclists at tonight's city council meeting after Terry Hough announced without explanation that the new light at Mountaineer Station will not detect bicyclists. Please be aware that both the Traffic Commission and the MPO recommended that the light detect bicyclists. I do not know who made the decision to repudiate the Traffic Commission's and the MPO's recommendations. Perhaps Ms. Hough was speaking on behalf of the WVDOH.
I am concerned …
[View More]that we're not talking with the right people or that those making the decisions don't understand what we're recommending. I understand that there will be some kind of detection mechanism, inductive or optical that determines whether a vehicle is waiting at the intersection. There are detectors that detect bicycles and there are detectors that do not detect bicycles. Our recommendation was simply to select a detector that detects bicycles as well as motor vehicles. The article at http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/library/signals/detection.htm might help in selecting an inductive detector.
As I explained at the Traffic Commission and MPO meetings, if the detector does not detect a bicyclist waiting at the red light, that forces the cyclist to wait forever or to run the light. Deliberately selecting a detector that does not recognize bicyclists when detectors are available that do detect bicyclists, especially if all other factors such as cost are similar, is tantamount to deliberately denying bicyclists their equal right to the road as granted by WV 17C-11-2. It also forces bicyclists to violate the law and puts them in greater peril than if the light were not installed.
Mountaineer Station is often referred to as multi-modal. It has arguably the most wonderful bicycle parking facility in Morgantown. It is currently underutilized because cyclists don't know it's there, they don't know how to get into it and few have the skills to contend with the traffic to get to it. I should think we would want to make it easier for cyclists to use rather than erecting additional barriers to its use.
Since you spoke out on cyclists' behalf tonight, will you get this message to the right people so that we can help them make informed decisions?
Morgantown is only 5 miles across. If enough people rode their bicycles over that almost easy-to-ride distance, we wouldn't have the congestion that some city councilors say is Morgantown's biggest problem.
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
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Bicycle Board Members,
While you're reviewing the draft Morgantown Bicycle Plan, you might take a look at Allegheny County's Active Allegheny plan: http://www.activeallegheny.com/theplan.aspx . The Executive Summary and Chapter 2 are mostly relevant to bicycles. If you're at all familiar with Pgh, it's interesting to see how much they can do by just designating on-road bike routes and then where they plan bike lanes, shared-use paths, etc. Table 2-7 provides some unit cost info that we …
[View More]could use to estimate the cost of engineering initiatives in our plan.
The article in the Pgh. Post Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11047/1125711-455.stm sets a context for the plan and says bicycle commuting in the city of Pittsburgh increased 206 percent from 2000 to 2009. If they can do it, we can do it... but not without a plan.
Frank
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Please excuse me. I attached the wrong file before. Now, the correct file is attached.
Education Committee Members,
Please find attached, minutes of our meeting today. Please let me know what I missed or misconstrued and I will correct it.
Frank
Education Committee Members,
Please find attached, minutes of our meeting today. Please let me know what I missed or misconstrued and I will correct it.
Frank
Good Morning,
I got an unsolicited phone call this morning from the magazine described in this article. They're giving out free copies of the introductory issue so I asked for 5. I will pass them on to anyone interested when I get them, probably in about 2 weeks.
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/launch-nears-for-global-mag-on-cycling-pol…
If anyone else has further info about it please let me know - I'd like to know more about it and couldn't find any more than this on the web. They are …
[View More]planning an official unveiling at the Bike Summit Mar 8-10 which I'll be attending.
Thanks,
Nick
--
Nick Hein LCI# 1705
Director, Positive Spin
803 East Brockway Ave
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--
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Good morning,
I'd like to repeat a suggestion I made a few years ago, based on an idea I saw in use somewhere else.
Slogan: "Share the Road with ME."
Pictures show people who bike, on bikes - preferably in situations that people don't normally see bicyclists. Best to show celebrities like the mayor, city manager, radio/TV personalities - people that would get attention. Text of the poster could be directed at both cyclists and motorists like... "If you've thought of riding, give it a go. …
[View More]You'll be in good company. And if you're a motorist, remember that this is everybody's road - we can all get where we're going safely if we're considerate and careful."
Hope this helps,
Nick
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Aira Loren Burkhart <airaloren(a)gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:19:02 -0500
>I was thinking that these are "viral type" messages that could be the
>headers on posters (not mainstream advertising). These are not the
>slogan/tagline for the course, which we already decided on. The title and
>tagline are definitely: "Confident City Cycling - Lose Your Fear and Learn
>to Ride with Confidence".
>
>But I was trying to think of a poster campaign that would be eye catching
>and provoke the viewer to lean in and look longer. If there were a few
>different illustrations/messages, all pointing to the same course material,
>it would be like a treasure hunt, where you might get excited to see the
>next poster.
>
>Anyway, I was thinking about bands and other performances where a lot of the
>crowd comes from people who see posters around town.
>
>it's just brainstorming. if we don't want to go in a particular direction,
>that's fine.
>
>aira
>
>On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 8:21 PM, Ryan Post <rpostwvu(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I was actually trying to suggest themes for the poster, or ideas to
>> represent.
>>
>>
>>
>> Though, some of those slogans were pretty catchy; random quotes on the
>> website?
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Frank Gmeindl [mailto:fgmeindl@gmail.com]
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:11 PM
>> *To:* Ryan Post
>> *Cc:* 'Aira Loren Burkhart'; 'Bicycle Board'
>>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Bikeboard] Poster Ideas
>>
>>
>>
>> I don't know where this is heading. I'm sure we're all aware that a
>> successful poster will get the most people into the course. I admit, I do
>> not know what poster would accomplish that.
>>
>>
>>
>> If it's only going to have a slogan such as those listed in this thread,
>> I'd like to remind everyone that the "business card" (see attached) that we
>> just made and into which many BB members put a lot of work has the slogan,
>> "Lose Your Fear and Learn to Ride with Confidence".
>>
>>
>>
>> We also have the ad (see attached) that we ran in the newspaper that had
>> the slogan, "Rediscover the Joy and Freedom of Riding Your Bicycle". If
>> we're just going to have a slogan on the poster, that could be a poster as
>> is. (I know Ryan, you don't like the kid.)
>>
>>
>>
>> Finally, we also have the first of the billboards (see attached) that has
>> the slogan, "Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules". Perhaps that could be
>> made into a poster even though it's purpose was more to be instructive than
>> to attract viewers to sign up for training. Perhaps the poster could say,
>> "Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules: Learn them! Sign up for Confident
>> City Cycling"
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
--
Nick Hein LCI# 1705
Director, Positive Spin
803 East Brockway Ave
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--
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Bicycle Board Members,
Please see message below. The photoshoot is 10 am - 5:30 pm. You can go anytime. If you were there for at least 1/2 hour, that would help out most. It would probably help also if you e-mailed marketing(a)busride.org to tell them when you plan to be there. I'm planning to go down around 10 am and then go for a ride afterward.
Frank
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Maria Smith <MariaSmith(a)busride.org>
> Date: February 11, 2011 2:06:31 PM EST
> To: …
[View More]Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl(a)comcast.net>
> Subject: We need People for Public Transit
>
> Hi Frank,
>
> Mountain Line is holding a photoshoot next Wednesday (February 16) at the BOPARK side of the depot and we would like to get as many people involved as possible. Pictures will be taken in, on and around a bus.
>
> The pictures will be used to promote the different services Mountain Line provides through some marketing materials and to promote public transportation in general.
>
> We would love to have our bikers represented. No one can represent alternate forms of transportation like those who use it!
>
> I hope you will be able to pass this information around to anyone you feel may be interested. To create incentive we will be giving out iTunes and Gift cards throughout the day.
>
> It’s supposed to be nearly 50 degrees next Wednesday, so hopefully many riders will take that first ride of the “almost” spring season and come down and visit us!
>
> If anyone is interested please have them send me an e-mail with their name to marketing(a)busride.org. I’ll be able to organize it all better this way and cut down on any wait time.
>
> Thank you,
> Maria
>
>
> Maria Smith
> Marketing Officer
> Mountain Line Transit Authority
> 420 DuPont Road • Morgantown • WV • 26501
> Marketing(a)busride.org • Ph: 304.296.3680 • Fx: 304.291.7429
>
> Plan your trip with Mountain
> Line using Google Maps.
>
>
>
>
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I don't know where this is heading. I'm sure we're all aware that a successful poster will get the most people into the course. I admit, I do not know what poster would accomplish that.
If it's only going to have a slogan such as those listed in this thread, I'd like to remind everyone that the "business card" (see attached) that we just made and into which many BB members put a lot of work has the slogan, "Lose Your Fear and Learn to Ride with Confidence".
We also have the ad (see …
[View More]attached) that we ran in the newspaper that had the slogan, "Rediscover the Joy and Freedom of Riding Your Bicycle". If we're just going to have a slogan on the poster, that could be a poster as is. (I know Ryan, you don't like the kid.)
Finally, we also have the first of the billboards (see attached) that has the slogan, "Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules". Perhaps that could be made into a poster even though it's purpose was more to be instructive than to attract viewers to sign up for training. Perhaps the poster could say, "Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules: Learn them! Sign up for Confident City Cycling"
On Feb 10, 2011, at 4:43 PM, Ryan Post wrote:
> Dang, I’m totally jealous of some member’s creative abilities.
>
> Might need to cleanup to be PC, but I like the implication.
> 11) Closer parking than handicap.
>
> 15) Cheaper maintenance than cars. (Now Chip can be happier)
>
> From: Aira Loren Burkhart [mailto:airaloren@gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 2:50 PM
> To: Ryan Post
> Cc: Bicycle Board
> Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Poster Ideas
>
> See inline comments with arrows for Aira's version of Ryan's slogans:
> 1) Save time / your skin
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Get fit, get fast
> 2) Sharing the road, not competing with cars.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 3) Save money
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Save your health, increase your wealth
> 4) Lose weight, get exercise, feel better è look good in euro cool spandex
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cyclists are sexy.
> 5) Save the environment
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> The air thanks you.
> 6) Be cool, hip, role model for your kids to stop playing so many video games
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cool parents raise cool kids
> 7) You already have a bike!
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Your bicycle misses you.
> 8) Making riding a family experience.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Families that cycle together smile together.
> 9) Ride with confidence, anywhere.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> King of the Road
> 10) Know your rights.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> You have the right to ride.
> 11) Don’t have to look for parking.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Front door parking, every time.
> 12) Burn more calories so you can eat more
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cyclists get seconds. (would need to have a food related picture)
> 13) Have fun in the rain/cold. Conquer hills.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> You and are your bicycle make molehills out of mountains
> 14) Ride more than someone else.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 15) Do you own vehicle maintenance.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Don't panic: you don't need a mechanic! (not sure the bike shops would like this)
> 16) Commute, exercise, recreate, save money, save the environment AT THE SAME TIME
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> A little work, a lot of play, when you ride a bike, it's a beautiful day!
> 17) (Isn’t there a government thing that pays like $20/month for people who bike to work?)
>
>
> MISC:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> My other workout partner is a bicycle.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Bikeboard mailing list
> Bikeboard(a)cheat.org
> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard
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