Few of you now on the BB have been with it from the beginning and are feeling frustrated because it seems we can’t get anything done. I’ve felt that way every year that I was on the Bike Board. But, we still accomplished some things when we did not have the unanimous pro-bicycling City Council; the pro-bicycling City Manager; the pro-bicycling City Attorney; the pro-bicycling City Engineer and LCI MPO staff that we have now.
So, I’m listing some of those accomplishments below in hopes that they will help inspire us to figure out how to take advantage of the best political environment that we’ve ever had.
EVALUATION & PLANNING
· Wrote Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan unanimously adopted by City Council (2012) and incorporated in Morgantown Monongalia Transportation Plan
· Analyzed police bicycle crash reports; identified high incidence crash locations and revealed that half of reported bike/MV crashes involve cyclists riding on sidewalks (2016)
EDUCATION
· Entire Bicycle Board completed LAB Traffic Skills 101 course (2007)
· Six bicycle board members became League of American Bicyclists certified League Cycling Instructors
· Delivered 25 Confident City Cycling classes to more than 150 students
· Established 1 credit hour Confident City Cycling PE 212 class at WVU in CPASS (2011)
· Developed Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules electronic billboards on all major arterials entering the City
· Produced Share the Road bumper stickers
· Produced I Love Sharrows bike stickers and bumper stickers
· Developed and produced 7 15-second bicycle safety instruction TV spots that were aired 24/7 on local public access TV
· Developed Driver Education course for local high schools to teach students to drive safely around bicyclists
· Produced safe driving/cycling cards for police to hand out to motorists and cyclists
· Produced safe driving/cycling utility bill inserts
· Published 19 safe cycling and safe driving around bicyclists articles in the Dominion Post
· Obtained 940 copies of Street Smarts for bike shops to provide to customers with sale of new bike
ENGINEERING
· Persuaded WVDOH to replace in-line drainage grates on Monongahela Blvd.
· Developed (2007) Shared Lane Markings and Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign plan and received grant funding
· Persuaded WVDOH to install Share the Road signs on South University Avenue when MUB closed the rail trail for 2 years.
· Facilitated agreement signed by the City, WVDOH and WVU to install a bicycle climbing lane on Monongahela Avenue between Eighth St. and Evansdale Dr.
· Developed bicycle parking plan in collaboration with Morgantown Parking Authority that resulted in design, local fabrication and installation of 23 post&ring bike racks and purchase and installation of 2 bike lockers (2012).
· Worked with WVU Transportation and Parking to standardize on inverted-U bike racks that are throughout the campus.
· Worked with WVU Transportation and Parking to develop state-of-the art bicycle storage room with lockers and shower in Mountaineer Station multi-modal transportation facility
· Presented “Accommodating Bicyclists” to statewide Metropolitan Planning Organizations (2010) and led participants on a bus tour and an extensive bicycle tour of Morgantown
ENCOURAGEMENT
· Created BikeMorgantown brand
· Gained League of American Bicyclists Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community designation in 2012 and renewed in 2016
· Installed Bicycle Friendly City signs on all arterials leading into the city.
· Supported 3 local businesses in obtaining LAB Bicycle Friendly Business recognition
· Conducted National Bike Month rides/celebrations every year since 2010
· Organized and conducted “Max’s Challenge” ride for children on Mon Blvd from Eighth St. to Star City
· Trained volunteers to properly fit helmets and distributed free helmets and fit them on children at annual Todd May First Responders Fairs at Mylan Park 2013-2016.
· Arranged for bike racks to be installed at Suncrest Middle School and South Middle School
· Developed BikeMorgantown website and Facebook page
· Developed Bicycle Commuter Map
· Received $54K Transportation Enhancement Program grant for Effective Cycling Education
· Received $9K Allstate grant for bicycling education
· Received $80K Transportation Enhancement Program grant for installing Shared Lane Markings, Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs and sheltered bicycle parking at bus stops
· Received $400K Transportation Enhancement Program grant for installation of shared use path along WV 705 between Stewartstown Rd. and Mileground Rd.
ENFORCEMENT
· Revised City code to:
o eliminate requirement for cyclists to ride as far to the right as practicable;
o eliminate requirement for cyclists to ride on side paths and not on the road when side paths are available;
o require motorists to slow down and leave at least 3-feet when passing a cyclist
o require developers to provide secure bicycle parking in developments of significant impact
· Killed proposed ordinance to ban unicycles. (2012)
· Wrote WV Connecting Communities 2013 legislative agenda that resulted in statewide 3-foot passing rule; elimination of requirement for cyclists to ride as far to right as practicable; elimination of requirement for cyclists to ride on side paths and elimination of requirement for bicycles to be equipped with a bell.
Finally, I’ve attached a poem by Goethe about commitment.
See you tonight!
Frank
Where there’s a will, there’s a way!