The Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan can be found at
http://db.tt/WbRG4WzL . It does not extend much beyond the Morgantown city limits and bike routes are a small part of it. See
http://bikemorgantown.com/route_map.php for the Morgantown bike route.
My understanding is that the May 15 workshop's objective is to define bike routes to connect WV population centers to neighboring states.
At a minimum, I strongly suggest that we all advocate for making Rt. 100 a bike route from Monongahela Ave. in Westover to Rt. 19. At least smooth it and sign it.
I would suggest that we try to make any road a bike route that would provide a good cycling connection to PA if only sufficient improvement were made to enable all cyclists, not just top level cyclists to ride it safely and fearlessly. At a minimum, these roads should be signed with Share the Road signs, or better, R4-11 signs (Bicycles May Use Full Lane) and/or climbing lanes widened to a minimum of 14 feet. Bike Route signs should be considered with great care because they may indicate that a route signed with them is an exceptionally pleasant route to bicycle.
Roads that I would suggest considering at your meeting:
Fort Martin Rd. (CR 53) from PA state line to Maidsville.
Rt. 857 from the PA line to Pierpont Rd..
Rt. 19 from Mt. Morris to Morgantown.
Rt. 73 from Coopers Rock to Bruceton Mills.
Kingwood Pike.
Rt. 7 from Reedsville to Rt. 26, then Rt. 26 to the PA line.
Rt. 72 from Parsons to Kingwood.
Rt. 7 from Morgantown to Blacksville and then Rt. 218 to the PA line.
Rt. 19 between Fairmont and Morgantown.
Rt. 73 between Fairmont and Morgantown.
I may not be there Saturday because I like to go to the Farmer's Market and then ride on Saturdays.
Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
On May 8, 2012, at 1:36 PM, Ella Belling wrote:
Hi all,
I am hoping you might have an interest in sharing ideas, brain storming and prioritizing bike routes, cycling issues, trail connections, etc. to bring to the DOH bike plan meeting on Tuesday, May 15. I would like us to meet at 9:30AM on Saturday at the Morgantown Library to come up with a strategy. If any of you have maps or a list of priorities already then PLEASE bring them to share with the group. Feel free to invite others.
Morgantown Bike Board folks- do you have a plan already with priorities? It seemed like you worked hard on mapping it all out at one time.
Bill- does the MPO already have a map with the list of priorities for the region? Do you have thoughts on what the DOH is wanting to pull from these meetings?
I can only speak to possible rail-trail connections and extensions and feel weak on bike routes and road biking. Or issues that need to be addressed on prioritizing cycling with DOH projects.
I will reserve a library room if I hear back from a few of you. Flexible on the meeting time but library closes at 1PM. Look forward to hearing from you, Ella
Ella Belling
Executive Director
Mon River Trails Conservancy
P.O. Box 282
Morgantown, WV 26507