Frank – I too strongly support the
development of a comprehensive bicycling plan, but I do have some reservations
about the applicability for the Greater Morgantown area of what I understand the
Kanawha and Putnam County Plan to be.
I think that it is prudent for us to
proceed with an organization of the plan which continues to gives prominence to
the SIX E’s. The framework of the K&P plan is essentially three large
chapters which contain lots of different types of information but does not give
a structure which would likely increase an understanding of the issues by our
policy makers or many other readers. Other important uses for a plan are 1) creating
a means for communicating with the League of American Cyclists; 2) orienting/providing-a-reference
our own new Bicycle Board members as new members continue to join the board
each year; and 3) providing clear background for on-going, changing media
personnel as to WHY we are doing each of type of things that is being done. I
do not think that the K&P Plan organization would effectively serve each of
those purposes for us.
1.
We
certainly would need an overview and executive summary.
2.
We also
need state-of the-art explanations on the importance of cycling: its benefits,
the priorities in creating bicycling friendly communities, and an explanation
of our existing conditions in the
3.
We need
a description of local cycling’s government environment and the
relationship of cycling in the
4.
We need
an explanation of recommended national and state standards or policies for infrastructure,
signage, bicycle law, parking, inter-modal interface, and bicycle driving and/or
any other matter relating to streets, roads, greenways or other classifications
of thoroughfares.
5.
We need
a section which, in light of the priority standards and policies presented, provides
a ranked list of recommended changes for infrastructure and engineering.
6.
We also
need overall policy goals/objectives/projected action steps with rationale
relating to education, enforcement, environment, evaluation, and equality.
7.
We also
need a plan for developing safe cycling to middle schools and high schools as
well as a description of collaborative planning with WVU.
8.
We need
a discussion of our state and local bicycle law environment and plans/priorities
for change and advocacy.
9.
We need
a financial plan for implementing priority cycling improvements.
10.
And we
need an ongoing plan which will describe a) on-going role of the Bicycle Board,
b) means by which infrastructure will be maintained, c) ways by which education
and training can be continued, d) methodology by which progress of community
cycling will be measured, and e) method by which new planning will be
continued.
Appendices: List of governments participating in planning – including MPO,
Morgantown Traffic Commission and Bicycle Board; Vision/mission/guideline/membership
of Bicycle Board; MPO/City of Morgantown Complete Streets Policy; Street Design
Guidelines prepared by Dan Burden; MPO Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, WVU
Bicycle Plan Summary; County/City Transit Routes and Planning Summary; Bicycle
Accident Data; State Code information on bicycles; City codes on bicycles; Copy
of DOT Grant Award for Education to City of Morgantown; report on program
implementation to date; MRTC rail trail information; overview of League of
American Bicyclist’s Bicycle Friendly City Awards Program; list of cities
and states which have received League Bicycle Friendly City/State recognition; summary
of status of other municipal bicycle development in West Virginia, 2000 charrette
survey results; other research reports; newspaper articles, brochures; maps, pictures,
illustrations, graphs; pocket with folded Bicycle Map of Greater Morgantown
prepared by the Morgantown Bicycle Board; pocket with folded map of Rail Trails
of North Central West Virginia; etc.
These
are some suggestions for a comprehensive foundation document. Hopefully this may
help with the planning for comprehensive planning; perhaps a committee can look
this over along with other ideas and responses from others. I am willing to
help with the preparation of a draft plan if requested.
Don
From:
bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Frank Gmeindl
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 9:58
AM
To: Bicycle Board
Cc: Bill Austin
Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Bicycle
Plan
Hugh, Nick, Chet,
Thanks for your affirmation of the need for us to have a comprehensive
plan. I doubt any BB member will argue against such.
I'd like to see some feedback on the substance of the plan. e.g.
What do you think of their organization for doing the plan? what do you
think of their process for identifying needs? for defining improvements?
What do you think of their planned improvements?
Frank Gmeindl
Cyclists
fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
On Aug 20, 2010, at 8:26 AM, Hugh Kierig wrote:
Frank
I think that it would be a great thing to do, similar to
the Pedestrian Safety Plan that the Ped Board is taking through the approval
process now.
Hugh E. Kierig, AICP, Director
Department of Transportation and Parking
Post Office Box 6561
1112 Van Voorhis
304-293-9095 (o)
304-293-3939 (f)
>>> Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
8/19/2010 7:52 PM >>>
Bicycle Board Members,
From the very beginning of the Bicycle Board, some of us
felt we need a comprehensive bicycle plan. Our 2007 application for the
LAB Bicycle Friendly Community award was our attempt to organize such a plan.
Subsequently, we have continued to view our initiatives in the 5E
categories that I think helped us maintain a balanced on focused program.
Bill Austin wants to create a Greater Morgantown Bicycle
Plan. The
http://www.wvregion3.org/Transportation/bike-ped_plan.htm
I'm wondering what you think of it because we could use it
as a model.
Please keep this among ourselves because Dennis Strawn from
Please send me or to the BB your comments about the
Frank Gmeindl
Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles