From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of Frank Gmeindl
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 9:58 AM
To: Bicycle Board
Cc: Bill Austin; Matt Cross; Christiaan Abildso
Subject: [Bikeboard] MPO Conference Mobile Lab route

 

Bicycle Board Members,

 

Following is the route proposed by the Pedestrian Safety Board for the MPO Conference Mobile Laboratory:

  1. Leave Hotel Morgan

[RP>] Rail trail is accessible near, but won’t easily get to Colleseum w/o going up Beechurst.  (Biking on Roads is necessary)

  1. Up Beechurst

[RP>] Climbing lane, (it’d be nice to show how debris collects in a bike lane, though that road is pretty clean)

  1. Right on Patteson/705 to Willowdale

[RP>] If there is time, going up to Van Voorhis to The Ridge or The District then turn around back to 705 would display one of the worst roads ever created for bikes and pedestrians. It sucks I live there now.

[RP>] Taking the lane works well on 705 the entire way. Sidewalk is quite hazardous at Univ Ave and Hospital intersections.

  1. Right on Willowdale
  2. Left on Irwin

[RP>] Taking lane is absolutely necessary here to make that left (and really prior to that turn due to very blind hill).

Irwin is a fairly high pedestrian road, which crosses Willowdale and then utilizes the parking lot to get places. Bikes do a similar thing.  Narrow road, no sidewalk.

  1. Left on Chestnut Ridge

[RP>] I think this should be a right onto Chestnut Ridge?

[RP>] Very bike unfriendly road which is visible looking right at this intersection. (Steep hill, narrow, twisty road, large busses)

  1. Left on Stewartstown

[RP>] Stewartstown road is packed with students along West Run, though they’re fairly unable to ride a bike to class due to the narrow Stewartstown Rd. The alternate, Riddle Ave, is extremely steep.

  1. Left into Suncrest Town Center
  2. Right onto 705

[RP>] Lots of room for passing, even without using a bike lane. Cycling works despite high speed and heavy traffic volume.

  1. Right onto Mileground
  2. Continue to Willey
  3. Willey back to town.

 

Please reply by 9/21 with any bicycling points along the route and their specific locations that we should indicate to the WVDOH and other participants that will be on the bus.  These would be points that illustrate bicyclist needs and issues that are common throughout the state.

 

We can suggest changes to the route.  The mobile lab will be a small 24 passenger Mountain Line bus.  We may be able to get the driver to stop at interesting locations along the route however the tour must fit in the 12:30 -1:50 time slot on 10/27.  

 

I will compile your recommendations and provide a script to Bill Austin by 9/24 unless one of you wants to volunteer to do that.

 

Referring to the minutes (attached) of the last 2 BB meetings in which we brainstormed ideas of routes and things to show them might help you respond to this message.  

 

I attended the Ped meeting last night and the above was the consensus route for indicating pedestrian issues.  

Matthew Cross will be the pedestrian spokesperson on the bus.  I will be the bicycling spokesperson unless one of you want to do it or if I can persuade one of you to do it.

 

 

Frank Gmeindl

Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles