And, more.

 

From: Damien Davis [mailto:ddavis@cityofmorgantown.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:05 AM
To: Bill Austin; Frank Gmeindl; Terry Hough
Subject: RE: Morgantown Bicycle Lane

 

Bill, on the cross-sections of the Mon Blvd bike lane proposal I show that the shoulder on the PRT side is between 8 and 13.5 feet wide. While the bike lane side is between 7.5 to 13 feet wide

 

J. Damien Davis, EIT, CFM, Assistant City Engineer

City of Morgantown

Public Works Department - Engineering Division

389 Spruce Street

Morgantown, WV 26505

Office: 304.284.7398

Fax: 304.284.7409

www.morgantown.com


From: Bill Austin [mailto:baustin@moncpc.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 9:15 AM
To: 'Frank Gmeindl'; Damien Davis; Terry Hough
Subject: FW: Morgantown Bicycle Lane
Importance: High

 

Frank, Damien, Terry,

 

Please see the correspondence below. I do not believe the proposed signage is adequate or acceptable for addressing the concern expressed by the Bicycle Board. Previous correspondence I have seen says that the shoulder on the down hill side of Mon Boulevard is the same width as on the uphill side. I do not believe that this true.  I don’t believe it  is either the same width or of the same pavement quality as the shoulder on the uphill side. Can anyone confirm this for me?

 

The comment below that cyclists on the down slope cannot keep up with traffic is simply a mis-expectation on the writers part. Cyclists should not be expected to match speeds even on flat sections they should be expected to not impede the flow of traffic. These are not the same things. We need to address this misconception quickly. I am not sure how Jim Hudson fits into the picture, I will look into it.

 

Please let me know your thoughts. I would like to respond to this comment ASAP.  

 

Thanks,

 

Bill  

 

From: Hudson, Jim E [mailto:Jim.E.Hudson@wv.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:54 AM
To: Robinson, Bill C
Cc: Keller, Perry J; Warner, Richard L; Lewis, Ray C; Shoukry, Fouad N; Bill Austin
Subject: Morgantown Bicycle Lane

 

Bill

After much thought on the Morgantown Bike Lane issue I think our signage should remain consistent with our signage on other limited access highways.  Therefore I propose we limit our signage and roadway markings to those found along Route 50, Route 33, and the East Beckley By-Pass among other places.  These signs should be placed on both sides of Monongahela Boulevard and other locations where high-speed and/or high-density traffic and adequate shoulders indicate it is necessary.

While I understand the desire for a “climbing” lane for bicycles, I do not accept the idea that average bicyclists (Class B) can safely maintain the speed of 45 to 50 mph required to keep up with traffic on the downhill side of the road.  Bicyclists who want to ride on the road where the signs I propose have been posted are in the same category as those semi drivers who want to drive in the left lane where signage prohibiting trucks in the left lane have been installed.

A photograph of the signage used in these locations is attached to this email.

Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)

Jim Hudson

Community Development Specialist

Building 5, Room 863

1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.

Charleston, WV 25305-0430

(304) 558-9613

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