Reminder: Attend Tuesday's (May 15, 4 pm - 6:30 pm) WVDOT statewide bicycle plan meeting in Morgantown City Council chambers (389 Spruce St.)

In preparation for next Tuesday's meeting, Peggy Pings organized a pre-meeting as I related to you in my last meesage (below) on this subject. Five people attended: 2 cyclists, 3 trails advocates.

The meeting was productive. The trails advocates were very attentive to my explaining how improving just a few road routes, e.g. Rts. 100, 857, 7, 19 and 73 could enable local cyclists to safely and fearlessly get to some of the best riding in the world in addition to getting to PA and MD. I attached to this message a photo of a Morgantown map that I marked up to illustrate how much marvelous riding there is around here and how the aforementioned corridors can be gateways to that riding if they were a bit more bicycle-friendly, e.g. by signing them with Share the Road signs, or better, Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs and widening uphill climbing lanes and blind curves so motor vehicles can safely pass bicycles without crossing the center line.

We all reached consensus for Tuesday to support improvements on those corridors with Rts. 100 and 857 being the highest priorities.

Of course, the trail advocates were primarily interested in developing more trails and that's fine too. Peggy brought a very nice map that showed the existing trails and the gaps that need to be filled. Looking at the maps, I was impressed at how close we are to having a seamless network.

Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
Date: May 4, 2012 11:04:44 AM EDT
To: monbikeclub@googlegroups.com, CRcyclists@googlegroups.com, Bicycle Board <bikeboard@cheat.org>
Subject: Attention West Virginia: Input Needed on Regional Bike Plans

I've posted two messages to these groups passing on WVDOT's invitation to participate in the May 15 statewide interconnectivity workshop at Morgantown City Hall 4-6:30 pm or any of the other dozen or so workshops around the state this month.

Yesterday, I learned that some politicians have been phoning people to ensure that "knowledgeable people" show up to give their input. Any of you get a call? Do you think road-cyclists will be adequately represented? Do you think the outcome of these workshops will be improved road routes? If there's any money available, do you think it will go to making the road cycling better?

Not if you don't show up.

BTW, the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan, http://db.tt/WbRG4WzL was unanimously adopted by Morgantown City Council Tuesday and the Mayor proclaimed May Bike Month in Morgantown. May 9: Bike to School Day; May 14-18: Bike to Work Week; May 18: Bike to Work Day... need roads for that, got 'em, use 'em.

4ank

Begin forwarded message:

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy <railtrails@railstotrails.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 10:00 PM
Subject: Attention West Virginia: Input Needed on Regional Bike Plans

West Virginia Residents: Your Input Needed!

Great news for the residents and businesses of West Virginia, with the Department of Transportation (WVDOT) announcing that it will be gathering public input for a series of regional bicycle plans in population centers across the state.

The study is being funded by a federal Transportation and Community System Preservation Grant, and will identify opportunities to improve interstate and regional connectivity for bicycling.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting in their area, or submit written comments. The public meeting will focus on the geographic region where the meeting will be held, but will also present and receive comments on the other regions of the state.

All meetings will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be brief presentations at 4, 5 and 6 p.m., followed by an opportunity to give comments in a workshop style setting.

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:

May 3, 2012
Ranson City Hall
Council Chambers
312 South Mildred Street
Ranson, WV 25438

May 14, 2012
West Virginia Independence Hall
1528 Market Street
Wheeling, WV 26003

May 7, 2012
City Service Center
915 Quarrier Street
Charleston, WV 25301

May 15, 2012
City Building
Council Chambers
389 Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505

May 8, 2012
Tri-State Transit Authority
1251 4th Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701

May 21, 2012
City Hall
Council Chambers
942 Washington Street, West
Lewisburg, WV 24901

May 10, 2012
Municipal Building
2nd Floor
Executive Conference Room
1 Government Square
Parkersburg, WV 26101

May 22, 2012
City Building
Council Chambers
401 Davis Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241

Written comments can be dropped in a comment box at the workshop, or mailed to:

Robert Pennington, P.E.
Director, Program Planning and Administration Division
West Virginia Department of Transportation
Capital Complex Building Five, 8th Floor
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0430

If you would like to be added to the West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council list for future statewide messages about trails, please email Ella Belling at ella@montrails.org. The Council is not affiliated with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, but works within the state to advocate for trails.

Photo courtsey of WVLiving.com

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2121 Ward Ct., NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
202.331.9696

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