Newsletter Archive
Email Newsletter 12/01/98
Contents:
1. November 11 meeting summary
2. December 9 meeting time, place, and agenda
3. ACTION ALERT: Amherst DPW meeting on Routes 9/116: Thu, Dec. 3
4. MassHighway bicycle workshop (11/17) report
Dear Pioneer Valley cyclist,
1. The 3rd meeting of MB/PV was held Wed., November 11 at Smith College in
Northampton and was attended by over a dozen enthusiastic bike-friendly
people, at least 3 of them car-free -- and none of them spies, as far as
we could tell.
Detailed notes will be posted on the WWW
(http://www.massbike.org/groups/pioneerv/) soon. A brief summary follows:
* Boas reported on progress towards a Williamsburg RailTrail.
* Lowenthal presented a draft petition for formation of a Northampton
Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Committee. Many helpful suggestions
were offered and incorporated, and the petition is being circulated as we
speak. Email James Lowenthal if you need copies of the petition.
* Lowenthal reminded everyone that MassBike is a dues-paying organization.
We don't require anyone to pay dues to attend and participate in our
monthly meetings, but we do strongly encourage it. The success of our
broad mission depends to no small degree on the ability of the
organization to pay its executive officer, to produce publications, to
lobby state and local officials, to sponsor events, and to broadcast our
demand for better cycling conditions loud and clear. The $30 annual dues
are easily recouped with a few purchases at your local bike shop, since
most shops offer 10% discounts to MassBike members.
* Preparations were made to attend the MassHighway bicycle workshop Nov.
17 in Northampton (see below).
* Frank Olbris reported on the abuse of the Florence-Northampton RailTrail
by heavy trucks; stay tuned for a public hearing on the issue in the near
future.
2. The next MB/PV meeting will take place:
Date: Wed, 9 Dec.
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Room 304, Seelye Hall, Smith College, Northampton
Preliminary Agenda
(email james@velo.phast.umass.edu with add'l items):
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* Progress report on Northampton Bike Committee petition -- other towns to
follow suit (e.g. Agawam -- Howard Lamson)?
* Report on MassHighway Bicycle Accommodation workshop in Northampton,
Nov. 17 (see below)
* Report on Amherst DPW Route 9/116 meeting 12/3 (see below)
* Identification of PV Hot Spots
* Route 9 Coolidge Bridge update -- 75% plans now available!
* MassBike Dues
* Organize breakfast with elected officials (Olver, Storey, Flavin,
Rosenberg, Neal, Nagle, etc.) to put forth our agenda?
3. ACTION ALERT: Amherst DPW meeting on Routes 9/116: Thu, Dec. 3, 7:30
PM, Bangs Community Center, Amherst.
Amherst Town Engineer Noel Ryan is hosting a DPW/Public Works Committee
"Informational Meeting" to discuss:
1. T.I.P (Transportation Improvement Program)
2. Reconstruction of Rte 9/116 intersection
3. Open discussion of 3 alternative designs to "improve" that
intersection.
This is particularly important to bicyclists. Please attend and
participate if you are able to, especially if you live or work close to
Amherst and ride through that important intersection frequently.
4. MassHighway bicycle workshop (11/17) report.
On November 17, MassHighway held in Northampton one of four workshops
statewide to discuss MHD bicycle policies with local officials and bicycle
representatives. The meeting was well attended -- about 40 total -- and
especially by MV/PV, with at least 6 members present! The MassHighway
Bicycle Coordinator and the engineer in charge of bicycle accommodation
were both there, as were reps from most local planning boards. (Also in
attendance were the usual anti-rail trail suspects from Williamsburg and
Belchertown.)
The workshop offered an excellent opportunity to meet local and statewide
officials directly affecting bicycle facilities, to suss out MHD's
commitment to bike infrastructure, and to put our own agenda on the table
for discussion.
Details will be offered at our next meeting, but one message seems to be
that (surprise!) MassHighway is not planning any major new initiatives to
accommodate bikes on the state's roadways at the expense of automobiles.
Apparently MHD has no intention of actually enforcing their own laws
either: if a town claims that it is complying with MGL 87 (the Bike/Ped
Access Act), MHD will assume that to be the case. THEREFORE it is up to
groups like MassBike to play watchdog and make sure towns, communities,
and MassHighway do actually accommodate bikes and pedestrians as
advertised.
Also, there was a clear message that action must take place at the local
(i.e., town and city) level, regardless of MGL 87. If a town demonstrates
that it wants more or wider bike lanes and narrower travel lanes, so it
shall be -- but if the town is silent about bike lanes, none will appear
courtesy of MassHighway.
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That's all for now -- see you on Wednesday the 9th!