Task force meeting re bicycling

[Ed W]

On Thursday, a task force met at city hall to discuss Councilor Bynum's bicycling resolution and other bicycling issues.  I won't post my notes here as they are rather long.  Here are the links:

http://www.taobike.blogspot.com

http://www.cycledog.blogspot.com

[pfox]

I wasn't invited, informed or otherwise, or I would have been there to contribute.

[Ed W]

quote:Originally posted by pfox

I wasn't invited, informed or otherwise, or I would have been there to contribute.

Patrick - send me an email and I'll tell you about some of the other ideas percolating right now.

[pfox]

ok.

Was the rest of the INCOG BAG there?

Jonothan, Lisa, Monica, Josh?

If not, they should have been.

I went to a great deal of effort to include people on the Bicycle Advisory Group who were involved and interested in cycling and that brought a variety of perspectives to the table.  Looking at who you all brought to the city council, it is pretty obvious that those opinions were not represented.  I find this quite unfortunate.  You guys need to recognize that a) people who disagree with you all about bike lanes may also agree with you on other issues, and b) that John Forester is not the only "expert" worth reading.

I applaud your effort, otherwise. It is important to keep this issue in the eyes and minds of our policymakers.

[Ed W]

No, the BAG wasn't there.  We did have Gary, Brian, and Ren, as well as Paul Tay.  As I said, the spark came from Paul when he pointed out that there is no cycling representative on the Transportation Advisory Board.  Councilor Bynum said that we would have a voice since he speaks for us, but in the on-going controversy over facilities vs education, there's no indication of his preference.  Some of the other councilors are obviously in favor of facilities, i.e., bike lanes.  You know my thoughts on that.

The TAB will work out the nut-and-bolts issues.

[UpWithBikes]

quote:Originally posted by pfox

ok.

Was the rest of the INCOG BAG there?

Jonothan, Lisa, Monica, Josh?

If not, they should have been.

I went to a great deal of effort to include people on the Bicycle Advisory Group who were involved and interested in cycling and that brought a variety of perspectives to the table.  Looking at who you all brought to the city council, it is pretty obvious that those opinions were not represented.  I find this quite unfortunate.  You guys need to recognize that a) people who disagree with you all about bike lanes may also agree with you on other issues, and b) that John Forester is not the only "expert" worth reading.

I applaud your effort, otherwise. It is important to keep this issue in the eyes and minds of our policymakers.

Mr. Fox did not receive the e-mail from Councilor Bynum calling the meeting because pfox at incog is no longer a valid address.  It seems a local foundation is set to announce Mr. Fox' hiring.

Unlike TAOBAG, there was no attempt to keep the meeting a secret from anyone.  The Bynum e-mail went out to as many players as we had contact information for.

We do not have e-mail contacts for Jonathan, Lisa, Josh, or Monica.  We have no idea who they are.

Below is the Bynum Bike Resolution that actually set the wheels in motion, not the Transportation Advisory Board.  TAB is actually just one symptom of the problem of bicyclists being left out once again.

Also, if you geniuses want to talk about Bicycle Master Plan, you guys need to be at this meeting, tomorrow morning.

A RESOLUTION DECLARING ALL STREETS AND ROADWAYS WITHIN CITY JURISDICTION AS BICYCLE ROUTES AND ALL TRAVEL LANES AS BICYCLE LANES.

WHEREAS, the City Council and the Oklahoma State Legislature, through Tulsa Revised Ordinances and the Oklahoma State Statutes, intend bicyclists to be drivers of vehicles that operate in traffic on public roadways and streets;

WHEREAS, the Complete Our Streets Task Force reports that 28% of Tulsans, almost 100,000, do not have access to motor vehicles;

WHEREAS, the continued rise of the cost of gasoline is causing significant financial hardships on the citizens of Tulsa;

WHEREAS, skilled bicyclists have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of bicycle driving on major roadways and expressways, without causing deaths or injuries;

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA:

Section 1.   All streets and roadways within City jurisdiction are declared bicycle routes to be shared with other users of the roadway.  

Section 2.   All travel lanes are bicycle lanes, to be shared with other users of the roadway.

Section 3.   The bicycle is the official vehicle of the City of Tulsa for all trips under five (5) miles.

[UpWithBikes]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W

The TAB will work out the nut-and-bolts issues.

The OFFICIAL Transportation Advisory Board membership:


EVERYBODY, all together now, SING it!:

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dreams
No request is to extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
As sweet fullfillment of their secret drowns
Like a boat out of the blue
Fate steps in and see's you through

Moma when you wished upon a star
Your dreams come true

(instrumental break)

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
As sweet fullfillment of their secret drowns
Like a boat out of the blue
Fate steps in and see's you through

Baby when you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
When you wished upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Your dreams come true

[UpWithBikes]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W
Councilor Bynum said that we would have a voice since he speaks for us, but in the on-going controversy over facilities vs education, there's no indication of his preference.  

Mr. Wagner, there is NO on-going controversy over engineering vs. education.  Engineering is education and encouragement.

Please refrain from framing the debate as us vs. them.  Responding to Councilor Martinson's concerns, Public Works is on board with vetting a proposed solution.  We are confident that once that discussion gets started, you will also be on board too.  But, it will need to go up to the top, the feds.  Thank you.

[cks511]

quote:Originally posted by UpWithBikes

EVERYBODY, all together now, SING it!:

[/quote]

pancakes?  Do you even commute on a bike?  Unbelievable.

[UpWithBikes]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

quote:Originally posted by UpWithBikes

EVERYBODY, all together now, SING it!:

pancakes?  Do you even commute on a bike?  Unbelievable.
[/quote]

No, I don't.  I just fake it.

[Ed W]

Hi, Paul.

When we talked about 4 or 5 years ago, I said that you weren't going to change.  You'd stick with confrontation.  Yet in that meeting on Thursday, you kept those impulses under control and came across as perceptive and informed.  If you did that more often, keeping the sarcasm and hostility in check, you'd be far more persuasive than you are now.

[pfox]

http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=aff91322-a16c-4b7b-ade9-6cfc3306c509

FOLKS!

WEAR A HELMET.

Lights and reflectors are also good if you don't want to die.