Ride to Commissioner's Meeting 05/04Re: Bike Lanes

[quantabass]

Hello fellow riders! I am writing on behalf of the BIKE LANE advocates group that has formed in support of BIKE LANES on HWY. 107 S. We would like to encourage everyone to join us for a very short, but important bike ride on Monday May 4th. We will be meeting at the parking lot for the Bridge Park in Downtown Sylva. We will then ride all the way up Grindstaff Cove rd. to the Jackson Co. Justice Center to attend the Commissioner's meeting. There, we will be advocating for the inclusion of bicycle safety, and BIKE LANES in the plans for road improvements on Hwy 107 S. between WCU and Tuckaseigee (Hwy 281). We would like to invite the many and varied members of our local bicycle community to show up, en masse, and join us in asking the Jackson County Commissioners to support BIKE LANES on Hwy. 107 S. Any Questions? write to me here or at [e-mail]

[squidlyman]

Time to depart from the park?

[quantabass]

the plan is to meet at the park at 5:30 to discuss our agenda and solidify talking points for public comments and such. So, I would think that we will start the ride at or close to 5:45 or so. i hope that we get a good turn out for this advocacy ride. this is for the entire cycling community here, and we appreciate all of your support and help.

[Vespa]

Hey everyone,

If you can come out for this ride and commissioner's meeting today, you could really make a difference.

Unfortunately, I can't be there today myself, but I was a part of the stakeholder's meetings led by Jeanette and Adam and can say that they have captured some really strong ideas and need your help to communicate our request for a bike lane.

mike

Apr 10, 2009 16:19:49 GMT -5 quantabass said:

Hello fellow riders! I am writing on behalf of the BIKE LANE advocates group that has formed in support of BIKE LANES on HWY. 107 S. We would like to encourage everyone to join us for a very short, but important bike ride on Monday May 4th. We will be meeting at the parking lot for the Bridge Park in Downtown Sylva. We will then ride all the way up Grindstaff Cove rd. to the Jackson Co. Justice Center to attend the Commissioner's meeting. There, we will be advocating for the inclusion of bicycle safety, and BIKE LANES in the plans for road improvements on Hwy 107 S. between WCU and Tuckaseigee (Hwy 281). We would like to invite the many and varied members of our local bicycle community to show up, en masse, and join us in asking the Jackson County Commissioners to support BIKE LANES on Hwy. 107 S. Any Questions? write to me here or at [e-mail]

[1yellowtire]

The commissioner's meeting went very well. All of the commissioners were very receptive to our proposal and they promised to endorse a 6 foot bike lane through the gauntlet. We may lose the fight over rumblestrips, but with a 6 foot lane, we'll still have plenty of room.

Perhaps more importantly, the commissioners asked a number of softball, pro-bike questions--stuff like "isn't it true that in Oregon they have a system of bike lanes and have found that it improves health and well-being among the citizens?" I answered yes to that one.

So--if you see your commissioners, please thank them. No matter what you may think of their policy positions on other issues, they all seem genuinely interested in promoting safe bicycling in Jackson County. Let's hope we can keep it that way.

[Vespa]

From Jeannette:

Thanks to Adam! our first volunteer willing to attend the next Commissioners' meeting Monday, May 18th 6:30pm. Still looking for three more volunteers. It is really effective to have a group there to clap if and when the Commissioners do pass the resolution. Remember they just agreed to one, it still has to pass in order to be effective.
Also, don't forget to write your thank you's. A simple single letter sent to the whole list is enough. You don't have to personally address each email. Just writing, 'thanks for supporting bike lanes on 107 south', is enough.
Let me know if you can attend their next meeting.
Jeannette