Goshen Bikes advocacy reboot

[Andrea Milne]

Hey Goshen Bikes-ers! I’m feeling like it’s time to rekindle this group’s energy. The group was originally formed in response to a design flaw in the 8th St / College Ave crossing back in 2007. In recent months, we’ve been expressing similar concerns with other projects and it seems we could benefit from some collaborative, strategic action.

The Bicycle Advisory Committee, an offshoot from Goshen Bikes advocacy, worked within the city administrative structure, but has been all but defunct now for several years. In absence of the Advisory Committee, I think it’s time to bring back some good-ol’ grassroots advocacy work to be more engaged in decisions that affect our daily travels by bike and foot.

Would others be interested in gathering for a conversation about how we might best focus our efforts? I propose meeting at The Electric Brew next week on Tues (8/6) or Thurs (8/8) at 5:30p. Thoughts?

Andrea

--

Andrea J. Milne, MUP (Master of Urban Planning)
Research and Visual Communications Consultant

Dovetail Projects, LLC
ajm...@dovetailprojects.com
www.dovetailprojects.com
(574) 400-5858

[John Yoder]

Good idea, Andrea. Either day works for me.

 

John Yoder

Yoder...@gmail.com

574-596-4299 - Mobile

574-304-9983 - Home

--
--
To post to this group, send email to goshe...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/goshenbikes?hl=en
Group web page: https://sites.google.com/site/goshenbikes/

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goshen Bikes" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CALE8se_NsOnKh-b4RfhRzt7NoaRkAJCMrJD3MVv91_g0mFq_oA%40mail.gmail.com.

[John Nafziger]

Andrea,

Both dates work for me as well.

Thanks

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/01b701d54619%24b1b67870%2415236950%24%40gmail.com.

--

John Nafziger

Goshen, IN

[dannys...@gmail.com]

Two notes, one in response to Andrea’s email and the other an observation:

 

1. In the process of regenerating this Goshen group, please keep in mind that Bike Elkhart (based in Elkhart) has recently expanded it efforts to work on bicycling issues and trails, county-wide. Your group and Bike Elkhart should have mutual interests and joining efforts could benefit both. The trails include a trail from Elkhart to Mishawaka along the Elkhart-Western railroad between the same two cities. Then there is also the new Quaker Trace Trail group – connecting Elkhart to Bonneyville Mills and on to Middlebury. The combination of the Pumpkinvine, MapleHeart, Quaker Trace, and Elkhart-Western (not an officially adopted name) lends itself to an impressive bicycling infrastructure we could brag about.
1. Paul Eash (copied on this email) is the president of Bike Elkhart.
2. Steve Braden (copied on this email) is the lead person on the Quaker Trace.
2. My observation: Recently I noticed that the reflective posts/barriers that were placed between the MapleHeart Trail and Wilden Ave. to demark a specific separation between the trail and the vehicular street have been removed (by the city, I assume) . In their place were placed two “Do not pass on the right” signs. A really poor choice and logic. To make matters even worse, the signs were placed to the far side (north side) of the trail. They are not really “roadside” signs as one would expect if you want drivers to see them. It is also a really poor choice and logic. It is just a bad, bad administrative action that could result in harm to bicyclists. I do not know who in the city would have been responsible for that decision. It is, in my mind, a potentially treacherous situation.

 

Andrea, I hope this is helpful to your thought process in reviving the group. I do not mean to interfere in any way.

 

-Danny Graber

 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CAFPsE0G0MYgTr%3Dgh1U89NMErdOEeXd%3D60koSCnB20zjRCUNmrQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ben Beyeler]

Thanks Andrea. I may be late on either day. I'll stay tuned to what you decide.

--

--
To post to this group, send email to goshe...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/goshenbikes?hl=en
Group web page: https://sites.google.com/site/goshenbikes/

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goshen Bikes" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CALE8se_NsOnKh-b4RfhRzt7NoaRkAJCMrJD3MVv91_g0mFq_oA%40mail.gmail.com.

--

-Ben
574-535-9199

[Andrea Milne]

Thanks Danny for the reminder that collaboration across efforts is critical. I was thrilled to hear that Bike Elkhart is transitioning to a countywide organization—we're long overdue for a countywide effort! I invite Paul and Steve to join us for the chat next week to share their experience and help us think through our own direction.

It looks like both times I suggested would work for those who have responded. So, I'm going to go ahead and recommend 5:30p on Tues (8/6) at The Electric Brew (in Goshen). Please feel free to invite others to this conversation. My proposed agenda is:

1. Review the history of this group—what worked, what didn't work to get the successes we had?
2. Discuss what is needed for us to feel that the biking community is being heard and being taken seriously by the City of Goshen?

I'm looking forward to meeting with you all!

Andrea J. Milne, MUP (Master of Urban Planning)
Research and Visual Communications Consultant

Dovetail Projects, LLC
ajm...@dovetailprojects.com
www.dovetailprojects.com
(574) 400-5858

[Andrea Milne]

Hi Paul and everyone! Yes! Let's switch to 5:30 on Thursday (8/8). Glad that means you can make it! :)

Andrea J. Milne, MUP (Master of Urban Planning)
Research and Visual Communications Consultant

Dovetail Projects, LLC
ajm...@dovetailprojects.com
www.dovetailprojects.com
(574) 400-5858

On Wed, Jul 31, 2019 at 5:02 PM Paul Eash <eash...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Andrea - our monthly Bike Elkhart meeting is Tuesday night August 6 along with a quilt garden ride meeting right after. Can I beg you to reschedule for Thursday August 8 at 5:30? I’d love to attend. 

Thanks a ton Danny for passing this on. 

Paul Eash

Sent from my iPad

[Andrea Milne]

Just a reminder to everyone that we are gathering at the Goshen Electric Brew at 5:30 today. Please bring your ideas for how we as a group of advocates can be part of the City’s efforts to improve biking for riders of all comfort levels. Looking forward to a great conversation!

Andrea

[Evan Bontrager]

A few members of Goshen Bikes community and two visitors from Bike Elkhart met last week. One of the topics relates to the Kercher Avenue crossing and the greater Quiet Zone corridor. I will continue that topic as a specific action item. Other topics will continue with ongoing Goshen Bikes activities.

For background, Andrea Milne will be sending out notes from the last meeting. And there is discussion about a regular meeting the third Tuesday of the month such that Bike Elkhart can participate. In between this meeting we can meet with Leslie in Engineering about projects.

Back to Kercher, I met with the city and discussed this again on the phone. Adam had suggested the maze was installed to direct bikers to look both ways. In reality it is much worse. The design was created to dismount bicycles. Leslie, the city traffic engineer, relinquished design of this crossing to a consultant. It was left to the consultant to interpret Federal rail guidance for quiet zones and their design was not reviewed for final approval. I heard one idea being considered is to shorten the center fence such that riding around is easier but I don't know how that is proceeding of if that is an actual solution.

Action items:

1. Everyone is encouraged to communicate with the city (engineering or mayor)  that dismounting is an incorrect design criteria. Car drivers don't need to stop, get out, and proceed across the tracks. And while consultants are useful, final design approvals must stay with city officials and no such control should be relinquished.

2. We need to obtain the actual Federal guidance and correct the design criteria for this and all other crossings. The crossings within this corridor are:

a. Washington street bike trail crossing

b. Madison

c. Purl (might be solved with gates)

d. College Ave

e. Kercher

3. We need to schedule a meeting with Leslie. She is willing to plan a 5:30 once a month. Please indicate your available evenings next week at https://doodle.com/poll/krpdd5pp42pdz2ud

Please come with credible, respectful, and clear solutions. Call or text if you want to share thoughts in preparation, or if you can't attend but want to share ideas. I will find a downtown venue when the date is determined.

Sincerely,

Evan Bontrager
Ev...@Bontrager.net

+1 574-238-0534 mobile

[yoder...@gmail.com]

Three thoughts on the Kercher barriers.

1. Cyclists do not like to lose momentum. If a barrier forces them to stop and there is an alternative to stopping, e.g., going onto the street,, then they will go onto the street, which is dangerous because it is not expected by motorists, particularly for those cyclists going west who would face on-coming traffic.
2. Barriers like those at Kercher are also hazards to cyclists. They can easily cause cyclists to fall.
3. There is no possibility of cyclists coming from opposite directions to pass within these barriers. Even walking through with bikers going in the opposite direction would be a challenge. They are a one-way traffic “solution,” a bottleneck that defeats the purpose of the bike path, which I assume is to create a safe path for cyclists.

 

John Yoder

Yoder...@gmail.com

574-596-4299

--

--
To post to this group, send email to goshe...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/goshenbikes?hl=en
Group web page: https://sites.google.com/site/goshenbikes/

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goshen Bikes" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to goshenbikes...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CAKhBJu7v%2BUKvN4wyOyMvr2CGNaQOQeO2C2ewccEK6o-qCHD_WA%40mail.gmail.com.

[John Nafziger]

Evan,

In addition to the pedestrian crossings you have listed, there's a sidewalk on New York Street on both side of the RR crossing so I assume that will also need to meet the same guidelines.

Thanks for your work on this.

John Nafziger

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/03c901d55391%24a17c2a10%24e4747e30%24%40gmail.com.

[Danny Graber]

Since I live in Elkhart  I have never seen the crossing issue on Kercher before today. It is interesting that the engineer made such a big fuss about making sure bicyclist look both ways. Cars which are going much faster simply rely on the red flashing light. Did the engineer assume that we bicyclists are  more feeble minded and we can't understand the meaning of a red flasking light.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/03c901d55391%24a17c2a10%24e4747e30%24%40gmail.com.