Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula

Missoula Ride of Silence 2008

As part of National Bike Month, BWAM is coordinating a Ride of Silence in Missoula. In 2007, rides occurred in 272 cities in 50 states and 15 countries. The Ride of Silence was begun in 2003 and has three primary goals: to honor those who have been injured or killed by motor vehicles while cycling, running or walking on public roadways; to raise awareness that cyclists and pedestrians are here; and to promote the concept that all road users must share the road and take responsibility for safety. 

The Missoula Ride of Silence, which is free for all participants, will take place on Wednesday, May 21st, meeting at Caras Park in downtown Missoula at 6:45 p.m. for a slow-paced, short, easy ride to roll out at 7:00. The ride is approximately four miles, will involve riding short distances on Higgins, 5th Street, Russell and Broadway, and asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 10-12 mph. Riders must wear bike helmets and obey all traffic controls, and will be asked to sign a waiver before the ride begins. Anyone interested in safe cycling in and around Missoula is welcome and encouraged to attend. 

The event is being coordinated by the Bike/Walk Alliance of Missoula (BWAM), a non-profit, member-driven organization created to improve the safety, health and enjoyment of the Five Valley area by promoting and enhancing bicycling and walking for everyday transportation and recreation. National Bike Month is coordinated by The League of American Bicyclists, with the goal of promoting the importance of bike safety and encouraging more awareness of cyclists on city streets and other roadways.

More information about the Ride of Silence in general can be found at www.rideofsilence.org. 
Contact: Monica LaBarge for more information about the local ride.

Missoula Obtains Silver Level Bike Friendly Community Status

Congratulations to the Garden City!  The League of American Bicyclists has designated Missoula a Bicycle Friendly Community once again at the Silver level. BWAM kicked this effort off in January by asking Mayor Engen to seek this designation. The Mayor passed it to the city’s Bike/Pedestrian Board. A Bike/Ped Board member (and also a BWAM member), Archie McMillan, did most of the work in assembling the very long application – which was announced in Washington , DC this week at the beginning of National Bike Month. Now how about we get going on the Gold Level? Visit the League of American Bicyclists for more information.

Liquid Planet Supports BWAM during National Bike Month with "Velo Valencia" Special

Liquid Planet has agreed to donate $.50 from each sale of the Velo Valencia, a special white chocolate mocha with orange zest and a dash of cinnamon and sugar, to BWAM. This special drink will be available at all Liquid Planet locations in Missoula for the month of May, which is National Bike Month. Please support Liquid Planet and BWAM by purchasing the Velo Valencia today! See Liquid Planet's official Velo Valencia advertisement here.

Russell Street Reactions

The City of Missoula hosted a neighborhood meeting on April 16^th on what looks like the state’s proposal (endorsed by the city’s Public Works Department) for a 5 lane Russell Street blasting through many neighborhoods, demolishing up to 48 homes and businesses, and creating a loud, unfriendly divide in the middle of Missoula. The neighborhood response? Very negative.

Moreover, the state’s proposal ignores eight years of citizen input, including formal planning sessions in 2000-2001, that call for a neighborhood-friendly, narrower road. While the city and state funnel many hundreds of thousands of dollars to consultants to plan another unpopular Reserve Street, members of BWAM and Missoula Advocates for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) are developing a schematic for a safer, quieter roadway that relies on citizen input, serves all users and does not threaten Missoula’s quality of life. Jordan Hess is taking the lead in drafting the schematic. 

Contact Jordan at wjordanhess@gmail.com or John Wolverton at yodelingdog@hotmail.com for more information.

Travelon Gamelon by Richard Lerman Toured Missoula Streets April 19, 2008

Travelon Gamelon hit the streets of Missoula early Saturday morning April 19 as a beginning event for BWBW 2008.

Approximately 20 amplified bicycles with another 40 "Promenade" participants departed the Missoula Art Museum and toured the north side of Missoula proceeding across the bike/pedestrian railroad overpass, the California Street bridge to Bernices Bakery then a loop Higgins to South Ave to Arthur and then to Bonner Park for a 3-bike Gamelon concert. Richard Lerman developed the artistic concept and technical execution. The Missoula production was co-sponsored by: Missoula Art Museum, Adventure Cycling, Bernices's Bakery, Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula, Free Cycles Missoula, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.

Reserve/Mullan Still Up in the Air

Despite positive press in the Missoulian, it’s still uncertain news on the proposed changes in the intersection at Reserve and Mullan Streets – in fact, potentially really bad news for cyclists, walkers, and taxpayers. With pressure from BWAM and others, the Montana Department of Transportation is now keeping bike lanes on north-bound Reserve. However, those lanes are narrower (next to fast-moving traffic). Also, the same proposal will remove altogether the existing bike lanes on Mullan heading west of Reserve – an important growth area in the city. Also, it appears that pedestrian safety islands will be removed, making it more hazardous for walkers to cross Reserve. All of this for an extra left turn lane on Reserve to Wal-Mart. To top it all off? The cost of this proposal is $420,000, a huge amount! The county originally promised $150,000 for this project – who’s going to pick up the rest of the tab for a questionable project that will jeopardize cyclists and walkers? BWAM members Marta Meengs and Jim Sayer are tracking this and trying to get answers.

University of Montana is Recognized for Transit

The National Wildlife Federation honored UM for its innovative and effective transit system as part of the Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming competition.

UM was one of eight schools recognized from a nationwide pool of entries.

Read all about it in the Missoulian.

Earth Day Special on Bikes

In the Earth Day (April 22) edition of the Missoulian, the leading op-ed was an excellent piece by Greg Siple entitled "Bicycles an easy part of environmental fix." Greg is a local cycling luminary; he co-founded Adventure Cycling Association (formerly Bikecentennial) with his wife, June, along with Dan and Lys Burden. Greg still regularly bikes to his art director job at Adventure Cycling and around town for errands. You can see his op-ed here.

Bring on the Travelon Gamelon

BWAM partners with Missoula Art Museum for some biking music

On Saturday April 19th soundwork performance artist, Richard Lerman, will be leading the Travelon Gamelon: Promenade at 10:30 am at MAM. The Promenade will proceed on a winding route around the town to Bonner Park, stopping at Bernice's Bakery for treats. When the Promenade reaches the festival of Cycles at Bonner Park, a performance of the Concert version of the Travelon Gamelon, for three amplified bicycles will commence at noon.

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