Missoula is exploding right now with planning exercises aimed at figuring out how to improve our quality of life and how to allocate future financial resources. What is encouraging is how popular biking and walking have been at different public sessions to gather input. Also, the consultants and staff working on future plans have cited better walking and biking systems as essential elements. For example, a new report from the Office of Planning and Grants on long-range transportation calls for land use planning and investments that would favor walking and biking facilities.
In other news, at a meeting of nearly 300 people on ideas for the downtown master plan, the consultants stated that bicycling facilities were critical to the success of downtown’s future and that they really wanted to push the envelope for all types of cyclists. They even called for physically separated “cycle-tracks” on Higgins and Broadway Streets – an idea that drew mixed reviews from cyclists, along with calls for a 3-lane Higgins and a 2-lane Higgins Bridge with a wide promenade on the western side overlooking the Clark Fork River and Brennan’s Wave
Finally, there is another upcoming set of meetings on “urban fringe development areas”, which will include discussion of future city development scenarios. Attend if you can, and if you’re interested in these planning exercises, email Jim Sayer on BWAM’s board
POST RIDE UPDATE: The weather held for us, and we assembled about 60 riders. Thanks to all who participated in this event! Special thanks to Big Dipper Ice Cream and Bayern Brewery - two great post-event stops!
See the ride in the Photo Gallery
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.
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 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. UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who supported Liquid Planet and BWAM in May. Nearly 300 "Velo Valencia" drinks were sold!
The City of Missoula hosted a neighborhood meeting on April 16th 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 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.
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.