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2009-02-11T20:32:00.001-06:00

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Sunday All Year Raytown Fun Ride

2004-08-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

Starts at 3:00 PM every Sunday afternoon, approx. 1-2 hour ride.

Meet at Raytown Square Parking lot at the intersection of Hwy 350 and Gregory Blvd in Raytown.

For more info. contact Brent Hugh 816-356-1740 or email brent@brenthugh.com.

Leisure ride (12 - 14 MPH).

Weekly ride, we ride every week except in pouring rain or if the temp is below 32 degrees.

Raytown Bike Meeting tonight, 7:00PM, EMS Building

2003-11-19T15:06:00.000-06:00

Just a last-minute reminder that our Raytown Bicycle Task Force Meeting is tonight (Wed., Nov 19th), 7:00PM, Raytown EMS Building, 10020 East 66th Terrace.

We're meeting with Beau Groceman, Director of Raytown Public Works. So if you've EVER had something you wanted to talk about with the Public Works director, here is your big chance . . .

Those of you who were at the last meeting, with Aaron Bartlett of MARC, know that Aaron gave a VERY good presentation that helped to focus our thinking. He talked about the three Es of bike planning:

Engineering
Enforcement
Education/Advocacy

These are like the 3 legs of a tripod, and without any one of the legs the thing will not stand.

The Public Works dept. has primary responsibility for Engineering. The Police have primary responsibility for Enforcement. And we (as the bicycle task force) have primary responsibility for Education/Advocacy & promotion.

But all three Es have to be on the same wavelength & working towards the same goals. So part of our job is to make that happen.

That is why John has scheduled meetings tonight with Public Works (Engineering) and is planning for a future meeting with the Police Dept (Enforcement).

Hope to see you tonight!

--Brent

+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Missouri Bicycle Federation: http://www.MoBikeFed.org +
+ Piano Home Page: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
+ Earthquake Fugue: http://mp3.com/stations/MathMusic +
+++ Music of the Human Genome: http://mp3.com/brent_d_hugh +++

Bike Ride Saturday, 3:30, Spring Valley Elementary

2003-10-15T00:08:00.000-05:00

Raytown Bike People,

Jagat & I had a very interesting discussion tonight at the Spring Valley Elementary PTA meeting. We talked a little about Safe Routes to School and various such things.

One idea we're going to follow up on is having a regular bike ride starting at the school. Please come and ride with us if you can! The school ride will be slow & sociable--I'm hoping if anyone wants to ride further & faster we could go right after this ride is finished for about an hour.

Here's the info:

Spring Valley Bicycle Fun Ride

Saturday, October 18th, 2003, 3:30PM
Meet in front of Spring Valley Elementary, 8838 E 83rd St, Raytown, MO

* Learn about bike safety
* Practice bicycle handling and safety skills
* Meet others who like to bicycle
* Free bike safety booklet for all kids

This will be an easy and sociable ride, mostly on quiet neighborhood streets in the area. Parents are especially encouraged to come and ride with their children. Plan about 60-90 minutes for the ride and other activities.

Helmets are required.

For more info, or if you would like to borrow a bicycle or helmet for the ride, please call Jagat Khalsa at 358-0491.

+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Missouri Bicycle Federation: http://www.MoBikeFed.org +
+ Piano Home Page: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
+ Earthquake Fugue: http://mp3.com/stations/MathMusic +
+++ Music of the Human Genome: http://mp3.com/brent_d_hugh +++

Raytown public meeting postponed (was to be Thursday)

2003-10-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the Public Meeting for the Raytown Bicycle Plan that was scheduled for this coming Thursday, Oct 16th, has been POSTPONED due to a scheduling conflict.

Since we handed out a lot of flyers about the meeting, it probably would be smart to have someone go to city hall that evening and just intercept anyone who might happen to show up. Might be a chance to talk to a few people one-on-one, anyway.

I would do it except that I can't make it back from St. Joseph Thursdays until about 7:30PM (the meeting was scheduled for Thurs @ 7:00PM).

Any volunteers for "Interception duty"?

--Brent

+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Missouri Bicycle Federation: http://www.MoBikeFed.org +
+ Piano Home Page: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
+ Earthquake Fugue: http://mp3.com/stations/MathMusic +
+++ Music of the Human Genome: http://mp3.com/brent_d_hugh +++

Meeting Agenda for Wed, 7PM at City Hall

2003-09-29T19:18:00.000-05:00

Hi all,

Below is the agenda for the meeting Wednesday at 7PM, from John Benson.

Note that the meeting is at Raytown Hall this time, NOT the Raytown EMS Building.

Future planning note: John is going to talk to the Shawnee Parks person about coming to talk to us about their bike plan, possibly next Wed. or Thurs. (it didn't work out with his schedule to come this Wed.).

------Agenda--------------------------------------

City of Raytown
Bicycle Task Force Kick-off Meeting

Raytown City Hall
10000 East 59th Street
Raytown, MO 64133

October 1, 2003
7:00 pm

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Review Draft Bicycle Route Map

3. Development of Public Education & Awareness Action Plan

4. Public Meeting Format

5. Adjourn

+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Missouri Bicycle Federation: http://www.MoBikeFed.org +
+ Piano Home Page: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
+ Earthquake Fugue: http://mp3.com/stations/MathMusic +
+++ Music of the Human Genome: http://mp3.com/brent_d_hugh +++

Meeting October 1st, 7PM

2003-09-27T14:40:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the next meeting of the Raytown Bicycle Task Force is Wed, October 1st, 7PM.

Unfortunately the person from Shawnee couldn't come that day. We'll find another time to meet with him. But we do need to meet Wednesday to talk about a couple of things:

1. Route map, getting it tweaked as we want.
2. Plan the public meeting, which we have announced for Thurs, Oct 16, 7PM.

--Brent

+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Missouri Bicycle Federation: http://www.MoBikeFed.org +
+ Piano Home Page: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
+ Earthquake Fugue: http://mp3.com/stations/MathMusic +
+++ Music of the Human Genome: http://mp3.com/brent_d_hugh +++

Railroad Right-of-way

2003-09-22T13:47:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking a little more about the trail on the railroad right-of-way. I know that Union Pacific has "trails with rails" projects that have been completed in other areas of the country; they would be quite similar to our project.

There are two interesting guides to the issue of starting a trail and negotiating with the railroad:

http://www.trailsandgreenways.org/resources/highlights/online/tgc_secrets.pdf
http://www.trailsandgreenways.org/resources/development/acquis/arc_book.asp

Here is a summary of some of the main points:

1. Create a broad-based trail organization to generate citizen support.
2. Come up with a good name for the trail (no more "old RR right-of-way"). Have a naming contest.
3. Create a 10 page, non-technical feasibility study. "Why is this going to be a great trail."
4. Contact other groups that have successfully worked with your RR on similar projects.
4. Zone the RR right-of-way as "open space preservation" or similar.
5. Start with all the above. Contacting/lobbying the RR can come later.
6. Find a negotiator who can match "skill for skill" with RR lawyers.
7. Contact a variety of different departments & managers of the RR. Each may have different interests.
8. Have an alternative trail plan in case the RR never works out.

This page lists two Union Pacific Rails-with-Trails projects in CA: http://www.marinbike.org/Campaigns/Infrastructure/RailsTrails/ExistingRWT.htm

There is a detailed case study of the Cupertino rails-with-trails project (with U.P.) here: http://www.altaplanning.com/focus/rails_lessons.html

Raytown Bicycle Lanes, Shared Lanes

2003-09-22T13:47:00.002-05:00

Here is the report from Raytown Public Works about the re-striping they were able to do as part of road re-paving this summer in Raytown.

(For those of you who weren't in on the earlier discussion on this--I asked public works if they would consider re-striping any four-lane roads they are currently re-paving, with a narrower center lane and a wider outside lane. The idea is to give room for motorists and bicyclists to "share" the lane safely. They considered a number of different options but settled on 11.5 foot center lanes and 13.5 foot curb lanes, where possible.)

From: "Jason M. Hanson"
>To: "'Brent Hugh'"
>
> - We finished striping the streets earlier this week.
> - How did you think the bicycle lanes and shared lanes turned out???
>
> - We were not able to make much difference on 63rd Street. It was not 48'
>wide as thought - it was closer to 44' wide and the outside lane is not very
>wide.
>
> - The shared lanes were striped between 13' & 14' wide on:
>Raytown Rd/Trffy from 53rd to 63rd
>Blue Ridge Blvd from 64th to 350 bridge
>Gregory from Blue Ridge Blvd to Raytown Rd
>Raytown Rd/ from 79th to 83rd
>
> - A 4' bicycle lane was stiped on:
>83rd Street from James A Reed to Westridge
>
> - We will continue to do this on all upcoming street striping projects in
>the future.

Raytown Bike Trails

2003-09-22T13:47:00.001-05:00

Since we're on the topic of trails, you might be interested to know that there are actually four proposed trails (that I know of) going through Raytown. Some of these are more along the lines of "on street routes" than off-road trails. Three of these are proposed in the MetroGreen plan:

1. Rock Island Railroad
2. 87th Street (mentioned in our last meeting, as the connection between the Blue River trail and the Little Blue Trace)
3. Santa Fe Trail route. This roughly follows the Santa Fe Trail route from the MO river, through Independence & Raytown, to approx. the Grandview Triangle.

You can see a map showing the above routes (and others) at

http://www.marc.org/metrogreen/map.htm

The fourth trail is a coast-to-coast trail known as the "American Discovery Trail". It uses the Katy Trail to cross much of MO and then continues from the KC area by generally following the Santa Fe trail route. In Raytown, proceeding from northeast to southwest, it follows Blue Ridge Blvd to 63rd Street to Blue Ridge Blvd to Gregory, continuing on Blue River Road to the Kansas state line.

See http://www.discoverytrail.org/states/missouri/mo_points3.html

The Discovery Trail will certainly consider re-aligning this route if we can get a better route in place (perhaps #3 above, from the MetroGreen plan).

--Brent

Raytown Streamways

2003-09-22T13:47:00.000-05:00

One thing I would personally like to investigate for Raytown, is the adoption of the same kind of a streamway plan that many cities on the Kansas side have adopted.

An example is at

http://www.opkansas.org/_Assets/pds/draft_ordinance.pdf

The bicycling tie-in is this: Streamways is where Johnson County is building many (most) of their bicycle paths. That is the one single reason they have so many more paths than we do.

Raytown is already quite built-out, so the situation is not altogether the same here. But I bet if we started looking carefully at streamways, there are still some opportunities left--even if just for rather small, local trails like they are proposing along the creek of the new development on the former Dick's Tires location at 59th & Raytown Rd.

New email lists

2003-09-21T12:08:00.000-05:00

Raytown bicycle people,

I'm writing you because you've been involved with the discussion about the Raytown Bicycle Task Force, or attended the Task Force meeting, or have asked to be added to our email list.

Today I'm creating two email lists for the Bicycle Task Force. You'll receive an automated invitation to join both of them from Topica.com.

If you want to join the lists, just reply to the automated invitation (it doesn't matter what you say when you reply--it's just automated).

If you DON'T want to join the lists, just ignore the automated invitation. If you just ignore the invitation, nothing will happen and you WILL NOT be added to the email lists.

The two email lists are:

1. raytown-bike-announce@topica.com
A low-volume, announcement only list. For those who only want to
receive announcements of meetings and other relatively important
things. No discussion, just announcements.

2. raytown-bike-chat@topica.com
A higher-volume list where we can talk things over and have discussion.
All announcements will be sent here, too.

You should choose one of the two lists to join . . . basically low-volume announcements or higher-volume announcements plus discussion. Higher-volume still won't be very high, I'll bet.

Again, you will receive an automated invitation for these lists in your email box soon. You can also subscribe to the list of your choice by sending a blank email message to one of these addresses:

raytown-bike-chat-subscribe@topica.com
raytown-bike-announce-subscribe@topica.com

--Brent