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Siskiyou Velo

Southern Oregon's Premier Cycling Club

Ride and Speak for Bike Lanes on Ashland's Downtown Main Street

by Edgar Hee on May, 25 2016

From: Jeanine Moy <jeaninemoy@gmail.com>
Date: May 24, 2016 11:19:56 AM PDT
 
Subject: Important chance for Ashland – Ride and Speak up for a downtown bike lane

 

Hello friends & bike supporters!

I wanted to reach out to you, and let you know that next Wednesday, June 1st will be a critical day for influencing the fate of our (potentially) bike-friendly Ashland: at the Downtown Parking Management and Circulation meetingwhere the fate of a down-town bike lane will be decided. (read details below) Can you join me?
It is important that bike-supporters show up for a bikeable town because :
  1.  a bikeable town, and biker safety are at stake
  2.  we have a chance to look toward the future for modal equity, as well as being consistent with the town’s development of a Climate Action Plan
  3.  the City has mainly heard from folks who are trying to prevent a bike lane because of unfounded fears that it would negatively impact their business
GROUP BIKE RIDE TO THE MEETING: 
3:00pm – Cyclists will meet on the Plaza for 5-10 minute group ride over to Council Chambers
 
MEETING:
3:30pm – Meeting at 1175 East Main Street, Ashland, OR 97520, if you would like to make a statement – it’s easy, you will sign up upon arrival, and they will take public comments first thing before the meeting 
 
 
 
TALKING POINTS have been compiled (attached) – all you have to do is show up! Emphasize what you like or bring your own facts.
  • Want to see some statistics on bikeable towns and citiesCheck this out.
 
If you can’t make the meeting, but want to support a bike-friendly Ashland, you can:
  1. send a personal note to the City Council record here… or pass along your sentiments to a friend to read at the meeting.
  2. HELP SPREAD THE WORD: Please do forward this note to your lists and friends
Thanks for your enthusiasm!
Sincerely,
Jeanine
And from John:
From: John Fisher-Smith <fish@ashlancreek.net>
To: ejhee@juno.com
Subject: [Siskiyou Velo Club Contact] Bike Lane on Main street between Granite and Gresham
Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 05:21:13 +0000

As revised:
“Please urge your members and their friends to press Mike Faught, the Transportation Commission, the Mayor and City Council to move forward without further delay with adoption of the Multi Modal Plan for Downtown Ashland.

Please have members speak up at the next meeting of the Downtown Parking Management and Circulation Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, Wednesday June 1st,
Council Chambers
1175 East Main Street
Ashland, OR 97520

The design provides for hours-limited truck bays, wider pedestrian sidewalks, a dedicated southbound bike lane to replace the present — which has  constricted sidewalks, three vehicular traffic lanes (one of which is often blocked by parked trucks making deliveries}.

The blockage of bike travel on Main street from the intersection with Lithia/Granite loop back all the way to where  Gresham intersects Siskiyou Blvd prevents all but the strong and fearless classification of cyclists from riding on the four commercial blocks of Main Street in Downtown Ashland. I hold that this situation is dangerous and makes a lie of Ashland’s advertised claim of being a Bike Friendly City and needs to be remedied right away.

Thank you for your efforts
John Fisher-Smith
Cyclist, 945 Oak Street”

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