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W.Va. Becoming More Bike-Friendly

West Virginia is making improvements as a bike-friendly state, according to data published by a national bicycle advocacy group.

The League of American Bicyclists lists West Virginia as 28th for laws and policies designed to keep bicyclists safe and to promote bicycling.

West Virginia ranked last in the league’s first ranking in 2008.

States are rated on infrastructure and funding as well as traffic laws and practices.

In a press release, the West Virginia Department of Transportation highlighted the 2014 passage of the Bicycle Safety Law, which requires drivers to give cyclists three feet of safe passing distance when overtaking them on the road.

The department has also been providing funding to communities to better accommodate bicycles.

The League of American Bicyclists has also designated three West Virginia communities, Morgantown, Wheeling and Beckley, as bronze-level bicycle-friendly communities.

To qualify, communities must have bike lanes on a third of their arterial streets and bicycle education programs in schools and for the public.

Construction Underway for Charleston Bicycle Lanes

Construction has started for the city of Charleston’s long awaited bicycle lanes.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the bicycle lanes will stretch along Kanawha Boulevard.

Assistant city engineer Aaron Morris says crews were working on the city’s West Side last week and will continue early this week to remove and pave the grassy median along Kanawha Boulevard West between Patrick Street and Magic Island.

According to renderings, bike lanes will be separated from vehicle traffic with Patrick Street and Magic Island.

Officials say Kanawha Boulevard West will remain open to traffic throughout the process. Work crews plan to shift traffic to where the medians were to keep it two-way.

Morris says once the median work is completed, crews are expected to begin constructing crosswalks on the north side of the boulevard.

Clarksburg Police to Implement Bike Patrol to Reduce Crime

The Clarksburg Police Department will soon roll out a new bicycle patrol system that officials hope will cut down on crime in the city.

The Exponent Telegram reports Clarksburg Police Chief Robbie Hilliard says he believes the system will be up and running by the beginning of June.

Hilliard says bike patrols have been proven to work effectively in reducing crime in the cities, adding that the patrols will also increase police presence in Clarksburg.

The routes will focus on the downtown area, as well as Glen Elk and several other neighborhoods in the community.

Hilliard says the bicycle police will be utilizing this system not only during regular shift hours, but during the city’s special events, including festivals, fairs and other public activities.

Beckley Police Roll Out Bike Patrols

The Beckley Police Department is rolling out a new set of bike patrols in an effort to keep improving relations between the department and the community.

Beckley Police Chief Lonnie Christian tells the Register-Herald that it had been about 15 years since the department had bike patrols. He believes the bike patrols ended because people didn’t see the benefits the patrols bring.

Christian says it can be hard for officers to interact with the public while inside a patrol vehicle. He hopes the bike patrols will encourage officers and the public to interact more.

The addition of bike patrols, he says, is another mark of the department trying to be more proactive instead of reactive with the community.

Another benefit is that the bicycles can go down alleyways and other areas that cars usually can’t reach.

Study to Examine Bicycle Needs in Eastern Panhandle Region

A regional committee plans to study bicycle needs and priorities in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and Washington County, Maryland.

The Journal reports that the Regional Bike Plan Study is part of the Hagerstown Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Long-Range Transportation Plan.

The $130,000 study will examine the region’s existing bicycle paths and lanes, and how to form a connected network. It also will look at what infrastructure should be developed.

Consulting firm Michael Baker International will conduct the study.

A Bike Study Guiding Committee will serve as an advisory group. The committee includes representatives of transportation agencies, local government agencies, the private sector and advocacy groups. The committee will hold its first meeting this week.

West Virginia Improves Bike Ratings

West Virginia is making slight progress in making the state more bicycle-friendly.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports West Virginia is 42nd in the nation, according to the League of American Bicyclists, which released its annual report Monday.

Last year’s numbers indicated West Virginia was 44th and dead last in 2008 and 2011. West Virginia’s 2015 rank is the highest the state has had, tied with its place in 2009.

The best state in the ranking is Washington, followed by Minnesota, Delaware, Massachusetts and Utah. The worst state is Alabama, followed by Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska and Montana.

The League of American Bicyclists has put out a report each year since 2008.