Advocacy Actions and Projects

BWAM's Mission Statement includes four articles having to do with advocacy:

(4) Ensure that Missoula's local governments allocate a fair share of financial and other public resources to enhance the biking and walking environment of Missoula;

(5) Advocate for the adaptation and creation of streets in every part of Missoula that include safe, comfortable and well-designed components for biking and walking;

(6) Ensure development of complete biking and walking networks, using trails and roads, seamlessly connecting every part of Missoula;

(7) Promote the building and maintenance of world-class facilities, including bike parking and boulevards, sidewalks, and traffic calming devices;

2010 Bike Lane Epoxy Project:

In February 2010 members of BWAM learned of a list of bike lanes (see Streets with Bike Lanes) that had been recommended by Missoula Public Works Department for epoxy paint during the 2010 painting season. Having concerns about the streets listed, BWAM members took to the streets and measured bike lanes, parking lanes, and in some cases the travel lanes of the designated streets. Our findings are included in the linked PDF documents: Measurements of Bike Lanes 4-13-2010-mist and Bike Lane Minimums 20100324.

We communicated our concerns to Phil Smith, Missoula Bicycle/Pedestrian Program Manager, and Doug Moeller, MDT District 1 Administrator. See Epoxy Letter PSmith 20100427 and Epoxy Letter Doug Moeller 20100427. We received immediate acknowledgements from Steve King and Doug Moeller. We have now received a more detailed letter from Doug Moeller, see Epoxy Reply Doug Moeller 20100609.

We will be watching to see how this project proceeds in July and August.

Current projects include:

• Keeping bike lanes and sidewalks free of obstructions. If you see obstacles in lanes or walkways, call the Missoula Street Maintenance Division at 552-6345. If the obstacles are parked vehicles call 911 to report. Or to leave a gentle reminder to the offender print & cut this Clearing Reminder
• Preventing the loss of the pedestrian island in the Mullan-Reserve Street intersection design see Mullan Reserve Letter
• Supporting "3-Plus for Russell Street Citizens Plan" (an alternative to the Department of Transportation preferred 5-lane Russell project)
• Pushing for a better Arthur-5th-6th re-design
• Engaging with the engineers on the North Higgins Streetscape Plan
• Supporting MIST's and Bike/Ped Board's call for standard 5-foot bike lane measurements (eg: Orange St. between the bridge and S. Sixth St.) before the upcoming spring epoxy painting
• Requesting bike lanes on Russell Street between Mount and Brooks
• Striving to get Missoula's sidewalk network complete
• Representation on Citizen Advisory Committee for the Missoula Active Transportation Plan
• Developing a list of projects for the Transportation Improvement Program
• Supporting the Missoula-Lolo Trail Alliance which is now a committee of BWAM. (see http://sites.google.com/site/bitterroottrail/Home)

Since BWAM's formation in 2007 we have:

• Spoken on behalf of cyclists and pedestrians at numerous City Council and Public Works Committee meetings
• Written letters of support or concern to government officials on many proposals and projects, and participated in transportation workshops (see advocacy section)
• Collaborated with other groups (MIST, MAST, Bike/Ped Advisory Board) to achieve some improvement in poorly-designed bulbouts
• Helped introduce and pass a Complete Streets Resolution in City Council
• Had representation on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Long-Range Transportation Plan
• Helped bring about new bike lanes on Higgins Avenue, Orange Street, and Russell Street
• Developed relationships with agency staff and have had some success and positive results

For more information about BWAM's advocacy since 2007 and to see specific actions taken, see links at the right.

Help Make BWAM Stronger, our Voice Louder!

Here's how: Join the 3-P Team: Attend the meetings on 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, noon-1:30, City-County Library. If you can't make the meetings but want to be involved, please e-mail John Wolverton, or Ethel MacDonald