In conjunction with the Town of Jackson, Friends of Pathways completed a plan safe, efficient for bicycle routes through town. Phase I was implemented in the summer of 2013.

2016 News | Pathways & Trials: On a Mission for Sustainable Transportation and Heathy Recreation

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 Hot off the Pathways Press – Exciting News for the entire community. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2016

Contacts: Katherine Dowson, katherine@friendsofpathways.org

Kathryn Brackenridge, communications@friendsofpathways.org

 

Friends of Pathways Announces Evolved Mission Statement Based in Founding Principals and Broadened to Support New Efforts

 

Jackson, WY – Friends of Pathways announces an evolution of its mission statement. This new directive, “supporting a vibrant community by promoting sustainable transportation and healthy recreation in Jackson Hole,” reflects growing community priorities for decreasing traffic congestion and augmenting modes of healthy and planet-friendly travel.

 

Whether enjoying the community pathways system, a trail up Cache Creek, or a Start Bus, FOP wants to make it easier for people to enjoy life in Jackson Hole without the daily need for a car. Central to the enhanced mission rests a priority to help community and elected officials realize their goals of decreasing traffic congestion by implementing innovative solutions for transit and active transportation.

 

“The mission statement addendum comes at an exciting time for Friends of Pathways. With the imminent completion of Path22 and other milestones that have contributed to a sustainable trails and pathways network, it’s a good time to take the foundations of the organization to the next level” offers Executive Director Katherine Dowson. “Our new mission still encompasses trails and pathways while recognizing the important role that sustainable transportation and healthy recreation play in our community and quality of life,” notes Dowson.

 

This summer, Friends of Pathways will pursue its mission with the Commuter Choice Challenge, Skyline Trail construction and other trail projects, and work to develop a permanent Bike Share program. “As Jackson Hole continues to grow and prosper, it is essential to continually assess success, keep momentum and answer the call to promoting vibrancy, health and sustainability” notes Board President Greg Epstein. FOP has long-asked residents to ‘Be Today’s Solution,’ by making choices that encourage a healthy community and environment. Sustainable transportation, or more specifically, modes of travel that increase mobility while decreasing impacts on roads, wildlife, and citizens, are a part of that solution and will continue to play a pivotal role in Jackson’s character and future.

 

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Friends of Pathways supports a vibrant community by promoting sustainable transportation and healthy recreation in Jackson Hole. For more information on Friends of Pathways, visits friendsofpathways.com 

 

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PRINTABLE RELEASE: FOP Mission Press Release

What’s Your Path? Share your stories about Pathways & Trails and All the Goods about living and getting around  healthy and sustainable way @friendsofpathways #JHTRAILS

 

What IS that new paint on the road?

Bike lanes are defined bicycle travel lanes that are for cyclists only. They enable cyclists to ride at their own speed, without being influenced by prevailing traffic conditions and help to facilitate movement predictability between cyclists and motorists. They usually run curbside when no side street parking is present, and run the same direction of traffic. Prior to these recent improvements, Snow King was the only designated bike lane in town in 2007!

Bike Routes On most bike routes, bikes and cars use the same roadway space. These are seen around town on streets and roadways that have relatively low speed and traffic volumes. Bike routes can employ a variety of signage or more complex systems inducing traffic diverters, speed humps, and wayfinding signage. Bike routes with wayfinding signage, shared lane markings and low traffic volumes and speeds can be designated as bicycle boulevards.

Bike Box Management of potential motorist and cycling conflict is done by a variety of “intersection treatments.” These come in variety of forms with the purpose to heighten cyclist visibility, show a right of way, and increase user awareness. One common intersection treatment coming to Jackson is the bike box. These are used at intersections with a high volume of cyclists, where right and left turn conflict is present. They can extend the entire length of an intersection making the cyclist more visible. Want more detailed information? Click the underlined titles! Are you signaling correctly?

Check and see this signaling how-to.

Practice good bike etiquette, learn some handy tips, and remember spandex optional

 

Safety at Intersections

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Respect & Responsibility – Safety at Intersections
Judging by the number of sources we found while writing this article, cyclist’s behavior at intersections is a pertinent topic of conversation around the world. We’ve linked to a number short articles that are way more interesting than you might initially guess and have important and enjoyable information.

Weekly, we receive comments from community members sharing frustrating and dangerous stories about cyclists who don’t stop.  Just this week, a cyclist wrote:

I saw someone almost get hit two days ago while they were blowing quickly through a line-up of cars at a 4-way stop.  A car was turning and almost hit the biker, so they honked.  The biker simply flipped off the car and kept going.  It’s disconcerting and these dangerous situations seem to be occurring with more frequency.

Is there a way to better educate folks before we have another tragedy?

While cycling, most folks loathe coming to a complete stop. It takes a great deal of energy and can add minutes to your trip.Stopping at stop signs is the law, makes cycling safer, and it’s the respectful and responsible thing to do.

In the state of Wyoming, bicycles are vehicles. Neglecting to stop can result in a traffic violation, costing over $100, with each additional violation increasing in cost. Some states, including Idaho, have laws that permit cyclists to yield at stop signs when the situation is appropriate. Until Wyoming adopts similar legislation, cyclists will be treated as motor vehicles at all intersections.

The most frequent type of intersection collisions between a cyclist and a car in the US occur at intersections where the cyclist has a stop sign and a driver does not.  These easily avoidable accidents account for 9.7% of intersection accidents.  In most of these cases, the cyclist is a fault, rolling right in front of the vehicles, when he should have stopped.

Further, running stop signs creates community opposition to cyclists.  Tom Stafford, in BBC article titled “The psychology of why cyclists enrage car drivers,” theorizes that “motorists hate cyclist because they think they offend the moral order.” Driving is a moral activity with formal and informal rules of the road. When cyclists don’t follow the rules of the road, drivers perceive cyclists as breaking the moral code and over time become more and more angry. Stopping completely demonstrates to drivers that cyclists care about the rules and are willing to follow them.

Be Today’s Solution: STOP completely. Please use Respect & Responsibility.

Sharrow!

Around town this week you have probably noticed some new paint! But what do these symbols mean, what are they called.. and why should we care?  A description of the symbols and their function follows and as cyclists, motorists and community members in Jackson- understanding bike infrastructure is paramount to changing the transportation paradigm.

New this week are sharrows or Shared Lane Markings (SLMs)represented with a bicycle and two chevron markings pointing in the designated travel direction, while also encouraging safe positioning for bike riding.

The new sharrow symbol on S. Milward show the bike and chevron in the middle of the lane, this is to prevent cyclists being “doored” and the best option for the narrow street with parked cars.