There was a national conference for bike share operators  – North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) –  recently held in Philadelphia. Here are key takeaways from the conference:

https://betterbikeshare.org/2024/10/17/key-takeaways-from-the-2024-nabsa-conference/

Montco 2050

As part of Montgomery County’s “Project 2050” there is seven more days to provide your input via an online survey, which leans heavy into questions related to county bike trails, bike lanes an bike infrastructure. Privide you input on important questions. The survey takes about ten minutes to complete.

Here is the link directly to the survey:

https://engage.montgomerycountypa.gov/en/projects/topic-input-transportation

As discussed in our recent monthly meetings, the leadership of Bike North Penn needs to expand and become more formalized. Our group has been around since August of 2022, and it is time for an upgrade!

Therefore, the group is seeking candidates to run for one year terms (calendar year 2025) in the following positions:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Membership Director

Interested parties should declare their intentions no later than our organizational meeting on November 14. 

Each candidate is asked to:

• Submit a short written appear for their candidacy
• Take a few questions from members about their intention and vision for their service in the position at either the October, November or December organizational meetings.

The election will be held at the group organizational meeting on December 12, with mail-in voting (for those who cannot attend the Dec. 12 meeting) starting on November 15.

For those interested in running for office, please send your written appeals via email ASAP: [email protected]

Upper Gwynedd Township has released a draft version of their Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan – available here.

The report covers many details which are relevant – by extension – to the bikeabilty of Upper Gwynedd Township, but information directly affecting bikeability is on pages 92 and 93. Here, there are recommendations for streets to get bike lanes, others to get sharrows and in one case, a “Buffered Contraflow Lane.”

The township will hold a special meeting to review the report on Oct. 14. All Bike North Penn members are asked to turn out for this.

They are also asking for citizen feedback to the report in advance of the Oct. 14 meeting. Comments to should be submitted via email to BOTH of these email addresses:

• Tim Adams at [email protected]
• Sarah Prebis at [email protected]

showing proposed trails, bike lanes and sharrows.

Page from Upper Gwynedd Draft Report – Particular to biking and active transportation.

Street Map of Lansdale Borough

On Oct. 30, 2024 there will be a Lansdale Borough meeting to specifically review the report from the recent traffic study, meant to address traffic, moving at excessive speeds on neighborhood streets by those trying to avoid congested primary streets and intersections.

In addition to presenting the reports findings, there will also be a review of proposed solutions and there will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and make comments.

Here is a link to a recent article in The Reporter by local journalist Dan Sokol.

Lansdale Borough residents and Bike North Penn members are encouraged to turnout for this important meeting.

Below is a link to the presentation deck from the August 2024 Bike North Penn organizational meeting. This meeting marks the second anniversary of the founding of Bike North Penn!

Key items discussed:

• Two serious bike crashes in the North Penn area in the past month
• Bike North Penn Bike Valet at Lansdale Farmers Market on August 24 – Looking for Volunteers!
• Partnership TMA of Mont Co. Activity in Hatfield – looking for input from locals – not just for Hatfield Borough/Township residents
• Proposed Bike North Penn Elections – consider running for office!
• Proposed Bike North Penn Committee to draft bylaws and priorities for calendar year 2025 – consider volunteering for this committee!

Link to August, 2024 Presentation Deck

Link to August, 2024 meeting recording  – Sorry folks – I guess I did not successfully start the meeting recording.

Call for Volunteers – The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County.

The Partnership TMA recently announced they were selected as a recipient of the AARP Community Challenge grant for 2024. This is a highly coveted nationwide grant that is only awarded to roughly 10% of all applicants.

Now that the award has been granted, there is lots of work to do!

The AARP grant will support community engagement to assess “bikeability” in Hatfield Borough and Township, and will include volunteers conducting “bike audits” August -November, 2024.

They are looking for a few volunteers from Hatfield and the surrounding areas to assist with this audit. All training will be provided, you do not have to be a bike rider to participate, and all ages are welcome!

For more information please contact: Lucas Oshman, Program Leader. Email [email protected] or call 215.997.9100

Thanks all for attending our July general meeting in person and online. Our next meeting will be Thursday, August 8, at 7 PM at Eclipse Center for Creative Community – 30 Vine Street, Lansdale, PA 19446. Meetings are also streamed live via Microsoft Teams.

Here is a link to the July meeting recording

Here is a link to the presentation deck used for the July meeting

Meeting Notes:

Bike Valet

• Been going well. No customers at the July 2, Whites Rd. event – but it was a very hot night
• July 30 – Tuesday night Whites Rd. Music Program – Dominic Frascella will be leading this event (Bill Jackson will not be able to attend)
• August Lansdale First Fridays – Dominic Frascella will be leading this event (Bill Jackson will not be able to attend)

Hatfield Township

• Bike Lanes on Derstine Rd.
  1. Line paining planned for August
  2. Lanes will run an additional 400 feet south of Elroy Rd. than originally expected!
  3. Will add an additional community ride in Hatfield incorporating these lanes
• The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County has been awarded an AARP grant which will focus on Hatfield Borough and Township
  1. Community Challenge Grant
  2. Creating a more livable community
  3. Audit of Hatfield
  4. Community Input – Meeting in August

Week Without Driving

• https://weekwithoutdriving.org/
• Sept. 30 – Oct 6
• Encourages local elected and government officials to ride instead of drive to better understand local challenges for those without cars
• BNP will attempt to get an editorial placed in local media
• BNP may try to organize a ride to at least one local government meeting that week
• BNP may send out an email to local governments in advance of this week, call it out and encouraging participation.

Sorry folks. We will try to re-schedule this for later in July.