Thanks, Aaron for sending a reminder. I sent out a call for applications a few months ago, and apparently no one has responded.
For those interested, it really doesn't take all that much time, although, as with so many things, you can put as much time into it as you want. The meetings usually last around 1.5 - 2 hours, although on occasion they have lasted longer when we have a topic people really want to talk about or where we have lots of public testimony. To prepare for the meeting, a commissioner needs to read the packet of information, which could take 10 minutes - 2 hours, again, depending on what's in the packet and how much effort you want to put into it. I normally spend about an hour looking things over. So, for three hours per month you can have a really big impact on your community. Aaron and I - or others on the commission - can both tell you what5 a typical agenda entails. In addition to bicycle and pedestrian issues, we decide where traffic lights and stop signs will be placed - including hearing public testimony, make changes to on-street (un-metered) parking, review major road projects and developments to make recommendations on pedestrian/bicycle/motor vehicle flow and accommodations, recommend changes in city policy on those topics, etc. I know many people on this list are passionate about making Madison a better place to bicycle, and many have opinions. I'm willing to bet that almost everyone on the list owns a car, or at least has a driver's license. And probably many people also take the bus. To me, walking is the base on which any transportation system is built. Everyone, regardless of other mode they use, is a pedestrian at some point in their trip. So how come we don't have a thriving pedestrian-advocacy community? Where are the people being vocal and passionate about walking? Is it because there's no equipment or vehicle involved? Do people not identify as "pedestrians?" Is it too easy? Is there nothing that needs to be improved? (OK, now I'm being provocative.) So come on, Bikies, you must know someone who wants to be the voice of pedestrians. A parent who wants to walk his/her kid to school, or wants the kid to be able to safely walk alone? A health advocate who thinks walking is the perfect way to stay healthy? Someone who believes that it is a human right to walk safely and easily on public streets? People who care about the social aspects of walking or think it brings more safety to the streets for everyone when lots of people walk? We need you! Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) [email protected] On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 10:19 AM, Aaron Crandall <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Bikies, > > The PBMVC, which meets the 4th Tues of every mo at 5 pm, is down both of > our pedestrian advocates & you can't spell PBMVC without the "P." If > you're a pedestrian advocate, or know someone who is, & would be willing to > serve on this commission, I urge you to visit Madison's Legislative Info > Center<http://www.cityofmadison.com/CityHall/legislativeInformation/apply.cfm> > to > complete an application & specify PBMVC. Applications need to go to the > Mayor's office & if you're really interested in serving on the PBMVC, you > might want to also express that interest to your elected alder, who may be > able to help with such a commission assignment. > > Please let me know if you have any questions or need further information. > Last I heard, there were no current applications to the Mayor's office for > the PBMVC. > > Aaron > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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