Assembly Hearing Update

May 14, 2007 events.
1) Assembly Hearing, Tuesday, May 15
2) Safety Improvement Celebration, bike lane grand opening, Saturday, May 19
3) Bike lane update and buttons victory!

Dear Red Rock friends and supporters,

1. SB 128 Hearing (possible state law to prohibit commercial trucking through Red Rock)

   Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 15, Dina Titus’ bill is going to be heard in the Assembly transp. committee.  As you know, after a long deliberation and a successful email campaign (thanks for all your letters), it was passed through the Senate and now it is up to the Assembly.  The hearing will be videoconferenced into Las Vegas, at 1:30 p.m. at the Grant Sawyer Building, in room 4406.  You may also check it out live, on-line at http://www.leg.state.nv.us/audio/AudioVideo.cfm, (scroll down to 5-15-07, 1:30 p.m., Assembly Transportation meeting.)  I will be there.  Anyone else is welcome to come and testify.  You may call me for more info. 875-4803 or my cel phone 274-0116.

2. Safety Improvement Celebration
   Please mark your calendars and come out to the NDOT Safety Improvement Celebration in Red Rock Canyon!

   Saturday, May 19
   10:00 a.m.
   Red Rock Overlook

   You may drive or ride to the overlook
   An NHP-escorted bike ride will follow

   Club rides from Las Vegas and Blue Diamond will precede it (more info will be posted on these soon). The media and various governments will be there, so please come!  NDOT will present the safety improvements that have been made and more to come.  Additional alternatives that still need our support will also be presented.  I know it’s a hard time to make it on a Saturday, but we must show the media and government that we want the work to continue (for the Red Rock Canyon experience and for safety and cycling in general) and that we appreciate their efforts on our behalf.

3. Bike Lane Update and Buttons Victory!

   Thanks to all the cyclists who helped crculate the petitions to put the buttons (little white bumps or RPMS and RRPMS) in the white lines instead of rumble strips. The original plan was to put in rumble strips, but luckily for us, NDOT will now be installing buttons instead, per our petition (approx. 1 button per 20 feet, more on corners, etc.). This is much more condusive to cycling than milled rumble strips! And, since this translates into 4 bumps per second for a car going 60 mph, this should help to increase awareness and decreaes drifting. Another thing that helps is the grippy pavement type. I know it’s not the smoothest pavement ever, but it’s designed to help cars with traction and to reduce the risk of them losing control. Just think of it as resistance training and life insurance! Also, this is going to be signed with painted symbols on the road and actual signs indicating this is a dedicated bike lane, not just a vehicle recovery lane as it has been in the past. We are trying to get no parking on pavement signs as well.