Bike news & bits

May is National Bike Month. Included here are some bike resources and news, both old and new: 

BikeErie for all things Bike+Erie. Info for all levels, including beginners and just checking it out. I'd recommend visiting both their Facebook page and website.

Why Dutch Bikes are Better (and why you should want one)  Cycling in The Netherlands is popular among all ages, and so is the comfortable sturdy model that is preferred for getting around.  Check out this video in praise of this comfortable, functional approach to bicycling.
Active Transportation Plan for people who walk and bike in Erie PA (draft) "Active Erie is an active transportation plan to improve conditions for people walking and bicycling in the City of Erie. We envision a network of streets that are beautiful, comfortable, and safe community spaces where people want to be, whether they are walking, riding a bike, taking transit, or driving a vehicle." 

Lake Erie CycleFest 2021  taking place in Erie July 30 through August 1. "Four distinct rides will guide cyclists of all ages and abilities around Erie’s vast terrain – along sandy beaches and through old growth forests, across our vibrant downtown and our rolling country hills... event proceeds from Lake Erie Cyclefest will benefit local charities. The 2021 beneficiaries are Asbury Woods, Because You Care, Erie Downtown Partnership and Presque Isle Partnership."

Meadville transit agency launches Bike Share in May Crawford Area Transit Authority has launched a bike share program. Bike Share is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis. Info and to offer support: Tim Geibel at tgeibel@catabus.org 
Warren named Pennsylvania’s ‘Best Bicycling City’ (YourErie 5/19/2021) "Sutton said there were four criteria for cities to be ranked to be ranked: Overall bike friendliness, bike commuting prevalence, prevalence of bike incidents, and DUI and passing violations. According to Insurify, Warren joins cities like Denver, Colo.; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Charlotte, N.C. as the safest cycling cities in their state, which provide a boost in tourism, according to Dave Sherman, executive director of the Warren County Visitors Bureau." 

Bike share program launched in Meadville

Meadville now has a bike share program, launched this month by the area's public transit agency.
Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) launched the bike share program this month.

From the CATA website: 

"Bike Share is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis. Bike share systems allow people to rent a bike from a 'dock' and return it at another dock belonging to the same system. Docks are special bike racks that lock the bike, and only release it by smart phone Bluetooth control.

"Bike Share is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis. Bike share systems allow people to rent a bike from a "dock" and return it at another dock belonging to the same system. Docks are special bike racks that lock the bike, and only release it by smart phone Bluetooth control.

"Bike Share programs are not just limited to big cities. Bike Shares can be effective in smaller, rural communities to increase mobility and provide options for people who do not want to drive. As the public transportation provider for Crawford and Venango Counties, CATA is excited launch a bike share program for the Meadville area. CATA begin the program in May 2021 with 8 bikes available at 4 different locations. 12 more bikes and more locking locations will be added in the upcoming weeks! Download the Koloni app to create an account and ride!"

If you are interested in sponsoring bikes or supporting the Meadville Bike Share program, email Tim Geibel attgeibel@catabus.org

Visit https://www.catabus.org/meadville-bike-share

Updates - May 6, 2021

Today I spoke with Ed Torres, Director of Fixed-Route Operations at EMTA . I asked him for updates, and also clarifications of issues.

LAID-OFF DRIVERS. Are they being called back? Ed said "nothing is set in stone but once we need them we'll be calling people back." They won't know specifics till after drivers take their scheduled vacations, which are coming up soon. They may also need drivers for the school year

WILL SUNDAY SERVICE RETURN? Ed said even before the pandemic that ridership was low. Sounds like this remains up in the air for now.

ROUTES

• Presque Isle Express is returning
• Route Upgrades coming around June 12. Routes 25/30 and 21/28 will each have an additional trip added on Saturday.

EMTA app allows you to purchase tickets on phone

The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority is partnering with the Token Transit App, an app that allows you to purchase bus passes on your phone before you board!

Passengers will be able to purchase single ride, transfers, reduced fare, day passes, 5-Ride passes, 20-ride passes, and VIP- 31 Day passes through the app with their credit or debit card. Riders can store passes on the app the future use. When you are ready to ride, tap your pass to activate. As you board the bus, show the driver your digital ticket and scan the Token Transit validator and you are all set!

Token Transit allows a “fare capping” feature as well. Fare-capping is a pay-as-you-go system that guarantees riders will never pay more than the lowest authorized fare for any period of travel. This is based on single ride and day passes purchased through the app. Once a rider has purchased $52.00 in single ride or day passes, the app will automatically grant the rider free rides for the rest of the month ($52.00 is the highest cash valued pass for 31 days unlimited rides).

Info: ride-the-e.com or www.tokentransit.com

Source: EMTA press release By Erica Nowak| April 9th, 2021|

EMTA,apps,technology,fares

PennDOT Survey

PennDOT is conducting a survey

PENNSYLVANIA’S TRANSPORTATION SURVEY
https://survey.talkpatransportation.com/#/Survey 

EMTA to get $11.6 million from American Rescue Plan

From  "Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority getting $11.6 million from American Rescue Plan"  Kevin Flowers Erie Times-News April 2, 2021: [

[EMTA exceutive director Jeremy] Peterson said EMTA must now develop "a transparent plan" for the American Rescue Plan money.
EMTA officials are studying the grant requirements and asking federal officials about whether there are any restrictions, Peterson said.
[...]
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, addressing the American Rescue Plan funding, said in a statement that "transportation workers are serving on the front lines of this pandemic: delivering the vaccine, getting people to essential jobs and providing goods and services to people who need them.
"The critical American Rescue Plan funding we are announcing today will help prevent service cuts, protect employees from layoffs, keep riders and workers safe and strengthen our economy," Buttigieg said.
Dave Robinson, EMTA's board chairman, called the funding “existential” for EMTA and other transit agencies across the country.
“Everybody’s lost ridership and it’s going to take a while to bring that back,” Robinson said. “And that’s not a thing that you can just turn on and off. This money is going to help keep us afloat.”

EMTA,COVID-19,funding

Alternative routes to the Mall

If the Route 3 is too crowded for comfort, here are other routes that take you to the same place. 

EMTA,Millcreek Mall, routes, COVID-19

City Council Study Session: EMTA Feb. 11, 2021

Erie City Council hears from Jeremy Peterson and Chris Gerhart 

City Council OKs walkability, bike, other improvements

From Erie Times News 2/4/2021:

Erie City Council has signed off on a plan to improve transportation and public accessibility throughout the city, particularly for bicycles and pedestrians.
Council on Wednesday morning unanimously approved what’s being called Active Erie during its regular meeting.
The plan examines opportunities to improve the city's transportation network, including walkability and enhancements for bicyclists.

City Council 2/4/2021 presentation and vote Begins at 58:51 

 

Some EMTA schedule and route changes coming in February

 From Ed Torres, Director of Fixed Route Operations at EMTA:

Earlier times for some Saturday routes Nov. 21

EMTA Director of Fixed Route Operations Ed Torres tells me some EMTA Saturday routes will begin earlier starting November 21.

Below are the earlier start times:   
3   - 7:00am
21 - 6:35am
25 - 7:55am
28 - 7:30am
30 - 7:55am

Millcreek Mall 1 & 3 changes

There is some confusion about what is going on with the weekday changes of Routes 1 and 3. I was one of those confused people.

I had two people patiently explain the changes to me, and I couldn't quite follow it. I looked over the new schedule and still was not clear on what was going on. So when Ed Torres said it's basically like the old Route 9, I dug out an old 2005 schedule and checked out the old Route 9 schedule.

It shows that Route 9 was basically alternating Peach and Cherry, and they marked each trip with a P or a C (I don't know what the other letter stood for, so let's not get sidetracked).

So, back in the present, it looks like for Route 3, one trip goes via Peach, next trip Cherry, next trip Peach, next trip Cherry... etc. Also, the trip between Mall and Summit looks like it's pretty much the same.

As for Saturdays...If you need to make the trip on Saturday, consult both the 1 and the 3 to find out what is going on with that. There is a separate schedule for Route 1 service (It is for Saturday only).

I like the old  format better for this kind of schedule, and I'm going to ask Ed to consider using it if they plan on keeping this alternating Peach and Cherry thing going for any length of time. I think that is easier to follow that than having Cherry in red ink, which is going to be lost on the paper schedules since they print those in black and white.

Anyway, I hope this is the correct understanding of what is going on with the 1 & 3 changes. If incorrect, please let me know and I will clear it up.

New Route 3 schedule  

New Route 1 schedule 

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGES 

Old Route 9 schedule (from 2005) shows how the trips alternate between Peach and Cherry

Current (3/28/2020) Route 3 schedule. Cherry Street is shown in red

Current (8/28/2020) Route 1.

Pandemic bike shortage

Bike rack at WalMart Summit location 8/28/2020

During the pandemic, we've become used to empty shelves.
I took this photo at the bike rack at WalMart in Summit. I asked an associate if this was pandemic related and she said yes. I asked if they would be getting more anytime soon, and she said she couldn't answer that. Same story at the Elm Street location. -
Some of it is  fear of public transportation in a pandemic. But it also has to do with supply chains. An interesting article from Marketplace: Bike shortage is a tale of changed lives and disrupted supply chains