HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-09-LBAC-min
APPROVED MEETING NOTES
Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting: July 9, 2015, Cary Library, 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), Marita Hartshorn, Bob Hausslein (FoLB
Chair), Laurel Carpenter, Bob Dangel, Sandra Shaw (Recreation Liaison), Richard
Canale (Planning Board Liaison)
Members Absent: Mike Tabaczynski, John Frey, George Gagliardi, Carolyn Levi
Others Present: Jennifer Melot, Sergeant Paul Callahan, Beverly Seavey, Howard
Cloth
The May Meeting Minutes were approved as submitted.
Tri-Town Committee Meeting
(June 6): Bedford reported that bike lanes will be
marked on Route 62 and CPA funds were approved for the bicycle long term plans
for the town. There will be a repair stand at the Depot and a cycle track on Railroad
Avenue leading to the Reformatory Branch/Bikeway extension. Arlington requested
that we resume bike counts. The next Tri-Town meeting will be in January and will be
hosted by Bedford.
Summer Signage on the Bikeway
: Peggy displayed sets of new Burma Shave
themed signs for the Bikeway. Jennifer and Peggy will install them. Bob Dangel
proposed graphic design signs with messages for next year’s signs. Peggy will
email prototypes of these for our review.
Bikeway Paving, Closures, and Detours:
The newly paved section of Bedford
Street will be repaved where it is failing, and bike lanes will be repainted. Bikeway
paving between Bedford Street and the Bedford town line as well as near Camillia
Way will also involve detours. Peggy has been in touch with Dave Cannon to
request that sharrows on Hill Street be painted, since sharrows were recommended
as part of the roadway recommendations (per the Bob Dangel spreadsheet) for bike
accommodation improvements. Jennifer mentioned that the bike lanes on Hartwell
Avenue are disappearing due to wear; the lane needs to be swept and cleaned. The
sharrows have disappeared from Spring Street, and were never painted on Lincoln,
Adams, or Waltham streets. The committee talked about the problem with the slow
response to many bicycle-related requests as well as some problems with
communications between departments. One example that was discussed are the
bike racks that have been missing in the Town Center for several years – some
because they were borrowed for other purposes, others because they were removed
for snow clearing and never replaced -- and the shortage of good bike parking
generally.
Center Streetscape and Bike Committee position on Woburn Street
: The town
held a forum on the intersection of Woburn Street and Mass Ave. Bob Dangel said
he was disappointed in the presentation by the consultant because it lacked accident
data and the consultant presented only one alternative. Richard Canale said he felt
that the most important position for the Bicycle Advisory Committee to take in on the
importance of bicycle accommodations and the need for safe transport by cyclists.
The next Woburn Street/Mass. Ave hearing will be in September. Last year, he
stated, Lexington ranked 15th out of 350 cities and towns for the most bicycle
accidents. This year we improved to 19th out of 350.
Bike Registry proposal
: Peggy reported receiving an inquiry on the Bike Committee
email about a new online bike registration program. After discussion, the committee
decided not to endorse this program. Sgt. Callahan said the Lexington Police will
register bikes for a $2 fee, although the registry is not computerized.
Liaison Reports:
Sandra Shaw visited the new Community Center today and
reported it up and running; there is a bike rack out front. Richard Canale reported
that Bay State Roads Group is offering a seminar on analyzing vehicle crash data;
the Lexington Police Department have been invited. The seminar will help capture
data on bike accidents and can pin point location and the type of accident.
Information will be easier to record and retrieve. He said that the Waltham planning
department worked with their police department to improve data collection and
reporting. Richard also displayed the new Battle Road Byway logo and plans to use
the logo on signs, including along the Bikeway that parallels the Battle Road. The
Planning Board is looking into acquiring an easement in front of the card shop on
Camillia Way, abutting the Bikeway. Sgt. Callahan said that two new bikes are being
purchased for the bike patrol, bringing the total to six. Officers will be on bikes for a
minimum of four hours on Saturday and four on Sunday, either in the center and/or
on the bike path. Two officers have enrolled in COBWEB, and possibly four more
will do so, bringing the total to 17 officers with COBWEB training.
Other business
: Laurel reported that she made a presentation at the Transportation
Forum as a follow-up to the Town Meeting discussion about bicycle and pedestrian
safety. She talked about practices in Waltham, including bicycle accident data
collection and yearly goal setting for bicycle accommodations (done by the planning
department). She said that such plans and proposals need to be made more public
– online instead of in the hands of one person -- to ensure that many have access to
the information. Cambridge is a good example of this approach. She said that
Lexington has many volunteer committees with excellent long-range proposals and
goals but these sometimes get lost or buried.
Peggy said that there was not a bikeway count in May because it was a busy month.
The committee is helping with to do bicycle/pedestrian/motor vehicle counts in front of
Muzzey for David Kucharsky.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Record of the Discussion of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways
Treasurer's Report
: Bob Hausslein reported that minor expenses expected for
coupons at the Farmer’s Market and that he expects that CHNA grant funds will pay
for the Bikeway signs.
Farmers’ Market Bike Corrals:
Peggy is coordinating the corral in July and Howard
Cloth the corral in August.
Bob talked about the idea of creating access to the bike path at the Monroe Cemetery
with timber steps and a boardwalk across the culvert. The committee endorsed his
proposal.
Upcoming Dates
LBAC/FoLB meeting Sept. 10, 7 pm,
Learning Center, Cary Library
Farmers’ Market Bike Corral: Tuesday, July 14, 2 – 6:30 PM (
also August
11, September 8, October 13)
2015 Moving Together Conference: Wednesday, November 4.
“Healthy
”
Transportation, Healthy Communities
Marita Hartshorn, Recorder
Peggy Enders, Editor