HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-12-LBAC-minTown of Lexington
Bicycle Advisory Committee
5/12/2022
12 May 2022 / 7:00 PM / via Zoom
ATTENDEES
Members: Betty Gau, Ram Reddy, Jim Cadenhead, Mike O’Connor, Suzan Chen, Dave
Armstrong, Mike Tabaczynski
Also Attending: Susan Barrett (Transportation Manager), Omar Khudari (for
part), Peggy Enders, Bob Hausslein, Richard Canale (Battle Road)
Guests: N/A
FoLB/Bike Lexington 7:00 – 7:30 pm
1. Treasurer’s Report - Omar - Fiscal end April 30, 2022 - Balance was
$20,918; Deficit of $1,509; Plowing $3,300 this year - lower than normal
Request from Mike O’Connor - Consultant for Trail Design - Board agreed
to spend the money $1,200 (Bike Park Development - Look at Promising sites
and develop a design for 1 or 2 of these sites). Later we can talk about grants.
May 20-Consultant will be onsite
2. Report on Bikeway Cleanup day
Bob H - Went off very well (clean up of Garlic Mustard) - Jesse/John - 40/50
volunteers came up (Thanks to CAL) - 5 sections and 5 leaders. Next year-
postpone by 1 week. Could not finish Waldorf School to Maple. Done later.
● Burma Shave signs - Plan for Next week
● Non-Bike Related Signs - Should we remove them?
3. Upcoming Events – Volunteers
· May 14th - Bikeway Counts - Today and Saturday
· May 14th - Earth Day at Visitors Center - Table for FoLB
· May 20th - Bike Breakfast on the Bikeway (6:30 am through Cleanup)
· May 20th - Other events including Bike Show & Tell (Jim and Omar) - Drop in
with your bike. Tables will be set-up. Films by High School students. Bike shops
may be there (Battle Road Bike and Pedego).
· August Tour de Cure Pre and Rides
4. Bike Corrals at the Farmer’s Market - Good way to meet folks and talk about
advocacy (First Tuesday of the month)
Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee – 7:41 pm
1. Approve April 14, 2022 Meeting Minutes - Motion presented, Seconded and
Approved
2. Permitted Bikeway Events – Policy and Process Discussion
· Tough Ruck Marathon Event April 16th 9:00 – 5:00 pm, 400+ runners/marchers
enrolled – recap on event – Betty & Dave. 400 Runners/Walkers - Very well
organized. Tons of Volunteers. Stayed in Lane. Cleaned up After the event.
Spillover across the lane, little bit. 2 water stations on the bikeway - should be
discouraged.
· Red Bull Midnight Ride May 14th 9:00 – 11:00 – 150+ cyclists permitted-
CANCELED
· Charlie Proctor Memorial Bike Ride May 29th 9:30 – 2:00, 80 – 100 riders on the
Bikeway - permitted. IT IS HAPPENING.
· Global 6K for Water permit request 8:30 - 12:30 May 21st – 100 runners
LBAC Agenda item #2 is to discuss the Permit Process for events on the bikeway.
Attached is a recent permit request for the Global 6K for Water Run on the bikeway.
The town manager, Jim Malloy, has sent this permit request to our committee for us
to review prior to granting a permit for the use of the bikeway. We are asked to
provide feedback on this permit request to Jim Malloy asap so he can report back to
the Select Board to make a decision on the event. Please note in the agenda the
list of other events on the bikeway that have already been permitted in May.
OK TO PERMIT WITH RULES - Stay to the Right, Only Run Two Together, Single
File is best, Do not block the oncoming lane. Never stop on the bikeway - move off
the bikeway when stopping.
General Discussion on Allowing Bike Path to be used for Events:
● Safety
● Encourage bike use, long-term
● No Races
● Need information ahead of time
● Rules announced at the beginning of the event
● Volunteers needed at dangerous crossings (Merriam and Hancock, specially and
Depot and Woburn)
● LBAC used to see the Permit Request first
The Committee agreed to the following guidelines to be sent to Jim Malloy regarding the
permitting of the Global 6K for Water event:
To Jim Malloy -
For the Global 6K for Water event requested on May 21st, the BAC agrees that this event
should be permitted under the condition that the event sponsors and participants adhere to the
following list of rules.
1. An announcement with a description must be provided at least one week in advance of
the event to allow the Bicycle Advisory Committee to post on the biking sites such as the
MMBW users Facebook page, FOLB Facebook page and MMBW Twitter, the Town
weekly newsletter, etc.
2. Participants should leave at staggered times so there are no groups larger than 10
running at the same time. The runners should be staggered so there are not more than
5 runners per minute.
3. Registrants should understand that they do not have exclusive use of the bikeway but
will be sharing it with the public. Therefore, registrants should be provided the following
safety rules in advance. These rules should also be announced to the participants
before the start of the event:
a. Stay to the right at all times.
b. Only run a maximum of two side-by-side; single file is best.
c. Do not block the oncoming lane.
d. Never stop on the bikeway but instead move off the bikeway first when stopping.
e. Look behind you before passing, turning around or moving across the lane.
f. Be conscious of traffic approaching from behind, other runners, bikers and
walkers passing.
4. Speakers must stay off the bikeway and only cheer and watch from a location off the
bikeway so they do not block the bikeway lanes.
5. Any water stations should be at least 6 feet off of the bikeway. There should be no
water stations, tables or chairs on the bikeway pavement or shoulders.
3. Liaison Reports
● Ram - TSG Update - Kendall Street - Turn restrictions from Marett and
Traffic Calming
● Peggy Enders: Engineering and TSG are hosting a virtual public meeting
at 7 pm on May 18 to receive feedback on our effort to develop a Vision
Zero Plan - A Vision Zero Plan outlines strategies for eliminating traffic-
related deaths and serious injuries within Town limits. The Plan also
identifies and conceptualizes top-priority safety-related projects for future
funding opportunities.
The Vision Zero Plan is a prerequisite for the Federal Safe Streets for All
program which we expect to open in June.
Also, have this mapping tool: https://tinyurl.com/3md2x78x where
people can pin their ideas and concerns. When using this map please
scroll in so the pins are accurately placed
● Susan Barrett: Hastings Bike Train event was very good
https://mobile.twitter.com/smmurtagh/status/1522214379856429061
#LexBikeWalkBus has more information.
From Peggy:
The American Diabetes Association’s New England Tour de Cure is
coming to Lexington on Sunday, Aug. 21, and they are looking for
volunteers to support this fundraising bicycle event.
www.diabetes.org/tdcnewengland
Start/finish for the Tour is at Fractyl Health, 17 Hartwell Ave. There is a
wide range of volunteer opportunities on Aug. 21 for individuals or groups
at the start/finish as well as at the event’s six rest stops, in support
vehicles and at other key locations along the Tour’s four routes. Tour
organizers could also use help on Saturday, Aug. 20, to help with set up.
To learn more, contact ADA New England Associate Director Tim Wilson
at twilson@diabetes.org
● Richard Canale: We have not moved much on Rte 2A safer for cyclists.
Richard is working on an Application for a grant $500K to $1M for the
Byway to help with Biking. Economic Development Grant - Susan
mentioned. Generated a lot of ideas - Sandhya has the information. Susan
will connect Sandhya to Richard.
4. Future of Cycling/Walking in Lexington Workshop Tuesday May 24th – Mike
O’Connor - 6:30PM Community Center - for LBAC and FOLB and anyone can
show up. Use Design Thinking - Use sticky notes to document how to improve
biking in Lexington - 3 Phases:
- Challenges and issues
- Obstacles
- Wishes / Solutioning
Mike to send information for the Invitation. Betty to send it out. This meeting
could generate information for the Bike Ped Plan
5. Bike Ped Plan Update – Mike and Betty
6. Signage Project Update – Jim - No update. Jim is trying to get Shining Sea
information. Peggy will send Jim.
7. Other Business -
○ Poker Ride - 21st May
○ Bike Packing - Willards Woods - May 21st
See https://battleroadbikes.com/events/
Upcoming Dates:
● LBAC / FoLB Meeting – June 9, 7:00 pm
● July meeting - In person