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Home My WebLink About2022-03-22-LBAC-minTri Town Bikeway Meeting – Arlington, Lexington & Bedford March 22, 2022 - 7:30 p.m. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87505958839?pwd=WkNTQnBqWGhsUU4xMVpWR kE5dzBaZz09 Meeting ID: 875 0595 8839 Passcode: 900357 Phone: 929 205 6099 Agenda From Lexington: Dave Armstrong, Betty Gau, Jim Cadenhead, Mike Tabaczynski From Bedford: Peter, Dave, Mark Bailey, From Arlington: Christopher Tonkin Guest Galen Mook from MassBike 7:35 - Call to order I call this meeting of the tri town bikeway committees to order 7:40 – Introductions I am Betty Gau chair of LBAC and attending from Lexington is Dave Armstrong and Jim Cadenhead. All attendees introduced themselves and identified what town they were from. 7:50 - Discuss Tri-Town Priorities Priority to see our mission integrated with regional activities and use grants – regional Source for the bigger bolder vision Lobby day – meeting March 30th Rep Moulton and Clarke – virtual meetings Part of the National Bike Summit – introduce yourself to State rep offices To get a foundation builder – for financing future 11:30 – 12:00 – Rep Clarke 10 – 10:30 Virtual – Zoom meeting with the congressional offices Sign up through Mass Bike – Arlington - signage • Signage on the bikeway Arlington – consistent signage – they like what Lex has done Arl feels like it’s lacking in - they like what Lexington did a few years ago They don’t have money – looking for the report on that Maybe push a regional signage – we want to be consistent with the other towns – could Bedford – wants cohesive and wants speed limit – overall Bedford’s position is to seek commonality – Jim from Lexington – in the process of making proposals on signage – CPA gave us money for kiosks and signs along the bikeway Shining Sea bike path has the nicest signs – in groups of 4 but we want to cut down to 2 signs per pole Be courteous, walk to the right, ring bell when passing Signs are mostly images/pictures FOLB will move forward with the Burma shave signs limericks available ACTION: Share signs with Arlington & Bedford Jim – get one email contact from Bedford and Arlington • E-bikes on the bikeway LBAC endorsed Electric Bicycle Bill S2309 that clarifies the definition of E bikes within Mass General Laws, and would clarify the authority for regulating e bike use on MMBW At MassBike we are hoping to designate a code that would distinguish ebikes as a device – Ebike – are technically bikes with motors – hoping to carve a definition for electivc assist Federal guidelines Class 1- pedal assist Class 2 – throttle assist Class 3 – above 28 mph but have to be pedal assist Keep them under bike so they can remove them from moped laws This is a definition bill and not a regulation bill – What the bill does is aligns the – the onus is on the user and not the bikepath Goal is to get us up with the times – It allows local rule to rule it – look at speeds wholistically Questions Jim, Scott, Christopher, Mark Jim – if we are not patrolling and handing out tickets – we need to be Galen – if we allow ebike on the bikeway we can direct signage directly to ebikes Signage can be direct such as “E-bikes keep to 15 mph” Class 1 – ok and Class 2 – Arlington okay with Class 1 & 2 Can’t ask them if they are disabled Opposed to Class 3 – but equity issue – elders, etc What about total electric bieks – this requires a seat and fully operated pedals Speed is a big concern – our police dept will not enforce speed limits because it’s not a public right of way My question – Mark Baily – MMBW it’s a community and signage can be part of the community and education – Signage is education E-bikes – it’s important for the state reps to hear from other than MassBike It can regulate speeds, promotes biking for older adults This session – 1. Transportation package – Bakers last year with climate funding 2. Climate bill – coming out of telecom utilities that will include exectic vehicles and e-bikes may get tacked on as a climate Jim brought up a group of Steward – online spreadsheet Ambassadors of the MMBW – Caution – another town gave a presentation on it a while ago and no one was against the idea – it adds a lot of organization and time on volunteers Need to define what it is and found out if there are enough people to do it Christopher – person from Colorado almost policed but at a different scale We also had a police officer there during the meeting – No one else in Mass does this – we could be a pilot program Others do signage Virginia Capital Trail has an am Training as an LCI – part of the ambassador Have each committee discuss it at the next Focus on sustainability – modeling behavior and not drift into enforcements • Regional Events – MassBike Ride May 29th Tough Ruck – Betty gave an overview Discussion about a regional format for how to ask for events, Galen Galen Mook here tonight from MassBike As a tri-town we should work to figure out a MMBW policy for events Memorial Bike Ride – 2020 man killed in Arlington on Mass Ave Try to make it annual event as part of MassBike schedule – Left turning vehicle killed a driver – this ride is for some that don’t feel comfortable riding in the streets Charlie was 28 years old - Sailed out of Tufts Created a fund and run an event that starts at Mystic lake sailing pavilion Expecting 80-100 – use the bikeway as a safe, protected place to rider Attracting families, partnering with the DCR and Arlington Police, Busy weekend – Real change was made on the Arlington intersection and green lanes ACTION: Contact Cathy Severance Arlington and Bedford are fully supportive of this ride When will signs go up What will they say How did you get a count? Daniel Amstutz – town of Arlington senior transportation planner Counts trhough MASSDOT – Can get the counts from MASSDOT – 2019 4000 people counted on a Saturday Daniel – will get us - Michael Trepanier @ MassDOT Highway Bedford – Win – safe routes to school bike rodeo planned Bedford vote on 1.5 M for CPA funds for MMBW easement – opposition to the final step of this extension – $9.5 from MASSDOT and $1.5 M Mark – maybe do a regional map Arlington – Win – the finance committee voted for funds to re-do the Blue Bikes Daniel – special appropriations to go to TM to get $100K for blue bikes maintenance programs – it had to go through the finance committee; TM still has to vote on it Mystic Planning Route coming along – exploring a route off the bikeway by buzzle field along the mystic down towards Somerville and the corner – a great extention Lexington – Smart Cycling events May 20th – commuter breakfast Bicycle Events Lexington - lexbikewalkbus.org – Through Susan Arlington Survey – the recommendations will be forthcoming Re master plan consultant, FYI Bedford used Toole. It’s here: https://www.bedfordma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6866/f/u133/bedford_bicycle_pedestrian_p lan.pdf Daniel – Mmbikeway planning projects – meeting in June after TM Then the CPA funding to get the survey Jim – potential of cyclova – yoga, facing painting, bands A few days a year to do all along the bikeway – May – Bay state bike month Add our events to their calendar - https://www.baystatebikemonth.org/ OR 8:30 8:20 – Each chair shares for 5-10 minutes on recent wins/losses/plans 9:00 – Conclude Future meetings: June (Arlington), September (Bedford), December (Lexington)