HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-09-LBAC-min (2)Town of Lexington
Bicycle Advisory Committee -03/09/2023
9 March 2023 / 7: 00 PM / Hybri d Meet i ng i n person at t he Parker Hal l ,
To wn Of f i c e
ATTENDEES (present in bold)
Committee Members: Bet t y Gau, Ram Reddy, Ji m Cadenhead, Suzan Chen, Sarah
Hews, George Gagl i ardi , Mat t hi us Beebe, Mi ke O’Connor, Arnav Arora
Al so At t endi ng: Peggy Enders (Bi ke Lexi ngt on), Ross Morrow, Gal en Mook-
MassBike, Tim Wilson-Tour de Cure, Mi ke Tabaczynski , Omar Khada ri , Bob
Hausselin, Susan Barrett
AGENDA
Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and
Friends of Lexington Bikeway/Bike Lexington Meetings
Thursday March 9, 2023, 7:00 pm
Parker Room, Town Hall and conducted by Remote Participation*
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81204793125?pwd=OHYycFM5ZUdVelNSaDhoNFVRcDdqZz09
Webinar ID: 812 0479 3125 Passcode: 678518 Phone: +1 301 715 859
FoLB/Bike Lexington 7:00 – 7:30 pm
1. Treasurer’s Report - Presented by Omar:
Total Cash $25K
Total November-February - Donations down 37%
Expenses since last report $1,487
Discussion about needing money and to increase objectives (beyond plowing)
2. Patriot’s Day parade April 17th
Sarah, Jim, Betty will work under Peggy’s direction to build the float. Tim Wilson
volunteered to participate.
3. Bike Count volunteers needed
For the Metropolitan Planning Office - Ram will volunteer to count. 2nd Saturday to May
(maybe stay away from the Barbecue in the Depot, May 20 is the Bike Rodeao so avoid
that date for bike count)
4. Upcoming Events:
• Tour de Cure (Diabetes) Update
- KickOff Ride (Saturday April 22nd 10 am) - Tim Wilson talked about it.
Starting Opposite Revolution Hall - 10 Maguire Road, Lexington, MA.
Suzan has couple of volunteers-will connect with Tim.
• Bikeway Clean-up Day - Sunday May 7th 9am - 11am
Bob will manage, remove Garlic mustard (90% of the effort) -2 section leaders added,
total 6. Suzan will recruit the volunteers. Bob will send the 6 sections (5 meeting places)
• Friends/CRW (Charles Wheelers www.crw.org) Second Sunday bike rides
starting in May.
Patty Grasso will be leading the first one on May 14th - Mother’s Day 10AM. Peggy will
lead the second one in June. Need volunteers. Tim will get volunteers.
Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee – 7:30 – 9:00 pm
1. Approve February 9, 2023 Meeting Minutes
Motion to Approve, Seconded.
2. Bike / Ped Plan Stakeholder Meeting to be held virtually March 16th at 7:00 pm
and 1st public forum to be held April 4th - 7pm at Lexington Community Center
Next Thursday Bike-Ped Plan meeting - first of several Stakeholders meetings with
consultant VHB. Presentation. Sheila Page put together a list of Questions that Betty
sent to the BAC. Should we be strategic - and ask things that LBAC recommends?
Safe Routes and LHS Students and Middle Schoolers can join.
Identify difficult spots to ride in Town.
TSG will send a survey - Peggy talked about it.
Jim suggested that we encourage the VHB consultant to run an in-person meeting
where we split in groups and come up with something then get together with the sub
groups and see where there is overlap. Jim will suggest that at the Thursday 3/16/23
stakeholder meeting.
3. Safety Sign Update from FOLB/LBAC sub-committee
Peggy showed 2 of the mock-ups of the signs (18” x 18”). Sub-committee worked on it.
Westview to Bow Street locations identified - 32 places for 64 signs (16 on each side of
the bikeway). To decide if these are too many. Peggy and Betty will present to the
Select Board next Monday 3/13. Town had $10K (CPA Money). Cost at the moment is
approximately $15K for both the signs and the metal posts.
4. Massachusetts Bike Legislation – Presentation by Galen Mook, MassBike
Galen has been 4 ½ years with MassBike. MassBike started in 1977.
Baker signed legislation - Changes: Traffic safety legislation (effective April 2023) -
Unanimous consent.
Vulnerable Road User Law - in effect April 1, 2023
1) Vulnerable road users are protected. Allows engineering guidelines to be built on top
of that. Other organizations can build on that.
2) Motorists have to pass more than 4 feet (one of 3 states) from Vulnerable road users.
We need to help spread this word. DOT has to put these signs. Towns should put these
signs - Lexington should put these signs. (Can cross double-yellow to keep the 4 feet
distance, is safe).
3) Collect data on Vulnerable Road User accidents - difficult but that’s the goal.
4) Cyclists have to have a rear reflector AND rear light. Not a primary offense.
Insurance companies can’t say the reason we won’t pay is because the rear light was
not on.
5) Truck Drivers mandate - if they have a Contract with Commonwealth - Convex
mirrors, backup cameras and sight guards (between front and rear wheels of long
trailers).
6) Municipalities can request reduction in limits on state roads in their towns. If no
response - then municipalities can go ahead with the changes.
Webinar on Monday - Massbike - On March 13th at noon, join MassBike's Galen Mook
and State Senator Will Brownsberger for a virtual webinar to learn the details of these
regulations aimed at protecting vulnerable road users.
Tool is a statute. Impact is by Education and Engineering. Giving out Bumper Stickers
for this messaging.
Future work by MassBike:
- Ebikes rebate
- School education
5. Worthen Rd Bike Lane Pilot Update
Design and a timeline to take to the Stakeholders/Select Board. Start program after
Memorial weekend.
Ross - Next week he can start to put together a proposed design for the bike lane on
Worthen Road. It will be Temporary - Cones and Barriers. And maybe he will also
create a permanent design proposal.
Susan - Safe Routes is working on something similar. Principal mentioned this in that
meeting and he has serious concerns. He wants to be limited to when Seniors are not
there.
Matt B - Suzie Barry was receptive. Suzie said - Go Big…and not just 2 weeks - start
after Seniors leave. Students come in September and see the bike lane and start biking.
Arnav - it is 4 weeks (not 2 weeks), from the time seniors leave school to the end of the
school year. So 4 weeks without the seniors parking around LHS.
Betty will wait for Ross’s design before scheduling stakeholder meetings.
Susan - Need to get it to Suzie so she can put it on the April Select Board agenda. Betty
will approach Suzie.
Jim - Socialize with 2 (or more) Select Board members before the April meeting.
Jim proposes a Sub-committee. Sarah will help. Jim, Sarah, Arnav with Matt B and
Betty.
Galen - Belmont has added a bike lane in front of their high school. But do it locally and
use students as advocates. Galen will connect us with the Belmont Bike Committee
who worked on the bike lane.
6. Liaison Reports
None.