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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-04-LBAC-minAGENDA Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and Friends of Lexington Bikeway/Bike Lexington Meetings Thursday May 4, 2023, 7:00 pm Parker Room, Town Hall and conducted by Remote Participation https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87361532396?pwd=Yko0cWVTUmhKWGxvMTZwVEtoTTJDUT09 Meeting ID: 873 6153 2396 Passcode: 479174 FoLB/Bike Lexington 7:00 – 7:30 pm Attendees: Peggy Enders, Omar Khudari, Ram Reddy, Dave Armstrong, Sarah Hews, Betty Gau, Susan Barrett 1. Treasurer’s Report Less funds spent on plowing this year 2. Upcoming Events: • Walk Along Bikeway Past (Saturday, May 6 10-12 noon, meet behind Visitors’ Center) • Bikeway Clean-up Day - Sunday May 7th 9am - 11am • Bikeway Counts (Saturday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 16. Volunteers needed to do one- hour blocks of time behind the Depot. • Friends/CRW Second Sunday bike rides starting in May 14th at 10 am – volunteers needed • Breakfast on the Bikeway, Friday, May 19, starting at 6:30 am behind the Depot (also Bike to Work Day). • Discovery Day, Saturday, May 27th - volunteers needed to work shifts at Friends table Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee – 7:30 – 9:00 pm Attendees: Ram Reddy, Dave Armstrong, Sarah Hews, Betty Gau, Jim Cadenhead, George Gagliari, Non-Committee attendees: Peggy Enders, Omar Khudari, Susan Barrett 1. Committee Approved April 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes 2. Committee Business: • Next month’s LBAC meeting will take place on June 1, 2023 • Commission on Disability (COD) Committee Meeting May 16 at 6:00 pm This meeting with COD is to brainstorm ideas for how bikes and peds can get along. The purpose of the meeting is to start an open conversation among committee members. There have been challenges in the Center and on sidewalks and COD is not happy with biker behavior on the trails. Jim and Sarah agreed that this is an issue of etiquette – the only way to enforce etiquette is through education. The members discussed ways our BAC is addressing the idea of cyclists and pedestrians safely sharing our limited sidewalks and trails in town. Jim talked about how important it is to support cycling programs in schools to teach good cycling behavior. Good biking etiquette is talked about on all rides we sponsor/lead. At the start of ride, and later enforced during rides, we discuss how to safely pass people and be conscious about sharing trails. The Walk your W heels initiative in Lexington Center is aimed at addressing this issue of bikers and pedestrians sharing space. The upcoming signs on bikeway are another effort to provide courtesy guidelines and educate people. Sarah commented that we all need to take responsibility for ourselves on paths. Tough Ruck – example from Sarah at turn around point at Tower Park. Betty took the action to add this incident story into her report to the Town Manager and Tough Ruck organizers on the 2023 Tough Ruck event in Lexington. Another element that gets lost when exploring different groups sharing sidewalks, bikeway and trails is that people have different types of disabilities and different types of bikes that we all need to be aware of and polite We are all in this together to safely enjoy our town and its outdoor spaces. Fighting over a limited space – we only have a limited space and should be allies to get safer pedestrian and biking space in town. What we have in common with COD – we are both underdogs – we are advocates and should work together. • Walk your Wheels Initiative – Peggy It was originally a pilot campaign and has been successful; Friends paid for 2 posters and bought one sandwich board 3. Safety Sign Update from FOLB/LBAC sub-committee Signs for the bike path 49 signs will be ordered and 17 posts for the signs. They will get put up early this summer by the DPW. Bedford bike committee endorsed the signs. Arlington will vote on the signs soon. 4. Worthen Rd Bike Lane Pilot Update The bike committee is presenting at the Select Board Monday May 8 at 6:50. Please arrive at 6:30 but be prepared to wait. Sheila Page suggested we ask a lot of questions to prompt a more in depth discussion on the bike lane pilot purpose and importance. Betty suggested that the Committee vote to write a letter to the SB for tomorrow that we support the development of a Bike Lane. Jim brought up the shift in strategy from a pilot program to working towards a permanent bike lane. Due to the lack of temporary barriers owned by the town, Jim feels it is too early and will not be successful to proposed a bike lane pilot now. Ross had emailed us that the town does not own enough temporary barriers to protect a lane the entire length of Worthen Rd from Mass Ave to the High School. It would cost $30 to rent enough barriers for 1 month. Jim suggested that we work together with the Bike/Ped plan group from the town for a permanent bike lane. Many committee members suggested that we also work with other town committees to get stronger support across interest groups such as the GCC and Sustainability Committees as well as Safe Routes to School. Susan suggested that we get students youth support, especially at Car Free Day at LHS May 23. Dave put together a petition put it on the table at Car Free Day and will create a QR code to provide to students and anyone else to sign the petition. The petition is to request the town create a protected bike lane for students to use to travel to LHS. Is this the most important project for our town and for the Bike committee Have the students tell their stories about traveling to LHS. The Committee suggested we start a database of student stories. The Committee decided that we will withdraw our request to present to the Select Board on May 8th regarding the proposed bike lane pilot on Worthen Road. We will work over the summer to get the support of stakeholders, students, teachers, parents and other town committees. We will work this through the Bike Ped Plan which is a public process. Jim will contact the Select Board to withdraw our proposal and agenda slot. Betty reported on her conversation with the Belmont leader of their high school protected bike lane project David Coleman. He suggested we work directly with the Select Board and also collect student stories of traveling to the high school. 5. Bike Park Update Mike gave an update on the bike park. The Kinnean park location is off the table now. Mike met with Fire Dept and they are not willing to support Kinnean park location. The issued a cease and desists for any bikers who use the Kinnean park location. The team and the town are now exploring the possibility of the Diamond Middle School area which is town property. The town is more in agreement with that area and they are proceeding with exploring the possibilities there. 6. Liaison Reports No liaison’s present.