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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-07-LBAC-minTown of Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee-09/07/2023 7 September 2023 / 7:00 PM / Hybrid Meeting in person at the Hudson Room, Cary Hall ATTENDEES Committee Members: Betty Gau, Ram Reddy, Jim Cadenhead, Suzan Chen, Sarah Hews, George Gagliardi, Matthias Beebe, Dave Armstrong, Mike O’Connor Also Attending: Susan Barrett (Transportation Manager), Mark Sandeen (Select Board), Sheila Page (Assistant Planning Director), Brian Johnson, Tom Shiple, Mark Allen Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and Friends of Lexington Bikeway/Bike Lexington Meetings September 7, 2023 Hudson Room, Cary Hall and conducted by Remote Participation* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87361532396?pwd=Yko0cWVTUmhKWGxvMTZwVEtoTTJDUT09 Meeting ID: 873 6153 2396 - Passcode: 479174 1. Treasurer’s Report 2. The Friends have offered to purchase and install a bike rack at LexFarm in East Lexington. 3. The Friends will be hosting a bike valet and table at the LexFarm Harvest Fest on October 1. Volunteers will be needed to staff the table and help park bikes starting at about 11 am. 4. Bike Corral at Lexington Farmers’ Market: Tuesday, September 12, 2:00-6:30 pm. Volunteers needed. 5. Second Sunday Bike Ride with CRW and FoLB: Sunday, September 10th. 21 mile ride looping through Bedford, Concord and Lexington. 6. Next spring’s Bikeway Cleanup – new ideas Susan Barrett: The Living Landscapes group has pulled out a bunch of Japanese knotweed on the bikeway and replaced it with native pollinators. Maybe rope them in? This was reiterated. Jim Cadenhead later noted that there will be food, entertainment etc, so many volunteers needed. Also reminds that Sunday ride requires CRW signup. 3. Bike Corral at Lexington Farmers’ Market: Tuesday, September 12, 2:00- 6:30 pm. Volunteers needed. Ram notes that volunteer signups are OK, but some people cancel at the last minute. He notes that there are 12 or more bikes parked at the corral most tuesdays. 4. Second Sunday Bike Ride with CRW and FoLB: Sunday, September 10th. 21 mile ride looping through Bedford, Concord and Lexington. Ram: Peggy sent email with details. Notes lots of interest for previous rides. 5. Next spring’s Bikeway Cleanup – new ideas Ram notes that Bob organizes this and does a good job. Asian Association of Lexington has provided lots of volunteers Sarah notes that we need groups to meet in separate spots to avoid confusion and to get more people involved. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts possibly? Put out gloves, garbage cans etc., and see if people clean up spontaneously? Education on invasive species etc also would be good. Mike notes that the social aspect of group cleanups is a big motivation for doing the job. Ram will mention Sarah’s input to Bob. Jim advises that we reach out to those that can reach out to the town. Betty notes that this topic is also in tonight’s LBAC item 3 Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee – 7:30 – 9:00 pm 1. Approve June 1, 2023 Meeting Minutes Committee - Approved June 1 meeting minutes 2. Committee Input for Select Board Goal Setting Mark Sandeen provides background on Select board’s process, and that it is now asking committees for highest priority goals. Best to put only one or two forward. Ideally, big, guiding goals focused on the outcomes we want. Betty notes that we need to provide these by Monday, Sept 11th . Sarah volunteers to go to the 9/11 7PM facilitator’s meeting. (Initial ideas below put forward in turn, bolded, with discussion notes:) – Connected bikeways, bike ped plan. Question about whether this is specific enough. Mark advises not to forget funding. – Get funding to implement bike ped plan. Mark advises to focus on what is the outcome we want. General discussion ensues about how many items to include. Sheila notes that Bike Ped Plan has many priorities, categorized. Long term the order in which they are handled will depend on timing, and money. – Bike park. Mike contacted school and School Committee about Diamond Middle School location. Citing that there was a town tennis/pickleball working group, asks if maybe we (select board, appropriate citizen groups, town staff) could create a bike park working group with rec dept. Notes also that kids are still out building ad hoc locations. Mark notes that coordination can’t be done via email due to open meeting laws. Option would be for individuals to send their emails to one person who then goes to meeting. – Funding the implementation of the bike ped plan i(n the next two years) – Fund projects closest to schools, for safe routes to schools. – Create non-car alternative routes to schools in town. Suggestion to also note crashes reported near LHS last year to emphasize importance. Remark that town will save money on school bussing in long run if more kids walk and bike to schools. Reduce emissions also. And kids get to school happier. Sheila will send preliminary draft list of categories mentioned earlier. (Suzan sent chat notes in Zoom will be sent to DA) 3. Discussion on the MMBW maintenance and poor condition of the pavement, missing center line and overgrowth Betty notes that she and Peggy got lots of feedback complaining about bikeway condition over summer. Town cut back overgrowth near Hartwell Ave, but a big remaining issue is that the middle line is still not painted. Seen as safety issue. Should LBAC write letter to Select Board? How to encourage DPW to better maintain bikeway? Notes that Dave Pinsonneault was contacted in April, and said he doesn’t have sufficient staffing. Suggestion to present to town as a liability issue. Mark suggests a regular communique to town, perhaps yearly, with both good things and things needing attention might be a good approach. This fits with other yearly things like counting the riders on the bikeway. Discussion about how such a communique would differ from the LBAC yearly report, which focuses on accomplishments and priorities. Suggestion that having Ross Morrow to communicate with may help? And that an official record of concerns would be good. In general, Mark notes that, as advisors to Select Board, we should give the advice we need to give, but try to make it easy to receive, with clear statement of long term goals. Jim C volunteers to write a first draft. Sarah asks what time of year is best given town’s budget process. Sheila notes that budgets are due in two weeks, and Mark emphasizes that input needs to be early enough to accommodate that. 4. Discussion on E-bikes on the bikeway and on town roads Sheila - provides e-mobility presentation. Notes that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan looks at laws and rules. seeking policy to address challenges. Notes the classes of ebikes, but that not everything fits the categories, and that some are heavy and fast. Powered skateboards etc are considered ‘motor vehicles’ and at present the consultant recommends staying silent and awaiting state decisions. Sarah praises presentation, notes that ebikes are good for lots of people, for accessibility. Mike asks what police dept thinks? Ram says they say they don’t have resources. Mike asks about jurisdiction. Is there clarity there for bikeway? Notes he’s never seen police on a bike. Jim notes that all the roads etc go through multiple towns. so coordination needed between towns. Notes that bikes can be reprogrammed by owners to exceed speed of class. So it is better to enforce speed rather than bike class. Gives example that a Porsche can go fast too, but is expected to obey traffic laws.. Sheila notes that things like hover boards are still not defined by the state. And agrees on need to monitor behavior, not bike type. Mark asks what level of urgency is there? Cites need for evidence. Sheila - Plan to get sensitive speed recorder next year to get better idea of speeds. trying to get ahead on this issue. Mark - “fast heavy dangerous” applies less to ebikes than any car. Has concern about labeling. Matthias - They are indeed fast heavy dangerous on a 10 foot bike path. We're on a slippery slope. Sarah asks what will be the approach for the town, given there will be no enforcement probably. Ram relates that people are waiting to buy, so need education so people will know what will be appropriate for bike path. Jim notes that all the state did was classify vehicles. He clarifies what the current classes are. Notes again that bikes can be opened up to higher speeds. Advises that we should wait for state guidance rather than be an island of regulation, like a dry town. Ram asserts that the consultant needs to help with recommendations. Jim notes that ebikes are selling 3:1 compared to pedal bikes, and that bad behavior is often on seenwith riders of non-powered bikes also. Betty notes that LBAC recommended that the legislation pass, and that the legislation puts the onus on municipalities to enforce what they will, so we shouldn’t wait for the state. Suzan expresses desire for consistent policy between towns. Dave supports speed enforcement only. Suggests that maybe Lexington can lead the way regarding policy, and other towns will adapt our rules if they are good. Jim notes that Arlington doesn’t have any policy yet. 5. Discussion on Work with Police Department Bike Team to monitor bikeway Betty reports that she and Peggy have been getting lots of feedback about this. Police force has 8 ebikes and officers trained to use them, but the Police Department says they don’t have resources to monitor the bikeway. Notes that the Chief likes 15mph sign. Suggests that maybe 10:00 am to 12:00 pm police presence on the bikeway on Saturdays would make a difference. Maybe we can set up a meeting with PD about this. Tabled till next meeting. 6. Presentation on Vehicle Miles Traveled by Mark Sandeen - tabled to next meeting. Tabled to next LBAC meeting 7. Liaison reports. N/A 8. Other Business Next LBAC meeting is October 12, 2023 in the Parker Room of Town Hall Next Tri-Town meeting of the 3 bike committees is scheduled for October 25th as a virtual meeting. The link will be provided by the Arlington Bike Committee closer to the date. Meeting adjourned 9:06PM