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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-09 LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: Thursday, June 9, 7 pm, Lexington Community Center Members Present : Peggy Enders (Chair), Marita Hartshorn, Laurel Carpenter, George Gagliardi, Carolyn Levi, John Frey, Mike Tabaczynski, Bob Dangel, Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison), Joe Pato (Board of Selectmen Liaison), Paul Callahan (Police Liaison) Members Absent: Bob Dangel, Bob Hausslein Others Present: Jennifer Melot, Steve Hill The May 2016 minutes were approved as submitted. Minuteman Bikeway Signage Plan (update): Peggy reported that she, Bobs Dangel and Hausslein, Mike, and Richard reviewed the draft plan presented by Toole Design; they recommended that over 30 signs be eliminated from the plan during a meeting with the designers. They also recommended that the size of the signs be reduced, and that the existing granite mileage posts be used for the whole-mile signs. The committee then reviewed four possible etiquette signs and made recommendations. Peggy said that a st bike ride with the new Toole design person will take place on July 1 to review the second draft of the plan and talk about locations. Tri-town Meeting: Jennifer and Bob Dangel were at the meeting hosted by Bedford on June 4. Jennifer detailed points of discussion: l. The group discussed the idea of a th changeable signboard to post information and current events; 2. The 25 anniversary of the Bikeway way is coming up in 2018; the committees should start thinking about a celebration. 3. Bedford’s repair kiosk has been very popular. 4. Idea for a simulated MBTA bus bike rack so people can learn how to put their bikes on the front of the bus. This was done in Boston during Bike to Work Week, as well as an exhibit showing how much a bus driver can and cannot see while operating the bus. 5. Some of the off ramps need improvement. 6. Ideas for methods to improve counts of Bikeway users. (Joe Pato mentioned that he had sent Peggy the name of a Lexington person who would like to devise an automatic counter). The next Tri-Town Meeting is scheduled for November 19; Lexington will host. Bicycle Accommodations on Lexington Streets: Jennifer reported on the petition to improve safety on Lexington St. in Waltham and Waltham Street in Lexington that she had promoted along with some colleagues in Waltham. She said that Waltham has approved the installation of a 6-foot bike lane along Lexington Street. Peggy reminded the committee that the Roadways Subgroup had requested a bike lane along Waltham Street as part of its Network project with Engineering. However, when it was repaved last summer, no bike accommodations were included (a bike lane was considered problematical owing to parking along sections of the street). The committee agreed to resubmit its request and ask that accommodations on Waltham Street be given high priority. Peggy will also bring up this issue at the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee next week. Laurel reported that at the May 23 Selectmen’s meeting David Kucharsky presented the Town’s “Complete Streets Prioritization Plan” that will be submitted to MassDOT in early June. The plan contained 12 items; the only references to bicycle accommodations were at th the low end of the list. \[Ed note: 10 on the list was “maintenance of existing on-street bicycle accommodations” and the final item was for bicycle racks.\] Laurel and other members questioned the low priority of even maintaining existing accommodations and the absence of any mention of expanding the existing inventory. Mr. Pato commented that the issue is one of “sustainability” of simply the existing inventory, given the need to repaint bicycle striping every three years. He said this is a general issue that needs to be addressed before the Town can move forward with adding bicycle accommodations to any more town roads. Peggy said she wondered how the Town could be a Complete Streets town without providing safe accommodation for bicycles on our streets. Liaison Reports : Richard Canale mentioned his experience on Martha’s Vineyard with well-coordinated transfers of bicycles from buses to bike rides. He also reported on the Grove Street development. The Planning Board will have a hearing to consider a standard development with 13 houses versus a denser plan, which would allow conditions such as an easement to the Burlington Landlocked forest. Richard also talked briefly about the popular Bikeway access point on Spencer Road that is on private property. Sgt Callahan reported that the Police Department distributed the five boxes of bike helmets on Discovery Day. Breakstone, White and Gluck donated the helmets to the Friends, but Peggy was unable to get a table staffed for this year; she expressed gratitude to the Police for their help. Sgt Callahan mentioned that there are16 officers with COBWEB certification (i.e., Cops on Bike With Education for Bicyclists). On weekends, he said, the police try to patrol the Bikeway for about four hours each day; this is done as overtime work. On weekdays one officer patrols the Center. Thead hoc Center Streetscape committee starts meeting next week; this group was charged by the Board of Selectmen. Peggy will represent the interests of the Bicycle Advisory Committee in terms of the type and number of bike racks that should be in the design plan. John Frey is on the ad hoc group as a member of the tree committee. Peggy reported on a company called Zagster that offers bike-sharing services to small cities and towns; she has approached the Town about taking an interest in adopting a bike share program. Jennifer said Lincoln Lab has a bike share program in place. Liability is a concern when lending bikes, so Peggy said it would be good to work with a company to take care of those concerns. Joe Pato said the traffic trials in the Center – eliminating turning lanes at Waltham Street and at Edison Way and changing traffic flow at Bedford and Harrington -- would start in August and continue for 6 months. Record of the Discussions of Friends of Lexington Bikeways/Bike Lexington Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week th The Commuter breakfast was held on Friday, May 20 at the Depot and was a great success. Coordinating so many activities in one week is difficult, especially with so few involved in organizing the week. Laurel suggested that next year a panel discussion be organized about where we are with respect to bicycling in Lexington -- advances made, what remains to be done, the management of the bicycle/pedestrian agenda, what other towns are doing, etc.Jennifer and Carolyn suggested a swap meet and skill share session. Peggy would like to see a bike kitchen start-up at the Community Center, perhaps managed by the high school bike club. Steve Hill suggested a ride to get people actively involved. Bike Safety Education Information and Programs : During the discussion about Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week (and the very successful bicycle safety program sponsored by the Friends at the Community Center), the need for an on-going bicycle safety information and regular bike safety programs for children and adults was discussed. The Friends cannot continue to organize and fund these sorts of activities alone. Joe Pato recommended that the group submit a budget request as part of the regular budget cycle; he suggested that this request be submitted before September and should describe the program, event, and/or staff support along with a specific dollar amount. nd Bike to Market will be on the 2 Tuesday of each month. Bob Hausslein coordinated next Tuesday’s volunteers. We have about 12 helmets left to distribute. . Bike Lexington : As the Friends transition from “Friends of Lexington Bikeways” to “Bike Lexington,” the new bike-lexington.org site needs to be managed. Jennifer volunteered to help using Work Press website which she is familiar with. Burma Shave signs Peggy said she hopes to put out our again this summer; so many users were enthusiastic last year. We authorized the money for some replacement signs from the Friends budget. Joe Pato suggested that Peggy get on the agenda for approval at an upcoming Selectmen’s meeting. Meetings adjourned: 8:40 p.m. Marita Hartshorn: Recorder Peggy Enders: Editor