HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-11-LBAC-min `OVS MORN'
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APPROVED MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting: Thursday, January 11, 2018, 7 pm Parker Room,
Town Office Building
Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Laurel
Carpenter, Bob Dangel, Mike Tabaczynski, George Gagliardi, Jennifer Melot, Kevin
Falcone, Sandra Shaw (Recreation Committee Liaison), Joe Pato (Selectman Liaison)
Members Absent: Lou Savarino
Others Present: Sgt Paul Callahan (Police), John Baron
The October and November 2017 meeting minutes were approved.
Bicycle Crashes and Police Reporting: Peggy reported that Capt McLean is seeking
advice from the Committee about the Committee's wish list for data entry questions
specific to bicycle incidents and crashes. The new ProPhoenix software platform will
improve their ability to code and to report such information. There was some discussion
about how Waltham's police department collects and records bicycle crash data;
apparently there is no separate form. However, Waltham posts all traffic crash reports
on-line. Laurel offered to follow up.
Members who volunteered to help develop the draft recommendations: Jennifer,
George, Kevin, Bob D, Peggy.
Bicycle Friendly Community Application: Peggy is in the process of working on the
application, due in February. The questionnaire has been considerably revised; some
questions are difficult to answer (for example, the percentage of the transportation
budget devoted to bicycle accommodations). Peggy is working with a number of town
staff on the various sections; David Kucharsky has been a big help, as has Richard
Canale. Mike is working on the mileages for off-road bicycle facilities; he will include the
new perimeter paths at Clarke and Diamond. The questionnaire has devoted pages to
questions about bicycle safety education in the schools; the Town is weakest in that
area. The Committee came to consensus on its priorities for the "top three reasons
[Lexington] has made bicycling a priority:" public demand; improved quality of life; traffic
and bicycle/pedestrian safety. In the area of"most positive outcome of [Lexington's]
support for bicycling: more people riding bikes, commuters, Minuteman Bike Share.
Finally, in the area of"What could be done differently in order to make bicycling
safer...", lower speed limit in Center, Improving bicycle education, protected bike lanes.
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Bikeway Signage: Committee members talked about the new Bikeway signage.
Laurel commented that "it's a delight to see them up!" Bob Dangel said that the screws
on the mile markers will be easy to remove; reverse-screw bolts would have been a
better choice. Comments included: The larger, one-sided signs, are unsightly; the half-
mile markers are too high; the stop/yield signs at the intersections are too high for riders
to see easily; the town seal is missing from mile markers; some posts are too close to
the pavement and/or the gravel sides. There were questions about the kiosks; Peggy
explained that that portion of the project has been delayed. Members liked the etiquette
signs, but said that the kiosks should contain all the behavior reminders in a font large
enough to read.
Liaison Reports: Sgt Callahan said that the department is starting to learn the new
computer system and coding. There are 11 vacancies in the department, so there is a
search underway for new staff. Two of the losses include personnel who have helped
with Bike Smart and one other bike patrol officer. He said there is a plan to train four
more staff in May at Lowell Academy. Any other new officers, he said, will likely not get
special bicycle training until 2019.
Other Business: Peggy said that MassBike would host a League Certification seminar
in Allston on May 18-20. The cost is $350 for the weekend. Two Committee members
are considering the program. She is talking with Megan Zammuto about a tax bill insert
this spring that would include information about the Bike Share as well as information
about the meaning of various bike pavement markings.
In a meeting to talk with John Livsey and David Kucharsky about the Maple Street ramp
and the concern about the width of Mass Ave in the new corridor, Jennifer reported that
John has agreed to consider adding a bike shoulder at the locations on Maple Street
where there is the "curb hop" (in the absence of a curb cut, access to the ramp is likely
to be a curb hop) and perhaps to extend that shoulder to Mass Ave by shifting east the
road centerline. John said that the curbs on the east Mass Ave project have not been
moved to their final position, so the road width is not currently correct.
The meeting was adjourned.
Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways
The Treasurer's Report was given. Plowing donations are healthy; not all donations to
the Friends are specific to plowing. Bob Hausslein said he estimates that Peter Kelley's
plowing has saved about 20 per cent of what the costs would be without his generous
assistance.
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Winter Plowing 2017-18: More have been available to help move barrels this year,
which has been appreciated. George is using his snowblower to plow the ramps at
Maple Street. Peggy replied to several emails from a group who requested that only
half the Bikeway width be plowed, leaving the rest for skiers. She replied that the
Friends had decided against doing that, for reasons she outlined in her email.
Bikeway 25th Anniversary Planning: Peggy, Sandra, Kevin and Tom Fortmann have
been attending monthly meetings with representatives from Bedford (Suzie and Dave
Enos) and Arlington (Chris Tonkin and Jack Johnson) to plan for a Tri-Town celebration
on Saturday, September 29, 2018. So far, the Visitors Center lawn and the Depot have
been reserved, and some members for a Lexington-specific planning group have been
recruited. There is the expectation that the Bicycle Committee will take the planning
lead, planning several events, perhaps tied to Bike Walk `n Bus Week or Discovery Day
in May. Arlington has designed a long sleeve cotton T shirt that was made at Tricon.
Members felt perhaps the design might be modified and made from a performance
fabric of some sort. Members agreed that the celebratory events need to match
expected participation; avoid over-developing and wearing out organizers.
Next Meeting: Thursday, February 8, 7 pm, Parker Room. Other meetings
scheduled through May (7 pm, in the Parker Room): March 8; April 12; May 10.
Meeting adjourned: 8:45 p.m.
Recorder: Bob Dangel, Editor: Peggy Enders