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Home My WebLink About2019-02-21-LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING NOTES LEXINGTON BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, February 21, 2019. 7 pm Cary Memorial Hall - Ellen Stone Room Members present: Kevin Falcone, Omar Khudari, Lou Savarino, Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Jennifer Melot, George Gagliardi, Richard Canale (Planning Liaison) Members absent: Peggy Enders, Bob Dangel, Mike Tabaczynski Others present: Paul Callahan, Matthias Beebe Presentation to Board of Selectmen: Peggy presented the Committee's information and recommendations regarding "E-Bikes and Other Bikeway and Bicycle Issues" to the BoS on February 4. The Board will consider content of "burma shave" signs at a forthcoming meeting. Board member Doug Lucente expressed interest in pursuing the recommendation that a town staff person be tasked with coordinating bicycle-related matters in Lexington. The Board did not comment on recommendations and concerns about the growing popularity of electric-assist bikes or concerns about e-scooters. Kevin said he will discuss LimeBike concerns with ABAC during their social next week. The legal status of scooters in MA is unclear. Jennifer notes that Lime is starting to remove bikes from their fleets in the SF bay area and moving entirely to e-scooters and that some e-scooter company has remotely enforced e-scooter limits on a multi-use path in California. Kevin provided an overview of the Mass House e-bike laws proposal: Class 1 and 2 bikes would be allowed on trails and shared-use paths. This raises the question of whether Lexington would want to have a local ordinance pertaining to e-bikes. Omar said he went to a meeting in Chicago put on by People for Bikes which promoted this legislation. He reported that this group felt that, because a fit bike rider can go 20 mph, e-bike riders should be able to. He added that People for Bikes reiterated that people need to behave safely given the conditions. He thinks that the distinction between pedal-assist bikes with and without throttles is somewhat irrelevant. Omar thinks that it's ok for Lexington to opt out of pedal-assist bikes if the other towns are also opting out. Kevin mentions that the issue of the streets needing to be safer for riders — given the need to promote healthy and sustainable transportation as well as the growth in a-bikes — was raised by Peggy in her presentation a few times at BoS meeting. Lou mentions that MassBike proposal seems reasonable and there's no need to go against MassBike and introduce local legislation. Paul Callahan reminded members of that enforcement would be a problem. Jennifer pointed out that there are much more pressing road safety issues for the police to be spending their time on. George said that having some kind of law in place, even if not feasibly enforceable, is a good thing. Richard said that there are so many more important issues to be concerned about; raising awareness of class 1 vs class 2 is a minor issue; Committee should be more concerned about trying to promote better behavioral changes that are likely to make more of a difference. Burma-Shave Signs: Members reviewed content of possible signs for the bikeway. Bob Hausslein said that the first seven signs are already in stock in his shed. Kevin said his least favorite is the Tour de France set; Jennifer agreed it could be retired. George mentions that he's all set to head to VistaPrint and make more. Tri-Town Meeting Planning: Lexington will host the next Tri-Town Bikeway meeting; this should be scheduled for some time in the spring. Kevin said that Terry Gleason is interested in developing and coordinating a middle school bicycle education program and would like this topic on the agenda. Lou said he thought it a great idea for the three towns to share information on bicycle education and best practices. He suggested it would be good to invite Cambridge to share what they do (Kevin mentioned that Cambridge has city staff who coordinates this program and works with the bicycle committee.) Richard Canale said that Stacey Beuttell is new Walk Boston executive director; she's a Lexington resident and a member of the Comprehensive Plan advisory committee. They had done a program with Lexington schools about10 years ago, he said, and suggested that we partner with them and do a coordinated bike-ped encouragement/education effort. Kevin and Richard will coordinate on contact info for Stacey. Richard mentions that it's best to do the meeting before good outdoor weather. Candidate locations for the meeting were discussed. Liaison Report: Richard Canale said that the Bedford Minuteman Bikeway extension is on the TIP for 2022. It will be paved to the Concord town line, and will move forward despite the RT 62 underpass doubling the cost. Paid for 80% fed, 20% state, the town funded the design. Richard talked about a recent Rt 2A meeting - 30 people attended. Toole is doing the study; funded by MassDOT. The study area is from 128 x 95 intersection to Crosby corner where it meets Route 2. That stretch is scheduled to be repaved (not reconstructed) in 2023. MassDOT wants Toole to look at bike and ped access. They will look at short, medium, and long-range fixes, but resurfacing will not solve these issues. Analysis says that speeds are what really is the problem. People are advocating for narrower roadways. They documented number of users and crashes; only 2 cyclist crashes documented; a few pedestrian ones. They did a study in January and still got —40 cyclists a day. Old Mass Ave intersection is really dangerous; residents there want it to be a T intersection. This is where the power lines cross as you're going toward Lexington and take a left; there's a wooden guardrail. Richard suggested that the Bike Committee write a letter sharing concerns about this segment. He said that the NP feels "there's too much pavement," but perhaps there should be a bike lane! Jennifer offered to draft a letter on behalf of the Committee in support/raising issues about the issues with 2A and bicycle riders. Richard talked about the Comprehensive Plan, saying that staff did a compilation of comments that were made last summer and fall. Bike issues rose to the top! Other business: Jennifer said that a cyclist was hit at Maguire Rd and Hartwell Ave in the last couple of weeks but Paul Callahan was not aware of the crash. Lou provided a Bike Walk Week update: he will do a double session of Bike Smart/ Smart Cycling on May 11. He knows of a student who is an enthusiastic bike mechanic and will recruit him. Jennifer and Matthias will do a commuter skill share. The bike commuter breakfast will be on the 17th. Speaker on "outdoor deficit disorder", "free- range kids", etc. Jennifer/Kevin/Lou mentions that it would be good to have a set of google docs, wiki, calendar for better information sharing. Jennifer will send out pointers on social media. Jennifer described content of skill share (how to carry stuff on a bike, how to arrive without being a sweaty mess, how to equip a commuter bike, etc.). There was a question about distributing helmets. Zagster is talking about splitting their bike racks; have one in East Lex and one in Lexington Center. George asked for feedback on Zagster usage pre- and post- Lime Bike introduction. The meeting was adjourned. Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways The Treasurers' Report was given. Some of the funds are remaining from the Anniversary celebration. The last three plowings have not been paid. Donations continue to come in despite lack of advertisement. Winter Plowing: No difficulties so far. Nothing known about continuing issue with depot ice. Lou/Smart Cycling: hopefully more participation during Bike Week! Recorder: Jennifer Melot Editors: Kevin Falcone and Peggy Enders