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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-11-LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING NOTES LEXINGTON BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, April 11, 2019. 7 pm Parker Room, Town Office Building Members present: Peggy Enders (chair) Bob Hausslein (Chair, FoLB), Bob Dangel, Omar Khudari, Kevin Falcone, Jennifer Melot, Mike Tabaczynski, George Gagliardi, Lou Savarino Liaisons: Joe Pato (BoS), Ross Morrow (DPW) Others present: Dave Enos, Suzy Enos (members, Bedford BAC), Jack Johnson, Chris Tonkin (members, Arlington BAC), Capt. Michael McLean, Lexington Police,Tom Fortmann, Howard Cloth, Matthias Beebe, Neva Coovert, Robin Lord, Sandra Shaw, Marvin Getman, Sharon Kamowitz, Bill Widnall Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways Annual Meeting: The FoLB annual meeting was called to order by Bob Hausslein. Officers and directors proposed: Chair and Treasurer: Bob Hausslein, Clerk: Bob Dangel; Directors: Peggy Enders, Bob Hausslein, Bob Dangel, George Gagliardi, Richard Canale, Mike Tabaczynski, Jennifer Melot, Sandra Shaw, Omar Khudari, Kevin Falcone, and Lou Savarino Members voted to approve and to close the annual meeting. Treasurer's Report: Bob Hausslein gave the report. So far, snowplowing for the winter has cost $3,975; donations toward a Cary Coovert memorial are $680. Bikeway Cleanup: Bob Hausslein announced that Sunday, May 5, would be the annual cleanup starting at 9 am; there will be 5 starting locations. Volunteers will be solicited through social media and announced in the Minuteman. Bikeway Count: Peggy said there would be a spring count in mid-May (12 hours on a Saturday, commuter and lunch hours on a Tuesday). Volunteers will be recruited. Bike Walk 'n Bus Week: Lou said the schedule is nearly complete: there will be two Bike Smart courses on Saturday May 11 with the goal of opening the program to more students; Nicole Waxmonsky will lead a women's ride; Jennifer will run a commuting skill share; the Commuter Breakfast is Friday, May 17 (volunteers needed). Discovery day: Peggy said that the committees will have a table at Discovery Day; over 80 free kids' helmets have been donated by Breakstone, White and Gluck LLC, and T shirts will be sold, too. The Friends' meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm. The Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee was called to order. Bikeway Crash on Sunday March 24: Meeting participants introduced themselves; Capt McLean was asked to talk about the bikeway crash that resulted in a fatality. Capt. McLean said that no formal report will be released until the investigation is finished. He said that two adult men were traveling in different directions on path; both bicyclists were on their own side of the trail, but very close to the center. Their handlebars clipped, and both went over the handlebars. Both had serious injuries, with Mr. Coovert dying at the hospital. Capt McLean said that nothing in the investigation showed any reckless/ negligent/criminal behavior. Many witnesses were interviewed. The state police reconstruction team was called, as well as CPAC (the DA's office). Both declined jurisdiction. Out of respect for the victim's family, Capt McLean said he would not share injury details. Omar asked if there was evidence that passing was involved? Capt McLean replied that there was no indication from witnesses that this was the case. No 911 calls to indicate dangerous behavior; neither bicyclist appeared to be doing a training ride or racing. He noted that the day was very nice, one of the first ones of the year, so the trail was busy. The crash happened at around 2 pm. Jack Johnson said he passed by 10 minutes before the crash. He said it was relatively quiet at that time, with no particular congestion or problems with that area. Capt McLean said that there was no indication that the Seasons' 4 intersection was involved. Capt McLean said that the other cyclist is now home from the hospital. He said that the other cyclist used the path because of his past involvement in motor vehicle crashes. He added that he believes both cyclists were riding by themselves. Mr. Coovert's wife, Robin Lord, said that Cary used the path to commute to his job in Burlington. That day, he was just trying to get back in shape after the winter. Capt McLean said that that day was the other man's first day on the path for the year, as well. Capt McLean said he hoped the investigation would be complete soon. He said he hopes for more safety consciousness on the bikeway: the bike path is a "microcosm of society," and you see the usual variety of behaviors. Neva Coovert asked if there were any way to widen the path. Capt McLean said he thought that would cause people to go faster. Peggy added that it would be hard, not to mention expensive, to widen and pave the whole path because the bikeway runs through a lot of wetland; on repaved sections, DPW has added 2 ft on each side of gravel. Ross Morrow confirmed that gravel will be added on both sides in the next reconstructed section. Christopher Tonkin said that, in Arlington, police don't collect information on bike crashes. He noted that there is some talk of a state mandate. Notes that many accidents/crashes on the bikeway are unreported and we have no data about where the worst problem areas are. Capt McLean said that the Lexington police have introduced a new computer- aided dispatch system. Previously ped/bike accidents put in as a medical call, not easily searchable. Now new codes have been added to indicate car-bike, bike- bike, etc. He said he agrees that people need to report incidents, though. He added that he also heard that there is discussion of a uniform crash reporting method. Lexington has added 10 new bike patrol officers and that police academies now train all cadets on bikes. In addition to dedicated shifts from Memorial Day into October, there will be more patrolling. Peggy said she would send Chris the LBAC crash reporting recommendations that were provided to the Lexington police. Peggy commented that the current Mass state form for motor vehicle crashes is limited/old; a separate section for bike incidents should be added. In response to a question about the speed of the bikes involved with the crash, Capt McLean said that even if both were only going 10 mph, it would be a 20 mph crash. Peggy said that the tri-town bike committees have talked for some time about ways to make the bikeway safer. With the growth of e-bikes, should there be a speed limit? Peggy: tri-town committees have been talking about how to make bikeway safer for some time. Should there be a speed limit? In discussions, the general consensus is 15 mph — but all the time or at particularly busy times? And how would anyone know how fast they were traveling? Should there be passing guidelines? Suzy Enos commented that some of the newer paths in MA have a 15 mph posted speed limit (like Shining Sea bikeway). Not so much for enforcement, but as a suggestion to ride elsewhere. She also pointed out that Mass Ave is not necessarily a safe alternative for faster riders, however. Howard Cloth talked about the school zone speed warnings and suggested these be installed on the path. People could see a message suggesting they be more careful/slow down. Ross Morrow warned that this may actually cause people to speed (happen s with drivers). Capt McLean said that these devices cost $15K or more. It's best to help people who want to do the right thing to do better; there are some people you won't reach, he said. If speed guidelines are introduced, he said, it's important that there be consistency across the towns. Police can't be the "courtesy police" on the bikeway, he added, saying that he had heard about a bicyclist running a red light in another bikeway town and getting tackled by a police officer. Capt McLean said such a speed limit might perhaps be enforced as a bylaw violation. The bikeway is not a public way so traffic laws can't be enforced on it. The right of way is owned by the MBTA; police do not have jurisdiction for speeding. Bill Widnall said that most people who might be a problem have speedometers, but others pointed out that a-bikes do not always have them. Since it's a commuter bikeway, it is reasonable that people would want to go faster during non-congested periods. He noted that there are a lot of kids on balance bikes who can randomly pull U-turns, etc. Peggy said that a few years back the committee put a letter in the newspaper encouraging parents to help kids learn how to ride bikes someplace other than the bike path. The discussion focused on the need for a courtesy and safety awareness campaign. George mentioned that the red "burma shave" signs are going to be posted soon but expressed frustration that the committee "goes round and round" on these issues without much resolution. Comments on introducing a formal awareness campaign included: • It's a good idea; people don't necessarily realize that the bikeway will be so crowded on the weekends. Could even do PR or editorials to try to spread the message. Need a way to get to the general public. • MassBike wants to make a video using muppets to emphasize courtesy on shared use paths. LexMedia is also interested in putting together videos. • People have flagged Strava segments on the bike path for competition. No way to mark whole bikeway as a hazard/place rides should not be tracked competitively (KOM). Capt McLean suggested that TSG be the formal contact to Strava on this issue. • It isn't just bike riders who are the problem. Wide strollers, lots of users walking together, people on their phone. Only courtesy signs are in Lexington, perhaps Bedford could reach out to businesses to sponsor signs. • Getting common agreement on the bike path rules would help; there's a lack of common understanding on rules. • Campaign should reach people who walk in the wrong direction. Where are all the general rules/etiquette signs? (Trailhead kiosk program has been held up in Lexington for too long.) • Suggestion for painted rules on the pavement. This has been done on other trails. On Shining Sea path, this is done with pictograms at each mile. • MassDOT has a safety video contest for kids. Worth making an effort now to really do a PR campaign. • Need town staff support for such a campaign. Minuteman high school has a graphic design program. Idea: sponsor a contest for the kids, have a $100 reward. • Capt McLean said that of the three — education, engineering, enforcement he feels that education is the most important piece. A small number of repeated signs would be very effective. Needs location-distinctive issues to be reported to police so they can prioritize those areas for officer presence. Worst bikeway intersection is Hancock St. • Exclusionary tactics (i.e., getting high speed bikes off the path) don't work and will upset people; we should target problematic behavior instead. • Passing guidelines are needed. Recapitulated idea of passing distance being an issue and maybe something we should target messaging toward. • E-bikes: Should throttle a-bikes be allowed on the bikeway or should towns limit a-bikes to Class 1 (pedal-assist) only? Many feel that, if one doesn't have to pedal, then the device shouldn't be allowed. However, for an older population, a throttle-assist could help people get around town (just as motorized wheelchairs are allowed). • E-scooters: as their presence grows, will these become a hazard? What about motorized skateboards and single-wheel e-boards? Helmets for these groups? Other Business: The letter from the Committee to MassDOT and the Toole Group regarding the proposed redesign of the 2A corridor was approved. Members approved the March 2019 meeting notes. The meeting was adjourned. Recorder: Jennifer Melot Editor: Peggy Enders