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Bicycle Advisory Committee 4/9/2026
April. 9 2 2 / 7: IRI / Town Hall. Parker Room and Hybrid
Members present:
Betty Gau, Jonathan Bernays, Tom ShHple, Jim Cadenhead, Dave Armstrong, Sarah
Hews, Suzan Chen, Jason Dearling, Nick Dell Anna (LPD liaison), Ben Alperovich
(LHS student liaison)
Also Attending: Tom Fortman, Rick Treitman
1. Approve March 12th, 2026 LBAC Meeting Minutes
Motion was approved.
2. Article 12 b and c Discussion
Betty notes we should ask Ross for the data he promised from the sight lines study, and about
the crossing on Meriam Street
Jonathan brought up that the Meriam Street curb is too tight at the intersection of the Bikeway
and Meriam.
We discussed asking the Town / DPW to remove the last parking space before the Bikeway on
Meriam Street. It would be best to turn that parking space into a place for bike parking such as
a bike parking corral or bike parking "parklet".
Betty - good news, articles B and C passed, 89% on B, 96% for C
Ben - what was the timeline?
Betty - Worthen Rd, $100K for study, then $1.1 million for construction next year
Tom Fortman - Asks about Article B. Betty explains the articles as follows:
Article 12 b: Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation: Minuteman Bikeway to LHS;
Requesting $180,000 to support the study and design of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian
access between The Minuteman Bikeway and Lexington High School (LHS)
Identify and design to the 25% level a pedestrian and bicycle route focusing on two areas:
1.Bikeway>Mass Ave/center>LHS
2.Bikeway>Bedford St>LHS
Article 12 c: Townwide Bicycle -Pedestrian Plan Implementation
Requesting $100,000 for the design of a multi -use side path on Worthen Road from
Mass Ave to Waltham Street.
•Highest -ranked project on the bicycle priority list
•Design and construction of this path will be coordinated with the new high school.
3. Bikeway Safety & Maintenance Items
Betty says she has been noticing things needing maintaining on the Minuteman Commuter
Bikeway. She brings up the new barriers behind the Visitor Center and why are they there? For
Patriots Day?
Sarah says we should push back on that. It cuts off too much and makes path too constricted.
Betty will talk to Ross about it, try to get them adjusted.
Notes that the Tough Ruck event is the next week, April 19tH
Jonathan notes that at the crossing into the parking lot, stop signs get turned to face bikes
instead of cars, and we should bring that up too.
Betty - We should bring a list to the town and Select Board. Also, we need to get the middle
yellow line painted which has not been painted since October 2023. Betty asks for other
suggestions:
• Sarah notes that at Hancock Street, there's a hedge that blocks the view.
• Jonathan - they cut it a little bit, but not enough. That's what the sightline study was
supposed to help.
• Jonathan - Drainage is an issue, like where right of way enters the center parking lot
causing big puddles
• Dave - Lowell Street crossing is another big ice hazard
• Sarah - we should group by priority.
• Betty - the Bikeway yellow line was last painted in 2023
• Discussion of paint. Road paint, reflective paint. It was also mentioned that Ross Morrow
(DPW) has warned that road paint is more slippery when wet, so we should exercise
caution when requesting more paint.
• Suzan - notes construction may have to be finished before they will paint
• Betty notes paving of the Bikeway construction section is supposed to be done mid-May.
Maybe the painting could start then.
4. Bike Parking Update
Tom gives update on multi -family housing developments. He has been meeting with every
developer. The meetings have gone well, except for one (131 Hartwell Ave). The codified
regulations made it happen. He reviews sizes of the developments.
Tom relates that ebike charging was lacking coherence, but Fire Department is being more
consistent now: In garage charging is no problem, like for cars, but only an exterior entrance to
a bike charging room is allowed if the charging room is adjacent to living space. He reminds us
that now the regulations require 25% charging bike spaces.
Betty - now we have to get bike parking regs for other types of buildings.
Brief discussion follows about what this actually means for garages etc.
Betty reviews possibilities for other "parklets" in Lexington Center and asked Jim and Ben to
give an update on the parklet proposal by Omar's.
Jim - the plan was to petition businesses, and take the plan to the Select Board.
Betty suggests looping in with the Center Committee.
Jim reviews plan for Omar's; one space taken which Omar's requested.
Sarah - does this tie in with keeping kids from riding on the Center sidewalks?
Jim - Yes
Jonathan - Bike friendly town brings business, makes up for lost car spaces
Betty - hook in Sandhya Iyer (Town Economic Development Director)??
Dave notes that the Center Committee may be thinking of "parklets" as places for tables, not
bike parking
5. Ebike and Emoto Information Document Update
Summary of Discussion:
1. Enforcement Challenges
• Tom shared feedback from the LPD Captain: enforcement is difficult and potentially
unsafe. If officers confront riders, they may flee into traffic, creating liability concerns.
Police are reluctant to pursue strict enforcement.
• Nick added that LPD is trying to balance education with enforcement but receives many
emails on the issue.
• Group consensus: enforcement is not the right primary strategy.
2. Education & Messaging
• Idea raised for student -produced videos promoting "Walk Your Wheels."
Ben supports student involvement.
• Sarah emphasized messaging focused on why walking bikes matters—community
safety, positive tone.
• Betty asked whether "Walk Your Wheels" signs are effective; Sarah said yes.
• Jonathan noted signs may influence adults more than kids; adults should model good
behavior.
• Group agreed messaging should avoid enforcement language.
3. Infrastructure & Practical Concerns
• Sarah: Without infrastructure changes, biking on sidewalks will continue. Need safe
ways to bike to and through the Center.
• Dave: Concord's sidewalks are narrower, making biking less appealing.
• Sarah suggested more bike parking at the edges of the Center, noting congestion near
Theater Pharmacy.
• Suzan: Out-of-town riders often don't know how to reach the bike path easily.
4. Community Involvement & Volunteers
• Sarah asked about town volunteers helping with education.
• Jonathan suggested focusing on high-risk times (e.g., crowded weekends).
• Discussion about which town group should lead:
o Tom: Bike Committee.
o Sarah: Should involve a cross-section of the town.
• Ideas for volunteer engagement:
o Jim jokingly suggested someone in a chicken suit; group found humor in the
idea.
o Betty suggested a T -Rex costume.
o Jonathan floated incentives like Rancs gift cards; Ben noted kids would game the
system.
o Jim suggested community service hours; Ben doubted popularity.
5. Working Group Formation
• Agreement that a working group is needed.
• Tom: Work includes design and volunteer coordination.
• Sarah volunteered to lead if the effort remains fun and engaging.
• Discussion of timing:
o School half-day on May 15 as a possible kickoff.
o Consider activities for Discovery Day.
6. Additional Notes
• Nick described "park, look, walk" duty by officers, though they are often pulled away for
other calls.
• Red tags previously used in the Center were provided by Nick and passed around; the
group agreed enforcement -oriented messaging should be removed.
Next Steps
1. Form working group (Sarah to lead).
2. Develop positive, safety -focused messaging ("Walk Your Wheels").
3. Explore student -created educational content.
4. Identify volunteer roles and potential fun engagement strategies.
5. Plan for May 15 school half-day outreach.
6. Consider presence or activities for Discovery Day.
7. Assess bike parking needs at Center edges.
Betty asked if Nick had anything to report?
Nick - only one accident, at Grant and East. Bike and car. Biker went to hospital, but is OK.
driver was cited, felt very bad.
Sarah - anything in infrastructure that might have been a factor?
Nick - Not really.
Sarah notes that making biking safer also protects drivers from the trauma of hitting a bike.
Betty - education is the thing. Where are we going with that?
Nick says the need is getting into the schools somehow, but notes bikes aren't the speciality of
the school resource officers, and he might not be able to schedule something.
Jonathan asks about getting in touch with adults, like bike clubs (e.g., Rippers)
Rick notes Quad Cycle rides come into town. Suzan notes CRW (Charles River Wheelers) rides
come also.
Betty - this is a good idea, to get in touch with these groups.
Nick reports that people make big complaints on line, but then he sees they were never reported
to LPD. He also notes that near misses called in don't make it to the log. Dispatcher won't send
anyone. Erratic drivers would be dispatched though.
Jonathan - but we want to know about these things, so can we set up something that will collect
the data, on town website perhaps?
Betty - good idea
Nick - be sure to tell folks to call LPD if they see an accident though
Jim - This was discussed before, I was against it before, but it might provide us with locales that
are a problem. Maybe a google form
Betty - maybe something like the town's pothole reporting?
Tom - DPW is rolling out something this summer
Jonathan B says he is happy to wade through the data that comes in.
Jim - combined with Bike/Ped Plan, it could help us reassess our priorities.
Jonathan - it might help show effectiveness of Bike/Ped Plan changes
Betty - we would need to advertise thiis also.
Jonathan - with guidance on what we want them to report, but also with town support.
Betty - anything else about the education forum?
Jim - nothing right now. Thinking about an ebike training, like BikeSmart. Problem is how to get
kids to show up.
7. Micromobility Report
Betty raises idea of a support letter for state legislature.
Jim - how do we support the report?
Betty - let's keep it on our radar for now
8. Mass Ave Green Bike Lanes
Betty - different committees are asking if we can make the town maintain these
Jonathan - Maple street is badly designed right now.
Tom - the green lanes cost $1.2 million, for just over a mile; Milling the pavement, special non-
skid paint, etc.
Jonathan - in perspective of road maintenance, it's not that much money.
9. Liaison Reports
Jonathan (Transportation Safety Group) - they cancelled the last meeting, and I missed the one
before, so nothing to report now
Betty notes that Town Meeting passed the speed humps/cushions for Walnut Street.
Meeting adjourned 9:00 PM