Huntsville Bike Committee

People who recognize the role of bicycles in sustainable transportation have been talking this week about comments by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. On his blog this week, he wrote:

As I said today in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this includes fostering communities where bicyclists feel both safe and welcome on the roadways. Bike-friendly development also has the potential to contribute significantly to the revitalization of downtown districts and offer an alternative to sprawl and automobile-focused commuting.

This line of thinking marks a departure from LaHood’s predecessor, who didn’t see bicycles as having much to do with transportation.

LaHood issued a call to arms, of sorts, describing funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and urging advocates to “get their cities and states to request funds for these projects.”

Here in Savannah, a group of advocates has already been following LaHood’s advice and there are two important opportunities for the public to show support in the near future.

While LaHood’s comments are encouraging, I can’t help but recognize the reality of the situation. As a bicyclist and pedestrian, I must lobby local and state officials and plead for inclusion in transportation funding requests. Yet as a motorist, no such action is required of me. Automobile infrastructure is automatic, even when it isn’t wanted, even when it excludes other users and even when it comes at such a high social cost.

THIS IS A COPY OF THE CITY WAVER FOR THE MAYORS RIDE SANS THE HEADER/LOGO (which didn’t transfer in copy). PLEASE REMEMBER, RIDE LEAVES PROMPTLY AT 10AM. MEETING PLACE: 320 FOUNTAIN CIRCLE & WILLAMS ST. (THE CHILDREN’S FOUNTAIN)…COME EARLY (9:30) TO SIGN UP FOR THIS FUN RIDE WITH YOUR MAYOR.

The Inaugural Mayor’s Bicycle Ride
May 2, 2009

BY SIGNING THE BELOW, I AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING RULES:

1. All bicyclists must obey all traffic signals, stop signs and police officers as required by law. This is NOT a race.
2. Helmets are required for all bicyclists while on this ride. Alabama law requires helmets for riders ages 16 and under.
3. Any rider age 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Riders ages 13-18 must have this form signed by a parent or guardian, and can then ride unaccompanied.

In consideration of my (or my minor child’s) participation in the Mayor’s Bicycle Ride, I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, hold harmless and covenant not to sue all sponsors, organizers, promoters, directors and the City of Huntsville, its agents, servants, and employees, from any and all claims for damages suffered by me (or my minor child, if applicable) as a result of participation in or traveling to and from said event. I affirm that I (or my minor child, if applicable) as a participant in this event, am in proper physical condition to participate and complete the event, which I have entered, and further agree that the above-referenced individuals or entities connected with the event are under no obligation to provide physical examination or evidence of my fitness to participate in, said event.

PRINTED NAME: ____________________________

SIGNATURE: _______________________________

DATE: _____________________________________

SIGNATURE OF PARENT/GUARDIAN:

___________________________________________
(Required if Participant is Under 18 Years of Age)

Agenda – April 22 (Earth Day)

March 18 Meeting Minutes approval

Mayor’s Ride

    Parade Permit approved

    Is there a disclaimer to sign at “registration”? (Action-Rex)

    We will have a registration table?

    Is proclamation ready/approved?  May is Bike Month.  This should also go on the proclamations page and Bike page.

Bike Map (Pete)

        City disclaimer.

        Working file of cover art so we can edit text.

        Route 64 connectivity to Oakwood…dangerous. 

CARS grant update (James)

    Amount awarded

    Logo

    Survey

    Bus wraps

Bikeways Plan schedule break out meeting

Lincoln St…raised reflective arrows…danger

PSA’s/website ( Teresa  )

    Website updates (Action – Rex /Trent )

    Meeting minutes on website?

    May Calender of National Bike Month on the Bike Page

    Proclamation (May is Nat’l Bike Month) on page

    Mayor’s letter of support for PSA’s?  Last meeting minutes said was complete; haven’t seen it.

    Get BASC listed as an official committee on the city site…At least, link www.hsvbike.com to city site.

    Life cycles…bikes from HPD? ( Tim  )

New Business:

    Public meetings/forum/public observation) 

    BASC Blog. 

Jamie Miernik

Alabama Bicycle Coalition

Huntsville Bike Advisory & Safety Committee

Huntsville,  AL

256.520-2055

THERE MAY BE A WAVER TO SIGN SO SHOW UP @ 9:30 AM RIDES STARTS @ 10AM

The next OFFICIAL meeting of HSV BASC is April 22nd @ 5pm CITY HALL.  Agenda items from me thus far are…

Huntsville city website nail-down…I am hoping for some definitive answers as to why Rex, Trent, and Mayor Battle continue to drag their feet, on an agreed action back in January/Feb to include “safety” info, “resources”, etc via a flowchart provided as a template.

PUBLIC MEETING…NEW BUSINESS…I will also re-address a sugestion to citizen BASC members from January’s new years resolution statement to BASC on holding one public meetings per month at the Main Library.  I have the contact and will be arranging this as a way to address and inform public concerns.  I believe a public forum as apposed to someone’s house is necessary as a neutral ground for discussion.

Re-address @ official meeting of BASC…THIS BLOG!…it would be great if we could really use it as a communication, comment, and post tool…to help bridge communications

PLEASE ANYONE WHO HAS QUESTIONS TO ADD TO AGENDA?…PLEASE POST COMMENTS TO THIS BLOG!  I DO MONITOR THIS BLOG.  I WILL WORK TO GET THIS GOING BETTER.  I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND CONSIDERATION IN THAT ATTEMPT.

Sincerly,

TERESA.

P.S.  The share the road signs will continue to go up, but traffic and engineering wants to errect the rest of the share signs once the route map is finalized…this way they can place them along with additional route signage that needs to be put up as well.

P.P.S.  Thanks in large part to Peter Hannah the map is nearly finished…he is our Ace GIS man!  Unfortunately, he fell ill last Friday…So, we had to extend the city’s imposed deadline on us a little.  Considering that we pretty much meet all other deadlines set for us, I feel some slack should be extended folks.  This map has been sitting on a city shelf for years.   In a few months we have collectively worked to improve it.  Whether you feel it a useful tool or not, this is in fact a good thing for the city to have along with other plans to improve infrastructure and accessibility for cycling in Huntsville.

SUNDAY APRIL 5TH @ MARJORIES HOUSE 5PM…PLEASE CONFIRM  THIS ALL!  THIS WILL BE TO WRAP UP ON MAP ISSUES…FIRST.  SO, WE CAN WORK OUT LAST KINKS AND SUBMIT FINAL EDIT BY APRIL 15TH AND START BREAKOUT SESSION FOR BIKE PLAN EDIT!

BASC Meeting Minutes

3/18/2009

Attendees:

Tim Barnack

Peter Hannah

Captain Rodney Baker

Rex Reynolds

James Moore

Marjorie Holderer

Sharon Bayler

Jo Somers

Teresa Fitzpatrick

Meeting called to order at 5:10 pm.

Marjorie Holderer made a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.  M/S/P

1, Press conference-

• Letter was sent to Mayor Battle requesting a press conference on the fulfillment of the Share the Road Signs.  Rex suggested that we include this as part of the weekly press conference; we are tentatively scheduled for March 27^th, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.  He advised that the Planning Commission had approved the Greenway extension that can be part of the announcement also.
• Action – Teresa to work with Trent Willis on content of press release.   
• Action – Trent to ask Bill Kling to attend press conference. 
• Action – Peter to give soft copy of map hints to Teresa for script.

2. Mayor’s Ride-

• Action – Tim to contact Bikes Etc., Trailhead, re bike for the mayor.  He will get the appropriate measurements for bike fit.
• Teresa to contact Omnibus re bike for mayor.
• Route for Mayor’s ride approved, parade permit has been submitted.
• Action – Rex to email Tommy Brown re: parking in city garage, start of ride on Fountain Circle.
• Mayor will read the proclamation for “May is National Bike Month” before the Mayor’s Ride. 
• Captain Baker has HEMSI lined up for the ride.
• Action – Rex to contact legal regarding a waiver for the ride (ride at your own risk).
• Action – Marjorie to forward SCCC waiver to the group as a template.

3. Bike Maps-

• Peter now has the new City of Huntsville Logo
• It was decided not to include SCCC, Alabike logo, since this is a city map.
• Action – James to research original bus artwork on the map.
• Madison County 911 provided centerline data; Peter will include their logo on the map.
• It was decided not to include the logo for the GIS department.
• Marjorie to write up 1 – 2 sentences regarding what to do if harassed, etc, 911 versus non-emergency numbers.
• Peter advised route numbering needs to be cleaned up.  Jo advised numbering convention, and that the route numbers end at city center.  It was agreed that numbers would be consistent north to south and east to west, not a “hub” concept.
• Re-signing of existing routes – Jo Somers agreed that we can re-sign existing routes but it will delay the signage process.  It was agreed that we would re-sign now, to match the new map.  There are no Share the Road signs on non-numbered routes.
• Action – Jo and Peter to work together on numbering and signage.  
• Action – If you have a new location for STR send it to Jo.  These requests can also be posted on the BASC webpage. 
• Map Review Process – Marjorie and Peter to work together on issues on map routes.
• Peter to send files of the map to James for printing when needed.
• Release date – Tentatively scheduled for 1^st of May to coincide with Mayor’s Ride.
• James had input on route 64 – he would like to keep that route number.
• Map needs to be at printer April 13^th.

4.  Website -

• We will send minutes of previous BASC meetings to Trent for inclusion on website.
• It was noted that we are now under bicycle safety but no change in content as requested. 
• Action – Rex to work with Trent for update.

5.  PSA’s-

• Letter from Mayor Battle to accompany PSA’s is complete.
• Per Rex, the city can produce a motorist education brochure.
• Teresa to investigate for city produced brochure…A&M, UAH, & CALHOUN ART DEPT’S for LOGO ART
• Clear Channel – currently running Share the Road PSA’s on 100.3 and 106.1.  They are not yet using DAT format.
• Action – James to get programming log to see when they are running the ads
• Talk show PSA filming is done.
• Action – Sharon to work with Blake on editing.
• SCCC agreed to commit $300 towards Clear Channel PSA’s, no other city money or SORBA, bike shop money to date.
• Action – Tim to ask SORBA if they can sponsor ads.
• Teresa is working on slides for the GOVAC channel.

6. ALDOT proposal-

• James advised 30 – 45 days before we know if we will get the grant.  Jo believes we will get at least 50%.
• James advised that Bill Lukerson suggested a logo,
• Action – James to contact Blake regarding his graphic design intern – can he do logo, also for brochure.

7.  Bike Plan review -

• Review is due end May latest, we have two months to review.
• Date set for review of and comments by core BASC members – tentatively Sunday, April 5^th
• Action – James to send soft copy of bike plan for redlines

New Business

1.  Bus Wrap – James has new quotes on bus wrap with really good rates

• Need some digital photos to use
• Need cyclists photos/models

2.  SRTS update

• Non infrastructure items implemented
• Capt, Baker advised that they are looking at purchasing cones, special signs, and speed control devices for school zones.
• Infrastructure not yet done, Jo advised a pedestrian path onto campus at McDonnell, Chapman will have speed tables within the campus.

3.  Life Cycles

• Tim Barnack has contacted the HPD concerning unclaimed bikes in the Property Room – These bikes are normally auctioned off, Tim has requested that the City donate them to Life Cycles.  He is still waiting on info from the city but hopes that this can happen.  The committee moved to endorse this action – M/S/P.
• Even though Life Cycles is moving, we will leave the spur to Manna House on the Bike Map. 

4.  Lincoln Street

• Teresa mentioned concerns on safety issues with the new raised reflective (arrows) on Lincoln Street (one way) to Jo Somers from traffic engineering– not visible at night to bike traffic traveling north down Lincoln, they may be dangerous and slippery potentially causing cyclists to wipe out?

5.  New Traffic Light Sensors

• Jo advised that they are cutting in new sensors at Whitesburg & Governors, these sensors will be able to detect bikes, and will be standard going forward. 
• Public can contact Traffic Engineering regarding sensors that do not activate.
• Symbols on the roadway will show cyclists where to activate.

Next meeting will be April 22^nd, 5:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.