Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission
November 18th, 2004
Regular Minutes

Roll Call

Call to Order
Delgado called the meeting to order at 5:19 p.m.

Approval of Minutes October 21st, 2004
Marvin/Knickerbocker m/s to approve the minutes of October 21st, 2004 as presented. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion passed.

Public Forum
Phil Clarke, SOU liaison-appointee, was introduced to the commissioners.

Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) Bike Safety Funding Request
Severson noted letter of request received from BTA. He provided background history on the relationship between the BTA and the commission. Chapman noted that he had presented the request to the Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) and they had agreed to match $1500 from this commission to support the program as they had last year. He discussed details of the Bike Safety program.

There was discussion of whether a more detailed timeline was needed. Members suggested that communication had also been an issue. Chapman noted that the original intent was that the program become self-sustaining within three years, which has not happened.

Robbins/Knickerbocker m/s to approve the budget request to grant the BTA up to $1500 for carrying out the Bike Safety Program as detailed in Scott Bricker's November 17th, 2004 letter, with the Traffic Safety Commission to match this amount, and to request increased communications about the Bike Safety Program from BTA. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion passed.

Safe Routes/Walk 'N Bike to School Day Debriefing
Delgado noted that there had been complaints from three parents at two of the schools involved who expressed concern that there was not ample staffing to coordinate and support the volunteers. She explained that the parents involved felt that they had been lead on, that event staff rallied to get volunteers and then provided little follow-through or support which wound up running counter to the goal of the event. West noted that in her research the ideal child to parent or volunteer ratio for an event of this nature. It was noted that Walker School, where two of these complaints were made, had six volunteers for 126 children. Members emphasized the need to learn from this situation in planning future events.

Car Free Day Debriefing and Begin Planning Next Year
Members discussed the survey cards and noted that they did not generate the return rates hoped for.

The possibility of closing the downtown for Car Free Day was discussed. Severson noted that it was not an impossibility, it would be very involved and difficult. He explained that the Public Works Director had indicated that a partial closure to include the Plaza, and East Main Street from Oak Street to Second Street might be possible for part of the day, with Lithia Way to remain open for two-way traffic. Severson noted that the state would have to sign-off on a closure as it is their jurisdiction, that the city council would have to approve, that it would be a big impact on the Police, similar to Fourth of July, and that buy-in from the Chamber and downtown business community would be needed. He emphasized that other closures - for Fourth of July, Halloween, Festival of Lights - were typically handled through the Chamber and relied heavily on their full time staffing. He also suggested that looking at as many options to make this an attractive downtown event as possible would be beneficial, including sidewalk sales, growers and crafters markets, etc.

Members Sommer, Bungay, Marvin and West agreed to meet in subcommittee to brainstorm and develop a press pack. They agreed to bring their ideas to the next meeting to formulate a proposal for the chamber. Morrison suggested that the subcommittee not only know the benefits, but that they also be aware of potential objections to the proposal and be prepared to counter them.

Downtown Plan Update
Severson explained that the kick-off meeting would be scheduled in January and that a full meeting schedule would be announced at that time.

Skateboards - Safety & Parking
Severson explained that this had been a request sent to the planning commission and council to change ordinances to require skateboard parking and to include skateboards in school bike safety education programs. He noted that those who made the request were aware of the meeting and had said they would attend if their schedules allowed. Members indicated that they were unsure how great parking demand was for skateboards beyond the schools, and noted that one attraction of skateboards seemed to be that they could be carried rather than requiring parking.

Members were uncertain who would be able to teach skateboard safety in the schools, or whether there were any established programs. West stated that she would look into it and report back.

Members indicated that they were supportive of skateboards as an alternative form of transportation as long as safety was kept in mind, that they were unwilling to make a motion at this time, but that they were open and interested in further discussion. They added that they would prefer someone to attend the meeting, answer questions, and champion the issue. It was suggested that the appropriate placement for a safety program might be through the Parks Department at the skatepark.

JPR Underwriting
Hinke noted that he had contacted JPR, and his feeling was that event-specific items would be better than purchasing recurring airtime. Members concurred.

Staff Follow Up Items
Severson noted that relative to air quality monitoring, he had spoken with DEQ staff in Medford and at the Air Quality Lab in Portland. He explained that the DEQ had actually tested Ashland regularly but that testing had ceased some time ago as Ashland was consistently at the lowest pollution levels in the valley. He noted that DEQ had recently spot-tested again in Ashland and numbers were still low. Based on this history, he indicated that the DEQ did not feel that regular periodic testing would be fruitful and would not be interested in conducting it. He noted that DEQ had used test stations in downtown Medford near Main and Central as an illustration and that at those stations, with heavy traffic and higher buildings to trap carbon monoxide, the readings still falls 30% below the standard and do not present a health concern in DEQ's view. Severson add that the only concern that DEQ Lab staff members indicated they would have as a cyclist in Ashland would be road dust if the city were sanding heavily in the winter and cars were kicking up dust from that sand.

Chapman noted there was an EPA report on particulates if members were interested. Marvin added that his goal in raising the issue was to look at the effect of exhaust on cyclists and cycling. He added that the commission has a responsibility to educate. Robbins suggested that travelling on roads with less traffic means less exhaust and less likelihood of traffic conflicts with other vehicles. Marvin emphasized the need to bring the negative impacts of automotive choices into focus.

Severson noted that relative to traffic loops in turn signals, that the state was sending a team to come down and set frequencies. He also referred members to pages copied from the Oregon Bicyclist's Manual demonstrating how to tip one's bike over the loops in order to trigger the signal. Sommer questioned the issue of walk signal buttons, especially near the library and at North Main and Maple. Severson indicated that he hadn't checked and would follow up. Morrison clarified that the buttons do not change the timing of the walk signal when the traffic lights are synchronized, but simply ensure that the pedestrian walk signal changes with the signal. He added that the buttons may effect timing of the signals where the traffic signals are not synchronized.

Severson noted that relative to the inquiry on installing temporary bike lanes in downtown, the Public Works Director was strongly opposed to this proposal for safety reasons. He noted that she also concurred that this could end up working counter to the intended goal of revitalizing the downtown through the Downtown Plan update by serving to build opposition within the downtown business community.

Bike Shop Outreach/Community Relations
Robbins noted that shop managers were happy to be receiving agenda information. He noted that this outreach had resulted in inquiries about the safety of the intersection of Oak and B Streets, where on-street parking creates vision clearance difficulties and the cross-traffic on Oak does not stop, and Siskiyou and Sherman, where the timing of the light across the wide intersection is not adequate to allow cyclists time to cross and the bikes don't trigger the intersection controls.

Chapman/Robbins m/s to inform the Traffic Safety Commission that there is a safety issue at the intersection of Oak and B Streets for bicycles, pedestrians and automobiles, and to recommend that they reconsider a four-way stop or investigate other alternatives, such as eliminating some on-street parking, to improve safety at this intersection. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion passed.

Creating a Calendar
This item was tabled until next month.

Who Rides?
Sommer noted that she had finished an article profiling the Fisher-Smiths, and that she would contact former commissioner John Baxter to prepare another profile. West showed a sample poster, made from Knickerbockers article, that would be displayed on RVTD buses and noted that members could get her copies of their articles to create posters and archive for future use.

Delgado noted that she had been interviewed and that it would air on Jefferson Daily next week. She called for people interested in being profiled to come forward, and noted that several people at JPR were interested in being profiled individually or as a group. She stated that she was working with the Tidings on getting them to run additional articles, and that the Rogue Valley Parent was also interested. She reminded members of the Sentient Times interest, and stated that people were lining up to be profiled.

Subcommittee Reports
It was noted that Education and Outreach had not met despite a few attempts. Delgado reminded members that setting a regular subcommittee meeting time and place was helpful.

New Business
Members discussed whether there were any bikelights left. Cook indicated that some had recently been purchased , but he added that inquiries had slowed. Delgado stated that she would look into further promotion.

Agenda Items for Next Month
Car Free Day; Calendar; ODOT poster giveaways; Parks & Recreation Update (program person hired? set bike swap date? look at spring offerings? fall success? need support for anything?)

Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Next Meeting: Thursday, December 16th, 2004