News - BCNM Minutes from 8/20/2003 meeting
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Minutes, Aug 20th, 2003 BCNM mtg
AGENDA: 1. Recent City Council actions for funding bike improvements 2. Bike Education curriculum for adult bike commuters. 3. Bike to School Day (CSF, St. John's, and Larragoite Elem?) 4. Santa Fe BCNM Board WHERE: Wild Oats Community Room, 1090 St. Francis Dr. Possible Board Members - partial list from Gail: Adam F, Allison D, Brian D, Christine R, Lynn P, Dan B, Dennis C, Dede C, Farice R, Athena B, Julie J, Kat J, Andy L, Laura B, Laura C, Judy C, Lynette G, Paul C, Preston M, Quela R, Rick W, Stephen N, Tom R, Wolky T "Executive" Board - to try and make consensus decisions. Possible group that has time and inclination:? Dan B Kat J Andy L Paul C Quela R Athena B Stephen N Adam F CITY CIP PROGRAM - BIKEWAYS FUNDING Group reviewed the City Council proposals to fund Santa Fe bikeways for $ 2 Million. First proposal for $2 million was discussed at July 28th Public Works Committee, where Gail and 2 other cyclists spoke in support. The proposal was scheduled to be heard at the August 4th Finance Committee, but was delayed until the August 18th Finance Committee meeting. On August 18th, discussions were held about how to cut the bikeways funding and other portions, to enable City to fund the Tierra Contenta library and other projects. CIP program will next be discussed at the August 26th Public Works Committee meeting, and then it will return to the September 2nd Finance Committee meeting. If they stay on schedule it will go to the full Council on Wed, Sept 10th for a final vote. Susan H has talked to several members of the Council and told us what she had learned about possible votes from the Council. Susan came from Madison, Wisconsin, where she worked in the planning department, and once researched succesful bikeways. She said their conclusion was that separated bikeways are necessary. We further discussed the need for both on-street and off-street bikeways, as well as the need for bike education. Laura C. had talked to Matthew Ortiz, who said that he would only support bikeways funding if a path alongside Richards Road to the Community College was included. Laura and Paul explained to him that they think the bike lane along Richards is optimal, and there is no strong need for a sidepath. TRAFFIC CALMING We discussed traffic calming efforts along Alameda, and a few other places. There was a feeling in this group, and reflecting on conversations with others, like Laurence Malone, that bicyclists have not been well-considered in the traffic calming designs. While it might be generally agreed that we all want slower traffic, some of the designs are creating obstacles that push cyclists into the flow of traffic in places where a bike lane might serve better. That is, a bike lane with bicycle figures in the roadway could help reduce the traffic lane and slow traffic, while clearly providing a space for bikes. It is not clear that there is going to be room for a 4' or 5' bike lane along Alameda or along portions of Zia. We felt that the traffic calming program needs to be aware that bicyclists can't be squeezed into 1-2' of substandard road margin, with debris, seams, grates, etc. Both Laura and Paul have recently been subjected to harassment on Alameda, where a motorist was unable to pass them due to the traffic calming. Paul said that when talking to Carrie LaCrosse about Alameda, Carrie indicated that BCNM supported the configuration. Gail wasn't sure exactly how that was meant, since Gail has also talked to Carrie, and expressed concerns about the new traffic calming bulbouts on W. Zia. Gail has told Carrie that bicyclists want slower traffic, and agrees that bicyclists can learn to share the lanes in some situations. Gail reported that Carrie says "bicyclists seem to be of many opinions." We discussed the need to find an articulate way to convey that bicycle safety needs to be considered, and that the current traffic calming program doesn't seem to give much attention to bicyclists. In fact, it may be discouraging bicyclists, thus creating more traffic. Andy mentioned the new humps on Baca are okay. But Baca has bad road edges, so a cyclists can't hug the shoulder there very safely. We also had complaints about how the medians along Avenida de las Campanas are set up along the Arroyo Chamiso Trail. It is nearly impossible to bike through. Laura said she was told by the traffic calming department that it is intended that cyclists get off and walk through the median that has the right angle turns, because there is no stop sign for cars. We noted that there is some kind of signage about watching for bikes, isn't there? Because we all want safer roads, we discussed what other things could be done to achieve this goal for cars and bikes and others. Radio advertisements might be a good way to reach motorists about sharing the road. We also want to provide more bicycle education, so that cyclists will ride lawfully and safely, and will learn to take the lane when necessary. We watched a Public Service Announcement from the Colorado DOT that very concisely talks about rights and responsibilities of cyclists and motorists, and about sharing the road. We though this would be a good model, and that perhaps radio was more cost-effective than TV. BIKE EDUCATION/BIKE-TO-SCHOOL DAY Gail talked about "Effective Cycling" and "Bike Ed," courses to teach cyclists how to ride safely in traffic and in other situations. Gail and Kat are trying to arrange a Bike Ed course for mid-September at the College of Santa Fe. Laura reported that St. John's College is being helpful about allowing Laura to put out information about bicycle commuting, and will provide snacks for Bike-to-School Day on October 8th. Gail reported that Farice is contacting Larragoite Elementary about a Bike-to-School event there. Andy L. is very interested in helping with this event - just call him. Gail will get some literature about bicycle commuting from the League of American Bicyclists for distribution on October 8th. Like the palm card "10 Reasons to Commute by Bicycle." BOARD OF GOVERNERS Gail discussed the need for the Santa Fe group of cyclists to have some kind of executive decision making committee, so that policies of the group and formal letters on various issues could be generated and reviewed by Santa Fe members of BCNM. She put forward a group of names from the membership rolls (see above). The attendees of this meeting thought "Board of Governors" reflected the purpose of such a group, better than "Executive Board," which connotes officers. Since this group doesn't need to have a fiduciary responsibility, Gail didn't think we needed officers at this point, unless the group wanted them. At this meeting Paul C and Andy L have thus agreed to serve on such a "Board of Governors." At least four other members will be sought. MISC Laura mentioned encountering a tourist recently who had brought her bicycle, but was having trouble finding a bike map and figuring out where she could go riding. We thought that the Tourism kiosk on the Plaza and off Old Santa Fe Trail should have bike maps. Gail will mention this to the City. Respectfully submitted Gail Ryba August 21, 2003
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