Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition - Sustainable Transportation

1. Welcome/Introductions

No visitors attended today’s meeting.

2. Approval of previous meeting minutes

Tim noted that the posted minutes didn’t adhere to our decision to put only official business into the minutes, with official and unofficial business recorded in “notes.”

Erica suggested we talk to a lawyer about the need for two distinct documents. Joel offered to consult a lawyer acquaintance.

We voted to approve the posted minutes.

3. Treasurer’s report

“Beginning balance (May 2011)  $3,330.61
Deposit - interest                             1.98

Debits                                        (261.91)

Ending balance (May 2011)      $3,070.68

Debits

check #186 Ped Grant $250.00

POS (phone line)           11.91

Respectful submitted,
Karen Moorhead”

Karen will prepare a pedestrian grant document that will record the relevant monies, for use as a purchase order to Washtenaw County. Larry said that he will investigate if that is adequate. One question was whether the expenses must be documented. Carolyn felt that the document should be officially termed “ledger.”

4. New Business

a. Curb Your Car Month 2011

Kris reported that the website is live, and there is a Facebook event. We have received an enthusiastic response from Eli Cooper.

WATS said they would link to it. AATA was contacted about it and they tweeted it.

Karen has ideas for next year’s Curb Your Car Month; one was tying it into Mother’s Day.

Erica reported that policy has changed: people can sign up for the Commuter Challenge only if they work downtown. She has concerns about this.

Kris is planning to post often from the WBWC Facebook account.

Erica asked about the Doris West Award nominations; “Must we require no car ownership?.” Kris thinks that it will all depend upon the nominations we receive.

Erica asked about the pledges: she suggested we all put in some pledges so that we have enough to post, to inspire more pledges. Kris asked board members to put in pledges. We have just two so far. It has been publicized only to our list.

The award is schedule to be given at the second RAT, on May 20th. Erica thinks that we should have just one RAT this month, and put all of our energy behind making it good.

Kris suggested we could have both, but focus on the May 20^th. She suggested we could do something special to encourage participation, such as food.

We discussed start and end points for the RAT. Traditionally the ride starts at Liberty Square Park at Division and Liberty, and we decided to adhere to that tradition. We thought that Kerrytown would be a good ending point.

Kris suggested directly inviting some people to attend, such as Pete from Common Cycle, and the mayor. Erica suggested the Aut Bar as a potential “Rathole.” Erica says that she will scout the accessible options in the Kerrytown neighborhood.

Kris contacted Monica from 350.org. Their website is promoting Curb Your Car but hasn’t linked to the web site.

Erica asked if we have made a commitment for the morning commute (on the morning of May 20). Karen thinks we have signed up for a table. Karen said that she can serve table duty. Karen will e-mail Nancy to follow-up on this. Joel said that he might be able to be there, and he would like to get pictures of the event, too.

Joel will try to produce new brochures by then. Karen suggested that a fallback would be to hand out our business cards. Erica suggested we promote the pedestrian ordinance there, too.

Erica showed us a play model crosswalk scene that she uses for demonstrations. Carolyn suggested that a YouTube video be made with it.

b. Grant update

Larry recorded, before the meeting:

“-- With Erica, conducted a controlled test of motorist behavior at the crosswalk on Plymouth near the Islamic Center (Apr. 15). Drafted a form for collecting data at this test.

-- With Erica and her son as walkers, me as a driver, and a professional photographer, staged a photo shoot at the above crosswalk to obtain pictures for use in publicity (Apr. 22).

-- Together with Erica, prepared an agenda and packet for the Apr. 29 meeting with city engineers. Drafted minutes after the meeting.

-- Provided comments to Erica on a draft flier.

Erica reported that she and Larry met with City Engineering last week. (Les was not able to make the meeting.) The city seemed supportive of the pedestrian initiative. They are willing to focus on 4 or 5 crosswalks for enhanced treatment. Carolyn reminded us that the city is under a consent decree. Erica says that we will be brought in to planning meetings when new crosswalks are planned.

Carolyn recently attended a Tri-County crosswalk planning meeting. She says that roundabouts are an issue for people with disabilities. She has a set of pedestrian guidelines; she will bring them to the next meeting.

Erica said that Boulder has the most developed approach to this topic that she has found. Larry noted that research is still underway about the best way to manage pedestrian crosses.

Kris asked whether there be collaboration between Ann Arbor’s Safe Streets to Schools, and our pedestrian effort. Erica said that they are a grant partner. Coordination is not active. The Police Department has agreed to three targeted enforcements. Erica wants that to include a mid-block crosswalk.

Carolyn says that there is a mid-block cross-walk on Platt Road, at Lorraine.

Erica is trying to set up a meeting with Lieutenant Bush.

The survey had close to 800 responses. The first section was “Is this a crosswalk?”

Then “What do you think the law is?” A majority thought that they should stop when someone is waiting to cross.

Then “Do you stop at crosswalks?”

Karen, Erica and Larry have been conducting crosswalk observations, to capture data about how many drivers are stopping. Then next year the test will be repeated, for a before and after grant comparison.

Carolyn thinks it would be interesting to include a comparison to someone with a cane trying to cross a street. Erica reported that it takes about 2 hours to conduct a test.

Carolyn said that at the pedestrian training it was said that the crosswalk treatment levels depend upon the physical situation, with varying costs.

Erica said there are problems at crosswalks around the city when they are near a bus stop. That is confusing for drivers, because drivers don’t know if a person is awaiting a bus or a street crossing. Carolyn said that the city is trying to not have a bus within 30 feet of a cross stop or a light.

They are working with Thompson Reuters to develop educational materials. They will review it next week, and Thompson Reuters has a commitment to distribute the materials to their employees.

Erica will present to the DDA Transportation Committee next week.

Carolyn says that when meeting with the DDA, inform then you are from the WBWC but mention that you are working with the CIL. Erica said that she will send Carolyn the meeting agenda.

c. Follow-up to Strategic Planning Retreat (assign committee)

Erica says that there hasn’t been much movement with the on-line document. It will be developed further and then brought back to the larger group. Joel said that he would like to be a part of it. Kris may join as well.

Carolyn asked that the link to the document be sent out again.

d. Response to Pittsfield Township pedestrian death

Joel asked if we should do something in response to recent pedestrian deaths. He thought we could start by contacting the townships. Both deaths were on MDOT routes, with no sidewalks and limited public transit.

Erica thinks that our response should be a coordinated advocacy effort aimed at improving the policies of MDOT. She noted that the Washtenaw Corridor study is underway.

Kris asked if Michigan Environmental is involved in pedestrian advocacy. If there is a statewide group we should involve it.

Erica would like to see a coalition focused upon reforming MDOT policies about pedestrians and bicyclists. MDOT is making it difficult for communities to improve their roadways for non-motorized users, she said.

Erica suggested that this could be a good public health grant. She suggested talking with Lily Guzman’s boss about this. Larry noted that we have to determine what our goals are before we can ask for them.

Larry noted that the Complete Streets group is assessing appropriate facilities, and they don’t intend sidewalks in rural areas.

Erica thinks we should talk about this further. Larry noted that we should reference it all to our project priorities. Kris said it goes back to the strategic planning work we’re doing.

Carolyn suggested we could have a statement that we would send in cases like this when we don’t have time to get more actively involved. Erica suggested we discuss this in e-mail. Larry suggested we look to see if there are specific areas where we can identify improvements. Erica said she was more focused upon MDOT policies than upon particular projects.

e. 350.org September event: Moving Planet

Joel noted that 350.org is a major climate change coalition. They were responsible for a garden tour last year, working with the Ecology Center. There were at least 100 people on the tour of at least a dozen garden sites. They’ve announced that their next major event will be Moving Planet on September 24^th, to dramatize moving beyond fossil fuels, and it will emphasize sustainable transportation. Joel suggested we check with the Ecology Center to see if there is something we could tie in with. He suggested that he meet with Monica of the Ecology Center; she was in charge of last year’s event.

5. Old Business

a. Cycling Skill Classes Update (Erica)

May 21^st, 9:30 – noon, at the Y. Officer Kathy Vonka is leading it for free. It is directed at adults who are new riders, not yet comfortable with the urban environment. There will also be three classes this summer for Middle School kids, through Red & Ed. Erica will send out information.

b. Bike Fest

No report.

c. Earth Day report back

Joel reported that we registered 28 new supporters. Erica will add the new names to the supporters list.

Earth Day will be held at Leslie Science Center next year.

6. Committee Reports

a. Membership

No report.

b. Financial

No report.

c. Public Outreach Committee Update (Erica)

No report.

d. Social

No report. It was noted we can combine items c & d in this Committee Reports section.

7. WBWC General Business

Organization-building

a. Newsletter

Erica hopes to get something out this weekend.

b. Growing our board, board retention and board burnout

We postponed this discussion.

8. Upcoming Events

a. RAT Ride, May 13^th

Discussed above.

b. CYCM RAT Ride, May 20th, 5:30pm

c. Huron River Day, Sunday, July 17, 8 to 4 at Galluop Park

We will host bike valet parking, noon – 4:00.

Karen reported that Cheryl (the City employee in charge of the event) may have giveaways for people who arrive on bicycle, and she may have volunteers.

Joel said that it would be great if this could be used as an opportunity for the city to promote the B2B trail, and publicize the routes. Karen said that we should reach out to B2B. Joel thought it would be nice if the city could include these materials in their handouts. Karen said she would look into that.

9. Discussion about Reports from other groups

a. Ann Arbor ALT Committee

Erica and Larry attended the last meeting. They received a document of the bike lanes inventory. It is in draft form now, and Erica thinks we should distribute it for review.

It was realized that Larry is not on the ALT e-mail list.

We decided to post it on our web site. Kris suggested that we should ask if we have permission to do this. If they have it posted we will link to it. Larry notes that they might not want it posted until it is finalized.

Joel thinks that ideally we would post it in a format that allows people to see the comments of others.

Eli Cooper will soon get a new intern.

Kris said that the ALT Committee gave permission for their minutes to be forwarded to the WBWC group distribution.

There was discussion at the ALT meeting about a potential bike lane on the south side of Washtenaw Avenue east of the Rec Center.

b. Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (Carolyn)

Carolyn distributed copies of Access magazine.

She took out-county transportation, which is a discounted ride offered in places with no public transportation for low income or disabled people making a work related trip.

The Tuesday CIL night rides have started. A one mile loop that many people repeat many times.

In early August they will host their I-ride.

c. League of Michigan Bicyclists (Paul)

Carolyn said that LMB has asked her for advice about including accessibility information in LMB materials.

d. Programs to Educate All Cyclists

Erica reported that the Celebration of Cycling ride is the third Saturday of September. It is an accessible ride. There is a third accessible ride in the state: Ability Tour is scheduled for July.

e. Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (Bob)

Larry said there is a meeting later in the month. He will urge them to print up a more comprehensive map of the B2B map.

f. Washtenaw County Public Health (Lily)

No report.

g. WATS Technical Committee (Larry)

Larry recorded before the meeting about the April 14 meeting:

“With Erica, reported on our pedestrian project work and received an update on the city’s communication efforts. The city may be able to help with tabulating data from our survey of motorist behavior at crosswalks. We provided input on possible non-motorized improvements on the south side of Washtenaw across from Arborland.”

And about the WATS Complete Streets meeting on Apr. 13:

“Work was done on criteria for identifying needed facilities for all modes.”

There was a meeting yesterday. There is the possibity of a roundabout at State and Ellsworth. MDOT presented its 5 year plan for improvements to state highways. At the meeting Larry asked if it was too late for comments, and was told that it was not. He wondered in particular if it was too late to note the Ann-Arbor Saline overpass. He will try to set up a meeting with the Ann Arbor to Saline non-motorized transportation coalition about this. He plans to hold that the same day as the RAT ride, May 20.

We felt we were too stretched to accept the invitation to be involved with Urban Forestry planning.

h. SEMCOG Transportation Advisory Council

Before the meeting, Larry recorded:

“With Erica, met with Homayoon Pirooz and Pat Cawley of the city’s Project Management Unit to discuss engineering issues regarding crosswalks (Apr 29).”

10. Adjourn at 9:00