Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coaliton Minutes

Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition
117 North Division Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan
734/487-9058
www.wbwc.org

Board Meeting Minutes – February 7, 2002

In attendance: Kris Talley, Tim Athan, Bob Goodsell, Rebecca Kanner, Phil Farber, Bob Krzewinski, Scott Koll, Ken Clark. Bob Krzewinski, WBWC Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.The January 3rd WBWC meeting minutes were approved unanimously.

WBWC Treasurer Scott Koll reported that the WBWC had $354.50 in its account. A pending expense would be a yearly payment for the WBWC web page service. Scott also reported a new membership from the Ann Arbor Velo Club.

Agenda Item 4a. "Membership Outreach" - To increase membership, Tim Athan will develop a"tri-fold" WBWC membership brochure that will fit more easily on to literature racks, with a preliminary design expected at the next WBWC meeting in March. Kris Talley will also work on WBWC signs that can be used at educational displays.

Agenda Item 5a. "Ann Arbor News Bicycling Column" - Jim Nieters, through e-mail, replied that Mike Brennan, the "Area Recreation Notes" editor at the Ann Arbor News, is very interested in having more coverage of bicycling and walking activities. Bob Goodsell will contact Mike with potential story material. Tim Athan will also contact the Ann Arbor Observer about potential bicycling and walking stories.

Agenda Item 5b. "Ann Arbor Police Department Cyclist Enforcement" - Ken Clark updated everyone on the status of his ticket. Through legal finagling, the February 7th formal hearing has been postponed indefinitely. The next hearing should be March 20th, to determine whether the new ticket, now for not biking as close to the right as practical, will be dismissed.

Agenda Item 5c. "WBWC 2002 Bicycling/Walking Project Priorities:
- Bike to work week (May 13-17) and Day (May 17) (See http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/bikemonth.htm). We want to work with all Washtenaw communities to encourage participation in this event.
- Council actions. Ken has been told that the Ann Arbor City Council intends to take up improving conditions for walking and bicycling this Spring. WBWC should provide ideas and support.
- Northeast Area Plan. Ann Arbor is revising the transportation plan for the Northeast Area. This is the most suburban part of the city, but the consultant team is highly qualified regarding walking and biking. WBWC will
need to comment and provide support at key times.
- Ann Arbor Bike Coordinator. The Bicycle Coordinator position may be in jeopardy. It's unclear right now (see the discussion below). WBWC will comment and educate the City on the position's value.
- Sidewalk inventory. It would be very useful for funding and educational purposes to have an inventory of missing and poorly maintained sidewalks in the County. Bob Krzewinski has started making such a list which the WBWC should work to expand.
- Crisis team. The Bicycle Path/Route near WEMU in Ypsilanti was re-routed due to the vocal opposition of a small number of neighbors. While some of their concerns may have been reasonable, most of the problems they mentioned were misunderstandings. The WBWC should have a team of people prepared to attend meetings for facilities like that in the future so that we can prevent problems like that through better education and support.
- Materials for bicycle education. The WBWC should continue to prepare educational materials for classes.

Agenda Item 5d. "Ann Arbor DDA" - The AABCC will discuss this and possibly sponsor a meeting for the DDA to give a presentation on what the DDA done for biking and walking. There was general agreement that we should help create such a meeting, hear from the DDA and express our views and support.

Agenda Item 5e. "Education/Outreach" - Earth Day - Sunday the 21st, Washtenaw Community College 18th.
Ecoride - June 9^th, Bike to Work Week (May 13-17) and Day (May 17). School bicycle education - make materials for bicycle education, possibly someone in the AABTS.

Agenda Item 5f. "Ann Arbor Bicycle Coordinator Position" - It's unclear what's happening with this position, except that it isn't being posted and filled with Bike to Work Week fast approaching. It also isn't clear if anyone is even
answering the phone at the Ann Arbor Bike Program office. The AA Parks Department, where the Bicycle Program is based, has lost many people in the recent early retirements. The former bike coordinator left for a better
job, but the city still hasn't filled the position. Some people say the position is in line for improvements, although some of the changes could be detrimental if not handled properly.

Agenda Item 5g. "Other" - We need to squeak more! Bob Krzewinski would like to write a letter to the Ann Arbor Mayor and City Council thanking them for the project funding for the Jackson Road bike lanes and the Barton Drive shared use path and to Ypsilanti for putting in a path along Huron River Drive. There was general agreement that those letters would be a good idea.

Bob Krzewinski adjourned the meeting at 8:42.