Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coaliton Minutes

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

WBWC Meeting Minutes – April 4, 2002

In attendance:
Bruce Fields (taking minutes), Tim Athan, Bob Goodsell, Robert Klinger, Kris Talley, Bob Krzewinski (presiding), John Waterman.

2. Minutes of previous meeting approved

3. No Treasurer, so no Treasurer's report.

4. WBWC General Business
a. Membership Outreach
Tim presented a new draft of the tri-fold membership flyer. The new design is better suited for vertical display, but uses the same "let's improve the balance" design described in the March minutes. It was suggested that sentences be rephrased where possible to make a positive statement as opposed to a negative one. Some (Bruce) suggested avoiding controversy (e.g. does the "some streets are private" thing raise the Brook Street controversy?), Tim disagreed. Kris will produce a new version, email it to list, and ask for any further comments; she will print copies in time for Earth Day.

b. Group Memberships:
A proposal was made to make decal a shop could put on their door ("we support biking and walking in Washtenaw County" and WBWC logo?), but no one volunteered for now.

5. Actions
a. WBWC 2002 bicycling/walknig project priorities
Bike Coordinator: At the May WBWC meeting we may make plans to show up at May 6 Ann Arbor City Council budget meeting. Postcards were circulated with a letter about the Bike Coordinator position. There were no objections to the current wording, but: the postcards need an address: rather than try to figure out who each person's Council member is, it was suggested that addressing them all to the mayor would be easiest: needs space for sender's name, address, phone number Bob will have them printed and ready for Earth Day (and will attempt to enlist Rebecca's help). Bob Krzewinski will also work on distributing these postcards to bike shops in the next month. It was also proposed that we write letters to the editor of the Ann Arbor News. Bob Krzewinski will talk to the Velo Club and the AABTS about including in their respective newsletters a plea for members to contact the City Council about this matter. Bob Klinger will research bike coordinators at other universities (e.g., U. of Colorado, U. of Wisconsin at Madison).

b. Downtown Development Administration:
Ken isn't here, and the rest of us didn't know anything.

c. Education/Outreach:
Earth Day: Bob Krzewinski will drop off materials at Bob Goodsell.'s before Earth Day, and
Bob Goodsell will bring the materials to the first shift. Kris will work out some kind of banner if Rebecca hasn't done one; otherwise Bob Krzewinski has some kind of eazel that can be used.
The Pittsfield Township Hike & Bike is Saturday, April 27. Bob Krzewinski will attend and take some WBWC literature, and will email us to ask if anyone else can make it.

Bike to Work Week (May 13-17), Bike To Work Day (Friday, May 17):
The City of Ann Arbor is doing nothing. Bob Krzewinski has master-list of people who are willing to volunteer as part of bike-to-work-week. Suggestion was made that for future years the Ecology Center or someone needs to sponsor/plan ahead for Bike-To-Work-Week so that it will happen regardless of what the City of Ann Arbor does. Bike-to-Work-Week planning put off to May WBWC meeting.

d. School Bicycle Education: Bruce talked to Anderson Brown, in the Washtenaw County Sherrif's office. He knows of three schools that have in past years held "bike rodeos": Estabrook and Erickson elementary's, both in Ypsilanti, and Holmes, in Willow Run. In the past they have had officers with a little bike training who have attended and given a short lecture to the kids, but they don't have those people anymore, so we could fill that void if the elementary schools come asking again. Bob Krzewinski asked what else we might do for bicycle education in the schools. No action taken.

e. Chaney Honorary Membership: Bob Krzewinski proposes giving Lu Chaney an honorary membership. No objections, but no action taken.

f. Segway legislation: The Segway people seem to be pushing measures through state
legislatures that would permit Segways on sidewalks and nonmotorized pathways (in particular, legislation has been introduced in the Michigan State Senate). Bob Krzewinski will draft a letter opposing the legislation.

g. Other: Ann Arbor Bike Manual: Could we order some copies of Street Smarts now and sell them at events (Earth Day, Bike-To-Work-Week, etc.)?

ARC cycling program: John Waterman introduced the ARC cycling program, which is working at Mott Children's Hospital, helping individuals with disabilities use bicycles. They help people with basic physical skills (balancing) as well as helping them, e.g., choose and navigate routes to work. He is also interested more generally in bicycle advocacy and education. Also he is looking for volunteer cyclists to help with the program.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40pm.