Meeting Minutes

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

WBWC Meeting 6/2/05

Meeting came to order at 7:00

Kris Talley conducted the meeting.

Paul Alman, Ken Clark, Bob Krzewinski, John Hritz, Brenda Bentley-Goenka, Erica
Briggs, Frank Schwende, Bob K, and Rita Mitchell were present.

1. The April meeting minutes were approved.

2. No treasurer report this month.

3. Introduction from Eli Cooper.  Mr. Cooper is the City of Ann Arbor's new
   Transportation Program Manager.  He comes here from Seattle most recently.
   He's been hired to look at transportation in general, including
   nonmotorized, transit, and automobile modes, as well as Travel Demand
   Management and how Ann Arbor's land-use affects and is influenced by
   transportation.  He's already become involved in the Detroit/Ann Arbor Rail
   study, and the current Northeast Ann Arbor Transportation Plan and the
   Citywide Nonmotorized Plan.  He's started working with the other
   transportation professionals in other governments in the area.  

   We discussed a number of current projects and topics, on most of which Mr.
   Cooper hasn't had time to work in the month he's been on staff.  

4. Actions/News

   A. WBWC 2005 biking /walking projects

      Sidewalk Project (Krzewinski) - No update at this time, but if anyone has
      problem sidewalks they should get that information in to Bob.

      AA Bike-friendly city designation (Van Dyke) - Ann Arbor has been
      recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-level Bicycle
      Friendly Community.  We don't think this has been mentioned in the
      newspaper yet, though the BikeTown program was mentioned in the Detroit
      Free Press, AA News, and WJR Radio..

      Report on Curb Your Car Month 2005 (Briggs) - Erica presented an overview
      report.  There were 754 total participants, 52 participating
      organizations, 81,298 "alternative transportation miles", and over 78,000
      lbs of CO2 was not emitted.

      Erica has also talked to ZipCar, which is considering expanding to
      downtown Ann Arbor and to the University of Michigan.  

   B. Delhi Bridge - No update.  We have a link on the WBWC website to the
      Road Commission project page.

   C. Pedestrian recommendations for AA (Clark) - Ken provided the

      Environmental Commission approved pedestrian recommendations.   We
      discussed these, and Kris recommended that Ken send a few talking points
      to the email list for people to contact their council members and
      discuss.

   D. July 4 Parade (Talley) - We came up with some ideas to expand our parade
      cadre.  We would like to have more walking groups, like the walking
      school buses.  Some other possibilities are a bike towing a toy car, the
      bike ambassadors, and AABTS riders on the parade.

   E. Upcoming Events
      Parks & Open Space Public Visioning Workshop, 7pm, 6/6, WCC
      Taste of AA, 6/5 (turned down invite)
      AA Green Fair, Friday, 6/17 6pm-9pm downtown Ann Arbor (Ana is going,
         anyone else?)
      Eco Center Ride, Sunday 6/26 (need volunteers)

5. WBWC General Business
   A. Membership report/outreach

      Membership report (Schwende) - Letters went out to bike shops and
      businesses in March, but there hasn't been any feedback.

      WBWC Topica mail list (Fields/Clark) - The revised version of the
      instructions for joining the email list seem to work well.  The list
      directory doesn't seem to work any better.

   B. Newsletter went on the website the first of the month.  The next deadline
      is April 15th.  Bob is asking everyone for information for the
      newsletter.

   C. Reports from other groups

      AA Environmental Commission Transportation Committee - The transportation
      committee met Eli Cooper earlier today.

      UM Nonmotorized Transportation Committee (Talley) - The University has
      hired a new transportation coordinator, but there have been no meetings
      recently.

      League of Michigan Bicyclists - The LMBs executive director recently
      died.  The organization is trying to recover.

      AABTS Safety Committee - The AABTS is holding an instructor seminar in
      September.  Paul is working on the poor conditions on Huron Drive.  He's
      also working with a developer that is working to put in bike parking.  

      AA Non-motorized Transportation Planning Committee meetings - The
      consultant is working on cleaning up the plan for presentation to the
      public.

      Parks and Recreation Greenway meeting - no update.

      Getdowntown program.  The DDA is holding a number of meetings on Fifth,
      Division and Huron.  The City may be ready to do a new bike map.

      Thunderhead Alliance (Talley) - No update

      Washtenaw County Nonmotorized Steering Committee (Van Dyke, Talley) - No
      update.  Kris brought some comment forms that people can send in.

      Friends of the AA Greenway (Mitchell) - June 13th - public meeting 7pm
      City Hall.  The AA City Council is holding a public hearing.  There are
      some studies being done on the floodway/floodplain in the Allen's Creek
      area.

Adjourned 9:15pm