Meeting Minutes

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

WBWC March 2, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes

Kris Talley, the Chair of WBWC, conducted the meeting.

In attendence: Kris Talley, Tim Athan, Frank Schwende, Ana Iacob, Paul
Alman, Bob Krzewinski, Pete Hines, Nelson Chen, Sharon Sheldon and Robert
Klinger.1. Previous meeting minutes were heartily approved.

2. Treasurer duties have now been officially and legally transferred to
Anna Iacob. $871.69 is in the WBWC treasury.

A request was made for a summary of WBWC expenditures, and Anna replied
that she would provide such a summary.

3. No new members were in attendance.

4. Actions/News

Ken Clark's ticket: Kris asked if there was something that we should be
doing to develop a better working relationship between bicyclists and
police. It is worrisome, said she, that a careful, well trained rider like
Ken is facing such confrontations.

Erica reported that Kathy Vonk, a LAB certified police officer who
conducts Road 1 courses, could make a presentation to police officers, but
this will happen only if funding is found for it. Erica will find out how
much money is required.

Susan Gardener is a videographer, and is a cyclist, and she might be able
to help with presentation, suggested Paul.

Erica perceives that Ken's event was not intentional harassment, but
rather a difference of opinion. She noted that also the University police
might be considered for bicycling policing discussion.

Erica spoke with Norm Cox about bike lane support. He is concerned about
community support. She believes that the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
will be adopted, though it is possible that parts could be pulled out of
it.

The city is hearing differing opinions about bike lanes. "Should the WBWC
have a platform on this?" Kris asked. Perhaps we can find guidance and
wording about bike lanes from other advocacy groups such as the
Thunderhead Alliance.

Erica said that she will draft an opinion, and will share it. She thinks
that the statement could comprehend sidewalk bike route issues, too.

Pete said that the skill level of riders should be factored in.
Thisbrought debate in the group. It was noted that by law riders under 16
years of age must take the path, unless accompanied by an adult. Nelson
reported that the city council passed the resolution to authorize the
study of the Washtenaw Avenue non-motorized path.

Ana proposed that bicycles have license plates, for visibility and
legitimacy.

Erica says that Oakland County wants the state to allow counties to have
more freedom for funding their own projects. Washtenaw County may want to
join in with this. Erica will keep us posted.

We have interacted with the Program to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC),
(located in Ypsilanti), and we learned from them that there is a state
coordinator for Safe Routes To Schools. The coordinator is setting up
training. Washtenaw Public Health already has had Melissa Fochesato
trained, reports Sharon (of Washtenaw Public Health). Their roll-out: a
group is pulled together to assess safe routes, and when that is completed
the group qualifies for funding to make some improvements.

Kris asked if someone from WBWC should be trained, and Sharon said "yes."

Kris thought it would be a good idea to get together people in the

community who are interested in this. Kris will suggest to Brenda
Bentley-Goenka that she organize this for Curb Your Car Month.

PEAC will be sending someone to Curb Your Car activities, reported Kris.

Erica might try to combine Safe Routes with the Commuter Challenge.

In response to a question, Sharon said the Safe Routes to Schools program
is directed towards grade school and middle school kids, not high school
kids.

Huron River Drive Closing: Paul has met with the Town of Dexter Chamber of
Commerce supervisor, and the executive board. They are completely behind
it, and say there are no permits required. They will draft a letter of
support to the Washtenaw Road Commission (they are the ones who must
finally rule on this).

Frank sent a letter to SEMCOG asking them to accommodate bikes.

Platt Road Plans: Robert Klinger attended a meeting about it. The road
surface is in bad shape, encouraging road work. Councilman Rapundalo says
that the A2 No-Mo plan is going to various governments, and he said he
would contact the WBWC when the public hearing is scheduled. Bob
Krzewinski springboarded off of this to remind us of the importance of a
rapid response Go Team.

Erica thought that maybe there should be a meeting to further develop Go
Team training materials. Bob asked that the Go Team stay on the WBWC
monthly agenda.

Bob Krzewinski wrote to Judge Sheldon of Washtenaw County Circuit,
commending him for his ruling in the case of the death of bicyclist Todd
Schoenheide.

Bob Krzewinski wrote an endorsement of two Washtenaw County non-motorized
projects as amendments to the 2000 Regional Transportation Plan for
Southwest Michigan: The Pittsfield Township Greenway non-motorized bridge
over Highway 23 and the Platt Road Greenway non-motorizd path in
Pittsfield Township.

John Waterman called Bob, telling him that York Township in Washtenaw
County is interested in doing non-motorized development.

Robert Klinger attended a meeting about the proposed tunnel beneath the
tracks to connect Bandemeier and Barton Parks. The plans look good, but
are dependent

upon funding, which is being pursued.

Ride of Silence: Paul won't be in town that week (5/17/06). Mark Erzen,
AABTS president, is the driving force behind this. Paul wants to know what
the route will be; he thinks it should be a high visibility route. He sent
suggestions to Phil Farber, (who had expressed interest in the event).

Paul asked how one becomes a bicycle ambassador. Erica will send out a
note about this in the next week. She plans to have one training in the
spring, one in summer. Trainees must commit to volunteering at 3 events
over the course of the summer. She revealed that the ambassadors will get
"snazzy outerwear."

Erica will finalize the schedule of events in the next week. The details
must be complete by the beginning of April. There will be more than twenty
events, including the Commuter Challenge. She recently met with the
University of Michigan about it. Nelson reported that the University is
promoting Ufit. Erica might be able to have a table at the Ufit awards
ceremony. Sharon will promote it as part of the county Wellness Campaign.

Erica would welcome suggestions for making Bike To Work Day better. She
considers hosting an awards ceremony that morning, presenting awards for

bike friendliness.

Kris suggested that local bike shops might want to take the opportunity to
display commuter gear.

Kris reminded us that we are on the hook to deliver a presentation of some
sort. Perhaps a presentation about bicycle planning.

Paul suggested getting someone from a bike friendly community. Tim will
get a name from the Madison community, and Paul will try other
communities.

Paul will be arranging for two professional women riders to make a
presentation on April 29, at the Women's Health Center at St. Joseph
Hospital. On September 30th there will be a bike ride event at the Women's
Health Center.

Robert suggested sending a Curb Your Car pamphlet to the Ann Arbor News
early, in hopes of some coverage from City Editor, Jeff Larkim.

Kris suggested some simple, small B&W download easy-to-print materials.

5. Other Upcoming Events

Rich Moeller of LMB wrote Kris. He wants to meet with advocacy groups. We
would set up a place and time, and they would supply food. He will be here
for the AABTS potluck; perhaps we could do something more focused.

He wants to find out what is important to the cycling community. Kris has
asked Ken Clark, LAB representative, if he has a preference for this
meeting.

Bob Krzewinski has been attending Ypsi Health Coalition meetings. They

want to have something on Saturday, May 20th. Maybe a bike ride on their

non-motorized path, and bike parking. They are talking about a helmet give
away. (Paul noted that some manufacturers have programs for very
inexpensive helmet sales.) Erica suggested an Ypsi-Ann Arbor ride.

Erica is gathering prizes for Curb Your Car Month. We agreed to give away
two WBWC memberships.

On Monday April 3, (during National Public Health Week), at 10 there will
be a ceremony in recognition of all of Washtenaw County's health
initiatives. It will be delivered by the State Surgeon General, at
Ypsilanti's Riverside Park, and it is expected to be a substantial press
event.

Kris asked if we should have a table there; Sharon will find out next
week. Next week the exact location will be determined.

County Health is working with groups in Chelsea, Manchester and Dexter to
locate good permanent bike parking rack locations. They would welcome
suggestions from us and from others in the biking community. Suggestions
can be sent to Sharon Sheldon at sheldonsp@ewashtenaw.org.

Sharon reported that Chelsea is revising its master plan. Sharon's group
is

making a presentation to them about how to include bicycling and walking.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival will screen two bike movies at Saturday, March
25, with attended bike parking.

Mark Erzen sent out a note to AABTS members, to develop more focus on
advocacy. Paul will attend, and maybe Pete.

7. WBWC General Business

Frank will send out a post card reminder to unpaid members. There are now
about 30 WBWC members.Bob brought in a handlebar hanger, as a possible
advertisement medium for WBWC.No bike shop memberships! Erica will be
contacting them all for Curb Your Car Month, and she can bring this up.

The submission deadline for the next newsletter is April 10th. Anna wants
to make sure we don't send newsletters to people who aren't paid up
members, because each mailing costs about $2.

Erica Briggs reported that the DDA's Susan Pollack would like to attend
the next

meeting, and so she should be put on the agenda.

8. Reports from Other Groups/Events

The promotion of non-motorized transportation is a "strangely hard sell"
to the University, agreed Kris and Erica. Sharon will get involved.

In a couple months Sharon will bring highlights from a survey of
non-motorized destination travel.

We would encourage a student survey, to find out what students want.

A bike festival is planned for the Green Fair, says Erica Briggs. She will
send info out on this. She heard of a bike commuter support group. They
meet in person to talk; maybe an e-mail discussion too.

Parks and Rec: Bob Krzewinski circulated a letter he sent to Ann Arbor
Parks and Rec. It urges the Department of Natural Resources of Michigan to
reconsider its denial of a permit for a non-motorized bridge over the
Huron River east of Dexter, Michigan, as it is a vital link in the
cross-county non-motorized path.

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 6th.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tim Athan