Burlington Walk Bike Council

Burlington Walk Bike Council (BWBC) June 4th, 2025 Meeting Notes The monthly meeting took place 5:30- 7:00 pm via Zoom and at the DPW Conference Room. In-Person Attendees: Erik Brotz*, Gordon Dragoon*, Bob Leidy, Jason Stuffle*, Philip Peterson (DPW), Nolan Rogers, Gabe Nelson, Jack Evans* (Local Motion), Melissa Needham (VDoH), Liza Boyle, Ellery Ames Online Attendees: Jonathon Weber (Local Motion), Melissa Needham (VDH) * BWBC Coordinating Committee members 1. Announcements & Updates ●​ Jack Evans - There will be a bike tune-up event at Zero Gravity on 6/24 4:00-8:00 PM ●​ Bob Leidy - Branch out Burlington is doing a tree walk of Champlain College this Saturday (6/7) at 10:00 AM at Tower Terrace 2. Demonstration Projects Phillip presented - a copy of the presentation can be found here: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7780/files/agenda/14108 ●​ We had previously talked about this almost exactly a year ago (6/5/24) ●​ Phillip wants us to start with what our objectives are ●​ Demonstration (1 hour-1 week), Pilot (30 days-1 year), Interim (1-5 years), Permanent ●​ Normally local businesses are easier to sell this to because of “More foot traffic” ●​ No great example of successes as of right now ●​ DPW, specifically Phillip, will try to help us in every respect that he can. Guidance, resources, simplifying permit process, encouraging community engagement, and monitoring 7 identified project types in handbook 1)​ Wayfinding signs 2)​ Curb extensions 3)​ Parklets 4)​ Bike Corrals 5)​ Median Refuge Island 6)​ Pedestrian Plaza  7)​ Protected/Conventional Bike Land Erik asked about rubber speed humps and chicanes as a viable project ●​ Phillip said speed humps would not be a demonstration but a pilot - longer timeline.. Chicannes might be possible though would probably require a conversation with the city engineer. Ideas ●​ Bob - The bike lane on Home Ave has to stop at Pine Street, which feels like a safety concern for bikers in that area. Asking if the bike lane on Home Avenue can connect all the way to the Champlain Parkway. This would probably want to be after the Home Avenue bike lane construction from Pine->Shelburne. ○​ Expectation is within the next month the Home Ave bike lane should be done. ●​ Nolan Rogers - The projects should ultimately slow traffic down. An example he used was Grove Street. It’s a straight road that people want to go fast on. Also on North Street. ●​ Gabe Nelson is concerned with crosswalks. Shelburne Street in particular is particularly busy and/or dangerous. ○​ Phillip noted that pedestrians would need signals, which would cost upwards of $200K. There are currently plans to add two of those on Shelburne St. ●​ A second thought to this effect is a road diet on Shelburne Street. ○​ DPW explored this last year and did some modeling, even post Champlain Parkway, in a meeting with federal highway officials. It seems that federal funding will not be available for anything with “bike” or “road diet” in the description, but pedestrian safety is good. ●​ Jason Stuffle talked about the intersections of Buell and Bradley with South Willard feeling dangerous as a pedestrian. Removing parking spots and replacing them with planters would increase visibility for them. ●​ Jason also suggested that Bike Corrals could be installed in the taxi-cab stands downtown that don’t seem to get a whole lot of use. ○​ Phillip said he could look at the locations ●​ Planters on Manhattan Drive on the 127 Entrance/Exit. ○​ Phillip: Work is being done to improve this intersection this summer. ●​ The triangle where South Union Street meets St Paul St. probably doesn’t need a slip lane ●​ Traffic calming on South Union south of Main. ○​ DPW is considering parking Chicanes on S. Union (alternating parking side for different blocks) - have had some success with this in other locations ●​ Planters on non-protected bike lanes, difficulty with that is again snow removal. One good location would be North Ave. ○​ Phillip thinks this is a slam dunk. ●​ Better signaling and add/improve crosswalks outside the Ethan Allen Shopping Plaza ●​ Cars go the wrong way on one way section of South Champlain St from King St. Can we put up a barrier to make it clearer that it’s one way? Maybe planters ●​ College and Willard, turn the lights off and make it a four-way-stop.  ○​ Erik: city has studied this and decided instead that it needs pedestrian signals. Phillip: yes these are a high priority. 3. Open Streets and Group Bike Ride Group Bike Ride ●​ Local Motion can’t offer free ebikes on the previously agreed upon date (Saturday Aug 2), but can offer them on a weeknight ●​ Discussion included weighing the pros and cons of a weekend ride with ebike availability vs a ride after the work day ○​ Nolan and others mentioned a week night may actually be more available than a weekend ●​ BWBC agreed to hold the Advocates Meet up in conjunction with the August 6th BWBC meeting. Requires setting a special meeting time and place (likely starting at 6:30 until 7:30?) at Local Motion. Will include food and NA drinks, focus is on networking and some guided conversation around bike connections. Open Streets ●​ Open Streets is for Car Free Day (which is Sept 22nd this year). Aiming to have the event the day before on Sunday and coordinate a “pledge” for people to not use their car on Monday/for the week ●​ In order to get the “route” style event, which requires closing multiple connected blocks (not necessarily intersections), the South End Pine St location is the best option. ○​ Pairs well with a Kidical Mass ride with Dad Guild & Petra, Champlain Elementary, Generator, local restaurants make food & beverage service easier to manage. ○​ Makes use of the new detour available with Champlain Parkway ●​ Jack is starting conversations with homeowners and business owners in the area—has connections to ZG ●​ Side note: there is a smaller scale event happening on 8/1 that is a block party at August First, and may be used as a trial run for some of the Car Free Day logistics