Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting

Meeting Minutes Approved 7/21/2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: City Council Chambers, City of Urbana, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL Members Present: Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, Karie Brown-Tess, Cynthia Hoyle, Audrey Ishii Staff Present: Craig Shonkwiler, Kevin Garcia Members Absent: Stacey DeLorenzo, Michele Guerra, Susan Jones, Nadine Schmitz 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM Bowersox-Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Roll call was taken verbally. There was a quorum present. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Hoyle moved to approve the agenda; Ishii seconded, and the agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Brown-Tess moved to approve the minutes; Ishii seconded, and the minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 5. OLD BUSINESS a) Discussion of Bylaws for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Commission members reviewed the draft bylaws for public input. Shonkwiler moved to approve the bylaws as written. Ishii seconded, and the motion carried by a voice vote. 6. NEW BUSINESS a) Bicycle Friendly Community Feedback – Kevin Garcia/Craig Shonkwiler Shonkwiler and Garcia presented the Bicycle Friendly Community feedback provided by the League of American Bicyclists (hereafter, “the League”). The following issues were discussed by Commission members: Page | 1 • Shonkwiler discussed the recommendation to develop and implement new streetscape design guidelines. He said some guidelines are already in place. Hoyle and Brown-Tess suggested examining the enhancement of streetscape design on major arterials such as Philo Road, Lincoln Avenue, and High Cross Road. • Garcia discussed the feasibility of the recommendation to adopt design-based zoning codes. He explained that there were plans to adopt design guidelines for downtown Urbana sometime in the future. • Garcia discussed the recommendation to adopt connectivity guidelines. Hoyle said she would like to see a presentation on connectivity guidelines used by other municipalities at a future BPAC meeting. • Garcia discussed the recommendation to pass an ordinance requiring larger employers to provide shower and locker facilities for employees. He said that the Bike Master Plan recommends an ordinance to provide bike parking. Hoyle suggested incentivizing shower and locker facilities as opposed to requiring them. • Garcia said that expanded bike parking is included in the Bike Master Plan. • Shonkwiler discussed the recommendation to continue to expand the bike network, particularly in the area north of University Avenue. He said this presents a challenge, because University Avenue and Cunningham Avenue are controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). He said that there were plans to install a sidewalk and a multi-use path along parts of Cunningham Avenue. Bowersox-Johnson discussed ways to engage IDOT in being more receptive to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and suggested involving the League in this endeavor. Shonkwiler suggested continued dialogue with IDOT in this area. • Shonkwiler said there was already collaboration between the Urbana Bike Master Plan and the Urbana Park District’s Greenways and Trails Plan to help ensure smooth transitions between local and regional bike networks. • Shonkwiler discussed the recommendation to build out the Kickapoo Trail. He said much of the trail is outside the City limits, but that the City recognized the importance of connectivity when the trail is expanded to City limits, particularly with a trail head at Weaver Park. He said there was some emphasis on this in the Bike Master Plan. Hoyle discussed the option of using railroad right-of-way to connect to the trail. • Shonkwiler said bicycle boulevards were being investigated in the Bike Master Plan. • Shonkwiler said funding has been identified for a bike wayfinding system, and that this is addressed in the Bike Master Plan. • Shonkwiler said street sweeping, pavement maintenance, and snow removal already take place since bike lanes are located along the roadways. He also discussed the Page | 2  feasibility of a sidewalk snow removal program, and Bowersox said that he would be scheduling a meeting with the mayor to discuss the Snow Angels program. • Shonkwiler discussed the recommendation to increase safety and comfort at intersections, particularly at the intersections along Lincoln Avenue and Vine Street. He said intersections improvements are implemented on a regular basis, and that bicycle and pedestrian safety is always taken into account. • Garcia discussed the recommendation to use the League’s online bike safety quiz in the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) curriculum. Hoyle said this could be implemented at the middle school level. • Garcia discussed the recommendation to offer educational bicycle programs more frequently and to a broader range of people. Hoyle said that the SRTS grant includes funding for education, specifically for scholarships for people who would like to go through the League’s Cycling Instructor training. • Brown-Tess discussed the recommendation to encourage implementation of the League’s bicycle safety quiz into Driver’s Education curriculum in local schools. She explained that she’d discussed this with the principal at Urbana High School, and that there was room in the curriculum but the ultimate decision to include bike safety was with the teacher. Ishii said there was a bill recently introduced to State legislature to include motorcycle awareness in the Drivers’ Education curriculum. This topic was discussed at length. Brown-Tess moved to recommend to City Council a resolution in support of expanding the motorcycle awareness bill to include bicycle and pedestrian awareness. Hoyle seconded, and the motion passed by a voice vote. • Hoyle discussed the recommendation to participate in the mayor’s bike safety challenge. She suggested bringing this issue before City Council during Bike Month. • Bowersox-Johnson discussed the recommendation to provide regular education and updates for local officials. He said sessions like this have taken place in the past and been relatively successful. Hoyle suggested conducting an educational session every year during Bike Month. • Commission members discussed the recommendations to encourage cycling by supporting and sponsoring community events, expand the bike sharing program, and encouraging local businesses to promote cycling to employees and customers. Garcia said that he was on a task force with several local entities to create a regional bike sharing program, and that he could report to BPAC in the coming months. Hoyle suggested creating a Bicycle Friendly Business District designation and encouraging that in the downtown business district, where there are already several businesses with the designation of Bicycle Friendly Business. Page | 3  • Commission members discussed the recommendation to pass ordinances protecting cyclists. Garcia said more research needed to be done; Hoyle said there are currently only state laws in place in this regard. • Commission members discussed the recommendations for evaluation and planning. Bowersox-Johnson said that cross-jurisdictional collaboration and funding would be necessary in order to create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator staff position. Shonkwiler said there are already funds budgeted for bike plan implementation and maintenance needs. Hoyle said she could present information on gender disparities among bicyclists. Brown-Tess also recommended examining the age of cyclists. Hoyle said there are methods to evaluate crash statistics, but funding would need to be made available for many of them. Shonkwiler said there was some crash data in the Bike Master Plan. He also said there was data in the Bike Master Plan about connectivity in underserved neighborhoods. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS Hoyle made the following announcements: • Open Streets Event on 6/27/15 • Smart Cycling class on 5/9/15 • A League Cycling instructor training in Chicago in April • Bike Month events, including a bike rodeo ( 5/30/15), Bike to School day (5/6/15), Bike Week (5/11/15 – 5/15/15), and Bike to Work Day (5/14/15). Jeff Yockey of Champaign County Bikes announced a bike summit which would take place in October. He also requested to make a presentation to BPAC to discuss several events sponsored by Champaign County Bikes, including an internship program which would provide opportunities to perform bike counts. Charlie Smyth, Urbana City Councilperson, suggested a ceremony on opening day at Market at the Square to celebrate Urbana’s Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. 8. FUTURE TOPICS Shonkwiler said that the Bike Master Plan draft was being finalized and could possibly be ready for presentation to BPAC in the spring. 9. ADJOURNMENT Bowersox-Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. *** Femi Fletcher-Washington, Recording Secretary Page | 4