Bicyclist and Pedestrian Commission

Wednesday, April 21,2021 7:00 pm Virtual Meeting via Zoom Attendees: Alyse Kondrat, Michelle Dunlap, Rita Nathanson, Bill Nieman, Laurel Salvador, Janet Gellert, Bob Van Valzah, Dan Dlhy, Dan Nielsen, Jordan Ramsland I. Call to Order Alyse Kondrat called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. II. Public Comment Jordan Ramsland introduced himself and joined the meeting. III. Approval of Minutes Laurel Salvador made the motion to approve the March meeting minutes, Rita seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. IV. Chair Report None. V. Ongoing Business A. Library Bike Presentation - Rita stated she spoke to Barry at Wheaton Public Library who stated they would like a 1 hour video which will be posted on both our website and the library’s. Rita stated we have a 9 minute safety video on our website and we could create a basic bike maintenance video about 15-20 minutes long with the help from a friend who is a member of a local bike club. Alyse suggested making a video on how to put air in a bike tire and checking tire pressure. A video showing one of our bike rides leading out from the library to a destination like Adare Farm was suggested. Cue sheets for directions and possible safe routes would be included. It was suggested that information about Wheaton’s current pursuit to become a Bike Friendly community be also included. Rita will check time parameters to complete the video with Barry at the Wheaton Public Library. B. Map Distribution - Bob showed several different samples of 5” x 7” signs which would be placed in storefront windows or inside on bulletin boards with the store manager’s permission. It was mentioned that with the QR code on the sign one could save the Wheaton bike map on a cell phone. Bob made the motion for the Commission to approve $100 to spend on the signs and Michelle seconded it. Approved unanimously. Alyse stated that each Commission member should sign up on Google Drive for 6 places to initially distribute Wheaton bike maps and then recheck stock mid-summer. C. Contributions to Annual Report - Michelle reported that the corrections to the bicycle street signs was complete. Bill stated a virtual History ride had occurred in 2020. Bob reported the QR codes had been added to the Wheaton bike maps. D. Attendees for Mayor’s May 3rd or May 17th Bike Proclamation – Alyse will ask Sharon the City Clerk if the Mayor can make a proclamation for National Bike to School Day at the May 17th  BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Month Date, Year Wheaton City Council meeting. Members are encouraged to attend the meeting that day at 7 pm. E. History Ride Update - Michelle reported Nancy Flannery reduced the number of stops on the ride down to 7. Janet and Michelle will work on a route for the ride. Michelle will verify at a future date the exact date in September of the ride. It was proposed to have a rain date the following week. F. Group Rides - G. Michelle will be leading the first group ride on April 24 at 3 p.m. to St. Janes Farm beginning and ending at the west side of the Wheaton Public Library. We will continue to revisit the idea of having riders from the community join us. H. National Bike to School May 5 - Michelle will send an email to the school districts informing them of the date. I. Safe routes update - Bill proposed that two Wheaton schools be identified as pilot schools for the project. It was agreed to use one elementary and one middle school, one from the north side and one from the south side of Wheaton: Whittier and Monroe schools. Bill proposed that each school develop a Safe biking school council recruiting parent involvement as advisors to identify highly used bike routes to school. A questionnaire to gather safe route information would either be sent home with the children from school or attached to the children’s bicycles outside the school. Alyse proposed having a meeting with each principal and the head of the PTO with the goal of identifying safe routes from all directions to the school. Bill will contact the principal at Monroe Middle School and Jim Whittier Elementary School. Laurel mentioned that the City may be able to apply for grant money to support the pilot project. J. Bicycle Friendly Community update - It was decided to postpone discussion until next month’s meeting. VI. New Business - Michelle mentioned that Taste of Wheaton has been cancelled for 2021 but the City will hold the Cosley Run for the Animals with a limited number participants followed by several concerts at Memorial Park. It was proposed that there be a bike ride in coordination with the Wheaton Park District leading up to the time of the concerts. It was decided to vote on this proposal at the next meeting. Michelle to contact the DuPage County Forest Preserve to invite Sidney Kenyon to join the next meeting for a bike route update. VII. Upcoming Meetings: May 19, 2021. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 2