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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2008 BAC minutes1 MINUTES Regular Meeting of the SAN LUIS OBISPO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo July 17, 2008 Thursday 7 p.m. MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee is to provide oversight and policy direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling outside the City. ROLL CALL: Tom Nuckols (Vice Chair), Jean Anderson, Matt Colonell, Glen Matteson and Kristina Seley. Committee members Gillham and Chairperson Keith were absent. Staff: Peggy Mandeville, Principal Transportation Planner; Kevin Christian, Bicycle Program Assistant; Michelle Lakey, Minutes Clerk. SWEARING IN: Swearing in of new Bicycle Advisory Committee Member, Colonell. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment on non-agenda items. MINUTES: May 15, 2008 Action: Committee Member (CM) Matteson moved and CM Anderson seconded to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Bike Rodeo - Request for Funding Staff Mandeville provided the Committee with information about this year’s Bike Rodeo. She stated that the Police Department is asking for up to $4,000 to help fund the Bike Rodeo. She outlined the events to take place at the Bike Rodeo as outlined in the staff report. She explained that the event location has been changed to be at Emerson Park this year. CM Anderson asked if an ambulance could be present to help educate and familiarize children with ambulances. PUBLIC COMMENT: Gary Havas, San Luis Obispo resident noted that he fully supports the idea of providing funding to the Police Department to support the Bike Rodeo. 2 ACTION: CM Anderson moved, seconded by Matteson to recommend providing the Police Department with up to $4,000 to fund the Bike Rodeo. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Bicycle Boulevards - Measures of Success Staff Christian provided the Committee with information about ways to measure success and recommended the Committee approve the “Measurement of Success” table as the categories for measurement, and create/or direct staff to create measurement devices/standards. He stated that newer versions of the software used in the traffic counters that calculate the 85th percentile speed are now being used. Therefore, procedures have been implemented to insure that when making 85th percentile speed comparisons, like versions of the software will be used. CM Seley felt the bicycle boulevards are not successful if bicycles are not given priority along the designated route and are required to stop when motor vehicles are not. Vice-Chair Nuckols would like to see a measurement of the volume of bicycles on the bicycle boulevard separate from vehicles. He recommended changing the order in which some of the proposed items are implemented to increase the success of bicycle boulevards. In reference to the 85th percentile speed discussion, he stated that some of the numbers on the chart are not accurate due to the software differences. He stated that the speeds actually went up, not down as indicated by the chart. CM Matteson felt that the ‘not shortcut’ column on the table was redundant. PUBLIC COMMENT: Gary Havas, San Luis Obispo resident, felt the bike boulevard is a mixed blessing. He stated that often times he is not tempted to travel over to the bike boulevard but to stay on other streets that he may already be riding on. He felt that additional signage as to where the bike boulevard is located could be helpful for bicyclists. ACTION: The Committee directed staff to take all comments into account as they continue to refine the bicycle boulevards “Measures of Success”. 3. Collision/Volume Review Staff Christian presented the staff report on the Hathway/Longview (volume intersection) and Chorro/Higuera (collision intersection) recommending the Committee review the information provided, observe the intersections operation and provide staff with any comments. He reviewed the top five high bicycle collision and volume locations that have been reviewed in the past. He stated he does not see any improvements that could be made to the Hathway/Longview location. CM Colonell felt that riding on Higuera is difficult and that the public needs to be educated on sharing the road with bicyclists. CM Seley would like to see signage letting drivers know they should be cautious opening their doors into the bike lane. 3 PUBLIC COMMENT: Gary Havas, San Luis Obispo resident, would like to have the crossing countdown timers be different for vehicles and for bicycles/pedestrians. He stated that he sees many bicycles on the sidewalks around town and would like to know if there would be a way to paint any signs/symbols on the sidewalk telling the public not to ride on the sidewalk. ACTION: Committee members had no recommendations for changes to the two intersections, therefore, no action was taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 4. Committee Member Items: • CM Anderson stated that the bike lane on Laurel Lane starts out wide and gets extremely narrow. She requested staff take a look at the bike lane. She felt that the ‘bicycle lane closed’ sign on Orcutt Road due to the construction needs to be moved to the area in which cars have to start driving in the bicycle lane, not after. • Kevin Christian was presented with an award of participation for his contribution on the Bicycle Advisory Committee. 5. Staff Items: • Bill Roalman Bicycle Blvd. – Construction Update: the design of the diverter has been completed. Construction should begin this fall. • Staff notified the Committee that an interim “No Outlet” sign has been installed at the new Bob Jones trail head at Prado Road. • Los Osos Valley Road Interchange Project: Comments will be accepted through 7/18/08. • Bike counts will be taken this October. • Orcutt Area Specific Plan - Planning Commission Meeting: CM Matteson attended the meeting representing the BAC. Staff explained that the PC kept the bike/ped. bridge at Industrial Way in the Specific Plan, but did not decide how the bridge would be funded and have continued the item to the next meeting. • Safe Routes to School Grant Application Update – An application was not submitted because Cal Trans did not get back to staff with their concurrence on the City’s proposed project. Additionally the City is short staffed with numerous commitments. • Staff stated that the Madonna Bike Path is moving forward. 4 • Summer Construction Update – Railroad Safety Trail: a construction contract is ready for phase 4 and should begin August 1, 2008, California Boulevard: three new drains will be installed. • Shared Lane Marking (Sharrow) Update: Upper Monterey Street will be a location for a pilot project for shared lane marking that will be 11 ½ feet from the curb face. Staff has identified locations to have the shared lane markings and will soon be drawing up plans for a contractor to install. • Tentative agenda items for next meeting: - 2008 paving projects update - Bike counts - Bike boulevard report card update CM Matteson moved and CM Anderson seconded at 8:55 pm. to adjourn to the regularly scheduled meeting date of September 18, 2008. G:\Transportation-Data\_Unsorted Stuff\Transportation\Transportation Committees\Bike Committee\BAC Minutes\2008\07.17.08 Draft Minutes.doc 1