Meeting Minutes, 14 June 2007

BPAC
Minutes, June 14, 2007, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Present: Carla Shafer, Jan Zeserson, David McElrath, David Nutter, Jennifer Dotson, Tim Logue, Kent Johnson, Shane Seger. Jan acted as chair.

IMPORTANT: MEETING TIME CHANGED to the THIRD Thursday of every month, same hour, same place. Next meeting will be July 19. In our schedule of rotating chairs, David Kay will act as chair on July 19.

Bicycle Parking ordinance -- it seems like one of two routes needs to be chosen: to further refine what is becoming a huge and complex Code revision, or instead, reduce this effort to a smaller "guideline" style document that will not change the Code, but will be used by staff. In either case, I'd like some help with this effort by someone.

Black Diamond Trail
The Eastern Mountain Sports kayak raffle raised $920, donated to the Black Diamond Trail (BDT) Project. The Cayuga Nature Center will receive the money for BDTEN (Black Diamond Trail Enthusiasts Network) since BDTEN is not a legal entity; and earmark and reserve it for BDTEN.

Sue Poelvoorde of State Parks told us that the SEQR public hearing on the BDT Master Plan will likely be held in Ithaca in August, “but no guarantee.”
The “A Wild Ride” Slide Show presented by Paul Adkins (former BPAC and BDTEN member who has recently relocated to Eugene, Oregon) was a great event; a report appears on the website www.blackdiamondtrail.org . Andrejs Ozolins keeps website updated and manages our BDTEN listserve, now more than 110 people with wide connections to other groups.

Bicycle Education Course
The 9-hour(3 sessions)course, run by Lois Chaplin and Sue Powell, is all about bike handling and being in traffic. The next course will meet in a basement classroom of Riley Robb Hall, rm. B-15 (SW end of the building) on Cornell campus.
Session 1: July 17
Session 2: July 24
Session 3: July 31 / Aug 2
All sessions run from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a snack break (bring your own).
Cost: $25, including a student manual.
Participants must be 16 years or older.
“The course is designed to provide a friendly environment for individuals with a wide range of cycling abilities. Whether you’re just getting back into cycling and not feeling comfortable with bicycling in traffic or you’re a regular cyclist interested in becoming more proficient, there’s room for you in this course….You’ll have practice with traffic on streets as each class will include a short on-street bike ride.”
Contact Lois Chaplin lec4@cornell.edu;
or Sue Powell smp16@cornell.edu
BPAC will look for opportunities to promote this course.

Lois and Sue are looking for others to take an interest in becoming instructors..

Kent reported that one of Ithaca’s bicycle policemen will also run an abbreviated bike handling course for City employees.

Planning Board upcoming projects --more report to come from Tim 1. Aurora St. sidewalk project. After much discussion, we agreed unanimously in favor of the 3-point proposal, including sidewalk widening, tree care, and foundational electric wiring. This is a project which sacrifices parking places for pedestrian interests; we support it as a project in its own right and also as an important precedent. Jan will represent BPAC’s position at the DPW public hearing on the project, held on June 20, 4:45 p.m.

2. Proposal by Starbuck’s to build a drive-thru on Meadow Street behind Northside Wine and Liquor. A letter to the Planning Board from BPAC regarding the proposal is appended to these Minutes. This letter was drafted with a very short window for member editing before submission. Supplementary notes from Dave Nutter are also appended to these minutes.

BPAC membership
We are very pleased to have Shane Seger join as Common Council Liaison. We have three vacancies now that Paul Adkins has left Ithaca. We also still have a longstanding vacancy in the Parks Commission Liaison slot.

Biking on Sidewalks
A short discussion of how to enforce the law regarding no biking on sidewalks will be continued at next months’ regular meeting, July 19.

These partial minutes respectfully submitted by Jan.

Meeting Minutes, 17 May 2007

BPAC
Draft Minutes, May 17, 2007

Present: Carla Schafer, Jan Zeserson, Tim Logue, David McElrath, David Nutter, Nicole
Tedesco

East State Street Bicycle Lane: BPAC discussed the East State Street Bicycle Lane and had
the following comments:
The striping at the “tuning fork” island downhill going straight shouldn’t extend into the bicycle path.
When going uphill and turning onto Schuyler or Eddy, is there enough space for a car to pass?
What is the width of Eddy St?
The centerlines of E. State Street on either side of Eddy St. don’t line up—could dashed lines be used through the intersection?
Are there any drainage grates in the way (specifically at the curve near the Gateway Building)?
The next step for the bicycle lane project is to get a cost estimate and then to put the project out
to bid for a private contract for construction. It likely will be maintained by the City after installation. BPAC came up with a general statement in support of the bicycle lane (there was not a quorum at the meeting).

Bicycle Parking Ordinance: BPAC has already endorsed the draft Bicycle Parking Ordinance. The next step is to go for a broader review by the City.

Black Diamond Trail: There is an exhibit about the BDT at Eastern Mountain Sports until some time in June. Jan Zeserson inquired whether the exhibit could also be displayed in City Hall. The BDTEN is gearing up for SEQR (environmental review) and a Public Hearing on the Trail Master Plan. BDTEN has a new listserve and website.

Sharrows: The City is waiting to hear back from Federal Highway Administration.

Buffalo St. Repaving: No updates.

100 Block of North Aurora: Currently, the Aurora Street bridge is closed for construction, and sewer and water work is scheduled to happen on the 100 block of North Aurora. A petition was
circulated by the restaurants in the area requesting a sidewalk expansion, so the restaurants can have more space for outdoor seating. There might also be space for street furniture, such as benches, and bicycle racks. The next step for this project is for City engineers to do some research and present to the June 2 Board of Public Works meeting. BPAC generally supported the idea of expanding the sidewalk space on this block.

Changing Meeting Date: BPAC decided to seek a broader consensus on this issue using the listserve.

Strategic Planning: The next step in the strategic planning exercise is to start putting names on projects. FOR THE NEXT MEETING, please use the Wiki to sign up for projects that you
commit to following. Be realistic about the time and energy you have to devote to projects—
don’t sign up to follow two dozen.

Resolution on E. State St. Bicycle Lane

East State Street Bicycle Lane

BPAC

Whereas:

East State Street connects downtown Ithaca with Collegetown and is an important link in street network for multiple modes, including private motor vehicles, public transit, bicycling, and walking; and

The City of Ithaca is considering installation of an uphill bicycle lane on East State Street beginning at East Green Street and ending at Mitchell Street; and

One of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council’s duties is “to advocate for implementation of city plans for bicycle travel”;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved:

That the City of Ithaca Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council hereby strongly endorses the City’s plans to install an uphill bicycle lane on East State Street.

May 17, 2007