Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09 Bicycle Advisory Board Minutes February 2009 Minutes Attending: Elizabeth Bird, Chad Bailey, Bill Cochran, Jason Delmue, Molly Pickall Absent: Zac Collins, Britta Hubbard One position vacant. Public Comment Adding members – Baker Lyon application – county water quality specialist; Chad will call references Other ideas: Rebecca Gleason, on staff of WTI Ann Vinciguerra – till recently worked for GVLT as PR person Steve Apple Meeting time and venue Aimee Kissel investigated alternative meeting spaces. We can meet upstairs Stiff bldg in alternating months. Or every month if we switch to Wed or Thurs night meetings. Possibility of reserving the library small conference room, though usually they don’t book regular meetings. Decision to put out email to consider Wednesday nights. Budget report – EB City cut Bike related expenditures from $50,000 to $25,000. John VanDelinder is happy to incorporate our budget items into his request. The streets department budget comes from gas tax and street fees (included with property taxes). The core budget is stable, but there is much less growth in the budget because of slowing city growth. It would be helpful to be more detailed on the PR budget, and also it would be helpful if GVBC’s contribution to our budget could pay for Bill’s safety training. Molly asked and we agreed that GVBC could be recognized as a sponsor of Bike to Work Week regardless of what line items its contribution went for. GVBC will consider using funds to send Bill to safety trainer training. VanDelinder is open to suggestions of where bike lane permanent striping (what he has in mind for the rest of the money) is particularly needed – should be new asphalt with a fading painted lane. He would like one or more of us to show up at the Commission meeting at which he makes his budget presentation, to contribute via public comment period (if not the budget presentation itself). For Bike to Work week PR expenses, he has a modest advertising budget still available for 2009 so we need to get him an itemized request. Molly and Bill are working on budget elements. First Security Bank or First Interstate Bank Foundations – might fund safety and education. Andy Epple, Rick Hixson, Debby Arkell work with the City Manager to set City of Bozeman priorities for implementing recommendations from the newly approved Transportation Plan. EB will check with Andy whether the recommended update to the bike map might be considered as a priority (i.e., outside the BABAB budget). Winter bike training – Bob Wade crossfit Bob reported that a new facility, Crossfit, on Bond St. (www.4800.com) offers individuals or groups the opportunity to ride/train on bikes indoors, with a video screen and bike technology that allows for simulating real conditions. For example, the Triathlon Club has a regular group ride to train. It costs $5/time or $20/month. Groups can set up their own times; can pick different courses. You can go on-line to schedule the rides. Preparing for County Commission meeting on Transportation Plan Bill and Jason will speak and deliver the Bike Board letter (thanks to Molly for getting that together, and to Bill and Jason for going to the Commission meeting). Note that letters to the Commission need to be sent to all three Commissioners at once, in order for a letter to be sure of going into the public record. (Same with sending to all five members of the City Commission). Our letter expressed the hope of the Board that the county would be involved with it in future; we need to amend our by-laws to allow County appointment(s) accordingly. As a County resident, EB submitted her own letter as well. Jason reported back that the County Commission unanimously adopted the Transportation Plan. Report on City Commission meeting – Chad 3 people spoke – Chad, equestrian club, GVLT (asked for studies of mid-block crossings on Oak (regional park) and Durston (school). Sidewalk program introduced by the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Board has traction on the Commission. The City Commission adopted the Transportation Plan unanimously. Newspaper outreach strategies - EB Elizabeth met with Jodi Hausen of the Bozeman Chronicle and discussed ideas of ways to get consistent bicycling safety, events and issues in the paper. Elizabeth was proposing on behalf of BABAB a monthly column related to bike commuting, safety and events, as well as a daily or weekly featured spot for brief biking/driving safety tips. They spoke briefly with one of the Chronicle editors (Nick ?) and he couldn’t envision the paper making that kind of commitment for the editorial page or the weather section, but suggested we speak with the editor of “OutThere,” a weekly insert (Ben Pierce). Nick and Jodi said they’d be very open to press releases or story pitches however as the Chronicle is down to 4 reporters. Bill offered to draft an op ed on House Bill 68, and get in touch with Ben Pierce. Meanwhile, Jason will continue to work on identifying monthly biking events, and come up with stories to pitch. Ideas: Who’s allowed on sidewalks where and when Cyclists ride on the right; shouldn’t be two-abreast Bike to Work week Winter biking (John Friedrich just posted something about winter biking) Monthly bike message from the Board. This month’s installment is provided by Bill Schneider, who writes for New West. Here’s how to ride on snow Bozeman bike news and safety tips. Bike tour of historic Bozeman Bike initiation for commuters. One question arose: Are there limits on BABAB presenting an opinionated editorial (because we’re a city board)? Elizabeth will check into this. Molly made the Board aware of a new organizing initiative (focused on the upcoming “Transportation Bill” in Congress): Transportation for America – Elizabeth Andrews is the Montana field person. This is a growing and diverse coalition that we will want to be in touch with. Preparing for May Bike to Work Week 1.Bike safety cards – we propose to use the same logo as the map on 3x4.25” cards that describe bike safety tips, and distribute these cards in conjunction with all events. 2.Posters, banners, punch cards, and BABAB member t-shirts for use at all events. We have found at previous “Bike to Work Week” events the educational value of the event was diminished by participants not being able to identify who was sponsoring the event (BABAB) and who represented BABAB at the participating locales. 3.Newspaper advertising We decided to use the same poster as last year. Chad is checking with Massive Studios on costs. Could Massive Studios do the punch card and t-shirt with the same graphic element? And have Massive Studios and InstyPrints and the hosts have their logos on all items? Bill will talk to Dan at InstyPrints for banner prices.