HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-14 Bicycle Advisory Board Minutes
Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB)
Meeting Minutes, Wed, August 6, 2014
6-8 pm, Commissioner’s Room, City Hall
Board members present: Rebecca Gleason, Jen Petersen, Jenna Fallaw, Brian Hughes, Jason Delmue,
Mike Davis, Bill Cochran
Board members absent: Sam Haraldson, Jessie May Campbell, Petra Davis, Juliana Olliff
Other Attendees: John Van Delinder: City Streets Superintendent, Tom Keck: Collin’s Coalition
A. Called meeting to Order
B. Public Comment: Tom Keck: How can we deal with the erratic behavior of people on bikes? Some of
the actions that Tom has witnessed are very unsafe. BABAB has advertised “rules of the road” in paper
but he feels we need to do even more. Other ideas: PSA’s, form a coalition to come up with a
comprehensive strategy (involve MSU, police, fire dept, MDT). This can help to reduce the animosity
between motor vehicles drivers and bikers. Other communities such as Missoula have some good videos
we could look at.
Other concerns are with accidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles. Unless there are witnesses, the
public perception generally seems to be that the bicyclist is wrong or at fault.
Board discussion: We have been putting out PSA’s, info during bike week, etc. but we would be
interested in helping to do more. The city has a marketing person who is going to help talk about the
new sharrows on Mendenhall and how they work. Maybe they can include more information
concerning the “rules of the road” and regularly educate? The MSU task force is working on coming up
with a comprehensive plan as well. GVBC can also help get out message with their emails & at
meetings. We will definitely continue to work on and revisit this & forming subcommittee (with Mike
Davis) next month.
C. Approved June & July meeting minutes
D. Mendenhall striping plan, sharrow placement, future bike lanes and prioritization, outreach on
sharrows. John Vandelinder: There is commission support for sharrows. Where should we place them?
We recommended that they be placed down the center of the lane so that the biker is in the safest
place in the lane, more visible and out of door zone. A memo was sent in March with these
recommendations. Concerns: It will look like it is a bike lane only? We should go to the Commission
meeting when it gets scheduled. John will give the board a few weeks’ notice. Rebecca will send
another memo restating recommendations.
Future bike lanes& prioritization: The city will create striping plan and we can give input to Craig
Woolard on recommendations and examples of striping inconsistencies and dangerous areas. We will
review bike friendly routes to look at where we can improve striping. MDT does the striping. Can we
contract out someone else since sometimes the job is not being done correctly? We want to make sure
it is consistent with the Complete Streets Policy and the correct measurements for the stripings and
lanes. We need to get an evaluation of current stripings to see if it is consistent with Complete Streets
Policy.
Outreach on sharrows: There are resources out there. Can we direct the advertising people to these
resources? We can invite one of the representatives to our meeting this fall and talk about sharrow
education.
E. Discuss updates to Bozeman policy - ARTICLE 10. Bicycles and the safety of parents with children
Jason Delmue:
1) Email was written pointing out that in the city, adults over 15 can’t ride on sidewalks but with kids
this doesn’t make sense. He suggested adding a caveat to Part B. of 36.10.110 : ”unless accompanying a
person under the age of 15”.
2) Suggested change to Part A. of 36.10 110: Main business district instead of to central business district
3) Inconsistencies between state & city codes for Riding on Roadways. Can the city adopt the state
code?
City code: 36.10.050 Part A. is very limited. The state code: 61-8-605 subpart 2 not only gives
exception but has extra examples (a-d)
3) MT state passing laws: 61-8-320 is very vague and subjective. Can we add 3 or 4 feet as a guideline?
4) Vulnerable Road User Law
Sect. 2: If you are careless wouldn’t you also be negligent? Sect 4: The penalties are not very steep. Do
we need to reevaluate?
5)36-10-100: Parking. Should we look at other city’s bike parking codes and revise the current code?
Jason will draft a proposal and email it to us.
We can recommend to the city commission that it needs to be updated. The MT state code is more
complete and clear and the city code should adopt it.
F. September Bike Count planning:
Outreach on the bike counts: We should make sure to advertise NOT to just come out if you really were
not going to so that the bike counts do not get skewed.
Eventually, the bike counts will be done with cameras at intersections all of the time to keep collecting
data.
Sign-up Genius has begun for the Sept bike count. Someone needs to help coordinate (Rebecca out of
town) along with someone with the city. Petra?
We can set up 2 orientations the week before the counts at the city shops for people to come & ask
question. Rebecca will meet with John Van Delinder to go over details. Wednesday, September 3rd at
noon and Monday, September 8th 6-7 pm at City Hall are the tentative dates and venues. Jenna can help
out on Monday. Brian and Jen will check their schedules and might be able to help as well on Monday.
G. Bike Safety Outreach/Education
Film update: None
High School Drivers Education: None
Bike safety –Education at MSU: Petra submitted the bike friendly MSU application and we are
waiting on results.
Bike safety PSA update-None
H. Active Transportation Study Abroad –applicability to Bozeman – Rebecca – Tabled
I. Old business: No updates
Mendenhall bike lanes
Bozeman Bicycle Code modification update
FTA state of good repair funds
Other
J. New business: Aug 21 & 22, Catapalooza at MSU, 10 am-3 pm. Come check out booth & help out if
you can.
K. Meeting Adjourned