City of Lawrence
Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee
July 17, 2012 Minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Josh Ediger, Chad Foster, Lisa Hallberg, Rhonda Houser, Chris Rogge, Chris Burger, Jay Bialek, |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
Jessica Mortinger, Todd Girdler, David Cronin, David Woosley |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Justin Eddings |
3. Discussion/Action Item: Bike Lanes on Lawrence and Princeton
David Woosley presented a diagram of Princeton Blvd to show the BAC how the roadway could be striped to include a travel lane, bike lane and parking lane. Princeton Blvd from Peterson to N Iowa and Lawrence Ave from 6th to Princeton are currently designated bike routes in the city, however a recommendation from the BAC could add the longest continuous section of bike lane in the city. Mr. Rogge asked members if they were concerned about bicyclists being hit by the door of parked cars and members agreed that the benefits of additional bike lane mileage would outweigh the risk. They also indicated that bicyclists should be cautions always, even when riding in a bike lane. Ms. Hallberg also indicated that 9th Street bike lanes are along parking. BAC members agreed that the additional of bicycle lane mileage in these current bike routes will be a great addition to the bicycle facility network. A motion was made by Mr. Burger to recommend that these sections of Princeton Blvd and Lawrence Ave be striped to include a bike lane, the motion was seconded by Ms. Houser and passed unanimously. BAC members asked Mr. Woosley when they could expect to see the new bike lanes; he indicated they would be painted by fall.
David Cronin informed the BAC that the previously proposed sidewalk/Shared Use Path (SUP) project for Iowa to connect to 6th and 7th would require changes due to geography and excavation required costs. The project was originally supported by the BAC with a portion of sidewalk and a portion of shared use path, however, due to budget limitations of excavating and clearing, Public Works is going to build as much of the proposed route in sidewalk as funded by the Community Development Block Grant Funding. This would connect sidewalk with sidewalk and would prevent a portion of SUP from being added without connecting SUP facilities at both ends. With this change this project will be a pedestrian project and not a pedestrian/bicycle project. Mr. Burger asked if it was feasible to add a SUP from 7th St to 9th Street on Iowa. Mr. Cronin indicated that this piece was the least feasible portion since the cost of the additional excavation in that area is the highest there in order to make the SUP fit. The project will build as much as the budget allows and may leave the 6th Street connecting section for a future year. The BAC thanked Mr. Cronin for providing them an update to the project and for explaining the required changes.
MPO staff indicated either through competitive Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG) funding or annual CPG that the MPO staff was attempting to acquire automated bicycle counting equipment in 2013 to be used in Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, Lecompton and Douglas County. The MPO would use the counters to validate the manual counts that are done annually and count in locations and at times where it is not appropriate to have a volunteer count.
Ms. Hallberg read the comments and suggestions of Craig Weinaug for improving bicycle friendliness in Lawrence. Those suggestions were:
1) City ordinances require a cyclist who is riding on the sidewalk to dismount at every intersection and walk across the intersection. No one does it. Which means that any car hitting a cyclist riding in a crosswalk is not at fault in the car hits any cyclist who is riding in the crosswalk. Change the ordinance.
2) Get rid of speed bumps that are constructed halfway across bike lanes. The edge of the speed bump can knock a cyclist down, and the bike lane channels the cyclist to the precise spot on the speed bump that can knock a cyclist down. Speed bumps are a good idea and bike lanes are a good idea. However the two devices do not work well together.
3) Islands that are placed in the middle of roads such as Louisiana to slow traffic down, and bike lanes, do not work well together. Cars speed up to beat the cyclist past the islands, and the driver of the car inevitably underestimate the speed of the cyclist in the bike lane. I have almost been run over by cars trying to beat me past the island on several occasions. I predict that it is only a matter of time before there is a serious bike-car accident at one of these islands.
The BAC discussed the options proposed by Mr. Weinaug. Mr. Bialek indicated that the requirement for stopping and dismounting was most likely a state traffic law where bicyclists riding on the sidewalk would be coded as a pedestrian, rather than a city ordinance. Mr. Bialek indicated he would investigate that issue. BAC members discussed and agreed that locations where traffic calming devices, like speed bumps, are placed in the roadway they are intended to slow the traffic of all users including bicyclists. BAC members discussed the traffic calming islands and narrow lanes impact on bicyclists; indicating that narrow lanes do cause a safety concern for cyclists when motorists attempt to pass a bicyclist in the narrow lane. BAC members felt the solution to these situations was better share the road education that encourages the bicyclists to take the lane and notifies the motorist of their right to do so. The Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities 2012-4th Edition recommends the installation of “Bikes may use full lane” signs. These signs are recommended for situations where bicyclists and motorists cannot both operate safely in a narrow lane. BAC members are hoping the signs will serve as an educational tool to make the Louisiana traffic islands safer for all users by encouraging cyclists to take the lane and notifying motorists that cyclists have the right to do so. A motion was made by Mr. Burger to install “Bikes may use full lane” signs on Louisiana from 19th Street to Broken Arrow School, the motion was seconded by Mr. Foster and Passed unanimously.
Ms. Hallberg announced two upcoming events: KU BAC 2nd Meeting Scheduled for Friday, July 20, 2012 and the 2nd Annual Community Bike Ride Saturday, July 21, 2012.
Ms. Mortinger informed the BAC that the MPO staff had acquired a copy of the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities 2012-4th Edition and told BAC members they could check out the guide if they wanted to read it.
Ms. Mortinger informed the BAC that Bicycle and Pedestrian Count dates had been set and that a flyer soliciting for volunteers would be out soon.
Mr. Ediger shared details of the Maple Leaf City Triathlon hosted in Baldwin City on July 28th. More information can be found online at: http://baldwinrec.org/index.php?page=maple-leaf-city-spring-atriathlon.
Mr. Eddings indicated he is meeting with Eudora City Administrator and awaiting City Council appointment to fill the Eudora BAC representative position. His appointment is pending in the next week.
Ms. Mortinger told the BAC that she was reading some highlights from the new federal surface transportation act, MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) and that funding for bikeways seems to be less certain than before since there will not be a guaranteed set-aside funding level for transportation enhancements like in the previous acts. The MPO staff will study this new act soon.