HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPAC-2013-04-02CITY OF ITHACA
BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday April 2, 2013 — 5:30 p.m.
Second Floor Conference Room — City Hall
In attendance:
Voting Members:
Dave Nutter, BPAC chair - person
Daniel Keough, BPAC secretary
Garin Danner
David McElrath
Jan Schwartzberg
Members:
<member attendance times entered for voting purposes>
Expected absence:
Steve Williams
Kent Johnson
Public attendance:
none
I. Introductions
n/a
II. Agenda changes:
none
III. Minutes approval:
March minutes approved, 4 ayes; David M, chose to abstain due to his absence
from the past meeting.
IV. Public comment:
n/a
V. Announcements:
VI. Reports
Planning:
Daniel reported back after reviewing the planning board materials for various projects
around the city. For Klarman Hall at Cornell, there is concern about the extended length
of time the bike lanes will be removed, especially Northbound where the road will be
closed to traffic in that direction, at least per 'preliminary' plans. Construction plans are
stated to occur from June 2013 through November 2015, though how long the bike lanes
will be unavailable.
We discussed an idea of Dave N the possibility of the Clinton St apartments connecting
to the footbridge over Six -mile Creek by the City Court, which seems to be slated for
repair as well as the suggestion of covered or even indoor bicycle parking.
Daniel will contact the Planning Board and ask about the status of the bicycle lane
closure, and the impact of where cyclists are supposed to access the other route, at least
northbound.
Contact the PB requesting a pedestrian footbridge to connect the apartments to the
existing footbridge that connects the Courthouse /Police Station over the creek.
Harold's Square: the residents of this structure will be able to use the Commons or
indoor bicycle parking. It will be very challenging, especially for residents on the upper
floors to use and store their bicycles. Daniel will contact PB requesting indoor bicycle
storage.
VII: Discussion and Possible Actions:
A. Streets Alive! May 5:
Dave is wondering if there enough people to organize this without Dave Nutter,
whose schedule would have to be changed to participate.
B. New York State Vehicle & Transportation law
Ithaca Police enforcement of NYS V &T, ticketing cyclists:
Though Daniel stated in a March 20 incident, he was riding where Sharrows
would be if they were painted on W Seneca St, he received a ticket for V &T 1234A
"Failure to Stay Right- Bicycle ". Daniel mentioned that this incident is part of what led
him to file a Community Police Board complaint due to an IPD officer's behavior, name
withheld, though the discussion here was about the traffic ticket only. Part of the
resolution of the CPB situation included a request for IPD review and some sort of
education on the NYS V &T 1234A and bicycle related laws. Ticketing people on a
bicycle for doing what is safe and legal is intimidating, can encourage dangerous
behavior, such as weaving in and out of parked cars, and can even discourage some from
cycling, exactly the opposite of what we want to achieve.
Dave N will speak to Jennifer, seeking advisement regarding meeting with IPD reviewing
V &T 1234A.
We could start in talking with the IPD Chief about this law and enforcement of it. A
conversation that might be considered would discuss the position of the cyclist with: a)
parked cars and hazards on the road, b) parked cars spaced at various distances apart, and
c) with no parked cars or hazards for an extended distance. Dave will draft a
recommendation and send to Jennifer and to the BPAC listserv.
We have the opening of Bicycle Boulevard Plan where we will have more cyclists on the
road and we want to educate people on the safest place for them to ride in the road and
avoid having bicycle riders ticketed for not riding to the extreme right, and additionally
have the protection of the police for those who drive aggressively around cyclists or even
harass people on bikes.
Daniel mentioned the idea of a resolution to NYS to remove the ambiguousness of safe
passing of cyclists by drivers of motor vehicles, which is related to V &T 1234A. After
speaking with a member of the board of the NY Bicycle Coalition he was made aware
they have been discussing related V &T regulations and pushing for a set passing
distance. A primary group opposing such established, clear passing distance, e.g. driver
of a motor vehicle must give 5 feet of clearance when passing a bicycle, is the New York
State Troopers, though it is not completely clear why.
C. Crash Reports:
We spoke about having further reviewed the crash data and how to deal with the
clusters of accidents that show up at certain intersections and locations. Dave said the
data didn't really include information about what the driver was doing, such as speeding
and receiving a ticket for this after a crash.
The intersection of Seneca at Cayuga St, Daniel noticed, that the lane marker just South
of the crosswalk on south side of this Cayuga St has completely worn away and many
cars make the turn onto Cayuga St at an excessive rate of speed - -or attempt to when they
suddenly realize there are pedestrians in the sidewalk. It was discussed that enforcement
of the speed of the turn is the main concern here where Seneca St drivers are suddenly
upon Cayuga St and when attempting a left turn (especially) there are often pedestrians in
this crosswalk, crossing as recommended with the walk signal displayed. Rather than
showing concern with the frequent double -lane change onto Cayuga St, safer conditions
for pedestrians could include: a RED turn arrow when the crosswalk signal is displayed,
traffic calming to discourage fast turns onto Cayuga St and/or speed enforcement in area
and East of this intersection. One major pedestrian improvement for this intersection and
some others, would be a four way red during the walk signal, so that pedestrians may
cross in this area, especially since it is in front of New Roots school.
Jan mentioned that she sees a lot of drivers turning from Seneca to Albany St at excessive
rates of speed.
There was a suggestion of requesting IPD speed enforcement on Seneca St for this
intersection as well.
We will be individually looking at the crash data, Dave N will look at Cecil Malone Dr.
and also possibly Meadow and Fulton Streets.
Daniel will look at some of the clusters in Collegetown, such as College Ave. Garin will
look at intersections around Collegetown and some other areas.
Daniel had asked Tim Logue what was happening with the approved stop signs on
Cayuga St @ Cascadilla: "We started the analysis for an all -way stop, but based on
workload, it got put on the back burner. It hasn't come forward yet."
Jan has witnessed a lot of drivers southbound on Cayuga St speeding through the
intersection and parking in the no parking zone in front of Gimmie! Coffee on the
Cayuga St side, zipping in just inches from the curb, through the crosswalk.
Adjournment: 7:39pm