HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPAC-2013-08-19City of Ithaca Bicycle- Pedestrian Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
August 19, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Present: Dave McElrath, Dan Keough., Jan Schwartzberg, Dave Nutter
Minutes approval:
Adoption of minutes of July 15 meeting put over to September meeting.
Dan Keough reported on discussion with Tim Logue:
1. 3 -foot minimum resolution for city vehicles.
Tim Logue didn't think such a resolution would be effective but didn't want to discourage
us from passing a resolution anyway. This would specifically target city vehicles, city
policy only. This would mean not passing a bike, etc. and would encourage city vehicles
to have "Give me 3" (or similar) stickers on dashboard (Give Me 3 campaign,
http:/ /givemethree.squarespace.com /).
Dan drafted resolution
Whereas
Due to the unclear nature of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law Section
1122 -a in leaving it optional to the driver to decide what a safe
passing distance of a cyclist or other road -users shall be,
Be it resolved that drivers of all City of Ithaca owned vehicles,
when overtaking from behind, a bicycle, pedestrian, or other road
user proceeding on the same side of a roadway, shall pass to the
left of such bicycle at a safe distance of a minimum of three
feet until safely clear.
And be it further resolved that the City of Ithaca shall take
proactive steps to educate drivers of its vehicles in the "give me
3" policy.
We will work on a final draft resolution for the September meeting. Dan K.
will look at sticker options.
Reference: (V &T 1122 -a: The operator of a vehicle overtaking from behind,
a bicycle proceeding on the same side of a roadway shall pass to the left
of such bicycle at a safe distance until safely clear thereof.)
(We prefer to not use section 1146 because it encourages horn honking.)
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2. City of Ithaca Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council Resolution to Common
Council
Dave N. presented the following draft resolution.
Whereas we as the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council and as the community of
Ithaca want to protect pedestrians who are among the most vulnerable users of
our streets, and
Whereas we as BPAC and the community wish to encourage more people to
walk by making it easier and safer and
Whereas the buttons are not accessible because of their height to many people
who use wheelchairs, leading them to not be used.
Whereas the timing of walk signals should be effective for pedestrians with
mobility issues.
Whereas several factors discourage use of the walk buttons or otherwise make it
difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to cross an intersection,
Whereas there are specifically two policies in place that make walking around the
City of Ithaca less easy and less safe such as
By prioritizing motor vehicle and other traffic who get the green
light before pedestrians get a WALK signal at most intersections in the city, even
after a pedestrian has pushed the button at the appropriate time in the signal
rotation, leading to pedestrians pushing the button and crossing prior to realizing
the WALK signal may eventually appear or may not bother pushing the button at
all partly because of such long delays for pedestrians and makes crossing in the
crosswalk, at the officially approved time less likely and more of an
inconvenience for the pedestrian and
Crosswalks are made less safe when pedestrians are given the WALK signal to
cross, motor vehicles should absolutely NOT have a green light or arrow that
leads them to cross the pedestrian's path
Be it resolved that to make our streets safer for pedestrians the Bicycle
Pedestrian Advisory Council advises Common Council to change its policy and at
crosswalks with pedestrian signals within the City of Ithaca allow the WALK
signal to appear first and without any green light or green arrow for traffic turning
over such crosswalks.
Whereas the buttons are not accessible because of their height to many people
who use wheelchairs, leading them to not be used.
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"Be it resolved that whenever a pedestrian WALK signal is displayed, in order to
ensure that pedestrians are allowed safe passage and clear right -of -way, no
signal or sign shall be displayed which permits the driver of any motor vehicle or
other traffic to turn onto or drive onto the applicable crosswalks simultaneously."
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DN: Old Elmira Road will be done next year, not this year. Question: Will striping
equipment arrive sooner? This will also give time for city to enact the SID/ new sidewalk
policy.
DK: Streets Alive will be accepting volunteer signups now. Streets Alive is September
22, 1 -4pm on South Plain Street.
DK: Rec'd FOIL information on Warren Road accident. Received only the accident
report, which was missing the accident diagram and witness statements. Made an
additional request for that information. Depending on more information, we will make a
recommendation to the county. Cyclist was wearing a helmet. The report gave no
information on driver's condition, whether tested for alcohol, etc.
DN: Sent in a few requests for several crosswalks to be painted. Acting DPW
superintendent replied that they'll get around to it. State & Aurora, in front of Shop,
Court and Linn, among others.
Reports:
Common Council. Jennifer Dotson reported that 20 states have the 3 -foot passing law.
Prefers a policy for all vehicles not just city vehicles, likes vulnerable person laws.
Doesn't know what would be the best approach, but would like it statewide. Consider
nuances in pedestrian walk signal timing. Also, consider that signals may be controlled
by the state, not the city.
Planning, DPW. no report
Engineer. DK has been compiling a list of bike racks: Do we see any bike racks that are
empty? Any that are too full? Eng. Still pushing for a bike corral at Cayuga Street
Gimme, and West MLK street block with Gimme/ Felicia's / Westy. The Shop would like
a bike corral. Tim Logue reported on E. State and Mitchell, where work is starting.
2000 feet of waterfront trail on Floral Avenue is done, landscaped with solar pv lights.
Work on bridge across the inlet might happen next year. Funding for a few projects is
always an issue: Black Diamond trail/ "bridge to nowhere" inspection. The state reneged
on bridge funding for that bridge. There is progress on the Black Diamond trail going
from Cass Park to Taughannock (one bridge done).
PSAs/ campaign for bicycle safety
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DN: Sent out emails regarding bus signage, including costs. The signage is handles by
an advertising agency. It is not clear whether there are different rates for PSA's. Maybe
TCCTC could be part of this. Will get more information.
DK: sent message to Kent, liked the "walk your bike" stencils on Commons. They would
be good in Collegetown and other places where there are a lot of businesses.
Tompkins weekly: Need story ideas: piggyback on streets alive? Show that we're
looking for more members. (Can we use Streets Alive to recruit ?). Other ideas include
highlighting things we're working on, such as pedestrian safety or "give me 3," the
difficulty of getting crash reports regularly and getting past reports so we can look for
patterns in bicycle and pedestrian safety issues.
[DK had a friend submit a FOIL request for when the police officer hit a pedestrian at
Seneca and Cayuga. Still has not received.]
John Maddison (from Way 2 Go, cooperative ext).is confirmed for September meeting.
DN talked to a reporter from Ithaca Journal.
DN had a thought about crosswalk in front of police station — mid -block crosswalk, really
effective, new shape — teeth or triangles, representing yield. Discussion of other places
where it could be used, such as bottom of Elm Street.
DN: Planning board changed Cayuga Green 2 design.
DK: Tim L reported that there is work to be done on the waterfront trail going west /south
from farmers market. Will request that Tim provide written notes for the next meeting.
Adjourned at 7:30.
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