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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPAC-2013-09-16Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council Minutes City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room September 16, 2013 at 5:45pm Jonathan Maddison, Daniel Keough, Garin Danner, Steve Williams, Dave McElrath I. Introductions & Public Comment Jonathan Maddison from Way2Go, http: / /ccetompkins.org /community /way2go, now their manager, through Cornell Cooperative Education, also created Transportation Ambassadors, volunteer seniors to familiarize people with local public transportation resources and walking. • Way2Go will have a helmet giveaway at Streets Alive. • Way2Go will have a table at Clinton and Corn Street, can include BPAC as well. Can help with media, include BPAC in stories and employer outreach. ithacabpac @gmail.com is a valid email address - maybe Sarah can put it on the city website. II. Modifications to Agenda none III. Minutes approval for July and August July minutes approved with correction to DK last name spelling (Keough, not Keogh). August minutes approved as written. IV. Resolutions to Common Council for policy changes: a. A pedestrian safety change of policy to disallow motor vehicle traffic turning while pedestrian WALK signal is lit. Discussion. Expression of frustration because pressing the button doesn't change traffic light timing, only shows walk signal on next cycle. Alternative model is the light at Cinemapolis. Steve Williams: problems when timing is off and not what people expect, such as at South Hill Business Park, causes accidents. "Traffic calming" vs. "pedestrian calming." Garin Danner: would like to re- think. Dave Nutter: Light at Cliff St. and Park Road, works that way; it triggers the light. But if you push button to cross Cliff, you get the yellow -red right away. However, since it's green all the time, not everyone stops. Resolution as written: All signals, red light when the walk signal is on. Walk light is red when cars can go. Let walk signal stay red while cars have green (such as light by Tops)? There is an 8- second lead (delayed red) in C'town (College Avenue and Dryden Road), would like to have a 4 -way walk signal. As a driver, the 8 -sec lead maybe causes drivers to avoid that intersection? There have always been a lot of pedestrians there: Is it dangerous for them in any way? Has the incidence of accidents changed with the traffic light timing? Motion tabled until next meeting for revisions, etc. b. "Three Feet Please" minimum passing distance resolution for all City of Ithaca owned vehicles campaign to encourage safe driving around people on bicycles, driver patience with vulnerable road - users. DK gave out a few Give Me 3 items. Text of resolution (from August minutes) Whereas, due to the unclear nature of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1 122 -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. DK Talked to Kent and Tim about this. They think it's not enforceable, weren't too excited. Jennifer Dotson is a fan. JS moved, SW seconded, passed unanimously. Next step: DK will forward to Jennifer, Tim, Kent, Svante, Ray Benjamin at DPW, (7:20, Steve, John left, no more quorum) V. Announcements Streets Alive! Event BPAC will have a 'table' or representatives) present to talk with the public, seek feedback from people about bicycle and pedestrian safety. DK: Would like customers to be advocates for better bike parking. For example, Cayuga Street Gimme. City will install bike racks for businesses. DK is also putting together a list of businesses that have full racks and empty racks. The city should start to move underused racks to high- demand racks. SW noted lack of racks at Farmer's market. They could use racks on the north end of the market. Waterfront trail is aware of this, DK has contacted., but it should be funded through the market, because that is the business. Contact Rick Manning rmannin4 @twcny.rr.com or IFM or facebook pages of either. Prepare something for SA? JM: Kareem Beers of Get your Greenback, we should talk to him first, because he does surveys. He's going to be set up at Clinton and Albany. DK will talk to him. DK has conflict for next month's meeting. Rescheduled for October 28. Will confirm with Sarah re: space available. VI. Reports a. Common Council b. Planning c. Board of Public Works d. Engineer DK: Spoke with Kent, who talked to IPD, he is working with them to set aside accident reports involving pedestrians and bikes. Kent and Tim will have those reports as well, so they can act on the data. VII. Discussion and possible actions: a. Survey for Streets Alive! event so as to get a better idea of what is working, what is not working regarding bicycle and pedestrian safety. These surveys can, for one, be a helpful tool in allowing BPAC to better advocate for increases in funding for specific projects of DPW.