Agenda, June 24th, 2009:

• Updates/ housekeeping:
o Revised bikeway planning goals, principles, and design criteria
o Plan outline (and how the first point will fit into this)
o Roster of Task Force members
o Bike rack funding

• Bike Summit results (Dennis Donahue and Paul Spoelhof)

• Draft bikeway network (small-groups: please nominate a scribe and reporter)
o Does the grid provide adequate connectivity in the context of a 10 year implementation and the planning criteria we have discussed?
o What doesn’t work? Identify problem areas and discuss your concerns.
o Are there alternative or additional thoroughfares that should be considered as part of the network?
o Are there thoroughfares in the network that shouldn’t be in a 10 year plan?
o Are there areas or destinations that are left out and shouldn’t be?
• Homework assignment:
o If you see a destination or a segment of the grid that seems particularly difficult to access on a bicycle, please go out and document the problems. Ride it if you feel comfortable, take photos and notes to share with the group at our next meeting.

Read on for the minutes from last month’s meeting and a set of slides showing the results from the bike summit:

Bike Fort Wayne Task Force
Meeting minutes for May 27, 2009
Prepared by Planning and Policy staff

Vince Robinson started the meeting at approximately 12:05pm

Updates and announcements:
• Staff provided the revised charge to the Bike Fort Wayne Task force.
• Several bike related events were reported on including the successful participation in national bike to work day, May 15th.
• A roster of Task Force members with contact information will be distributed when staff confirms with individuals what information they wish to share.
• Staff shared a proposed design for bikeway signage. The signs need to be field tested to be sure the color and image meets the need of drivers and cyclists.

Vince Robinson facilitated a discussion of the draft goals, guiding principles and design criteria for bikeway planning. The following comments were recorded by staff. The general comment category represents comments that are not easily assigned or directly related to the three primary elements of discussion.

General comments:
• This plan should be part of the Comprehensive Plan if possible
• Insert language that describes different uses and why biking is good
• Design for various riding purposes and skill levels
• How are 2, 5 and 10 year tasks determined? Is there a matrix that will help make these decisions?
• Incorporating connectivity and inclusiveness language is a good strategy for securing funding.
• By design, the existing infrastructure produces a lot of recreational riding.
• Incorporate the Arts/Culture destinations

Goals:
• Network is more of a goal than principle. Incorporate the 10 year goal for a completed grid into the goals.
• Recreational riding gets less attention than commuting.

Principles:
• Replace “should” with something more flexible for future modification of plan. (like “might best”)
• Core-grid bike facilities on major roads is a good principle
• Balance between recreation and commuting
• New infrastructure should complement and integrate with existing infrastructure such as shared paths, trails, sidewalks etc.
• Expand on references to various skill levels to include descriptions the different ways people with different skills tend to use a bike.

Design Criteria:
• Bike parking and storage should be included in design criteria
• Need a tool that measures opportunity for implementing the plan.
• What are the safety standards? These might need to be included by reference.
• With respect to designing for safety, rather than cyclist comfort, consider designing and building infrastructure to driver tolerance. If drivers are not likely to adjust to a design that is considered safe somewhere else, we may want to consider different design standards for the safety of riders.
• There were some concerns about the reference to improving pedestrian access throughout the community in the Connectivity criteria. This point needs further clarification. A recommendation was made to move the pedestrian reference to the point on flexible design.

(click for PDF)