Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee
Draft Minutes of the Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Regular Meeting
Tucson, AZ
Submitted by Richard
Corbett
New City of Tucson Ward 3 BAC Member John Fleming was introduced and welcomed. Committee members, staff and members of the public then introduced themselves. The minutes of the April meeting, with a correction to attendance (George Dudley was present), were declared approved by the Chair.
Acting Chair Tolton then moved up Agenda item number 7, BAC Elections, and asked Russ Clanagan, Nominating Committee Chair, to take over the meeting, as Tolton was a candidate.
7: BAC
Elections (moved up)
Clanagan
went over the list the candidates that were willing to run, and whom had been
presented as a slate last month. These include: Chair, Diana Tolton; Vice-Chair, Wayne Cullop; Secretary, Richard
Corbett; and Parliamentarian, Brian Beck.
Donna Aversa
asked that her motion last month to challenge the Chair’s interpretation that
the Secretary can be an Ex-Officio member (Agenda Item #5), which was tabled
last month, not be brought up for a vote. Tolton, with Aversa seconding, moved
to take the tabled motion off the agenda. The Motion passed unanimously.
Aversa, with
Carmody seconding, moved to elect the proposed slate of Officers by
acclamation. The motion was passed unanimously. The new BAC Officers are:
Diana Tolton, Chair, Wayne Cullop, Vice-Chair, Richard Corbett, Secretary, and
Brian Beck, Parliamentarian
Tucson Police Sergeant Tim Beam reported that there were 23
bicycle-motor vehicle crashes last month (April). The fault is still about
50-50, between dumb things bicycle riders do (such as riding against traffic,
riding at night with no lights, and running traffic signals and stop signs).
Wayne Cullop asked if it would be possible to get data on the top four or five
crash types. Beam said maybe - he will check. Corbett said he has the entire
Pima County (and all jurisdictions in it) Arizona compiled date for more than
10 years, it has crash types in it, and he can send this to Cullop.
Pima County Sheriff’s Sergeant Karl Woolridge reported that
there were five bicycle-motor vehicle crashes in unincorporated Pima County in
April, including four with injuries. He then introduced his replacement to the
BAC, Sgt Bill Murphy, as Woolridge is being promoted to Lieutenant.
Jean Gorman asked if it is possible to get support for the
planned May 17th "Ride of Silence", as she observed the
one last year, and felt that there were less than safe actions by some
participants. Tucson Police Lt Mike Pryor answered that Gorman should contact
the 'special duty officer'.
4: Call
to the Public
Citizen Eric Gonnason thanked the Police for their informative reports and responses, and stated he still cycles safely in our community, and urges all to operate their bicycles as vehicles.
Citizen Eric Post cited a case where a cyclist hit a sand bag in a construction zone and crashed, resulting in a large judgment against the City. He went on to describe a sign near the Dodge Road Rillito bridge that to him pointed such that it made no sense. Zoll responded that the sign was placed for a crosswalk - not a bikeway, and that it will be changed soon. Post went on to ask about broken glass from car crashes swept into the bike lanes. Lt Pryor answered that there are many crash scenarios, and some of them result in crashes that do not involve the police or a tow truck, so the glass is simply left.
5:
Revisit Tabled Item: Rich Corbett as Secretary
Removed by
unanimous vote under Agenda Item 7, above.
5: BAC
Retreat and Approval of Retreat Agenda
Cullop went
over the proposed agenda for the May 13th BAC Retreat:
6:30
am: Bike group ride will start at the Ward VI
Office
8:30
am: Cleanup after ride, change, morning
refreshments
9:00
am: Discuss current meeting format and agendas
9:30
am: Discuss BAC's 5 year 'vision' (break out groups)
11:00
am: Discuss and
consolidate breakout groups' visions
11:45
am: Working Lunch -
Discuss goals to move BAC to its vision
12:30
pm: Discuss how to
achieve specific goals (break out groups)
1:15
pm: Break out Groups' reports
1:45
pm: Recap meeting, and what is next step
Brian Beck
asked about the goal setting, as the BAC has six purposes in the by-laws; he
also asked about implementation & follow up. Cullop said this session is
more of an un-restrained brainstorming event, and that while the agenda needs
to be followed, there is room to address directly relevant matters.
Aversa
moved, with Tolton seconding, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion
passed unanimously,
8:
Motorized Bicycles; Electric Bikes
Lt Pryor
stated that a bill (HB 2796) before the legislature would take the recently
developed and more frequently seen motorized bicycles from their current legal
status of mopeds (which require licensing, workable brakes, and lights) to an
essentially un-regulated status. Matt Zoll mentioned his experiences with
higher speed motorized bikes on shared use paths, and his perception of the
dangers they represent.
Melissa
Antol said California has a separate legal definition for electric bikes.
Jonathon
Mabry asked for clarification - current law keeps motorized bikes out of bike
lanes, and the proposed change would allow then to be in bike lanes legally.
John Fleming
suggested that police enforcement actions be taken – Lt Pryor replied that they
already were taking enforcement actions.
Rosemary
Carmody asked Zoll where the Sheriff’s Department stands on this issue – Zoll
responded that he did not know, but would find out and E-mail the BAC the
answer.
Aversa
suggested that members log on, and go to the Arizona Legislature’s website
(http://www.azleg.state.az.us/), then contact their legislators thru the
website, expressing concern or support as the case may be. She went on to ask
that a report of what happened to this Bill be on the June BAC Agenda.
Bill Adamson
mentioned golf carts sharing shoulder lanes in Green Valley, without any
problems. Carmody said she sees a significant difference between Green Valley
and metro Tucson. Dave Boston agreed that Green Valley is different, and went
on to state that 1) the motorized bikes in question (manufactured in Tucson by
“Spooky Tooth”) are designed for ‘hot doggers’, and 2) do not mix well/safely
with human powered travel. Zoll said he understands that bike shops will not
work on the motorized bikes, because they are not equipped with adequate
brakes, lights or other basic safety equipment.
9: TDOT
Response to Barraza-Broadway Letter
Antol
reported that she met with Traffic Engineering, and went over the
recommendation in the letter, and TDOT Director Jim Glock is willing to pay for
the striping/signing needed, but ADOT’s permission is needed first. Traffic
Administrator Richard Nassi will meet with the ADOT Regional Traffic Engineer
to work this out.
Aversa, with
Carmody seconding, moved to support the TDOT position. The motion passed
unanimously,
10: TE
Enhancement Grant Applications and Support
Six
Applications for Transportation Enhancement Funds were presented to the
Committee, seeking support. Zoll gave an overview of the TE Process for
Committee members who are unfamiliar. The TE Process has been in place for 13
years, and sets a maximum per grant of $500,000. PAG runs the process for our
regions, and then the top ranked projects go on to the State Committee.
Following discussion,
Steve Bresler moved, with Aversa seconding, to authorize the Chair to write
support letters for the applications. The motion was passed unanimously.
Zoll pointed
out that the regional bike & ped safety campaign is almost ready for
‘launch’, and displayed two of the large signs the will be used on bus benches
and shelters. Attention Transit has been very generous with their display of
past safety messages, and is expected to do so again.
Corbett
announced (all members previously were E-mailed the info) the Award Ceremony to
be held June 2nd at 9:30 am, at the Snake Bridge. Andy Clark, the
LAB Executive Director, will present the regional Gold Award to Mayor Walkup,
the Chair of the PAG Regional Council at this time. Also speaking (only three
total) will be Supervisor Ramón Valadez,
Chair of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Corbett also pointed out that our award is the first regional
(multiple jurisdictions) award in the nation, and that the Platinum Committee
will be starting up again.
Zoll will
lead a ride before the ceremony, starting at the north end of the snake bridge
at 7:00 am, and returning there at 9:00 am.
George
Dudley announced that this is his last meeting, and mentioned the Green Valley
photo exhibit featuring cyclists.
Melissa
Antol stated that she believes that two recent resignations form the BAC need
special recognition – former Chair Jesse Morales, and former vice-Chair Roy
Schoonover. It was agreed that the Platinum Committee, which is meeting May 16th,
would address this.
Aversa
reminded all of the GABA-Tucson Bike Safety/Driver Courses being offered in
conjunction with Pima County and the City of Tucson – also known as “Road I”.
11: Potential Items for Future Agendas
·
Regional
Bike & Ped Plan Updates
·
Aviation-Barraza
Pathway east end concerns
·
Motorized
bicycles, legislation status
12.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 pm