1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room Members in attendance: Stephen Bach Eberhard Jehle Dave Stackhouse Lena Seville Frank Deviney Sarah Littlefield Carl Schwarz Will Lee Cort Hammond Chris Gensic Kyle Rodland Emily Koesle Peter Ohlms Kate Lichts Peter Krebs Amanda Poncy • CIP letter to Council At the January meeting, BPAC resolved to send a letter to Council urging them to maintain several parts of the budget that were directly related to Bike/Ped Issues. Refer to Jan. 2019 minutes for a full review of the topic. Dave Stackhouse drafted a letter that will be voted on by email. • Dockless mobility update Amanda Poncy gave BPAC an update on the trial period for Lime and Bird scooters and E- bikes. So far there have been a few small issues that are being resolved but the scooters seem to be popular and generally successful. Some issues include:  Users parking scooters on sidewalks • If Lime and Bird stay after the trial period perhaps think about adding scooter parking a la Santa Monica • Additional rider education will address this as well.  Issues riding on downtown mall • This was mostly Lime because they undertook a bigger mapping effort and so had a few problems with their geofencing • Should be fixed today (2/7)  GPS is not very accurate • It only seems to be within 40 to 50 ft. which can make finding scooters difficult o Evidence of success  Riders in Charlottesville have ridden enough miles to go half-way around the globe according to the scooter companies’ data! Additionally, the City has collected $50,000 in fees to be appropriated into a bicycle and pedestrian fund 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room • This number includes the $1/scooter/day fee paid by Lime and Bird o Amanda is working with a UVA Masters class to evaluate the Dockless Mobility program and inform the city’s decision at the end of the trial period  They will assess impact of Dockless Mobility on U-bikes too o Scooters in Parks  Those present liked the idea of allowing scooters and bike into parks.  This would allow scooters to ride and park in the parking lots of the parks rather than having to be parked outside the park property and forcing the rider to walk. o One member commented on how the two companies complemented each other. Lime is visible during the day due to its bright colors and Bird is more visible at night due to its colorful lights. • SRTS update Kyle Rodland gave an update on what Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Activities and Programs Plan for the 2018-2019 school year and asked for feedback on changes for next year. o New this year  Kyle is now working on SRTS full time • Otherwise budget stayed the same from last year  He continued building fleets of bikes • 6 fleets of bikes in the schools o Most are new bikes  This will be the first year requiring replacement of worn out bike fleets • Adding a fleet of 25 mountain bikes to replace worn out bikes o So far in the School Year  First half of the year was walk-oriented • Walk to School Day o Walking Breakfast Buffet program  Breakfast stations along popular routes to school  The program got lots of positive feedback o Walking School Bus  Will need buy in from school/PTO to execute again o Trying to do a Winter Walk to School Day similar to the one in the fall 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room • Walk to School Incentive Program o If a student gets walks/bikes to school 10 times they earn a prize from PE teacher o Children track their progress with a punchcard. 1 walk to school = 1 punch o Lena asked about how to make this program available to all students (e.g. students who ride the bus or live too far to walk)  Amanda and Kyle responded that all students were given an opportunity to walk around school property to receive credit. • Bike/Ped Education in PE o PE bike curriculum does not go deep  This is due at least in part to short class times for PE  Big push for bikes is in spring o Safe walking in PE is modeled using a created streetscape • Community walks/Walking Field Trips o The teacher maps out a route and then takes kids out during class to walk around their community • Helmet giveaway o $3,500 budgeted o So far ~$2000 worth of helmets have been given away to students via the Toy Lift o The students have to be registered in a city school  Due to grant restrictions the helmets cannot be given away in the county o Helmets are free to any student in City schools.  Spring 2019 Activities: • Feb. 22nd Bike Repair Party o Tune bikes in SRTS fleets o Free beer to mechanics o Donate $1 for every beer sold during the event to SRTS • Bike Rodeo o The intent is to do one in bike month and hopefully be able to do more after breaking the ice • Summer Camps o Taken over by Parks and Rec. department o The camps will do skills courses at least once a week using the SRTS fleet o SRTS will probably give away helmets during camp too 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room  One member suggested that Kyle train parents as a means of having volunteers to help students walk and bike to school safely • Get kids walking around their own neighborhood  Community bike ride • Students ride around their community with PE teacher during gym class o Other points relating to SRTS  Dave Stackhouse asked if there is a manual of best practices describing SRTS activities so if anything were to happen to Kyle or the program, SRTS could be rebooted without having to reinvent the wheel. Kyle explained that as part of the grant he is required to submit monthly reports that highlight activities and accomplishments.  There is concern about encouraging students to ride to school • Safety and liability • Parent permissions were obtained for middle schoolers • Year in Review w/ Chris Gensic Chris Gensic, the Parks and Trail Planner for the City of Charlottesville, updated BPAC on what trail projects were currently being worked on and how they fit into the larger plan. o New Pedestrian Bridge over trail at McIntire Park  VDOT gave permission to open  There is a paved trail connecting the bridge to the parking lot at McIntire  Paving connecting the trail to JWW is underway o New multi-use trail on Rugby Ave. that will be 12-14ft wide o Water st.  Currently the Coal Tower trail stops at 10th st., a grant was secured to extend the existing paved trail to the Belmont Bridge  The Belmont bridge project will connect the trail to the Downtown Transit Center o 250 Bypass Trail Connection  Starts at Meadowbrook heights rd. and will go to Hydraulic rd. this will connects McIntire Park to Hydraulic Rd. • The sidewalk will be changed to a multi-use trail that will run under the Dairy St. Bridge • Goes to bid next week (2/11 – 2/15)  Parks and Recreation is pushing to finish the trail connection to the CHS trail that is behind the YMCA 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room  Hopefully, JWW will be connected to Hydraulic by Christmastime o Willoughby neighborhood  Has signed a lease with RTF o Moore’s Creek Trail  Connects Jordan Park to 5th Street  A few additional easements are still needed o Parks and Recreation is going to change the Meadowcreek Gardens Trail to stonedust all the way up to culverts  This is on the Emmet street side o Pollocks Branch Trail  South 1st st. residents are signing official easements to make land public, this will allow the trail to connect  Will start as rustic trail which may become stone dust later  Bridge over to Rockland Ave. o Veterans of Foreign Wars  Going to make a trailhead on River Rd.  It was surveyed on the week of 2/4-2/8  The goal is eventually connect to the trails at Pen Park o Development At Lochlyn Hill will put in a bridge to connect to the existing trail across Meadow Creek and will put a trail down to it  Multi-use complement o Greenbrier trail should be done next week (2/11-2/15) o Parks and Recreation is studying the Railroad to but in a tunnel o New bridge next to Rockhop o One member suggested that having a map that better communicates the current status of projects separate from the Plan Vision Map. They also suggested making the Plan Vision Map more easily accessible The current trail maps can be found here • Bike Month Planning Will Lee presented several ideas to BPAC for Bike Month events and talked about what events are currently scheduled. He will send a volunteer sign up this week. o Items already on the Calendar  Bike Fest (working title) • May 5th 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting February 7th, 2019 NDS Conference Room • Conglomeration of a BMX Jam, a MTB Jam, and a Bike Rodeo plus food trucks, music, and other programming such as repair clinics and a tabling opportunity for BPAC  Rivanna Trail Ride • Dave Stackhouse said he would lead a ride around the RT • Aiming for 5/4 with 5/11, 5/19/, and 5/25 as rain dates  Bike to School Day • SAG stations at schools to encourage riding  Cyclofemme Ride • Ruth Stornetta will lead a ride for the women of Charlottesville. • Date set for 5/11  Bike to Work Week (5/12-5/17) and Bike to Work Day (5/17) • SAG stations on Bike to Work Day and possibly during the week  Tour de Solar • Will be on 5/18 with a rain date on 5/25 • To be led by Sun Tribe Solar  Family Bike Day • 5/19 or 5/26 o Ideas to consider  Ride with the Mayor  Night Light Ride • Perhaps join with currently running night rides on Thursdays and Fridays leaving from Champion Brewing and Peloton Station respectively.  Publish or republish a map of local bike infrastructure ahead of bike month to aid in planning for commuter routes and generally make biking seems less scary  Memorial Day Ride • Aim to hit local memorials and monuments along route  Ride-in outdoor movie • UVA has done theses in the past and so has Champion Brewing.  Discounts at local shops for cyclists during the whole of bike month  Car vs. Bus vs. Bike commuter race • Potentially make into short film to promote riding and/or bike month. Future events: • Bike Repair Party - Feb. 22nd • All of Bike Month – get ready!