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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-18 Bicycle & Pedestrian_MIN BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION Thursday, December 18, 2000 Meeting Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT Joan Spear, Bruce Taylor, David Young, Beverly Morris, and Council Liaison Carole Wheeldon. STAFF PRESENT Assistant City Engineer Jim Olson, Police Chief Scott Fleuter, Ashland Police Department Liaison Kip Thomas, and Associate Planner Maria Harris. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.  MINUTES th The minutes of November 16 were approved as presented. DISCUSSION OF ENFORCEMENT WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT Wheeldon noted that she has received a lot of questions about why cyclists do not follow the rules of the road. She questioned why cyclists and drivers are not cited for violations, and asked what Ashland Police Department policy is relative to cyclists. Young concurred with Wheeldon, noting that a lot of similar questions came up at the first public meeting on the Siskiyou Boulevard redesign. He noted that the most common complaints seemed to be that there is a lack of enforcement resulting in decreased pedestrian safety. Police Chief Scott Fleuter stated that he gets a lot of similar calls, too, and noted that they vary from pedestrians being all over the road along to the complaint that drivers blow right by pedestrians in crosswalks. Fleuter also pointed out that neighborhoods on small collector streets come to him frequently. He explained that the tools the police have available are enforcement or a radar reader board that can be staffed by senior volunteers. He stated that volunteers can also carry radar guns and the police can then send warning letters to chronic speeders. Fleuter listed other possibilities such as a volunteer in a marked car being stationed at school crosswalks, and allowing school bus drivers to report motorists who fail to stop for flashing red school bus lights. Fleuter explained that at minimum staffing, a shift is only two officers and this makes traffic enforcement difficult as two officers must answer all of the patrol calls. He pointed out that they normally have three or four officers to a shift, but he noted that Thomas is the only officer assigned full-time to traffic patrol. Fleuter emphasized that Thomas’ using a motorcycle helps a lot. A map showing the 271 accidents that have occurred in Ashland over the past nine months was shown and discussed. It was explained that it is left to officer discretion to issue a ticket or simply give a warning. Fleuter stated that if the commission wants to look at strategy, they could identify problem locations and provide facts to the police department. They could then look at targeted enforcement for the problem areas with the assistance of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. 2000-1218_Bike Min Page 1 of 3 Young noted that a lot comes down to the question of where bikes belong, and suggested that the European view is currently more civil than the U.S. He questioned how to engineer Siskiyou Boulevard given that officers cannot be stationed at every intersection. He emphasized the need to educate cyclists and to get word out to the public to increase the level of public involvement in the redesign process. Fleuter explained that on sidewalks, cyclists must behave as pedestrians, and on the roads, cyclists must follow the rules of the road. He guessed that very few citations are issued to cyclists. Thomas noted that it is difficult to catch pedestrian or bicycle involved incidents, and emphasized that this can be compounded by the need to find parking downtown. Fleuter noted that the use of police bikes could be used to focus enforcement efforts on cyclists and pedestrians. Harris noted that cyclists are not disproportionately violating rules of the road, and emphasized that there are motorists and pedestrians at fault as well. Commission clarified that the intent is not to negatively characterize or come down upon cyclists, but to look at ways of changing negative behaviors. Wheeldon noted that many of the comments she has heard indicate that tickets should be more expensive. Fleuter explained that the state sets bail amounts for offenses, and that determining traffic fine amounts is a legislative matter. Fleuter noted that the municipal judge in Ashland also has a discretionary role in fines that are handed down. Thomas also discussed the city’s diversion program, in which a first time offender can pay the full amount of a ticket, and if there are no further violations for 6 months, the offense does not go on their record. Young questioned Fleuter as to the police department’s view of speed bumps in terms of their effect on emergency services access. Fleuter suggested that there seem to be fewer problems on newer streets where traffic calming measures are designed in, and stated that speed bumps would not be a solution everywhere. Fleuter also noted that he had recently seen new, mobile/portable speed bumps at a conference which police can take to neighborhoods to address traffic problems. Young questioned the requirements for emergency vehicle access, and Fleuter noted that emergency vehicles could vary from a motorcycle officer to a full size fire vehicle. Thomas noted that a motorcycle can make it over a lot, and is generally very forgiving. Assistant City Engineer Jim Olson stated that in studies, the City of Portland found that there is a decrease in response time of eight seconds per speed bump. He noted that design options could vary considerably, with a simple speed bump costing roughly $1,500 versus $12,000 for a “bump- out” with a raised crosswalk. Morris questioned the city’s view of “zebra-striped” crossings. Olson noted that ladder-patterned crossings have been effective enough to convince the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to use them. Wheeldon noted that there is a state law prohibiting drivers from changing lanes at crosswalks. She discussed safety measures that would create a center island or some sort of raised rubber lane divider to prevent illegal lane changes and protect pedestrians. Young suggested signals or signage at crosswalks, such as those near Southern Oregon University. Wheeldon questioned if measures other than standard crosswalk signals would be more costly. Discussed the possibility of over- or under- crossings. 2000-1218_Bike Min Page 2 of 3 Fleuter noted that under-crossings create a new set of crimes, while human nature will steer people away from over-crossings. Young questioned Fleuter about his sense of whether bikes belong in the roadway on Siskiyou, or on the sidewalks. Fleuter noted that he likes the Central Ashland Bikepath, but questioned whether cross traffic from a recreational bike path would cause more problems than it solves. Olson noted that the required width for a shared lane is thirteen feet, and noted that this was the standard followed on the Maple Street project. Young noted that separate lanes, of a separate color or material, are more effective in reducing conflicts. Young suggested looking at available grants to support shared education efforts between the Traffic Safety Commission, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, and the police department. Fleuter noted that adding another officer to traffic enforcement would improve their efforts considerably. Harris suggested that it might be possible to send warning letters to offenders who violate crosswalk safety rules. She also suggested preparing an informational flyer on pedestrian/crosswalk safety as well. REVIEW “WHERE BIKES RIDE” STATEMENT Spear questioned the wording in that cyclists need to give an audible warning before passing another cyclist or pedestrian. Young clarified that this is the wording of the state statute. Young questioned the statement noting that the commission does not advocate riding on the sidewalk. Morris concurred. Young suggested wording to read: “If a bicycle lane is not available, a bicyclist may ride on the sidewalk except where it is explicitly prohibited.” Young agreed to type a final draft of the statement with the above revisions. RVTD’s Matt Barnes stated that he is uncomfortable with the Commission advocating riding on the sidewalk. Young clarified that sidewalks are not preferred for bikes, but that for those such as children who should not ride in the street they should behave as pedestrians. SISKIYOU BOULEVARD DESIGN PROJECT UPDATE Young noted the upcoming design charrette meeting. BIKE & BOAT SWAP Wheeldon noted that she had given the Bike & Boat Swap people David Young’s number, and explained that they will not be meeting until January. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Young asked that skateboards and scooters be discussed at the next meeting. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION SIGN-UP It was noted that the next meeting was January 25th at 7:00. Young thanked Wheeldon for her contribution. Wheeldon noted that she felt the focus on education was valuable, and urged the commission to become involved in the budget process. She also emphasized the need for civility and awareness in the Siskiyou redesign project. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. NEXT MEETING: th Thursday, January 18, 2001 at 5:00p.m. 2000-1218_Bike Min Page 3 of 3