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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-17 Bicycle & Pedestrian_PACKETCITY OF ASHLAND BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION Agenda Thursday, April 17", 2008 @ 5:15 P.M. Siskiyou Room @ 51 Winburn Way Community Development & Engineering Services Building CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 20th, 2008 III. PUBLIC FORUM - Business from the audience not included on the agenda. (Limited to 5 minutes per speaker and 15 minutes total.) IV. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Subcommittee & Liaison Reports V. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION Follow-UD Items Letter regarding Taking the Lane March Traffic Safety Meeting: Siskiyou Boulevard Safety & Oak Street Top 10 & Near -Miss Lists Upcoming Events Earth Day Tabling 4/19 — Seiler, Sommer, Young Bike Swap Tabling 5/10 — Olney Car Free Day 9/22 ? — Ryan Bicycle Friendly Community Status On -Going Discussion of Commission Goals Car Free Day Visioning New Business Agenda Items for Next Month VI. ADJOURNMENT Uucomina Meetinas Next Regular Meeting - Thursday, May 15m, 2008 at 5:15 P.M. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1- 800-735-2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1). Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission March 20th, 2008 Regular Minutes Roll Call: Chair David Young, Vice Chair Julia Sommer, Secretary Jim Olney (late), Steve Ryan, Mick Church (absent), Matthew Seiler, Torn Burnham Council Liaison: David Chapman Staff: Terry Holderness, Chief of Police Steve McLennan, Police Officer Kip Keeton, Community Service Officer Derek Severson, Associate Planner RVTD liaisons: Paige Townsend, RVTD Senior Planner High school liaison: Vacant SOU liaison: Vacant Traffic Safety Commissioners: Chair Matt Warshawsky, Vice Chair Colin Swales Call to Order Chair Young called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Approval of Minutes — February 215t, 2008 The minutes were approved as presented by unanimous consent. Public Forum Tom Phillips and Midge Thierolf, who are working to develop a memorial for City Councilor Carole Wheeldon, who passed away in late 2006, presented their model of the proposed bench for the memorial and discussed details of its placement and of the process of developing the memorial to date including meetings with the Historic and Public Arts Commissions. They noted that they were working with the Parks Department to get a cherry tree installed, that granite boulders from a local quarry would be used, and that generally the proposal was to use local materials to the greatest degree possible. The indicated that they were hoping for a letter of support for the project. Burnham/Sommer m/s to express Commission support of the proposal as presented. Discussion: Keeton questioned whether a backed bench design would be more appropriate; Young indicated that he would like to respect the design process that had occurred and not try to redesign anything by committee. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion passed. Ambuja Rosen, who has been working to have a dog -tethering ordinance adopted, noted that she has been a bicyclist and pedestrian since moving to Ashland. She gave background on her campaign, and told the story of a dog named Max who lives on Cambridge Street and has been tethered his entire life. She noted the psychological impacts this has had on Max, who she suggested was bipolar. She presented data from her study on the effects of tethering ordinances in ten communities where they've been adopted, and asked for a recommendation or statement from the Commission to Council in support of the proposed ordinance, and asked that Commissioners also express their support individually. Burnham questioned what the current law is, and Rosen responded that it requires only adequate space for exercise. She noted that in 2005, only five dog bites were reported in Ashland, but suggested that most bites are not reported 2008-03 0 Bike & Ped n7inuter Page 1 of 5 to local police because they are handled by Animal Control through the County. Burnham asked about specifics of the proposed Ordinance, and Rosen responded that there was not sufficient time available in Public Forum to adequately explain it; she indicated that she would e- mail it to Severson for distribution to interested Commissioners. Matt Warshawsky noted that he had made a request that the Commission make a recommendation to Council to modify Ashland ordinances to allow bicyclists to take the lane where appropriate. Severson noted that he had wanted to forward this request in cooperation with the Police Chief, and that it had fallen through the cracks during the transition between Police Chiefs. He indicated that he would forward it to Chief Holderness ASAP. Keeton introduced himself, noting that in addition to being a Community Service Officer, he also serves on the City's staff Safety Committee. He expressed his personal concerns with bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and noted seeing frequent near misses where accidents caused by cyclists disobeying traffic laws are narrowly avoided. He indicated that he hoped to see more efforts at bicyclist education and enforcement. Chapman encouraged the police to ticket violations and support diversion programs which would either involve classroom safety education or duty as a crosswalk monitor. Egon Dubois, bicycle safety instructor with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, noted the effective use of bicycles by police officers in Central Point. He suggested that more bicycles would help Ashland police deal with bicycle enforcement, and he offered to assist the department in obtaining and maintaining bikes if they were interested. Young questioned how Commissioners wanted to handle the fairly full agenda, given that the Police Chief was present and that some members and liaisons needed to leave early. Members suggested beginning with discussion of Siskiyou Boulevard pedestrian safety and the recent focused enforcement actions. Siskiyou Boulevard Safety Young noted that he had issues with conducting a sting operation at a signalized crosswalk, and he indicated that this was not the issue that really needed to be addressed and just served to go after the low -hanging fruit while upsetting the community in a predatory manner. Holderness noted that the operation had been focused on the unmarked crosswalks, and he explained the details and manpower involved in carrying off these actions. He noted that when watching the events on site, officers witnessed multiple near miss accidents at the signalized crosswalk, and determined that this was the most dangerous behavior being observed, and the most in need of being addressed in that place and time. MacLennan and Severson both noted witnessing dangerous situations in the signalized crosswalk caused by pedestrian behavior. .56108 03105iike A'r Ped rsae saes Page 2 q1..5 Holderness noted that more of these actions will follow, and he explained that the publicity from the event is the primary benefit as it is what alters behavior beyond the scope of those ticketed in the event itself. Burnham noted that he would like to see a more regular, on -going police presence to get the awareness level up. Holderness explained on -going efforts by the Police Department, including volunteers at school zones and the radar trailer. He noted that the department is trying to address the full community with limited resources, and that the focus during the busiest morning hours is on the schools. Ryan noted that he has experienced numerous near misses himself caused by drivers, noted that he is keeping a list, and he urged others to do the same. Young noted that he would like to see a more concerted effort, and that the Tidings is not providing the type of coverage that is needed. He indicated that he would like to see some sort of subcommittee form to better address this. Burnham concurred, noting that a coalition needs to be formed to start putting together short and long term solutions. Chapman suggested that anyone interested in participating in finding solutions attend the next Traffic Safety Commission meeting. Warshawsky stated that he would like to have a discussion based on more information next Thursday at Traffic Safety and be able to send recommendations back to the City Council for a decision the following Tuesday. He would like more data, including details on the accident from APD. He noted that he had wanted to form a subcommittee, but suggested that time commitment was an issue and he feels that information needs to be compiled quickly and distilled to get a decision at next week's Traffic Safety meeting. He stated that he would like interested parties to meet next Tuesday with research they do between now and then. Chapman, Burnham, Dubois, Young and Ryan indicated they would attend, as the APD representatives present were also invited. Warshawsky indicated that the meeting would occur at 7:00 p.m. next Tuesday and that the location would be announced via email. Severson noted that he would provide email contact information for interested members to Warshawsky. Burnham urged lowering the speed limit as an immediate fix. Subcommittee & Liaison Reports Paige Townsend, Senior Planner with the Rogue Valley Transportation District, discussed the status of their liaison role as they seek a replacement for Steve Maluk. She noted that RVTD has been a partner in Car Free Day for 11 years, and she recounted that the event had originally started small knowing that there would be a bigger pay-off. She noted that the Oak Street Car Free Day event and street closure has been successful for three years and has been recognized in Portland. She emphasized that thousands worldwide celebrate Car Free Day on September 22, and that there seems to be a progression in some communities where the benefits of the event lead to a recognition that results in permanent street closures. She encouraged Commissioners to consider what they wanted to do for the event, and she noted that a champion was needed to carry out the event. She suggested that the activities of the day could then be compartmentalized 2008..0,320 Bake & Ped raainuies Poge .3 qf'.5 and duties split among the Commission and other stakeholders. She discussed the event as a celebration and reward for those who are already living car free. Townsend also asked for participation by Commissioners in the Bike Swap, as commissioners are the beneficiaries of this event along with the BTA and the students of Ashland. She indicated that she would send research on the use of 45-degree crosswalks which she felt might be an applicable solution for the medians on Siskiyou. Chapman questioned the status of RVTD's Bike First program, and Townsend indicated that a wholesale supplier was needed. Chapman indicated that he would like to see the Commission involved in this. Townsend noted that they would have a new person on staff by the fall. Ryan indicated that he would be interested in participating in the Car Free Day event, but that he did not want to be "the champion." Seiler noted that he had been involved last year, and he suggested that there is energy within the community. Townsend noted that she would also like to see ECOS, Siskiyou Velo, the BTA Bike Rodeo, etc. She noted that RVTD would handle advertising and marketing for the event. Ryan indicated that he would attend subcommittee meetings. Chapman exited at 6:32 p.m. Young noted that he had attended the last two Bike Swap meetings, and suggested that they were making good progress on planning for the event at the subcommittee level. Severson questioned if members were interested in tabling at the Earth Day event at Scienceworks on Saturday, April 191h. Seiler indicated that he would table, and Sommer and Young indicated that they could also be there to provide additional coverage during part of the day. Seiler added that he was officially out of the Car Free Day event planning, and that he would attend next month's Commission meeting prior to leaving town on May 5`h Olney noted that he had attended the Jackson County Bicycle Advisory Committee. He noted that staff person Karen Smith was retiring and would not be replaced, and that support for the Committee and for the Greenway was somewhat on hold for now. Swales noted that he had attended the School Board meeting for their discussion of high school students being sent to Lincoln School for some classes during construction. Oak Street Ryan noted that the discussion of Oak Street bike lanes had been tabled at the Traffic Safety meeting last month and would be discussed next week. He indicated he would report back next month. He added that the University was to have had a representative in attendance at tonight's meeting, and Young suggested that they should be represented on any subcommittee that forms. 2008-0 0 Bike & Ped minutes Pgge 4 of 5 Bike Lane/Bike Path Maintenance Severson suggested that he could prepare a reference card of those to contact for streets, bike lane and bike path maintenance issues. It was noted for Commissioners that the Parks Department provides maintenance on the Greenway all the way to Valley View Road. Top 10 List Sommer noted that she would like to assemble a list of places and issues with problems most in need of being addressed. The Commission would then take these to the Traffic Safety Commission and request action. She indicated that she would be willing to put the list together, and suggested that members e-mail her with their top issues. She clarified that these should be infrastructure and engineering items that could be fixed to create a safer environment for cycling and walking. On -Going Goal Discussion: Car Free Day & Car Free Living Sommer expressed her frustration with trying to get Car Free First Fridays going with the Gallery Association. She noted that despite numerous conversations, they have not followed up and there seems to be no buy -in. New Business Members discussed the potential for quorum issues with the current vacancy and Seller's departure. Severson noted that both Ryan and Church had sought positions on the Planning Commission and might not be willing to serve on two Commissions if appointed there. Ryan indicated he would be willing to serve on both. Young noted that he had asked for reappointment. Severson indicated that he could make the Mayor aware of a potential issue. Burnham noted that he was working with Bill Heimann and Chapman to develop improved bike maps. He suggested that the subcommittee will need additional assistance after the issue of Siskiyou Boulevard pedestrian safety has been adequately addressed. Agenda Items for Next Month Seiler suggested that the Commission needed to clarify its vision of Car Free Day. Ryan suggested that members work on "near -miss" lists. Adiournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Upcoming Meetings: Regular Meeting — April 17` , 2008 at 5:15 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room .2008-(320 Bike & Ped ?ninufes P((ge 5 (# 5 -_ �._..�y ....�.Sa fe Grou minutes Page ' U Derek Severson - Siski ou ty �P From: David Chapman <DavidChapman@AshlandHome.net> To: <ashland@azeotech.com> Date: 3/26/08 3:44:27 PM Subject: Siskiyou Safety Group- minutes Nancy and Derek, Would please forward these minutes to TSC and Bike and Ped? Thank you, David A small group of folks interested in the Siskiyou Blvd. safety issues got together last night at SOU's Churchill Hall to have an informal discussion about the issues. We each had done some additional research on solutions and wanted to share our thoughts and what we had found. Siskiyou Safety Group Minutes written by David Chapman SOU Churchill Hall 7PM - March 25, 2008 Egon Dubois Tom Burnham Craig Morris Steven Ryan Chief Terry Holderness Officer Steve McClennan Matt Warshawsky David Chapman Colin Swales (unable to attend) Matt suggested that we visit the TSC recommedations as a start. 1. Should we drop the speed on Siskiyou to 25mph? On Ashland St.? No question on Siskiyou, yes, the right decision. On Ashland, there is support from David and SOU due to concern for kids (Walker) and SOU students. Some, however, wonder about expanding the area of interest. David feels that ODOT will be here studying Siskiyou anyway, so do it now. There is a recognition from everyone that dropping the speed limit will not necessarily reduce speed. We will need to work on other approaches to change behavior. We feel that Siskiyou Blvd. was designed for higher speeds than desirable and it will be difficult to counter that impression. There was a question about the effectiveness of light timing. Was it working as designed? 2. What about ped warning lights? We talked about the proposed 4 light system and in -ground system. Chief Holderness refered to studies that claimed about 60% effectiveness for Group-, minutes the proposed system and about 20% for in -ground (I may have butchered the numbers here.). We liked the idea of being able to move the above ground system to other locations. They should ped activated, with the idea that they flash alot with high activity and are dark with none. 3. Rumble Strips. Why not? Cheap enough. Some skeptics as to will they be effective, but since they last a short time, give them a try. The main concern is with the bike lanes. If they are held back, cars could avoid them with one wheel. If a bike must change lanes, they might be a hazzard. 4. What about landscaping? The original intention was to discourage crossing at some locations. The fence is not desirable. Be concerned about ped visibility. Could landscaping reduce on -coming headlight glare? 5. Education. Tom said we all remember "look both ways", what is happening? We don't now what to do on this one. Enforcement and diversion where discussed. 6. Would it be possible to delay right turns from Ashland on to Siskiyou? Cause traffic gaps. There is considerable speed built up just before SOU and we want them to be slowing down and paying attention. 7. Can you install ped crossing signals without a traffic signal? The idea was to time the ped crossing with upstream signals. This is not a good idea because you would be signaling peds to cross without stopping traffic. They would pay less attention than in a crosswalk. 8. Various crosswalk ideas explored with no conclusions. Unmarking crosswalks. Raised crosswalks. The notion that due to turn conflict reductions, that the midblock crossings could be the most safe. Repeat angled crosswalks when they will work. 9. Check into more use of radar signs that flash at violations. Can the little mobile ones do that? Can we program the reader board to do that. Steve said some flash at speed limit and go nuts with more colors at a higher set point. 10. What about the lighting recommendation? The discussion broke into 3 areas and would raising wattage be the right choice: a. Sidewalk lighting at SOU on the south side. As Doris pointed out at the last meeting, the trees shade the sidewalk from the cobras. Not only is this a ped problem for not being seen by drivers, but it is an issue of the feeling of personal safety for students. We think that SOU, with help from the city, should install ped scale lighting on this stretch. There should be consideration for blending with Blvd lights and not causing glare. b. We talked about the importance of light uniformity. Area with no lights. Splotchy light, is that a reflector problem or overlap? The notion that ideally lights would very with conditions and levels of activity. Night vision. What is the proper level for an area? c. Crosswalk lighting to highlight peds. This is putting light were it is needed and not causing glare. We should experiment with ideas and try Derek Severson - Siskiyou Safety Group- minutes n it first somewhere out of traffic. There are a number studies that Colin found to support special lighting. Down lights and side light are not effective. Front fill from an adjacent pole may work at fairly low cost. 11. Garfield Intersection. We looked at some options. David presented a plan to move the crosswalk, create a ped refuge, add a position for the center ped crossing lights, and add the potential for additional cobra poles if desired. May be able to use a angled crosswalk. Fairly low cost and maintain SOU functions. The closing of left turns to the union would be possible with a legal u-turn further on. The trucks (we think) are vans not tractor -trailers. We would propose to do a complete one day study of uses and turns with volunteers when SOU is back in session, possibly Wed 9th. If we had enough help, we could look at more than Garfield. 12. Further long term study. If we assume that this design has not been successful, we need to look at other options for the future. We need to be ready to tackle N. Main and downtown. It is unlikely that Siskiyou would be rebuilt, but are there suggestions for modifications now or midterm? We want to distinguish between hiring another professional engineering company and finding help developing our own small town solution. Could we try out various consultants with seminars looking at our problems? Colin has a few names in mind. 13. Has this meeting been beneficial and do we want to meet again? We think so, but we have no definite plans. We greatly appreciated have APD in force with us for this conversation. Adjourned at about 9PM. CC: <DEMANNION@aol.com>, <colinswales@gmail.com>, <dereks@ashland.or.us>, <holderness@ashland.or.us>, <SteveM@ashland.or.us>, <tb1937@charter.net>, <egon@mind.net>, <dyoung@jeffnet.org>, <resolutionvideo@yahoo.com>, <CMORRIS@sou.edu>, <Nancy@ashland.or.us> BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION FY 2007-2008 BUDGET UPDATE April 2008 PROGRAM FUNDS $3.300.00 2007-2008 PROJECTS' AMOUNTS APPROVED TO DATE m .....m..,� _. ............ Car Free Darr approved 8/07 ,.e $100 $72.96 actual BTA Partnership/,Bike Safety Education $2,500 est. REMAINING FUNDS FOR FY'07 - `08 $ 700 COMMISSION FUND: $750.00 $750 in Commission Funds available in addition to the $3,300 in Program Funds. These are set aside for subscriptions, conference attendance, etc. CAROLE WHEELDON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND: $2,100 BIKE SWAP FUNDS $8,201.92 (as of 11/05/07) Funds generated from the Bike Swap are under the control and management of the Ashland Parks Foundation, a private non-profit affiliated with the Parks Department. The Foundation has indicated a willingness to allow the Commission to make recommendations for the expenditure of these funds. Staff would strongly recommend that any motions for the use of these funds be framed as recommendations to the Ashland Parks Foundation in order to avoid any confusion about the status of these funds or the Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission's role in mana_oin_g them under Oregon state budget law. .�.�.. � BIKE SWAP .........__..._ FUNDS AMOUNTS APPROVED TO DATE BTA Partnership/Bike Safety Education mmm $ 6,000.00 Bike Swap Promotion .... __- ...$ 700 est. Bike Swap Coordinator _ $ 900 est. REMAINING FUNDS FOR FY'07 - `08_ ..... $ 601.92 REMINDER: The Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission does not have the budgetary authority to appropriate funds, and cannot enter into contracts for services. Requests to fund outside organizations should be directed to make application for funding to the City Council through the annual budget process. CITY OF -ASHLAND April 17, 2008 Honorable Mayor & Council The Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission recently considered concerns expressed by Traffic Safety Commission Chair Matt Warshawsky with Section 11.52.030.E of the Ashland Municipal Code, which states that: The use of a bicycle in the City shall be subject to all of the provisions or laws of the State and the laws of the City, including those applicable to the drivers of motor vehicles, except as to the latter, those provisions that by their very nature have no application;, and bicycles when ridden on a street or highway shall be ridden at the right-hand side of the street or highway and within five (5) feet of the curb when possible and shall pass to the right when meeting vehicles." (emphasis added) Warshawsky explained that a bicyclist in the middle of the lane, traveling at the speed of traffic, is more visible, less likely to be "doored", has more room to avoid a collision, is less likely to be cut-off by inattentive drivers, and is less likely to have conflicts with cars making right turns, and added that in much of Ashland the speed is 20-25, which is easily attainable by bicyclists. Bicycle riders are granted an important right to travel upon Oregon's roads from the "Bicyclist Bill of Rights" contained in ORS 814.430. This law provides that bicyclists have a right to take the entire traffic lane while maintaining the normal speed of traffic; if they go slower the bicyclist must proceed as close as practicable to the right side of a two-way road (or on either side of a one way street). However, if some hazard exists, the bicyclist may take the entire lane until the hazard is passed. This provision of the ORS grants bicyclists the flexibility to respond to situation -specific road conditions they encounter, such as narrow road shoulders, roadside debris, or congested areas such as the Downtown where riding near the road's edge can lead to conflicts with unexpectedly opening car doors. Members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission unanimously concurred with Traffic Safety Commissioner Warshawsky that the right to "take the lane" as ensured under the ORS is crucial to the safety of bicyclists, and we hereby request that the City Council take action to modify the Ashland Municipal Code by removing the requirement that bicycles be ridden at the right-hand side of the street within five feet of the curb. Please bring the Ashland Municipal Code in line with ORS 814.430 and allow bicyclists the flexibility to "take the lane" where necessary for their safety. Thank you for your consideration of this request, David Young, Chair Ashland Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission 51 Winbum Way Phone: 541.552.2040 Ashland OR 97520 Fax: 541.552.2050 www.ashland.or.us TTY: 800.735.2900 �� ASHLAND MUNCIPAL CODE SECTION 11.52.030 Regulations. The following regulations apply to riding and operation of a bicycle: A. Riding on sidewalks in the Central Business District. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle on a sidewalk in the central business district or commercial zone. B. Racing. No person shall engage in, or cause others to engage in, a bicycle race upon the streets or any other public property of this City without permission of the Chief of Police. Major races involving closure or restructuring of city streets must be presented to the City Council through the Chief of Police. C. Method of Riding. A person shall not ride a bicycle other than with their feet on the pedals and facing the front of the bicycle. No bicycle shall carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is equipped. D. Carrying Articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any packages, bundles, or articles which prevent the rider from keeping at least one (1) hand upon the handlebars and in full control of said bicycle. E. Traffic Regulations. The use of a bicycle in the City shall be subject to all of the provisions or laws of the State and the laws of the City, including those applicable to the drivers of motor vehicles, except as to the latter, those provisions that by their very nature have no application; and bicycles when ridden on astred or highway shall be ridden at theright-hand side of the street or highway, and within five 5) feet of the curb when, possible, and shall pass, to the, right t when nux9ing vehieAes. F. Speed on Bicycle Routes. No bicycle shall be ridden on a bicycle route at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent for the circumstances when approaching a pedestrian. G. Riding Abreast. No person shall ride a bicycle upon any street, highway, bicycle route or lane in the City abreast, or side -by -side of any other person so riding or propelling a bicycle when it interferes or impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic or pedestrians. H. Hitching on Vehicles. No person, while riding a bicycle shall in any way attach themselves or the bicycle to any other moving vehicle. I. Taking or Using Without Permission. No person shall take or use any bicycle without the consent of the owner. J. Riding While Intoxicated. It is unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle on any street, highway, bicycle lane or route of the City while under the influence of any intoxicants. K. Parking. No person shall park a bicycle upon a street, other than in the roadway and against the curb, or against a lamppost designated for bicycle parking, or in a rack provided for the purpose of supporting bicycles, or on the curb in a manner so as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. (Ord. 1787 S3, 1973; Ord. 2439 S1, 1988; Ord. 2606 S2, 1990) Page 1 of 1 OREGON REVISED STATUTES 814.430 Improper use of lanes; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commitsthe offense of improper use of lanes by a bicycle ifthe is operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic using the roadway at that time and placethe existing conditions and the person does not, tide as close as practicable to the rightourb or edge of the roadway. (2) A person is not in violation of the offense under this section if the person is not operating a bicycle as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway under any of the following circumstances: (a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction. (b) When preparing to execute a left turn. (c) When reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or other conditions that make continued operation along the right curb or edge unsafe or to avoid unsafe operation in a lane on the roadway that is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side. Nothing in this paragraph excuses the operator of a bicycle from the requirements under ORS 811.425 or from the penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. (d) When operating within a city as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of a roadway that is designated to allow traffic to move in only one direction along the roadway. A bicycle that is operated under this paragraph is subject to the same requirements and exceptions when operating along the left curb or edge as are applicable when a bicycle is operating along the right curb or edge of the roadway. (e) When operating a bicycle alongside not more than one other bicycle as long as the bicycles are both being operated within a single lane and in a manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. (f) When operating on a bicycle lane or bicycle path. (3) The offense described in this section, improper use of lanes by a bicycle, is a Class D traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §701; 1985 c.16 §339] Exhibit Questions? Contact Paige Prewett, 541.855.5200 or prewett@mind.net • Exhibit space is free. • Exhibits must be related to sustainable living or environmental education. • Exhibitors are asked to share tangible actions/ideas for sustainability pertaining to your topic. • Vending is not permitted. You may promote earth -friendly products, services, actions or ideas. • The event will take place rain or shine! Please commit to being at the event if you register. • Tables are provided. Chairs are not provided. We suggest that you provide a tent/shelter. • The table tops are not -so -aesthetically -pleasing plywood; we suggest that you bring a tablecloth. Tables are 8' x 2.5' • More than 1 exhibit staff person is recommended so that exhibitors can visit displays, network, have a snack and enjoy the event. • Electricity is not available. Vehicles will not be permitted to enter the event area to set up exhibits. If your exhibit requires a great deal of set-up, you may make arrangements to do so the day before. Set-up will begin at 9:00 a.m. and offloading MUST BE COMPLETE by 10:30 a.m. Offloading: Temporarily park along Campus Way, the access road into the ScienceWorks parking lot to offload your exhibit. Volunteers will direct you to your space and assist with carrying/carting display materials. Due to the volume of exhibitors needing to offload equipment, move/park your vehicle as soon as you have off loaded to make room for others. Do not leave your vehicle in the offloading zone while you set up your exhibitl Parking: Once you have offloaded your exhibit, park at Ashland Middle School or the National Guard Armory. ALL EXHIBITORS MUST COMPLY. This means you! Please have a representative at your exhibit throughout the event. Rogue Valley Earth Day strives to be a Zero Waste event. You can help: Instead of bringing disposable cups, containers and other items, please bring reusable alternatives. t The League of American Bicyclists, supported by thousands of cyclists, works through innovative programs like Bicycle Friendly Communities to encourage cycling across America. You can help by joining the League at www.bikeleague.org. The League uses membership dues and donations to advocate on behalf of bicyclists at the federal, state, and local levels, helping to bring more than $5 billion dollars to bicycling in the next five years. The League also promotes bicycling newspa- pers and magazines nationwide and sponsors National'Bike Month each May. The League's educational program is the most respected and advanced in the country, offering courses and curriculum, for everyone from new cyclists to expert riders. The League of American Bicyclists 1612 K Street NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20006 bikeleague@bikeleague.org www.bikeleague.org 202-822-1333 Fax: 202-822-1334 0 7 E 0 0 > 7� u ol LS' 0� tlo -05 CZ LI) u cz u 16' 4) u tc U im 0 c U m -0 •C ID I .j . . . . . . . . . . . . I (D 4) .0 0 CD w,',�Sl"//, Lf) (D c m U >, 0 $a, IN 16 CL (opprv,""I'll, tic Hill 7U7' U U) W vV snCL u V) O C" 4 ' or /ii G a Q. v° f/ o �, a, o m U i i U N �...i r o... .Li Q1 s.0 N "Ci o J s 4� rr 0 3 w bb0 N w "" � � /,O,P i r✓r/i v5rr r / % i //� N �j61 % / � 't'3 I� j--i `� � `z V) tc League or American Bicyclists .riendly Community June 9, 2006 Derek Severson Assistant Planner 51 Winburn Way Ashland, OR 97520 Dear Derek Severson: G:A4roUE OF hMm:mGKAN WQ YC3..f%1f`•u 16112 K S: ' I'M Sija tia: 800 V or Aiuirq9on, 0C, 20006 2850 vvrilSli1- w u.h�F.y��lrc',6iicrc'tQ11yu;rrruvu"i����rnt .r7o`C;, HMM Irl4,vac,�abi�rxiearlo'i4�v,la+colpcse.c�rg >u;o71 202 .822. M33 rnx 202.822,133•1 As you already know, the League has re -designated Ashland, OR a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Bronze level. The award is presented only to communities with remarkable commitments to bicycling. You should be very proud of this accomplishment. I have enclosed the award and specific feedback from the League of American Bicyclists on what you can do to snake Ashland, OR more bicycle -friendly. Your designation will be due for renewal in May of 2008. At that point your community will be reevaluated so we urge you to make as many improvements as possible in the meantime! If you would like to order additional Bicycle Friendly Community road signs, please complete the enclosed order form and return it to the League. Once again, congratulations on your efforts to create a community that is truly bicycle - friendly. Sincerely, Bill Nesper Program Manager League of American Bicyclists AshlandOREGON MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT Ashland recently redesigned two segments of main arterials and included 6-foot- wide bike lanes as part of a Complete Streets design. HIGHLIGHTS Ashland boasts a remarkable 3.7 percent bicycle mode share. The bicycle network in Ashland is quite strong and includes a good collection of off -road trails and paths, bike lanes and bike routes, and more additions are in the planning stages. Ashland has a strong physical bicycling presence, with five successful bike shops in a town of less that 20,000 and a very active mountain -biking and road -riding clubs. The city government recognizes and values bicycling as an important aspect of life in the city and acts accordingly, and Ashland has an active Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. There are bicycle safety classes in all the elementary and middle schools. The annual "Car Free Day" festivities include a downtown street closure and street fair that regularly draws more than 500 participants. The much -loved annual "Bike Swap" gives people a chance to buy inexpensive bikes, go on group rides, attend clinics, watch demonstrations, buy from local retailers and generally have their bicycle consciousness and awareness raised. There is also funding available for the city to start a pilot Safe Routes to School project to encourage Ashland kids in both elementary and middle schools to bike and walk to school safely. Date Awarded: May 200 Leaguev,f PUSS TED: )r Almeli *BikesBe:long' �Derek Severson 41-552-2040 <�„ r, ta�a���l'�',` uvww.9nilse1e€ague.org oMa 011 AMI itur,,oN B1 ar a uSIS H31,� I^ t 11 , : ui�h: 800 f Wn!! I liq[oiiUf, 1:111(Jh ?k3 a'1 Bicycle Friendly Community vVlkliew)uvnFlarcyrlefeIoildy("ommvlit y.l,�iq P_I4di I �wr,ri�r'»fnVsa,Eut,r�iu.�aurp I ;nu "W s , I TrAx P02 8 ,)y), 314 Feedback on Ashland's application to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community Ashland is well on its way to becoming a Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community. Reviewers noted that with continued improvement in some key areas, the city will quickly move up the ranks of Bicycle Friendly Communities. Highlights of the city's application included the fact that 79% of the community's arterial streets provided wide shoulders or bike lanes for cyclists, the Car Free day, improved connectivity through the city and SOU campus, and the expansion of the Safe Routes to School program. Ashland should continue expand its education programs including Safe Routes to School and motorist education efforts. Therefore, reviewers provided the following suggestions to further promote cycling: • Increasing bicycle use. The City should continue to develop its commuter encouragement and trial commute program; continue to increase encouragement of bike commuting through Bike Month or Bike to Work Day programs; and encourage local employers to offer guaranteed ride home programs, secure bike parking and showers at workplaces. Olympia, Washington holds a Bike Commuter Contest during Bike Month and encourages people to participate in the month -long Contest to see who can ride the most number of days or miles in the month of May. The growth in participation has been stunning. Olympia also offers city employees a $2 per day incentive for commuting by bike (as well as for walking, riding the bus or carpooling). Each year, approximately 50 to 60 of the City's 600 employees participate in the Bicycle Commuter Contest. Visit www.climatesolutions.ora for more info. • Expand motorist education and Share the Road encouragement programs by creating informational hand-outs for drivers and cyclists. Use valuable information from the League's Ride Better Tips in your outreach education and encouragement efforts. See the Ride Better Tips pages at http://www.bikelea 7ue.org/resources/'better/index.php • Work on motorist education and encourage bike commuting with a Bike Month or Bike to Work Day celebration and use of Share the Road psa's -- http://www.bikelea ug e org_/pro ,,rams/bikemonth/ Expand the Safe Routes to School Program in every school. In Arlington, Virginia a team visited every school in the County with representatives from Department of Public Works, the Police and Schools to assess conditions for walking and biking to each school. A list of problems and solutions was developed measures were identified to address problems. Short-term projects such as painting crosswalks were done right away while larger construction projects are on -going w(, ill w w 1)Icydr IIit IidYI;cn un iiuiy'orII I LIAR a I�il,t It ��yut «+�f�if:e^Ir�,ir�iir�,org Bicycle IPl� atl� �� Community I I i,P i ',,W f >> is 3'3 ,x 2102 } 22,'�,3y http://www.saferoutestoschools.orv,/ More funding than ever before is available for both infrastructure and non -infrastructure projects in the federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, among several other sources at both the federal and state levels. • Continue to expand the bicycle network and fill gaps and to connectivity. Derek Severson He. BikemmNane request ._..... ... � _..._.. .. . � .. _ �. .._ �_ ... P 1.._c From: Derek Severson To: Jeremy Eisen Date: 3/25/08 8:33:41 AM Subject: Re: Bike lane request Jeremy, I'll pass this on to the Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission for discussion at their next meeting, which occurs at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th at the Community Development Building at 51 Winburn Way. The Traffic Safety Commission will be discussing a somewhat related request from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission at their meeting this Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 at the Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission has asked the Traffic Safety Commission to join them in looking at ways to address the need for a bicycle connection between the Bear Creek Greenway, which ends at the Dog Park, and the Central Ashland Bikepath, which ends at the Railroad Park on A Street. The current dicussion is based on a citizen request, and has primarily been focused on looking at options for improving Oak Street as a connecting bicycle facility. I'll let you know the outcome of both of these discussions. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. Derek Severson, Associate Planner City of Ashland Planning Division 51 Winburn Way Ashland, OR 97520 e-mail: SeversoD@ashland.or.us Phone: (541) 552-2040 Fax: (541) 552-2050 TTY: 1-800-735-2900 This email is official business of the City of Ashland, and it is subject to Oregon public records law for disclosure and retention. If you have received this message in error, please let me know at (541) 552-2040. Thank you. >>> "Jeremy Eisen" <kayjer@charter.net> 03/24/08 4:40 PM >>> Mr. Severson, As a regular bike commuter from my home in Quiet Village (Coventry Place) to my workplace at OSF (downtown), I would like to respectfully request that the Bike/Pedestrian commission look at making the Helman St. "bike corridor" a priority for a proper, official bike lane (from Nevada to Main St.). Not only would it benefit me, as a regular adult bike commuter & competitive cyclist.but I think it would be of great benefit/safety for the children headed to & from Helman school each day. AND the fact that the city has touted Heiman St. as the "corridor" between the Bear Creek Greenway and Downtown/Ashland Bike Path/The "Creek to Crest" bike/hiker path. In the 5+ years I've lived in Quiet Village, I have seen car & bike traffic increase Derek eversons Swke lane request ............... —w exponentially, and I strongly urge the commission to pursue funds for creating a new, safe & effective bike lane this busy thoroughfare. Sincerely, Jeremy Eisen kavier(cDcharter.net 301-7312 CC: Derek Severson