HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-10
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Cycling Advisory Committee met this date commencing at 4:03 p.m.
Present: S. Burek, D. Class, B. Forwell (Vice-Chair), Councillor J. Gazzola, D. Hilker,
T. Kenyon (Chair), N. Mehés, T. Muller
Staff: R. Schirm (Committee Administrator), Peter Wetherup (Parks Planning), K.
Reinert (Recorder)
Regrets: J. Alexander, S. Anderson, B. Laube, P. Ji-Taylor
In order to expedite the development of the work plan and to ensure participation of all Cycling
Advisory Committee members in the work plan discussion, Mr. John Hill, TDM Planner with the
Region, was on hand to facilitate this session.
Agenda items number two and three were reversed to ensure that ‘Other Business’ would be
addressed at this meeting prior to commencing the work plan.
R. Schirm shared the following announcements with the committee.
i) He received an email and phone call from S. Anderson indicating that, due to time
constraints, she is resigning from the committee effective immediately.
ii) J. Alexander is pursuing a new position and, if he is successful, will be unable to attend
meetings because he will be working in Cambridge until 5:00 p.m.
R. Schirm contacted the Clerk’s department and was informed that the criteria for this committee is to
have nine to eleven members and, therefore, could still continue with two members resigning or, the
committee could decide to fill the positions with new members. The Clerk’s department would then
advertise for new members. R. Schirm suggested deferring this item to the next meeting at which
time Mr. Alexander will have confirmation of his status in the committee.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
1.
That the minutes of the February 17, 2009 meeting be approved.
Motioned by Mr. D. Hilker
Seconded by Mr. B. Forwell
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
2
WORK PLAN
2.
Discussion took place and it was decided that the work plan will be broken down into the
following sections; Goal, Education and Promotion, Advocacy, Policy – Develop Cycling
Master Plan.
GOAL
: Make Kitchener a bike friendly city by:
1. Infrastructure Improvements
a) Signage [Number Bike Lanes and/or cycling routes]
Way finding/routing and distance signing,
o
Standardize signage – clearly marking trails and roadways to ensure continuity
o
Increase signage at trails/road facilities, i.e. paint all cycling entrances to trails
o
Identify cycle related business and destinations – restaurants, bike shops
o
Name (number) all major and/or minor trails
o
Number all major and/or minor bike lanes
o
b) Identify and Solve Safety Concerns
Identify unsafe trail crossings of major arterials
o
Identify locations where cross-walk lights are appropriate across major roadways
o
Re-design of Iron Horse Trail/rail crossing (outright dangerous)
o
Improve lighting in vulnerable areas (night-time)
o
Unsafe gates/barriers on trails (ei. Iron Horse diagonal rail crossing)
o
c) End of Trip Facilities
Partner with school boards, agencies, to install upgraded bike racks at city-shared
o
facilities.
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
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WORK PLAN – cont’d
2.
1. d) Winter Maintenance
Snow plowing of bike lanes and major trails
o
Find/promote ways to improve the visibility of existing facilities through improved
o
maintenance.
e) Maintenance
Identifying and fixing bike-unfriendly pavement, e.g. longitudinal cracks at edge of
o
road
Sewer work – replace sewers with new off-road sewer cover (this will allow safer
o
on-road bike paths – no grates)
More frequent sweeping of bike lanes.
o
f) Making Connections
Improve connectivity of existing trails
o
Identify missing links to ensure that each area of city connected by trails
o
Plan to connect trails into a ring with smaller trails connecting
o
Connect on-road facility missing links (so that one can travel from A to B all the
o
way on cycling facilities) and connect trail-to-trail (pedestrian/cyclist way)
Connect quarters of city blocked by highway or unsafe roads (expressway)
o
Connections to present facilities
o
Connect Bingeman/Walter Bean Trail from Breslau to Chicopee area
o
Complete a trail using the hydro cut from Forest Heights to Fairview Park and
o
beyond
Traffic lights – they should change for bikes
o
Due to time constraint, the following Items will require more in-depth discussion and the work
plan will be continued at the next meeting:
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
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WORK PLAN – cont’d
2.
2. Education and Promotion
a) Evaluate – cycling modal split 2% by 2015?
Increase bicycle use (commuter and trails) by 5% per year
o
b) Safety
Can bike (Public Health)
o
Increase awareness of cycling in the city
o
Conduct B-events
o
Bike festival
?
Bike workshops
?
Commuter rally
?
E-bike rally
?
3. Advocacy
Financing – establish annual cycling infrastructure budget -- Council
o
Partnerships
o
Public
o
Region & Waterloo, Cambridge
o
How cycling can increase healthy lifestyles, promote family and alternate methods of
o
transportation
4. Policy – Develop Cycling Master Plan
New cycling facilities (and trails)
o
Complete Trans-Canada Trail to Cambridge
o
Connecting on-road and off-road trails
o
Finish Forwell Trail to Walter Bean River Trail
o
Connect Walter Bean Trail from Breslau to River Trail to Chicopee area and eventually
o
to River Road and Hidden Valley
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
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WORK PLAN – cont’d
2.
4. Policy – Develop Cycling Master Plan – cont’d
Cycling network – identify trip patterns and make pedestrian/cyclist facilities
o
separate or parallel to main route
Integration of existing and future trails into a simple network
o
ADJOURNMENT
On motion of Chair, T. Kenyon, the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Ronald Schirm
Committee Administrator