BikeWalk Alexandria Meeting Minutes

[Jerry King]

Next Meeting - Monday 7 March - St Elmo's Coffee Pub
7:30 to 9


Bike Walk Alexandria
Minutes from 2/7/05 meeting at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub

In Attendance: Jerry King, Rachael Kennedy, Elizabeth
Wright, Ruth Reeder, Bruce Dwyer, Dave Levy, Tom
Reeder and Larry Grossman

Minutes from previous meeting (1/24/05) not available
for review, but were posted on the list serve on
1/27/05.

1. Meeting Dates & Place: 1st Monday of each month at
St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.

2. Assignment of Issues: Jerry discussed assigning
individuals or groups to work on specific issues. As a
small group we are limited in what we can do, and
hopefully this will maximize our efforts.

3. Association with “Bike Walk Virginia”: Tabled for
now, as Bruce will have more information by the end of
April, but he discussed the pros of Allen Muchnik’s
2/7 email encouraging the group to affiliate with
WABA. Bruce reminded us that we could also continue
our association with the City.

4. Create master meeting list: Bruce will post any
meeting or workshop dates that are emailed to him. If
nothing is received, nothing will be posted. He can be
reached at <ouibike at worldnet.att.net>

5. WWB Neighborhood Task Force Update: Jerry is
scheduled to address City Council tomorrow evening
requesting that the soccer fields be reconsidered.
 
6. City Bike & Ped Coordinator Position: Bruce
reviewed the 8 applications. Position should be filled
by Spring.

7. Web site: Both Bruce and Maitland will continue to
work and update the site.

8. Major Issues & Desires for the Committee: Rachael
took all the previous comments submitted by members
and had us divide them into groupings, with
CREDITABILITY OF THE COMMITTEE as our main objective.

A.	SAFETY FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS
Motorist & bicyclists behavior and knowledge
Overuse of trails
Safe Environment

B.	EDUCATION
Active community promotion
Marketing, outreach, publications by committee
Sponsorship of speakers, conferences, school outreach
General promotion of bike/walk issues

C.	ADVOCACY
Political pressure – what’s most effective
Activist role – support from City Council
Connection with other advocacy groups

D.	DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
Connectivity of trails
Specific trail and route needs
Implementation of Bike Plan
Redesign streets – European model – Bikes & peds
considered equal

E.	UNDERLINING PRINCIPLES
Culture/ideology
Health/wellness/environment

Discussion followed comparing the above issues with
the City’s Quality of Life Survey
<alexandriava.gov/city/amacc/survey.html> where
traffic was listed as the local issue residents are
concerned with, and how our objectives would support
the City Strategic Plan objectives under their goal
for Transportation. 

9. Bike to Work 2005, May 20: Bruce discussed having
school students attend the proclamation reading at
City Hall. Rachael will work on recruiting students.
Discussion followed that even though Tucker Elementary
is the City’s newest school, students are NOT
permitted to bike or walk to school due to safety
concerns at the intersections of Van Dorn-Edsall and
Pickett-Edsall.

10. Elizabeth Wright and Larry Grossman gave reports
on planning issues:
 
a.)	A hearing tomorrow night on outdoor dining.
Committee approves as increased outdoor dinning may
lead to the eventual closure of lower King Street to
motorized vehicles.

b.) Both Elizabeth and Larry discussed the lack of
bicycling and pedestrian amenities in the design for
the new Harris Teeter on Pickett Street. Larry pointed
out that there was no access to the Holmes Run Trail.
The committee suggested that a 10’ wide path be
proposed and authorized Larry to represent the
committee on this project. Elizabeth and Larry will
meet Thursday to prepare for their presentation to
Council.

Meeting was adjourned.


=====
J. J. King III