City of Edwardsville Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee met Sept. 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Edwardsville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee was held at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall located at 118 Hillsboro Avenue in Edwardsville, Illinois.
I. ROLL CALL:
Present
Jo Gibson, Chair
Susan Hume, Vice Chair
Paul Brazier
Greg Brumitt
Musonda Kapatamoyo
Emily Morrison
Jason Stacy
Steve Stuart
Breana Buncher, Staff
Cathy Hensley, Staff
Megan Riechmann
Absent
Mary Vandevord, Secretary
Danielle Adair
Stephanie Robbins
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Stacy made a motion to approve the minutes of August 2, 2023; second by Brumitt. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. OLD BUSINESS:
a) Bike/Walk Bus Discussion - Stacy provided an update on the Bike/Walk Bus program. Cathy Hensley created a website with maps, descriptions, registration, and a poster with a QR code. It was distributed at the Edwardsville Criterium and had been posted on social media several times and there seems to be a lot of interest. Paul Brazier and Jeff Manuel are guaranteed helpers on the Liberty Bike Bus Route. Jason Stacy will do Lincoln Bike Bus Route with Greg Brumitt and Steve Stuart at part or full time. The dates are September 15, 22, 29, Oct 6 with a 7:10 Departure and a 2:45 Departure.
b) Edwardsville Criterium Table at Kid Zone Follow-Up: Emily Morrison and Jason Stacy were at the table and there was a lot of interest in the Bike Bus. Morrison indicated there is a need for some additional swag to draw the kids to the table. Stacy and Morrison were able to clarify what the bike bus was as there was some confusion that there was not an actual bus involved. Flyers will go out to the Liberty and Lincoln schools in their newsletters within the next week. Megan Riechmann asked if there was consideration to contacting them within their separate Houses at each middle school and Stacy indicated there had not been contact but ideally the houses would sponsor this type of program.
c) Social Media Post Progress: Susan Hume discussed two articles that were front page of the Intelligencer that discussed BPAC's Bike Bus program and the City's social media posts on safety vitals which were led by BPAC. Hume said that Jo Gibson also sent an article from SIUE paper about SIUE being a bicycle friendly university. Overall there is good press on biking in various publications.
Gibson discussed an email from the League that indicated there are two Illinois House Bills that help slow speeds in municipalities in an effort to become more bike friendly. Another bill that was passed, Zero Fatalities Taskforce, is to address things such as processes on decreasing speed limits and recommendations on bike and pedestrian safety.
V. NEW BUSINESS:
a) Bike & Hike Sponsorship Discussion: Brumitt said sponsorship money will be needed in order to keep improve the event and keep it moving forward. This discussion moved into the Bike and Hike Event update.
b) Bike & Hike Event Update: Megan Riechmann indicated she is taking on the lead on the Bike and Hike event. Riechmann asked BPAC what their goals for the event were and wanted to discuss how the event can achieve as many potential goals as possible. Brumitt indicated that the event is a visible and fun way to put biking in the light and get people used to riding their bikes or walking downtown. Stacy indicated there were several items within the event that were separated, one of them being sustainability. Stacy said utility cycling should be encouraged for the event, not just sports/mountain biking and that there could be discounts for anything you'd buy at the market if you biked or walked there. BPAC should make connections to sustainability. Steve Stuart said there should be encouragement of biking to other event such as the DARE show, Tennis Futures, riding bikes to the High School. Riechmann said policy should be connected to the event and to find ways to have leadership to pay attention to the event. There could be some educational series that leads up to the event such as Saturday morning's commute cycling classes. Riechmann said the event should be used to advertise that BPAC is working on policy for bicycles and pedestrians. Morrison said BPAC's purpose is to help bring awareness to bicycles and pedestrians and BPAC has been doing that with the event among other things. Gibson said BPAC needs to collectively work together on common goals with other City Committees and our events need to be fun for families and everyone.
c) BPAC Membership Update: Mary Vandevord has resigned and a vacancy needs filled. Breana Buncher indicated the Mayor has received some recommendations for the vacancy. BPAC discussed Aaron Newcom, Collin Gibbons, Joel Hardman, and Justin Allen. Justin Allen is from the Cyclery and has a master's in sports psychology and runs the local NICA and is a former Marine. There was discussion of adding someone on the pedestrian side. Jason Stacy made a motion to recommend Justin Allen for BPAC member. Seconded by Greg Brumitt. All ayes, motion approved. Gibson stated that BPAC is grateful for Mary Vandevord's dedication to BPAC and what she has done for the City.
d) State of Illinois Active Transportation Plan: Gibson asked what the role the City has with IDOT's Transportation Plan and if it would carry more weight if the City addressed the response to IDOT as opposed to individual committee members. Gibson asked for a report soon on updates on projects from Public Works. Gibson stated that she would be willing to discuss with Chris Farrar the need to address the crosswalk issues. There was discussion to review the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and find objectives where it discusses signal timing. Hume said BPAC should reach out other police departments and figure out what resources were needed to be able to communicate the event better to EPD.
e) Bicycle Benefits Program: Jason Stacy made a motion to table this agenda item until the next BPAC meeting. Seconded by Steve Stuart. All ayes. Motion approved.
VI. ADJOURNMENT:
With no further business to discuss, Stacy made a motion to adjourn the meeting; second by Brumitt. Meeting adjourned.
https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09062023-3115
Alerts Sign-up