Salem Bike Path Committee
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A rescheduled meeting of the Salem Bike Path Committee was held on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM in Meeting Room 313 at City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street.
Members Present: Chairman Dan Shuman, Ernest DeMaio, Brad Sandler, Bruce Mabbott, Will Peck, Dan Cooper, and David Bowie. Also Present: Frank Taormina, Planner/Harbor Coordinator
Members Absent: David Hallowes and Jeff Bellin
Public in Attendance: none
Chairman Shuman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. He acknowledged those members absent and present for the record.
Chairman Shuman asked if there were any comments or edits with respect to the March 13, 2013 Meeting Minutes. There none being, Chairman Shuman asked for a motion to approve. Motion was made by D. Bowie, seconded by B. Mabbott, and approved unanimously.
Chairman Shuman welcomed those in attendance and asked if there were any other public comments at this time, there being none he moved onto the next agenda item.
Distribution of the Salem Bike Safety Brochure
Chairman Shuman opened the item and turned the floor over to F. Taormina.
F. Taormina stated the brochure is completed and a version has been translated into Spanish as well. He mentioned that he got approval from the Superintendent’s Office to distribute the brochure to elementary and middle school students, which total 2,638 students, 10% of which are Spanish speaking. He asked the Committee how many total brochures should be made in English and in Spanish.
Discussion ensued about the total prints with various amounts in English and Spanish.
E. DeMaio suggested that 5,000 total be made, perhaps 4,000 in English and 1,000 in Spanish.
D. Bowie made a motion to have 5,000 total brochure printed: 4,000 in English and 1,000 in Spanish. Seconded by E. DeMaio and approved unanimously.
Old/New Business
Lafayette Street Bike Lane Extension Update
Chairman Shuman opened up the item and turned the floor over to F. Taormina.
F. Taormina informed the Committee that the bike lane will be striped likely after Memorial Day Weekend and before June 30th. He stated that once the work is completed then the Salem Bike Routes Map will be accurate and complete and can be distributed and disseminated.
Chairman Shuman stated that the Mayor is planning to have a Bike Share Station added at the Salem Ferry Pier on Blaney Street. F. Taormina stated that the City Energy Manager who manages the Bike Share Program informed him that the Mayor wanted to expand the Bike Share Program to the Salem Ferry Pier. Provided that Mayor’s budget is approved, he will start procuring bikes and bike racks to facilitate the new bike share station, and it will likely be up and running by or before October of this year. He stated that if that is the case, perhaps the Committee should hold off on releasing the maps and add the bike share logo at the Salem Ferry Pier.
E. DeMaio stated that there are not bike route leading to or from the Salem Ferry Pier. It may be irresponsible to add the logo with no recommended routes identified on the map. He stated that bikes leaving the Salem Ferry Pier will likely travel down Derby Street against one way traffic in order to get downtown.
B. Mabbott stated that bikes need to follow traffic laws and should not be riding against traffic unless a contra-flow bike lane is created. Discussion ensued.
F. Taormina stated that there are no funds to stripe bike sharrows or a bike lane to and from the site, but perhaps we could install some bike route signs that directly them to travel with traffic and back to the bike route identified on the map. Discussion ensued.
B. Sandler made a motion to have two bike route signs fabricated and installed directing bike traffic to go right onto Derby Street (with traffic) and left onto Webb Street, which will reconnect them onto the bike route, shown on the Salem Bike Routes Map.
The Committee then discussed when to release the already completed and printed Salem Bike Routes Map.
D. Bowie made a motion to have the electronic version of the Salem Bike Routes Map uploaded onto the City Website now and then distribute the hardcopy maps once the bike lane on Lafayette Street is completed. Seconded by B. Sandler and approved unanimous.
Chairman Shuman asked if there was any more old/new business to discuss tonight.
F. Taormina stated that he is having a centerline added onto the Peter Tracy Walkway/Bike Path so that it is consistent with the connecting Bypass Road Bike Path crossing Bridge Street. The Committee thought that was a great idea and look forward to seeing that completed.
F. Taormina also stated that there are no bike route signs on the Peter Tracy Walkway/Bike Path or on the Bypass Road Bike Path or on Bridge Street heading to and from the Beverly/Salem Bridge. He suggested that at the next meeting the Committee look at ways of signing that portion of the route. The Committee agreed that that was a good idea.
Chairman Shuman asked if the Committee would be interested in hosting a bike rodeo at one or more of the public schools. Discussion ensued. The committee agreed to discuss further at the next meeting.
Chairman Shuman asked if there was any more old/new business to discuss tonight.
D. Cooper asked if the Committee would be interested in inviting Kurt Maw, head of the Salem Witch’s Cup Bike Race, to the next meeting. The committee agreed and F. Taormina asked if Curt would be available for the next meeting on June 12th. D. Cooper stated that he already confirmed that he would be available to meet with us at the next meeting. F. Taormina said that he will add him to the June meeting agenda.
D. Cooper also asked if the committee would be interested in organizing a Bike Summit in Salem with the neighboring communities, bike shops, bike organizations, North Shore TMA, etc. Discussion ensued.
F. Taormina stated that he would recommend that the Committee reach out to MassBike or some bike organization to take the lead on this, as an event of this nature is too involved for the Committee to take on itself, as they only meet once a month.
D. Cooper clarified that that what he meant, he was just wondering if the Committee would be interested in helping to organize such an event and try and host it in Salem.
D. Cooper asked if the Committee is interested that they should start planning for the event now, for 2014. The Committee agreed to discuss further at their July meeting.
Chairman Shuman asked if there was any more old/new business to discuss tonight.
E. DeMaio asked if Frank could provide the Committee with a calendar of relevant events that the Committee could consider attending and/or participating in. F. Taormina stated that he would look into that and provide that to the Committee at the next meeting.
Chairman Shuman asked if there were any more old/new items, there being none, he asked for a motion to adjourn. D. Bowie makes that motion, seconded by E. DeMaio and approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Frank Taormina,
Planner/Harbor Coordinator
Minutes approved by the Salem Bike Path Committee at their June 12, 2013 Meeting
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