District of Columbia Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) Meeting September 7, 2011

In attendance: Ellen Jones (Ward 3, DC BAC Chair); David Alexander (Ward 3); Jameel Alsalaam (Ward 4); Jeanie Osburn (Ward 5); Heidi Goldberg(At Large Mendelson); Eric Rosenberg (At Large M. Brown); Liam Healy (Ward 6); Randall Myers (At-Large, Chairman Brown); Mike Goodnoe (DDOT); Josh Ghaffari and Laine Cidlowski (Department of Planning); David Cranor (Ward 6 resident; Washcycle); Shane Farthing (WABA); Jeremy Faust (DC Council Committee on Environment, Public Works and Transportation); Elisabeth Sherwood (Ward 2 resident) Department of Planning: Introduction of Sustainable DC: Josh Ghaffari and Laine Cidlowski of the DC Department of Planning introduced the DC Governments intention to create a plan for Sustainable DC with significant public input. The initiative, begun by Mayor Gray following the recent Conference of Mayors, intends to make DC the most sustainable city in the U.S.. Over the next several months, the Department of Planning intends to establish working groups on major thematic areas (climate and energy; water; waste; transport; the built environment (infrastructure); nature; food; the green economy) to define sustainability and to set goals. Interested residents should check www.sustainable.dc.gov. Working groups will start meeting in October.

Minutes from previous meetings: Minutes of the May 4 meeting were approved. Minutes of the July 13 meeting were approved.

Committee Meetings: Legal: Discussion of proposed anti-cyclist-harassment legislation prepared by WABA. The draft bill would facilitate cyclists who have been the victim of harassment from drivers to pursue restitution through the civil courts through allowing attorneys to recoup fees through civil suits. (Currently, even in the event of vehicular assault, criminal charges are often not brought, and the assault laws do not allow the recovery of legal fees.) A similar law has been passed in Los Angeles. The BAC voted to support WABAs proposed anti-cyclist-harassment legislation. Ellen Jones will draft a model letter that would be sent to councilmembers from BAC members. Bicycle Safety Enhancement Act. As part of the act, DC Government trucks were to have been made safer. The BAC should request the plan for vehicle improvements. The Legal committee will send a letter to the Department of Public Works to ask for the status. Bicycle Parking: The Legal committee will be submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) letter requesting the report on bicycle parking in DC government buildings. The report was completed in 2009; many buildings reportedly do not meet the requirements.

DC Bicycle Advisory Council Legislative priorities for the BAC: Complete Streets Access to buildings Bicycles option to always take the full lane.

Meeting Minutes for September 7, 2011

The legal committee agreed not to push at this time for legalization of the Idaho stop.

Facilities Committee: Northeast Livability Area: Jeanie Osborn reported on her and Mike Goodnows ride through the area, which is crossed by railroad tracks and rivers major roads (East Capital, Benning Road, Minnesota Avenue) that are difficult to cross. Construction on Benning Road has no accommodation for cyclists; the Benning Road bridge is being rebuilt with no accommodation for cyclists; Bicycle accessibility is deplorable in the newly-constructed areas. While it is comfortable to cycle within neighborhoods, it is exceedingly difficult to get anywhere. There are no plans in the Northeast Livability Study to improve bicycling. BAC will provide comments to DDOT. Next facilities meeting will be October 15 a rolling meeting for Southeast. Broad Branch Road Meeting: Ellen Jones reported that she met with Jim Sebastian (DDOT) and two members of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, during which another option for bicycles and pedestrians was proposed for Broad Branch Road: Two lanes for cars will remain; One uphill bike lane for cyclists; Sharrows for the downhill lane. Another meeting will be held in October or November.

Safety and Enforcement Committee: The next meeting of the Safety and Enforcement Committee will be held on October 4. Priorities of the committee are expected to be (i) bicycle safety and education; and (ii) problems with police enforcement of traffic safety related to bicycles. Councilman Mendelson is expected to press for additional training of police officers with respect to bicyclists. An additional council hearing on police treatment of cyclists is expected in mid-November (as a follow-up to the February (?) council hearing).

Other: The sidewalk on 15th Street NW just west of the U.S. Treasury building has been closed, and pedestrians have been using the cycletrack. DDOT is looking into a solution. Metropolitan Branch Trail: A day of service on the MBT is scheduled for Saturday, September 10.

The Meeting was Adjourned until November 2.