Hamilton Cycling Committee

Meeting Minutes for Wednesday February 1, 2006

In attendance: Daryl Bender, Chair, Al Horzelenberg, Brad Tyleman, Chris Gainham, Thom Oommen, Tarquin Adams, Greg Ellis, Bob Brown. Staff rep: Brian Applebee

Minutes taken by Bob Brown.

Business Items:

1. Toronto Bicycle Show: Staffing for the show for all three days (Friday March 3 through Sunday March 5) was reviewed. More help is needed from Committee Members for Friday and Saturday. Any volunteers who can help out are to contact Al Horzelenberg.

A revised Business Card with smaller bicycle symbol in the City Blue colour is to be created by Thom Oommen who will e-mail to committee members for approval. Thom to order through a City Approved printer.

Hi-resolution digital photos are required of various Hamilton Cycling facilities. Please e-mail to Chris Gainham. Chris will arrange for printing at a City Approved printer.

2. Anti-idling By-law: Thom informed the Committee that a proposed anti-idling By-law is being proposed and that the Cycling Committee may wish to forward support to City Council. The Committee needs to see the proposed By-law. Thom will draft a letter for consideration by the Committee at the next meeting.

3. North/South Freeway (hereinafter referred to as “N/S”) multi-use trail proposal: Marco Oddi, Senior Project Manager – Red Hill Valley Project, reviewed the proposed facilities from the South (Mud Street) end through to the North (QEW) end.

Specific items of note:

(i) Mud Street has been dead-ended at the West and East sides of the N/S. There will be a paved 3.0 meter wide path going from Mud Street immediately adjacent to the E.S. of the N/S and heading northerly to join into existing Mount Albion Road. There will be a small parking lot for vehicles dedicated from a subdivision development on the south side of Mud Street at the end of the asphalt pathway. The Committee will investigate the possibility of snow plowing of the parking lot, pathway, and Mt. Albion Road (which is proposed to be closed to motorized vehicles) down to the HSR Bus turnaround approximately 1 km north of Mud St.

(ii) Crossing of existing Linc at Arbour Road. Suggested the Committee contact Gerry Davis, Director of Capital Planning and Infrastructure regarding the possibility of a pedestrian/cycling bridge crossing in this area.

(iii) Parking Facility needed at the Bus turnaround area at the north end of the proposed Mount Albion Road closure. Committee to contact the Parks Department to investigate the possibility of such a facility or to allow on street parking.

(iv) Access point in the Hillcrest Park area (west side of the N/S south of Melvin Ave): The Committee should encourage a “wye” tie-in (just east of Talbot St.) running southerly to join into the new trail (proposed to run along the west side of the N/S and crossing at Barton/Melvin) as a good access point for the recreational trail users.

(v) Queenston Bridge: Difficult to stripe for bicycle facilities due to the “storage” lanes required for traffic exiting onto the access ramps for the N/S. Suggested to leave Queenston Bridge as a cautionary facility for cyclists.

(vi) King Street bridge is to be striped for cyclists

(vii) Crossing of QEW at north end: several items are being investigated for a bridging over the QEW to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross to join into the Waterfront trail facility. These are still in the preliminary stages.

(viii) Completion of N/S trail is slated for late 2007

4. Broad spectrum By-law amendment to exempt cyclists from turning restrictions: In support of the proposed By-law amendment, Tarquin Adams moved and Brad Tyleman seconded a motion of support from the Committee for this proposed By-law amendment to allow site specific exemptions (where it is appropriate, pending review by Traffic Operations & Maintenance staff) for cyclists from turning restrictions. Motion CARRIED.

5. Reports to City Council:

February 6 @ 9:30 A.M. Presentation recommending the extension of the Waterfront Trail from Confederation Park area easterly to the border of the Niagara Region.

March 6 @ 9:30 A.M. York Boulevard Environmental Assessment to recommend the filing of the report on Public record.

6. Transportation Master Plan (TMP): A representative from the consulting firm IBI (Brian Hollingworth) will be coming to the March meeting to discuss features of the Plan.

Daryl Bender presented a marked up City map showing recommendations for efficient cycling routes connecting various parts of the City for comments from the Committee and subsequent submission to the TMP . Daryl will e-mail a comment sheet for Committee member review regarding improved facilities for cyclists to be incorporated into the TMP. To be discussed at the next meeting.

7. Adjournment and Next Meeting: Motion to adjourn the meeting by Brad Tyleman, seconded by Tarquin Adams.

Next meeting: Wednesday March 1, 2006 @ 5:00 P.M. Room 264 City Hall