Hamilton Cycling Committee

 

Minutes of 2007-March-07 Meeting

 

 

 

In attendance:  Daryl Bender (Chair), Thom  Oommen, Rob Wazny, Greg Ellis, Brad Tyleman, Michael Donaldson, Bob Brown

 

Committee Participant:  Jordan Fysh

City Staff Representative:  Rich Shebib

Guest:  Jill Stephen, City of Hamilton

Regrets:  Al Horzelenberg, Tarquin Adams

 

Minutes taken by Bob Brown.

 

Business Items:

 

1.  Transportation Master Plan (TMP) synopsis:  Jill Stephen, Senior Project Manager, Capital Planning & Implementation for the City of Hamilton.  Jill invited comments or questions from the Committee.  She can be contacted as follows:

 jstephen@hamilton.ca     OR  (905) 546-2424  Ext. 6392

 

-TMP presented to Public Works Committee February 19, 2007

-deadline for Public input July 5, 2007

-document to be available for review and comment by Public approximately May 4, 2007

-Zoning by-law consideration:  proposal for bicycle parking at multi-unit residential buildings, institutions, businesses to be allocated on a # of bicycle parking allocations per square foot of development, shower facilities and bicycle parking facilities at businesses also proposed

-Councillors’ concerns re proposed multi-purpose trails on Hydro One corridors in rural farm country prompted the Planners to break down the proposed trail system into two categories:  Proposed and Proposed with Acquisition conditions.  Those trails requiring special condition/agreements etc will be shown on the TMP maps as dashed lines.

-ACTION ITEM:  Jill to get an estimate of what portion of the proposed multi-use trails running through rural farm areas are on “active farmlands” vis a vis “scrub lands” and advise the Cycling Committee through Rich Shebib

-ACTION ITEMS:  Jill to attempt to arrange an electronic version of only those portions of the TMP that apply to bicycling and advise the Committee through Rich Shebib if this can be done.  The Cycling Committee is hereby requested to review the TMP and comment 

-hard copies of the TMP to be available at the City Clerk’s Office approximately May 4, 2007

 

 

 

Other issues brought to the table re TMP:

-Highway #8 through Stoney Creek to the City Limits at the Region of Niagara – will there be proposed paved shoulders as this is a good bicycling route to Niagara & return

-crossings of  Highway 6 north of Highway #403 and northerly to the City Limits – are there provisions proposed for crossing Highway #6 to allow safe bicycle crossings

-ACTION ITEM:  Rich Shebib to check detail of designated bicycle lanes for the new construction across Highway #6 at York Blvd.

-ACTION ITEM:  Daryl Bender will retrieve the letter sent approximately 6 months ago pointing out several recommended bicycle routes for consideration in the TMP.  The letter is to be e-mailed by Daryl to Jill Stephen and Rich Shebib for their action

-downtown areas need more on-street bike lanes for commuter cyclists e.g. Cumberland Ave, Stinson St.

-TMP features need to consider their facilities to be multi-modal i.e. consider cyclists and pedestrians when making proposals

-the Central Escarpment (between Wentworth and West 5th) area needs some viable escarpment “crossings” for cyclists to connect to the downtown and return to the top of the escarpment

-suggested having an HSR charge of  $1 to allow cyclists to board a bicycle friendly bus from below the escarpment to the top of the escarpment and disembark

-suggested a painted (or other) separator between pedestrians and cyclists on multi-use trails

-suggested “Park and Ride” parking lots where commuters from remote areas outside of the City could take their bicycles on their autos, park the auto at a parking lot as they enter the City bounds and then ride their bicycle to their destination within the City

 -recommended removal of certain stop signs on streets which are designated as bicycle routes where there are an excess of stop signs in existence

 

 

2.  Items of Business Arising from the February 7, 2007 Committee Meeting:

 

i)  Full time Bicycle Coordinator – looks promising, but has to be ratified

 

ii)  ACTION ITEM:  Thom will follow up on contacting HSR re tickets for Committee members to attend Cycling Committee meetings

 

iii)  Capital Budget for Bicycle facilities proposed @ $300,000 for 2007

 

iv)  Bridge proposal at Arbor Rd. crossing the Linc to be incorporated in the TMP. 

            ACTION ITEM:  Rich Shebib to contact Jill Stephen re this incorporation

 

v)  Committee Membership Applications – this process will happen in the near future

 

vi)  The Hamilton Cycling Committee has been officially sanctioned and approved by City Council

 

vii)  Timelines of various projects:

            -York Blvd (Dundurn to Burlington) – Spring 2007

 

            -QEW N. Service Rd. (2 km from Confederation Park to East City Limit) – no timeline.  ACTION ITEM:  Rich Shebib to check – developers financial agreements with the City are involved

 

            -Hunter Street (Wellington to Dundurn):  this is on hold pending considerations for establishing a proposed downtown Transit Terminal

 

            -Shifting Gears Updated Report:  outline working plan to be available for next meeting for Committee review and comment – ACTION ITEM by Rich Shebib

 

Motion to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2006 Committee Meeting by Greg Ellis, seconded by Rob Wazny.  CARRIED

 

3.  Discussion Items:

 

i)  Toronto Bicycle Show feedback:

-need rural portion of Bicycle Map to be enlarged and more detailed

            -need to have summary of special events to publicize and discuss at the show (e.g. Paris to Ancaster race).  Rich Shebib can be contacted prior to next year’s show for special event information in Hamilton

            -a copy of the City’s Booth Order Form detailing what is to be supplied at the Booth is to be given to the Hamilton Committee’s set-up personnel         in case of conflict when setting up the booth prior to commencement of the show

ACTION ITEM:  Greg Ellis to summarize all comments from the show and e-mail for circulation to Committee Members

 

ii)  Burlington Canal Lift Bridge:  Hamilton and Burlington Cycling Committees desire to push for a continuous Lakeside bicycle facility on the lift bridge crossing the Canal.

ACTION ITEM:  Daryl Bender and Greg Ellis will attempt to organize a meeting with Mayor Eisenberger, Wayne Marsden and Councillor Collins to discuss this proposal and make photos available for discussion at the meeting

 

iii) TorontoNiagara Bicycle Train:  This will be a trial in 2007.  Committee wishes to see a stop in the Burlington/Aldershot/Hamilton vicinity instead of the train going non-stop from Toronto to Niagara. 

            ACTION ITEM:  Daryl Bender will compose a letter to be sent to Councillors Bratina and McCaddie recommending this train stop in the Hamilton area

 

iv)  Can-Bike:  The major concern is insurance coverage on municipal roadways for programs in Hamilton.

            ACTION ITEM:  Greg Ellis will contact a Can-Bike instructor he talked with at the Toronto Bicycle Show, Michael Trigiani, and discuss the insurance concern and see how this is addressed in other municipalities that conduct Can-Bike courses on municipal roadways

 

v)  Zoning By-law:  dealt with in Jill Stephen’s presentation above

 

vi)  Bike to Work Day:  This will happen the first week of June (possibly June 6?).  A sub-committee was struck to plan activities related to bicycling.  Sub-committee volunteers are:  Thom Oommen, Greg Ellis, Jordan Fysh and in absentia it was highly recommended Al Horzelenberg participate (experienced from last year’s event).  Committee to discuss and report back at next meeting. 

            ACTION ITEM:  Rich Shebib will check on Special Events proposed for that week vis a vis road closures which could affect the cycling to City Hall for this event

 

vii)  Cycling Map Update:  We are behind schedule in updating the map.  Next meeting is to be dedicated to this project.

            ACTION ITEM:  Rich Shebib will review Hart Solomon’s comments re the map legend etc and bring the comments to the next meeting.  Rich will also check re budgeting cost for pizza to be provided for the Map Update meeting

 

viii)  Possible lands along CNR mainline for cycling route:  Topic introduced by Rob Wazny.   ACTION ITEM:  Rob Wazny will bring additional information to the next meeting re lands that could be available along the CNR corridor for a possible bicycle route

 

ix)  Bicycle Route Brochure additions:  Greg Ellis proposed a few additions to the existing 8 routes in the present brochure.  To be discussed at next and subsequent meetings.

 

x)  Next Meeting (Map Update):   Wednesday April 4, 2007  

                                                            5:00 P.M.   Room 264

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN by Brad Tyleman, seconded by Thom Oommen