Hamilton Cycling Committee Meeting Minutes

December 6, 2006

Members Attendance:

Daryl Bender, Thom Oommen, Al Horzelenberg, Greg Ellis, Rob Wazny, Bob Brown, Rich Shebib

Committee Participants Attendance:

Steve Begley

Regrets:

Matt Thompson, Michael Donaldson, Tarquin Adams

1. Minutes of previous meeting. Motion by Al Horzelenberg seconded by Thom Oommen

2. Matters Arising from minutes

Rich Shebib presented a map of the Red Hill Expressway and Mount Albion Road. Al suggested that the bollards should be removable to allow for ploughing in winter.
Maps were a little unclear about cycling connections along the expressway. Action: Bob Brown will do some recon and report at next meeting.
Members wanted to understand the connection at Lawrence, King, Expressway and Mount Albion would work for cyclists. Action: Rich to provide maps with cycling connections to clarify this question
Rich reported about the cycling signage around the Lift Bridge. City will provide signs on the Hamilton side.

3. James Street Bike Racks

Approximately 10 racks were requested by a community group for installation along James Street North. Rich was advised to meet with the neighbourhood rep and a member of the committee to plan out locations. He was strongly encouraged by the committee to make every effort to arrange a timely installation and to exceed the 10 racks demanded. Action: Rich to arrange for installation this spring.

4. Parking passes, HSR passes, room locations

Parking passes were distributed to those in attendance. Members are reminded that parking passes are only for the second level of the City Hall parking lot. Of course all members are encouraged to bike to meetings where possible. Room 264 is booked for the next year of meetings. Action: Rich to ask Ida Behoui in the Clerks Department about HSR passes/tickets for committee members who travel by bus as other committees receive tickets (Gas Tax Taskforce).

5. Cycling maps, routes inventory

There are currently 5,750 maps with Rich. There are 0 HCC cycling routes guides. Action: Rich to order 3,000 cycling route guides. If it works with this year’s budget, he should order them so that we use the money available to us through the 2006 budget.

6. Tourism Hamilton and maps

Al suggested that Tourism Hamilton should cover the costs of Hamilton cycling and trail maps as it falls under their mandate to promote Hamilton. Daryl responded that if this happened they might not produce as many maps. He stated that it’s important to support Tourism Hamilton with maps because they don’t have a bottomless budget.

This item is deferred to the New Year.

7. Street index on maps

Al suggested that we might want to include a street index on our cycling maps as a way of offsetting costs (did I get that right Al). Some members were concerned that the maps were already quite full and that might mean enlarging the map.

This item is deferred to the New Year.

8. New student condos near McMaster

There is a new condo development currently under construction on the site of the old CNIB in west Hamilton. Daryl suggested that given that many students will be cycling between this new development and McMaster that they should be spared Main Street as much as possible. Daryl suggested a paved cycle path under the hydro towers connecting the building to Saunders without the need for cyclists to brave Main Street. Action: Daryl is drafting a letter on behalf of the committee and will work with Rich to figure out land ownership in the area.

9. Bike racks on buses

City council has officially endorsed bike racks on HSR buses. However Daryl reminded the committee that we need to be persistent and mindful of the budget deliberations soon to be underway. Steve suggested an intriguing plan for specific bike stops (i.e. you can only put your bike on a bus bike rack at certain stops like Gore Park, Concession, Fennell etc). Action: Steve shouldn’t forget this great idea.

10. Cycling Staff Person

Rich stated that Public Works has budgeted for a FT cycling staff person. Action: Rich will confirm details by email. Committee discussed sending a thank you to Scott Stewart and other big-shots at Public Works thanking them for this investment. A decision will be made after Rich’s email.

This item is deferred to the New Year.

11. Designated Committee?

A question was raised that the HCC is not a recognized city committee. This may explain why there is no councillor representation on the committee. Action: Rich to check into this through the Clerks Department.

12. TORs

Al sent out the final TORs for consideration November 25. Bob noted some spelling and grammatical errors. Bob was also concerned about the fate of the committee if members were to resign after two consecutive terms. Action: The Selection Sub-Committee will bear these facts in mind but most members assumed that a mass forced resignation would not take place. Action: Rich to report to Ida about our new TORs which may need council approval. Action: Al to send updated TORs to committee and Rich.

13. Council Liaison

Committee decided that the vice all will take on the role of being a council liaison where appropriate. There will be no specific council liaison drawn from the membership.

14. Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs)

Rob Wazny raised the issue of PABs given that the Ontario Government has now approved them as bicycles in the province. A long discussion ensued about whether the HCC should support bikes that could go quite fast speeds possibly endangering riders and “normal” cyclists. Al presented a motion: “That the HCC includes PABs as part of our cycling network provided they operate according to the existing road and trail regulations”. Seconded by Rob Wazny. Members voted 3-1 in favour of this motion (RW, AH, TO in favour, BB opposed).

15. Project Updates

York Blvd: no updates. Action: Rich will look into providing information on EA at next meeting.
Hunter. Action: Rich to report at next meeting.
South Service Road. Action: Rich to report at next meeting.
York Road, Dundas. Rich reported that no road expansion is planned and cycling lanes are being considered.
Waterdown. Al proposed again that Snake Road be the connection between Waterdown and the RBG.
North End Transportation Plan. PIC Thursday December 7 6-8pm at Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre. There is a proposal to include bike lanes on Burlington Street from Wellington to Bay to slow traffic.

15. Innovation Park

Daryl has been advocating on behalf of the HCC given that our comments don’t seem to have been considered differently from public comment. Daryl also reiterated his support for Chatham Street as a perfect cycling route to the Innovation Park.

16. Financial Statements

Action: Bob to bring our account’s information and Rich to bring the other accounts’ information to the next meeting.

17. Selection Subcommittee

Thom reminded the committee that we still haven’t struck the Selection Subcommittee to consider the new HCC. In addition to the chair, Daryl and the city’s rep, Rich, Thom was unanimously elected to be the other member from the committee’s membership. Action: The subcommittee will convene and set a course for appointing new members. Until then the committee continues to meet as usual and remains in its current form.

18. Steve Begley’s Cool School Cycling Initiative

Steve works at the SAGE school in Hamilton and is working with his students to teach safe cycling and bike maintenance. Unfortunately Daryl had to speak on behalf of Steve as he had to leave. Steve is looking for ideas to distribute excess bikes resurrected by his students. Bob (I think?) suggested Jimmy Lomax who runs a Christmas gift drive.

This item is deferred to the New Year.

19. Volunteer recognition

HCC members are reminded of the Volunteer Recognition evening to be held on Wednesday December 13 from 4-6 in room 264 at City Hall.

20. Website

Action: Members are asked to review the website as well as the city’s cycling website for the next meeting. Think about what needs to be updated or removed.

This item is deferred to the New Year.

21. Motion to adjourn (where’s Tarquin?) by Al and seconded by Thom.

Next Meeting: Wednesday January 3, 2006, 5pm, City Hall room 264.