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MEETING NOTES DES MOINES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) CENTRAL IOWA BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN ROUNDTABLE (ROUNDTABLE)

March 15, 2011 12:00 PM

City of Des Moines, St. Etienne Room Des Moines, Iowa

Roundtable Attendees Present:


Marco Alvarez, City of West Des Moines Andrea Chase, Natural Heritage Foundation Dana Conn, Transportation Management Association Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation Mindy Moore, City of Des Moines Butch Niebuhr, City of Perry Dennis Parker, Polk County Conservation Neil Ruddy, City of Carlisle Stefanie Toftey, DART Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee Ron Ward, City of Johnston Vern Wiley, City of Altoona

Roundtable Staff Present:


Dylan Mullenix, Senior Transportation Planner

I. Call to Order
Chair Jim Lane called the March 15, 2011, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:00 p.m., at the St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA.

II.

Introduction
Participants introduced themselves.

III.

Approval of Agenda
Participants approved the March 15, 2011, Roundtable meeting agenda.

IV.

Approval of the Roundtables February 15, 2011, Meeting Notes


Participants approved the Roundtables February 15, 2011, meeting notes.

V. (A.)

Department of Justice Trail Usage Ruling


Roundtable participants discuss the webinar held by the American Trails organization intended to provide additional information and clarification about the Department of Justices recent ruling that permits the use of power-driven mobility devices in public spaces. Andrea Chase recapped the history of the Department of Justices ruling, which was made in response to provide additional accessibility to persons with disabilities under

the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ms. Chase noted some trail managers and trail advocates are worried that the new ruling will allow any power-driven mobility devices, including even automobiles, to be used on trails. Ms Chase also noted the ruling places limits on the ability of a trail manager to inquire about ones disability status. Ms. Chase continued, noting the ruling went into effect on March 15, 2011. In order to limit the types of mobility devices allowed on trails, trail managers must complete an assessment as to why limits have been placed on the types of devices allowed. There is no set criteria on what the assessment should include, which likely will cause each jurisdiction to treat each trail a little differently. In addition, the assessments are not approved by any agency. Dennis Parker noted the ruling essentially requires an assessment to be on file in order to cite someone for using certain mobility devices on trails. If the trail manager has proof of an assessment, the burden will fall on the trail user who was cited to prove the trail managers assessment was in violation of the Department of Justices ruling. The biggest hassle will be to determine how a trail manager should document and make it known that an assessment has been completed. Discuss ensued regarding the ability to conduct assessments on a system-level basis rather than individual trail basis. Mindy Moore commented that the ruling does not just apply to trail but rather all public places. Chair lane summarized that assessments will be required by trail managers. Chair Lane asked for Roundtable members to share their assessment techniques with each other so that the assessments can be as coordinated as possible.

V. (B.)

Update Unified Bicycle Ordinance Draft


The Roundtable discussed the most recent version of the draft Unified Bicycle Ordinance. Carl Voss questioned whether the ordinance allows riding two-abreast on non-trail facilities. Mr. Voss noted the ordinance discusses riding two-abreast on trails, but does not specify whether it is allowed on streets. Mindy Moore noted she still has concerns that she raised in February. concerns include: Under Section 12- Bike Lanes o Language under (a) regarding speed in bike lanes seems to suggest someone riding at speeds at or above the speed of traffic may not use the bike lane; o Language under (a)(4) regarding a bike lane not including a marked shared lane does not make sense; These

Under Section 17 Parking o The section makes reference to prohibiting bicycle parking in areas of the public highway. Was this meant to say right-of-way?

Chair Lane asked MPO staff to share these comments with Ruth Randleman.

V. (C.)

Trails Marketing
Andrea Chase recapped the trails marketing meeting that took place in February, noting Brian Leaders from the National Parks Service discussed ways they could assist with marketing. Ms. Chase noted the most important discussion of the meeting concerned what attracts people to trails. Ms. Chase discussed having a smaller committee continue to work on the idea of promoting Iowa as the trails capital of the world. This committee would work on branding and marketing ideas and bring them back to the larger marketing committee. Carl Voss noted the Bicycle Collective continues to work on the Cycle Central Iowa maps that identify tourism trail loops. The maps will show bike trails and bike routes using low-volume county roads, as well as recreational features along the trails like restaurants and places to stay. Discussion ensued regarding the costs incurred by the Bicycle Collective to prepare the maps and potential sponsorship opportunities that could be explored with local companies such as Caseys. Chair Lane noted the marketing committee will meet again in April.

V. (D.)

Bicycle-Pedestrian Project Updates


MPO staff noted they have requested bicycle-pedestrian facility updates from the MPO and the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance member governments. These updates are starting to come in and the MPO staff should have updated maps to show the committee in April. Discussion ensued regarding the purpose of the maps. The Roundtable members explained the maps would be used to identify bike-pedestrian facilities on the ground today, those that are programmed for development in the next few years, and those that may be long-term plans but have no specific date for construction. The maps would enable the Roundtable to determine where gaps exist within the system and strategize how to fill in the gaps. Dennis Parker commented that he would find this information very useful.

VI. (A.)

Bike-and-Ride Counts
Roundtable participants reviewed the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and CyRide bike-and-ride counts for January and February 2011.

VII.

Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable


Stefanie Toftey inquired about Bike Month activities. Carl Voss responded that Bike Month organizers are working on a four to eight page layout for a future CityView explaining all of the events and containing articles about various bike-related themes, such as trail/bike lane improvements, bike etiquette, and so on. Mr. Voss also note a new event scheduled for this year is a Downtown Art and Architecture Tour. Neil Ruddy updated the Roundtable on the City of Carlisles trail project. Mr. Voss noted the B-Cycles will be put out later in the week. Mr. Voss added the City of West Des Moines has approved its Bike Master Plan.

VIII.

Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date


The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2011, at noon.

IX.

Adjournment
The February 15, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

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