NOTICE OF MEETING Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Central Iowa Bicycle Pedestrian Roundtable (Roundtable)

) *************************** Tuesday, January 18, 2011 12:00 p.m. St. Etienne Room, Armory Building 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA *************************** TENTATIVE AGENDA I. Call to Order II. Introductions III. Approval of Agenda IV. Approval of the Roundtables December 21, 2010, Meeting Minutes ............Page 3 V. Discussion Items A. Update - Unified Bicycle Ordinance Draft........................................................ Page 9 B. Bike Tourism in Iowa ....................................................................................... Page 9 C. Letters of Support for the Partnerships Washington, D.C., Trip Projects ..... Page 10 VI. Informational Item A. Bike Iowa Month 2011 ................................................................................... Page 11 B. 2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit............................................................................. Page 13 C. Bike-Ped Connections Update ...................................................................... Page 13 VII. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee VIII. Next Roundtable Meeting Date 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, Des Moines IX. Adjournment

Altoona Ankeny Bondurant Carlisle Clive Dallas County Des Moines DART Grimes Johnston Mitchellville Norwalk Pleasant Hill Polk City Polk County Urbandale Warren County Waukee West Des Moines Windsor Heights

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

December 21, 2010 12:00 PM

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

Roundtable Attendees Present:

Marco Alvarez, City of West Des Moines Kelly Canfield, City of Clive Andrea Chase, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Dana Conn, Transportation Management Association Dustin Delvaux, City of Bondurant Joe Galloway, Des Moines Park Board Lisa Hein, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Mitch Holtz, City of Grimes/Fox Engineering Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation Mindy Moore, City of Des Moines Jim Priebe, Warren County Conservation Ruth Randleman, City of Carlisle/MAC Todd Redenius, City of Ankeny Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee Ron Ward, City of Johnston Vern Willey II, City of Altoona Carol Williams, Story County Conservation Mark Wyatt, Iowa Bicycle Coalition

Roundtable Staff Present:

Dylan Mullenix, Senior Transportation Planner

I. Call to Order
Chair Jim Lane called the December 21, 2010, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:05 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 December 21, 2010, Roundtable meeting agenda.

IV.

Approval of the Roundtables November 16, 2010, Meeting Notes

Participants approved the Roundtables November 16, 2010, meeting notes.

V. (A.)

National Parks Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

Chair Lane introduced Mark Wyatt to explain a possible way central Iowa can receive marketing assistance.

Mark Wyatt noted he had contacted the National Parks Service regarding assistance to help promote trails. The Nation Parks Service responded that they are available for up to 160 hours of technical consultation assistance in Fiscal Year 2011. After Fiscal Year 2011, an application can be made for more assistance through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program. Mr. Wyatt continued, noting he is working with the National Parks Service to develop a work plan for the project. The overarching purpose of the project is to build a tourism-type partnership for trail promotion. Part of the assistance is to define what the partnership is going to look like. The project will also identify attractors or features to promote, identify the market segments that use trails and bike routes, and determine how to measure and identify these market segments. Mr. Wyatt noted an example of a study from Cedar Rapids that shows, for example, 50% of people that visit Cedar Rapids for athletic events use the trail system. The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin recently released a report on the economic impact of bicycling in Wisconsin, noting it has a $1.5 billion impact. Some of this is due to the bike manufacturing industry in Wisconsin, but part is also through revenue generated from bicycle tours. Mr. Wyatt noted he has contacted the Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) to partner with on the project. The UNI program is the organization that recently completed an economic analysis related to RAGBRIA and, therefore, is familiar with the bike industry in Iowa. Mr. Wyatt is working with the UNI program to determine a budget, and has also provided them with the Wisconsin economic impact study to review. Andrea Chase asked whether anything is needed for the project from the Roundtable at this point. Mr. Wyatt responded that nothing is needed yet. Carl Voss questioned whether this project would change what the Bike Collective is working on related to mapping bike trails and routes. Chair Lane and Mr. Wyatt noted that this should not stop the mapping underway from continuing. Chair Lane also noted that some funds remain from the grant awarded to develop the CONNECT plan. The MPO is trying to get confirmation to use some of the remaining money to enact the CONNECT plan, which could help pay for the maps.

V. (B.)

Bike Iowa Month 2011

Chair Lane noted Tina Hadden could not be at the meeting, but noted the materials provided in the agenda packet. Carl Voss noted an invitation to sponsor Bike Month was presented to the Roundtable. Mr. Voss noted communities in the area have in the past been great at supporting Bike to Work Week and now Bike Month. Mr. Voss asked for the Roundtable members to again assist the Bike Month effort by providing the sponsorship request to their boards and councils. Chair Lane reviewed the draft itinerary for Bike Month, and reiterated Mr. Vosss request to have cities and counties consider sponsoring Bike Months again.

Mr. Voss also noted the Bike Month organizers are trying to figure out a way to have a day in each community. Organizers are willing to work with each community to figure out what this might be, whether its something related to bike safety, an ice cream social, etc. Bike Month organizers will help promote the event, but will not take over and run the event.

V. (C.)

Unified Bicycle Ordinance Draft

Ruth Randleman noted the Metropolitan Advisory Committee (MAC) indented to develop a unified bicycle ordinance for the metropolitan area so that bicyclists do not experience different rules when crossing jurisdictional lines. Mark Wyatt helped develop the ordinance and made up an analysis of bicycle provisions in each communities ordinance. This information was passed on to the City of Des Moines legal counsel, who prepared the draft ordinance at no cost. Several people have reviewed the draft and have provided comments. The draft has been sent to all of the areas city managers as well. The MAC would like to receive comments on the draft by the end of January. The MACs subcommittee will prepare a final version in the first part of February, and then will present the final to the MAC in February. Ms. Randleman continued, noting the MAC does not approve ordinances. Each community must approve their own ordinances, which might result in each community tweaking the ordinance slightly. With this particular ordinance, the MAC would like all of the individual ordinances to match as tightly as possible. Joe Galloway offered two comments on the draft ordinance. The first comment related to Section 17 regarding parking a bike. Mr. Galloway wanted to unsure people would still able to lock their bikes against a tree, rail, etc. Ms. Randleman noted discussion on that topic revolved around locking a bike to parking meters, which several cities do not want allowed. The subcommittee will continue to look at the issue. Mr. Galloway noted his second comment concerns Section 10 regarding the need for a bicyclist to ride as far to the right-hand side of the road as practical. Mr. Galloway stated that riding as far to the right makes it less likely for a vehicle to see the bicyclist, riding as far to the right makes the driver less likely to get over, and there are more potholes and other obstacles in the far-right part of the road. Mindy Moore added that the traffic skills class teaches that there are times a bicyclist should take over the lane or move to the left part of the lane, when making a left turn for example. The ordinance also does not address whether this provision applies if there are bicycle facilities, such as lanes, that are not on the right-hand side of the road. Mark Wyatt noted the wording in the draft ordinance is to be as far to the right as practicable not as possible or as practical. As practicable is the same terminology used in the state code. This terminology has been defended to mean the bicyclist has the ability to take over the road, when needed. Carl Voss asked whether the draft ordinance should address the fact that the language is in the state code.

Lisa Hein commented that as long as cities and the enforcement officials understand the rules, the language should be fine. Vern Willey noted it also depends on the bicycling culture of the community. Some communities are used to bicyclists and know to get over, while others do not. Ms. Hein noted the brake requirements in the ordinance (Section 6), and asked whether the fixed-wheel bikes are illegal per the ordnance. Mr. Wyatt noted the intent of the section is to prevent skidding by fixed-gear bikes. The ordinance may need to be amended to note the bike should have the ability to stop within a certain distance or be equipped with a brake. Ms. Moore noted she will take the draft ordinance to the Trails and Greenways Committee and to the City of Des Moines enforcement officials for comments. Ms. Randleman asked for all comments to come to her or to Candy Reingold with the Des Moines City Managers office. Mr. Willey noted that his bike has front wheel brakes, rather than rear wheel brakes, and the ordinance might want to include provisions for these bicycles, which are technically tricycles. Chair Lane noted his problem with the ordinance is the rules about riding no more than two-persons wide. Discussion ensued about elements included in some current ordinance but not included in the draft unified ordinance, including things like bike registration and provisions for bells.

V. (D.)

Roundtable Name Change Consideration

Carl Voss noted that he raised the question of changing the Roundtables name at the last meeting. Mr. Voss noted many communities use bike-walk rather than ped. Many people do not know what ped is, although they may understand what pedestrian is. Chair Lane noted that he and MPO staff developed bike-ped several years ago, adding that the term does not come from any federal regulations. Lisa Hein commented she has no preference, but that the Roundtables name is not out in the public that much. The Roundtable members themselves likely understand the term ped or pedestrian. Mindy Moore noted that Gay Wilson, at the last meeting, mentioned pedestrian also includes joggers, rollerbladers, etc., and is more all-encompassing. Discussion ensued among the Roundtable members about possible terms that might work better for the group, including active transportation. Roundtable members also commented that the group should gain something from changing the name.

Chair Lane noted the MPO would need to be consulted on any name change. He will keep the issues on the agenda for a few more meetings to allow for additional consideration.

VI.

2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit

Mark Wyatt reviewed the agenda for the 2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit, scheduled for January 28-29, 2011.

VII.

Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

Lisa Hein noted the Iowa Trail Councils Executive Director is retiring and the organization will dissolve. Joe Galloway has been appointed by the group to represent the American Discovery Trial at the national level. Ms. Hein also recognized Carl Voss and Carol Williams, who were named Iowas Trail Advocate of the Year and Iowas Trail Worker of the Year, respectively, at the recent American Trails National Symposium. Carol Williams thanked Mindy Moore for sending out the Central Iowa Trail Signage bids and specifications information.

VIII.

Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for January 18, 2011, at noon.

IX.

Adjournment
The December 21, 2010, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

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V. (A.) Update - Unified Bicycle Ordinance Draft Discussion Item The Metropolitan Advisory Committee (MAC):

Has developed a draft Unified Bicycle Ordinance for metropolitan communities to consider adopting; Presented the draft to the MAC members on December 14, 2010, for staff input; Discussed the draft ordinance at the December 21, 2010, Roundtable meeting; Requested comments from the Roundtable by the end of January 2011; and. Will review the final draft at its February 2011 meeting.

The MPO Staff: Provided the draft Unified Bicycle Ordinance in the December 21, 2010, agenda packet, and will forward any updated versions that are available to the Roundtable members. Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202.

V. (B.)

Bike Tourism in Iowa Discussion Item The MPO Staff:

Notes the Roundtable has discussed bike tourism in Iowa at previous meetings; Notes interested stakeholders held an initial brainstorming meeting in October 2010 to discuss marketing the Central Iowa Trails System; and, Notes a second meeting is anticipated in early February following the 2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit.

The National Parks Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program:

Is the community assistance arm of the National Parks Service; Supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects; and, Provides technical assistance to communities so they can conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways.
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Mark Wyatt, Iowa Bicycle Coalition:

Notes the National Parks Service is willing to provide up to 160 hours of RTCA technical consultation assistance in Fiscal Year 2011 for the Central Iowa Trails project; Notes the National Parks Service offers this assistance without the need to complete an application process for the RTCA program; Notes that the application process would be required if assistance is still needed following the use of the 160 hours of consultation assistance; and, Discussed the program at the December 21, 2010, Roundtable meeting.

Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202.

V. (C.) Letters of Support for the Partnerships Washington, D.C., Trip Projects Discussion Item The MPO Staff:

Notes the Greater Des Moines Partnership annually travels to Washington, D.C., to discuss issues of importance with central Iowas congressional delegation; Notes transportation projects, including bicycle/pedestrian-related projects, seeking federal appropriations funding are identified prior to the trip and are included as part of the Policy Book prepared for the trip; Notes members of congress require applications to be completed for projects seeking an appropriation, and that letters of support are often encouraged from the community; Notes the Roundtable, at its November 2010 meeting, identified the following trail projects as its top five priorities: 1. Principal Riverwalk City of Des Moines; 2. Central Iowa Trail Signage Des Moines Area MPO; 3. Gay Lea Wilson Trail (Ankeny to Des Moines) Polk County Conservation Board and City of Ankeny; 4. Walnut Creek Regional Park Trail Connection City of Urbandale; and, 5. Scotch Ridge Road/Iowa Highway 5 Pedestrian Improvements City of Carlisle.

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Provides below the contact information for the areas congressional delegation should any Roundtable participant wish to offer a letter of support for these projects: o Senator Charles Grassley 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510-0001 o Senator Tom Harkin 731 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510-0001 o Representative Leonard Boswell 1427 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C., 20515-0001 o Representative Tom Latham 2447 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C., 20515-0001

Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202.

VI. (A.) Bike Iowa Month 2011 Informational Item Tina Hadden:

Notes Bike Iowa Month is scheduled for May 2011; Provided a draft itinerary for Bike Iowa Month 2011 at the November Roundtable meeting; Requests feedback about how to make the event broader; and, Has provided, immediately following, the 2011 draft itinerary.

Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202.

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VI. (B.) 2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit Discussion Item The 2010 Iowa Bicycle Summit:

Is January 28-29, 2011, at the Iowa Events Center Will feature Antonio Rosell to lead the bicycle facility design workshop on Friday, January 28, 2011; Provides the following biography of Antonio Rosell: Antonio is an Urban Planner and Civil Engineer with more than fifteen years of planning and engineering experience, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Minnesota and a member of AICP, the American Institute of Certified Planners and the founder and Director of Community Design Group. Rosell provides training on bicycle and pedestrian planning topics for practicing engineers and planners, and is also a regular guest lecturer at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute, as well as a Fellow at Intermedia Arts' Institute for Community Cultural Development (ICCD);

Included, immediately following, the Iowa Bicycle Summit Workshop Guide.

Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202. VI. (C.) Bike-Ped Connections Update Discussion Item The MPO Staff:

Notes the CONNECT plan includes objectives and action items related to eliminating gaps in the existing bike-ped system; Notes some new bicycle and pedestrian projects have been or will be implemented following the CONNECT plans adoption; Would like input from the Roundtable as to which gaps identified in the CONNECT plan have been eliminated; and, Has included, immediately following, maps of the existing bike/ped system, as illustrated in the CONNECT plan.

Staff Contact: Dylan Mullenix, dmullenix@dmampo.org. (515) 334-0075, extension #202.

FY 2011 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

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IowaBicycleSummitTentativeAgenda
(AsofNovember9,2010)

Friday,January28,2011 Fridayssessionwillfocusonbicyclefacilitydesignwithaworkshoppresentedby AntonioRosell.AntonioisanUrbanPlannerandCivilEngineerwithmorethan fifteenyearsofplanningandengineeringexperience,andisalicensed ProfessionalEngineer(P.E.)intheStateofMinnesotaandamemberofAICP,the AmericanInstituteofCertifiedPlannersandthefounderandDirectorof CommunityDesignGroup.Rosellprovidestrainingonbicycleandpedestrian planningtopicsforpracticingengineersandplanners,andisalsoaregularguest lecturerattheUniversityofMinnesota'sHumphreyInstitute,aswellasaFellow atIntermediaArts'InstituteforCommunityCulturalDevelopment(ICCD). Saturday,January29,2011 Registration Welcome:MarkWyatt,IowaBicycleCoalition 8:30am10:00am Speakers:AndyClark,LeagueofAmericanBicyclists &AntonioRosell,CommunityDesignGroup 10:00am10:30am Break TrackOne TrackTwo Innovationsin Design SafeRoutestoSchool 10:30amNoon Speakers:TBA Speakers:TBA Noon1:00pm Lunch NewMarketingIdeas ImprovingBicycleSafety 1:00pm2:30pm forBicycles andUse Speakers:TBA Speakers:TBA 2:30pm3:00pm Break RideRight/RAGBRAIClubs UrbanDirt andTeamsMeeting 3:00pm5:00pm Speakers:TBA (SponsoredbyRAGBRAI) 8:00am8:30am

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Friday,January28,2011 Urban 8:30am10:00am 10:30amNoon Noon1:00pm 1:00pm2:30pm Registration BicycleFacilityWorkshop TrackOne TrackTwo BicycleFacility TrafficCalmingPolicyand Workshop Implementation Lunch BicycleFacility CongressionalHigh Workshop PriorityProject Roundtable Break BicycleFacility BicycleFriendly Workshop Communities

2:30pm3:00pm 3:00pm5:00pm

Saturday,January29,2011 Registration Speaker:AndyClark,LeagueofAmericanBicyclists 8:30am10:00am Speaker:AntonioRosell,CommunityDesignGroup 10:00am10:30am Break TrackOne TrackTwo 10:30amNoon InnovationsinDesign SafeRoutestoSchool Noon1:00pm Lunch NewMarketingIdeas ImprovingBicycleSafety 1:00pm2:30pm forBicycles andUse 2:30pm3:00pm Break RideRight/RAGBRAIClubs 3:00pm5:00pm UrbanDirt andTeamsMeeting (SponsoredbyRAGBRAI) 8:00am8:30am

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System

Map 1:Iowa CentralExisting Iowa Existing and Planned Facilities Central and Planned Facilities

BOONE STORY

DALLAS

POLK

JASPER

MADISON

WARREN

MARION

4.5

Miles 18

2008 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning organization. Please call (515) 334-0075 for permission to use.

Trail Bicycle lane Bicycle Route Planned Trail Planned Bicycle lane Planned Bicycle Route Proposed Trail

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CONNECT | 9

System

Map 2: Des Moines Metropolitan Area Existing and Planned Facilities Des Moines Metro Area Existing and Planned Facilities
BOONE STORY

JASPER POLK DALLAS

MADISON

WARREN
Trail Bicycle lane Bicycle Route Planned Trail Planned Bicycle lane Planned Bicycle Route Proposed Trail

Miles 2008 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning organization. 8 Please call (515) 334-0075 for permission to use.

10 | CONNECT

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