BPC 01-21-09MINUTES
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BICYCLE :PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION
JE~NUARY 21, 2009
CUPERTINO
The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Armstrong, Koski, Paulsen, Walton, Wiant
Absent: None
Staff: David Stillman, Senior Civil Enginee-r
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Staff Stillman introduced, and we welcomed, Associate Civil Engineer Hannah S. Chow as the staff
member supporting the Bike and Pedestrian Commission.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS -None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. The Commission approved the 1 7 December 20(18 as submitted.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Bicycle Transportation Plan Update
Commissioner Walton stated that the endorsement of the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) Bicycle
Technical Guidelines have been postponed until the February meeting of the commission (see Future
Agenda Items below, and Commissioner Walton would provide the correct URL to access to the
guidelines)_
If endorsed, Staff Stillman will assist us with a recommendation to take the VTA Bicycle Technical
Guidelines to the City Council for adoption_
The Executive Summary and both Chapters ones and four of the Cupertino Bicycle Transportation
Plan are complete. Chapter two requires correci'ions for some bike route and notes. Chapter five,
which involves "bicycle promotion" and is owned by Commissioners Walton and Wiant, may have
promotional aspects the VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines integrated into it. Chairman Paulsen
recommended to Commissioner Koski that endnotes could replace her Appendix.
Formats endorsed by the commissioners included New Times Roman 12 pt for headings, Arial 10 pt
for table entries, and New Times Roman 14 pt bold for titles, and the APA (American Psychological
Association) Guidelines for footnotes or endnotes_
The plan will be reviewed in February with a March completion expected_
NEW BUSINESS
3. Commission Goals for 2009
Commissioner Walton stressed that more education is required as a result of the increasing number
of bicycle riders- He also noted that a closure is needed for the Pazks and Recreation Commission's
concern of insurance liability coverage for students taking bicycle training. Furthermore, he urged
the use of bike stands, donated by the VTA, throughout the community.
Commissioner Koski made four suggestions: Augment the city's Website with either links or pages
to encourage and educate bicyclists. Increase the availability of periodic resting benches along
walking routes for the elderly pedestrians, continued support for the Bike-to-Work Day and the
Traffic Safe Network, and the need for pedestrian friendly access to remote off-leash dog areas (See
New Business Item 6 below).
Chairman Paulsen stressed the need to complete our Bicycle Transportation Plan_
Commissioner Wiant urged continuance of our pursuit for a Bicycle Friendly Cornniunity status by
the League of American Bicyclists.
4. Discussion of Traffic Signal Timing
Several signal problems were discussed: the timing at Pacifica and McClellan, pedestrian timing to
cross DeAnza at Bollinger, and bicyclists' left-turns onto Stevens Creek.
Staff Stillman related the standard walk interval of 5-second minimum and a four foot/second count
down, yellow timing based on vehicular MPH, and a maximum of a 121-second wait for an all red
signal .
Chairman Paulsen countered that additional time is required by senior to cross streets without stress
to reach bus stops at intersection-
Staff Stillman recommended that the commissioners make a list of such problems. Commission
Walton moved that commissioners list of Intersection and Problems for the next meeting in
Februazy; Commissioner Koski seconded; and t1-~e motion passed unanimously.
5. Low-cost Traffic Circles
Commission Chairman, Geoff Paulsen presented a proposal for Low-Cost Traffic Circles.
What: The traffic circles are 16 feet in diameter to be constructed as shown below:
Item Features Cost E:~timate Number Needed Total Cost
3-foot bump stops With reflectors $26 17 $442
made from
recycled tires
Golden State No water needed $20/pound One pound $2p
Native Grass
Erosion Mix
~ Retrieved (25 November 2008) from West Cast Rubber Recycling, Hollister, CA_ World Wide Web:
http://www_groundrubber. com/molded.htm.
z Retrieved (8 February 2009) from Larner Seeds, Bolinas, CA. World Wide Web:
http: //www. l arnerseeds. com/-pages/nati ve_grass_seed. htm I
Item Features Cost L+'stimate Number Needed Total Cost
Valley Oak -one Fast-growing $8 One $g
gallon native, non-
invasive roots
Compost City of Cupertino $O 5 yards $0
Program
TOTAL
$470
Where: Removal of stop signs along established two-lane bike routes. Removal cost factors include:
traffic volume, utilities, street width, bus rerouting, and business shifting. Stop sign removal could
be as much as $900 in addition to the $500 of traffic circle cost.
Why: Slows traffic; saves energy for both cyclists (thus encouraging cycling)- reduced fuel
consumption by cars; and, improves aesthetics.
How: Public Works Department approves material and marks exact location for installation; the
neighbor block leader(s) coordinate, construction performed by neighbors, and inspected by the
Public Works. Neighbors water the oak tree for the first two or three years.
When: Pilot the project in the spring of 2009 after City Council approval and a policy decision from
Ralph Qualls, Director of Public Works; ongoinl~ program thereafter.
Discussion: Staff Stillman, raised the issue that such traffic circles could be a hazard for pedestrians.
Commissioner Armstrong expressed a concern for EMS and other emergency vehicles_ Staff
Stillman also mentioned that the City Council, due to an ordinance, would have to approve stop-sign
removal.
6. Pedestrian-Friendly Access to Off-Leash Areas
Commissioner Koski stated that the commission has a responsibility to recommend alternative
means for elderly dog owners to access remote off-lease areas. Furthermore, she suggested that the
recommendation should endorse a "green friendly" solution.
Chairman Paulsen recommended that the commission address the Parks and Recreation Commission
by letter that we support a green, pedestrian accessibility to remote off-leash dog areas or parks.
Paulsen, furthermore, recommended we write to the Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman,
David Greenstein, that we support pedestrian accessible off-leash dog areas or parks by green,
friendly means.
Commissioner Koski and Paulsen agreed to draft such a letter of recommendation to the Parks and
Recreation Commission. See Future Agenda Items below.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Agenda items for further discussion included:
l . Updates to the Bicycle Transformation Plan L7pdate
2. List of Intersection Problems
3. Draft of recommendation to support of Pedestrian-Friendly Access to Off-Leash Areas.
s Retrieved (8 February 2009) from Las Pilitas Nursery, Santa Margarita, CA. World Wide Web:
http://www. l aspi l itas. com/nature-of--cal i forn is/plants/q uerc us-lo bata.
4. Discussion of VTA Bike Technical Guidelines
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY.
_~
_~~-.~.L~~ _ 1~~.<_ ~_w
J m s Wiant, Commissioner