BACA News 2009

Join us for a celebration as we mark the end of national bike month. The Bike to Work Rally will be Friday morning, May 29th from 6:30 to 7:30 AM in the Little Rock River Market Pavilion. Not only will there be food and prizes, but we have invited many of our bicycle supporters including bike shops, cycling events, bike clubs, and restaurants to have a presence at the event. Although there will be no official group ride, groups of cyclists will gather at the Little Rock side of the Big Dam Bridge or at River Trail Rentals in North Little Rock. Both will meet at 6:15 AM. There will be no police escort.

Take the time to encourage your coworkers to join the rally as well. The company with the most riders will be the first to receive the traveling Commuter Challenge Trophy!

If you have any questions, contact Willa Williams at mean_turtle@comcast.net, or go to www.meanturtlecycling.com

BACA supporters unanimously approved a new slate of officers for 2009-2010 at the April 2, 2009 meeting. President is Coreen Frasier, Vice President is Willa Williams, Secretary is Michael Erwin, and Treasurer is Don Bearden. Claibanne Williamson and Gordon Fisher were relected to 2-year at large Board positions.

Many thanks to outgoing officers Ron Rizzardi, Steve Shepherd and Judy Lansky for their years of service and dedication to bicycle advocacy.

At the March 9, 2009, North Little Rock City Council meeting, BACA members made a presentation about Complete Streets. BACA Board member and NLR City Alderperson Charlie Hight proposed that North Little Rock adopt a complete streets policy. The Council adopted Resolution #09-43, making North Little Rock the first city in Arkansas with a formal Complete Streets policy incorporated into their Master Street Plan. The resolution can be found at http://www.northlittlerock.ar.gov/government/council%20agenda/Resolutions/R-09-43%20-%20Expressing%20the%20desire%20of%20the%20City%20of%20NLR%20to%20adopt%20a%20Complete%20Streets%20policy.pdf. It is also set out below.

Thanks Charlie and thanks North Little Rock.

RESOLUTION 09-43:

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE DESIRE OF THE CITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK TO ADOPT A “COMPLETE STREETS” POLICY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, increasing walking and bicycling offers the potential for cleaner air, improved health of the population, reduced traffic congestion, a more livable community, less reliance on fossil fuels and their foreign supply sources, and more efficient use of road space and resources; and WHEREAS, the City of North Little (“the City”) desires to advance a policy for “Complete Streets,” the term given to streets that accommodate all forms of travel (automobiles, bicycles, pedestrians, transit, and freight) in a relatively safe environment on all City streets and highways; and WHEREAS, the City adopted a Master Street Plan (Ordinance No. 7932) which proposes a network of streets and highways with design features to properly accommodate pedestrians and all types of vehicular movement, including a bicycle plan element that specifically defines proposed trails, on-street bike lanes and bike routes; and WHEREAS, the guiding principle for a Complete Streets Policy for the City is to design, operate and maintain all City streets to promote safe and convenient access for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, motor vehicle drivers, etc.) in a manner consistent with, and supportive of, the surrounding community, with improvements to include an array of facilities and amenities recognized as contributing to Complete Streets (e.g. sidewalks to the Americans With Disabilities [ADA] standards, lighting, street trees, bicycle safety improvements, public transit facilities, drainage, and like features.).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:

SECTION 1: That the City of North Little Rock supports the creation of “Complete Streets” and will implement policies and procedures in regard to the construction, reconstruction or other changes of transportation facilities on local streets and highways (including capital improvements, re-channelization projects and major maintenance) in keeping with the goals of proper accommodation of all forms of travel and in keeping with the design specification of the Master Street Plan, recognizing that all streets are different, and in each case, user needs must be balanced.

SECTION 2: That the City recognizes the importance of sidewalks and the bicycle plan to define proposed on-street lanes and separated trails as components of the street plan and will incorporate Complete Streets principles as follows: (a) A 4’ wide paved shoulder shall be included with construction of all new roadways constructed or with the resurfacing or reconstruction of a roadway without curbs when roadways traffic is greater than 1,000 vehicles per day. Paved shoulders have safety and operational advantages for all road users in addition to providing a place for bicyclists and pedestrians. (b) Sidewalks, shared use paths, street crossings (including over and under passes), pedestrian signals, signs, street furniture, transit stops, and other facilities, shall be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained so that all pedestrians, including people with disabilities, can travel safely and independently. (c) Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be established in new construction and reconstruction projects in keeping with the proposals of the Master Street Plan unless one or more of these conditions exist: (1)Bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited by law from using the roadway. In this instance, a greater effort may be necessary to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians elsewhere within the right of way or within the same transportation corridor. (2) The cost of establishing bikeways or walkways would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use. “Excessively disproportionate” is defined as exceeding twenty percent of the total cost of the transportation project. (3) Severe topographic or natural resource constraints exist that preclude expanding roadway paving without incurring excessive costs. (4) There is very low population density and scarcity of residents or other factors indicate an absence of present or future need. (d) Complete Streets principles shall not apply where extraordinary circumstances exist, such as: (1) During ordinary maintenance activities designed to keep assets in serviceable condition (e.g., mowing, cleaning, sweeping, spot repair, and resurfacing treatments, such as chip seal, sealing, or interim measures on detour traffic; (2) Where the City Council issues an exception concluding that application of Complete Street principles is inappropriate because it would be contrary to public benefits or safety; (3) Where other parallel accommodation exists; or (4) When there is the absence of present or future need.

SECTION 3: That Complete Streets may be achieved through single projects or incrementally in a series of smaller improvements or maintenance activities over a period of time, utilizing maximum financial flexibility with the intent that all sources of transportation funding opportunities will be drawn upon to implement Complete Streets.

SECTION 4: That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval. PASSED: APPROVED: Mayor Patrick H. Hays
SPONSOR: ATTEST: Alderman Charlie Hight Diane Whitbey, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM: C. Jason Carter, City Attorney
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY/b

Thunderhead Alliance for BIking and Walking, the national bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization, has awarded BACA one of its signature "winning campaigns" training grants. The training is described on the Thunderhead Alliance website, www.thunderheadalliance.org. This is a great opportunity for BACA to bring together groups and individuals interested in bicycle advocacy to plan organizing and advocacy campaigns. The training is tentatively set for October. We will provide more information as it becomes available. If you are interested in helping to organize and promtoe this event please let us know at fursecl@sbcglobal.net.