Transportation Committee Meeting
September 13, 2006, 10:00 am
HOLT 119
Present: Leslie
Deniz (University Police); Benn Davenport (AS Environmental Affairs); Steven
Weibling (AS Community Affairs); Joel Trenalone (Facilities Planning); Glennda
Morse (FMS); Ken Sator (EH&S); Dick Chamberlain (Financial Services); Jim
Jessee (APO); Lesley Curry (University Police & Parking Services); Jillian
Buckholz (Bidwell Environmental Institute); Karen Gilmet (FMS); Claudine
Franquet (TLP)
Introductions – Chief Deniz welcomed the committee members and everyone introduced
themselves, including new members.
Bike Patrol Observations – Chief Deniz reported patrol officers worked
special detail of bike patrol the first three weeks of the semester. The
officers involved reported they got positive feedback from most of the people
they encountered. They gave verbal warnings to violators who were riding
(bikes/skateboards, etc) through the inner core, and they witnessed many people
walking their bikes or carrying their skateboards through the area. Primary
objective was to educate folks, let them know what the restrictions were, where
they could ride, etc.
Dick Chamberlain suggested
having rules posted in the Orion. Jim Jessee asked if education regarding bike
riding on campus took place at Summer Orientation. Deniz reported yes; there
was also a big effort this year to get maps to all the local bike shops as well
as handing them out to all who purchased a bike license. Jillian Buckholz asked
if there was any particular area on campus where the number of people riding
where they shouldn’t be was worse than others? Deniz answered yes, probably the
location formerly known as
Claudine Franquet brought up
the importance of supporting a bicycle presence on campus especially since the
campus seems to be pro-sustainability. Deniz gave a brief history of the
Transportation Committee’s stance, reporting that biking to/from campus is
supported and that issues regarding safety for all members of campus community
were important. Joel Trenalone added he is working with the City of Chico in
and effort to ensure bike lanes along Second Street are included in the City’s
plan when building their new Transportation Center (at 2nd between
Normal and Salem). Glennda Morse also clarified that the “core” of campus has
been off-limits to bike riding for several years, but the signage was not
great, and it was through this committee that those issues were addressed and
remedied. Signs have been posted reminding people they are entering the core of
campus and that riding is prohibited. Jim Jessee reminded the committee that a
pedestrian-friendly campus is just as “green” as a bike-friendly campus.
Franquet also brought up the
subject of bike racks on campus. With the new
Bicycle Parking – Karen Gilmet shared with the committee the bicycle parking survey
results that are compiled each year. Each bike rack is visited by a FMS worker,
who counts the number of available bike stalls as well as the number of bikes
parked in each stall. The survey is done each semester, on a similar day at a
similar time. The findings are compiled and archived. A graph was attached to
the survey results Karen handed out which depicted that over the years, the
number of available stalls for bike parking exceeds (and has always exceeded)
the number of bikes parked in those stalls.
Many bicyclists continue to lock
their bikes to fences, trees, etc. in spite of the availability of bike stalls.
It was also noted that certain hot spots exist where the stalls are definitely
over crowded or full, while other areas have plenty of room. Glennda said this
is discerning, keeping in mind the campus is an arboretum also, and preserving
the vegetation on campus is important. When looking at bike parking issues
other factors they take into account are the fire code, accessibility around
bike rack areas by people in wheelchairs, emergency vehicle access, etc. It was
suggested there is an immediate need for more bike racks in front of the
library, and Glennda said she would look into this. Keep in mind the bike rack
survey for Fall semester will be completed within the next month.
Buckholz suggested some racks
in front of Kendall Hall be turned a different way in order to utilize both
sides of racks (instead of locating them up against retaining walls). Chief
Deniz suggested a group of volunteers from the committee arrange to walk
through campus looking for areas where bike racks can be moved, can be added,
or can be repaired. Volunteers included Deniz herself, Benn Davenport, Jillian
Buckholz, Claudine Franquet, and Karen Gilmet. Findings from that meeting will be reported
back at the next Transportation Committee Meeting.
Glennda Morse raised the
question of how many bike stalls should be considered for the new
Jillian Buckholz asked if it
was feasible to conduct a survey to find out how many people ride their bikes
to campus, and other issues related to parking their bikes, etc. Glennda Morse
suggested she contact Chuck Worth at the
Flex Car Program – Jillian Buckholz described a program she learned about called Flex
Car or Zip Car. She shared with the committee an article found in San Francisco
Chronicle’s August
28, 2006 issue about the Flex Car program being utilized at UC Berkeley.
She also shared information she found on Zipcar, which can be downloaded at http://www.zipcar.com. The committee
discussed the program which allows for an outside vendor such as Flex Car to
provide university communities self-service access to vehicles by the hour or
day. Jillian suggested it be a question
on the survey previously discussed: Would you use this if it were available?
Other Business – Dick Chamberlain reported that all G Parking Permits sold out on
Wednesday. He stated there are still A & B permits available. He also stated
they had to eliminate 145 permits for sale due to the 73 lost parking spaces in
the
The question was asked if
there were Car Pool parking spaces on campus. Lesley Curry confirmed there are
12. Car Poolers must already have purchased a regular parking permit, then they
can apply for a car pool permit which does not cost extra, however, the
participants must live outside of
Glenda Morse reported she
has been working with the ADA Committee regarding changes that are needed to
accessible parking spaces on campus. She said they will be working with
University Police on the matter as it has to do with permits. This was an FYI
matter only; she will let the committee know what is going on as things unfold.
The meeting was adjourned at
10:58 am.
Next Meeting: October 11 at 10:00 am in HOLT 119.