Meeting Minutes 2/13/06

 

Announcements:

            Volunteer activities: 

 C-470 Task Force (need ~4-5)

 Elephant Rock road marshals (need 26)

 Trail Repair coordinator

 July 4th Bike Parking (need ~3)

(Email judy@bicycledouglascounty.org if you can help with any of these)

            Bicycle Douglas County ’06 membership dues $20 due now

            Senate bill #72 bill increases the penalty for careless driving passed the first vote                           but was amended to eliminate mandatory penalties.

 

 

Guest: Patrick Sims read letter that he wrote to all the CO legislators about his text messaging while driving that caused the death of Jim Price last Nov.

 

Guest Speakers:  Dan May, Chief Deputy District Attorney for Arapahoe & Douglas County and Douglas County Sheriff Traffic Technician Adam Cataffo

 

Discussion of when bike/car accidents occur:  how charges are determined and reconstruction of accident scene.  Primary factor in the death of Jim Price was that the young man was not paying enough attention to his driving; other factors were the position of the sun and the degree to which the bicyclists blended into the background.  Discussion of what are inappropriate activities while driving:  eating, phone, attending to children in the car, etc…  Facts of the case determine the charges; sentences take into account other factors such as past driving record and character of the driver.  Mr. May compared and contrasted:  Vehicular Homicide, Negligent (reckless) Driving and Careless Driving. 

 

If a bicyclist is a victim of aggressive driving what can the cyclists do?  Need to report to police or sheriff the exact location, time, license plate #, description of driver and car.  Need to be able to pick driver out of a line up!

 

Financial Report for BDC (handout)

 

Thunderhead Alliance: 

Dan Grunig from Bicycle Colorado gave a summary of the weekend training session that will be held in July in Denver and encourages BDC to send at least 2 members.  Cost is $250 for first member and $125 for each additional member from BDC.  We have enough funds in the account to pay for 2 members to attend.  If you are interested in attending7/14-16/06 let Judy Siel know ASAP. 

 

C-470 Environmental Report has been finalized and the next open houses to view and give input is April 4 &5th.  This will impact the C-470 bike trail when this expansion goes to an 8-lane road.