Bicycle Douglas County

11/12/07 Meeting Minutes

Announcements:

• Douglas County 1B tax measures to extend the road improvements passes.  There are no specific plans for this funding, but their ads included increased bike trails so we need to work for this with the county. 
• Douglas County is beginning their project to fill expansion cracks in the concrete roads in late Oct.
• Judy (BDC), Bike Jeffco and CDOT did a bike ride along the C-470 trail from Wadsworth east to Colorado to point out problem areas and suggestions for improvement.
• Bike Jeffco news includes news that a convenience store is planned for Phillipsburg up Deer Creek Canyon.  Bike Jeffco is looking for someone/company to sponsor a port-a-potty at this location too.

Colorado Bicycle Statutes:

Judy found a website with the CO bike laws:  http://www.swcp.com  (~nmts/laws/coloradoBikelaw).   Discussions concerning the 5^th statute concerning bicycle shall ride in the right-hand lane and the 6^th statute about riding single file. “Except that riding no more than two abreast is permitted in the following circumstances: When there is no motor vehicle traffic approaching from the rear within a distance of 300 feet and the sight distance on the roadway at the time and place and under the condition then existing is a minimum of 300 feet to the front & rear of the bicyclists; or When riding on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.  Persons riding two abreast shall ride within a single lane.”

BDC Bike Map:

Douglas County Public Works has finally hired a consultant to implement the new 2030 Master Plan including plan for a bike map.  We have talked with Robert Kenny, Engineer for Douglas County about a joint effort with BDC on this project.  He was unable to attend tonight’s meeting, but will be here at our next one and hopefully bring the contractor.  We need to find out their time-table, updating frequency, advertising and cost to do a joint project.  Discussion to decide at the next meeting is this is a go or we should continue on our solo project.

Goals for BDC ’08:

What did we accomplish in ’07?  Worked on the 2030 Comprehensive Mater Plan to have bicycling included in the transportation section, started work on our bike map; shoulder initiative for Titan Rd.-hit a roadblock, but when the area is developed and road widened to 4 lanes that includes shoulders will be built (date unknown) and successful exposure at booth at Whole Foods for Earth Day and Bike to Work.

Goals for ’08-discussion and ideas

• Bike map completion
• Increase active membership to BDC
• Service project in spring (trail cleanup or repair)
• Election forum in August
• Accomplishments in brochures.

Financial Update:

Income for ‘07:  $1,081.00 (dues and donations)

Expenses for ’07:  $313.35

Balance currently:  $1,482.04

Next meeting Feb 11^th at 7:00 PM