Friends of the Circle-Heights Bike Network: Meeting two minutes

Wednesday, July 23, 2003
7-8:30 p.m.
Cleveland Heights Public Library/Coventry Branch
Outside - Under the Arch

Attendees: Ryan McKenzie, Marc Lefkowitz, Mike McGraw, Chris Adams, Steve Manka, Dan Feinstein, Lee Chilcote, Julie Langan, Sally Hanley, Gretchen Jean.

Intros

Ryan reiterated the short- and long-term goals of the group, which were determined at the first meeting. The mission of the group is community improvement in the Heights and University Circle through more amenities, activities, and safe routes for bicyclists. And connecting the great destinations in the Heights and University Circle by bicycle.

The goals are as follows:

1. A wayfinding signage program
2. Identifying road hazards in the community, and a campaign to eliminate those hazards.
3. A "Ride The Heights" community-wide bicycling event
4. Feasibility studies for bike lanes, pedestrian improvements and ways to implement traffic calming on residential street routes (especially on proposed Bike Boulevards).

Ideas for achieving short-term goals:

Lee proposed that the group hold an afternoon event where small groups are assigned to survey and document hazards on a portion of the Bike Network. Ryan suggested copying the format of the Committee for Public Art (now Cleveland Public Art) "Street walker" event, where people participated in a walking survey of downtown Cleveland streets. Groups of 2-3 people were given an amenities scorecard (noting the presence of benches, lighting, etc.) and asked to evaluate their walking experience on a series of blocks.

Similarly, the Friends group could develop a scorecard and assign small groups to evaluate segments of the Circle-Heights Bike Network. Groups would ride their segment, then turn in their results and join in a post-survey party. Volunteers would then format the results into an overall report, and follow up with appropriate city staff to get the hazards eliminated.

Julie offered to cross-market the event with FutureHeights and suggested collaborating with Coventry Road's end of construction/reopening celebration scheduled for Sept. 5-7. The group agreed that the event should take place on Saturday, Sept. 6 (from 2-4 p.m.) and meet at the Coventry Elementary parking lot. The planning for our event will occur at the next Friends meeting.

*Note: The Coventry Road celebration organizers have since invited the Friends group to participate in the weekend activities and to publicize our event on its promotional materials. Marc will write a press release for the event and for FutureHeights. Steve agreed to be point person on this project (planning the route, coordinating the scorecard, etc). The tentative name for our event is The Rolling Block Party.

Ideas for long-term goals

a. Circle-Heights Bike Network wayfinding signsRyan reiterated that he had a discussion with a Cleveland Institute of Art professor regarding assistance with the graphic design of wayfinding signage, possibly as a class project/ design competition this fall. The Friends group could partner with CIA to host this competition, and provide specifications to the students (required sign sizes, fonts, etc.).

The city of Cleveland Heights has expressed willingness to have its sign department fabricate signs with the winning design. Dan commented that if we can get a design done by the end of December, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights might have a little bit left in their budget for project expenses. With volunteer diligence and a little luck, the wayfinding signage could be in place by next spring. Marc agreed to be point person on this project (follow up with the professor and the cities).

b. A second longer term project is a "Ride the Heights" group ride and celebration. At the last meeting Neil and Arlene Bognar of B&K Bicycles expressed interest in co-sponsoring such an event. The group agreed that the hazard survey event should be this year's 'event' focus, while a community ride next year can celebrate the elimination of hazards and the addition of wayfinding signage. Ryan will ask Neil if he would like to be the point person for this project.

c. The third longer term project that the Friends group should discuss is advocacy for traffic engineering/feasibility studies regarding problem intersections and the addition of bike lanes on Lee and Chagrin roads, Coventry, Euclid Heights Blvd., etc. The Friends group might propose lumping all study needs into a single multi-community proposal, and then assist the partnering municipalities with grantseeking, organizing community meetings, traffic counts, etc.

Conclusion

The group agreed to meet again on Thursday, August 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Mac's Bacs bookstore on Coventry Road (with an optional trip afterwards to the Feast in Little Italy). The focus of the meeting will be planning the hazard/survey event. For more information, or call 216-961-5020.

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