Lawrence Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting

City of Lawrence

Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee

September 16, 2014 Minutes -Excerpt

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Lisa Hallberg, Erin Paden, Bill Anderson, Justin Eddings, Jacki Becker, David Hamby
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Dan Ashley,
STAFF PRESENT:	Jessica Mortinger, David Cronin, Todd Girdler
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Rod Hernandez, Will Penner, Hank Cavagnaro, John Thornburg

3. Discussion Item: Lawrence Public Library Bicycle Parking

Jessica Mortinger shared the approved site plan’s bicycle parking and the proposed marked up site plan. Ms. Mortinger noted that she has received emails and inquiry about inadequate bicycle parking from a few members of the public. Lisa Hallberg mentioned that she had met with the architects during the design planning for the library and provided comments about bicycle parking at the library.

John Thornburg asked to address the members; he indicated that he requested this item to be considered by the BAC on the agenda. He attended the meeting to express his concerns about the bicycle parking situation, which includes: safety of the location of the parking spaces; lack of public input in the process and public review of the requested changes; lack of response from the planning department; location of the current spaces is for the parking garage and not the library, so he prefers the spaces be installed near the library door; where are the indoor staff bicycle parking spaces in the library that were advertised in the brochure; and how will the bicycle parking spaces accommodate bicycles for limited mobility users (for example: adult tricycles and modified recumbent bikes with three wheels).

The BAC asked what the previous library had to accommodate bicycle parking. Jessica Mortinger shared the Bicycle Parking in Downtown Lawrence Inventory. BAC members expressed concern because the old library design had 41 spaces (as included in the 2010 Bicycle Parking Inventory) and the new Library doesn’t even have that number of spaces. They felt that there hasn’t been adequate bike parking since Day 1 when the new library opened and that there is a greater demand now and there should be far more available spaces.

Jessica Mortinger presented the proposed revisions to the bicycle parking locations. She indicated that it was proposed to remove the parking near the library entry. The library is proposing to move 5 of those racks (10 spaces) now installed near the parking garage entrance to the Kentucky side of the building under the overhang for staff parking. The Library has stated that buying more bike racks is not in their plans now, however it was the idea that the Library/City could in the future add bicycle parking ovals to the meters on the curbside. It isn’t clear who would be responsible for funding this bicycle parking addition or when it might happen. The BAC members agreed that there is not enough bike parking places at the library now and that some of those spaces are not in the best spots for cyclists, especially child cyclists, to use.

Lisa Hallberg indicated that ovals on the meters won’t add as much capacity since the poles are so close to the curb; bicyclists will only be able to park on the sidewalk side and rarely on the side next to parked cars. Erin Paden indicated that there is conflicting messages about Bicycle Parking in the signs posted in the garage. She also said bicycle parking is a cost effective way to maximize the expensive parking for automobiles inside the garage and the demand exceeds the available capacity in the existing bicycle parking. Bill Anderson indicated when he has visited the library he has taken his bike into the foyer. Other BAC members have seen the public do this also.

Lisa Hallberg indicated that if this is not addressed, the space will be more cluttered when bicyclists have to resort to light poles and trees to find safe places to secure their bicycles and possibly use the railing between the garage and the buildings when installed. BAC members agreed that there are several issues with the bike parking at the library. Justin Eddings asked if the Library could reconsider their landscaping plan and use any of the space between the doors and 7^th street for bike parking. BAC members agreed that there could be an alternative that added more parking without interfering with the reading garden.

David Hamby made a motion to recommend the library install both the bicycle parking by the doors as initially proposed on the site plan and the additional ones(5 racks (10 spaces) added to the existing parking in front of the garage and 5 racks (10 spaces) for staff on Kentucky street under the overhang) proposed on the revised drawing. The recommendation indicated the library/city should also provide additional bicycle parking spaces in the garage where space permits. The motion was seconded by Lisa Hallberg and passed unanimously.