Bicycle Pedestrian Commission

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission is established under Municipal Code Chapter 2 22 which was lastupdated by Ordinance 2832 in 1998 The Commission consists of nine voting members one of whom is a

City Councilor and four non voting members including representatives from the Rogue ValleyTransportation District RVTD and the Community Development Public Works and Police Departments

We meet the third Thursday of each month in the Community Development Building at 51 Winburn Wayfrom 5 15 to 7 15 p m Our current voting members include City Council Liaison David ChapmanChairperson Dylan Robbins Secretary Selene Aitken Tracy Harding Arnold Bleicher Dr Paul Rostykusand David Young At present we have two vacancies and anyone interested in serving on theCommission is encouraged to apply on line at http www ashland or us

The Commission works to promote bicycling walking and other non motorized forms of transportation inAshland and presents bicycle safety programs in local elementary and middle schools We advocate for

equal opportunities to use non automotive forms of travel and to ensure the development of bicycle andpedestrian facilities into a well designed integrated transportation network for all Ashland citizens

Some of our accomplishments since last vear s update include

Car Free Dav 2005 Last September 22nd we closed a block of Oak Street in the downtown for a streetfestival to celebrate International Car Free Day We estimate attendance was in excess of 500 people

Bike Swap The Commission partnered with the Parks Recreation Department to present the annual BikeSwap at the Grove this past May Over 650 people attended and approximately 7 000 was raised tosupport bicycle related education programs

Bicvcle Friendlv Community Award The Commission sought Bicycle Friendly Community status forAshland from the League of American Bicyclists in 2004 This award is presented only to communities withremarkable commitments to bicycling and Ashland was recognized at the Bronze level This status was

renewed in 2006 and the League made a number of recommendations for improving our status to theSilver level which we will be pursuing over the next two years

Bicvcle Safety Education Proaram The Commission partnered with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance ofPortland the Ashland Traffic Safety Commission and the Parks Foundation to present bicycle safetyclasses in the middle school and elementary schools Taught in Ashland since 1999 the BTA s nationallyrecognized curriculum includes bike laws bike maintenance and fixing flat tires fitting helmets learning toscan and signal and riding skills taught through classroom activities and on road class rides Last yearthe partnership with BTA resulted in a total of 15 classes being taught in three schools and served a totalof 454 third fourth fifth and sixth grade students

Car Free Dav 2006 We re planning a Car Free Day street fair and celebration again this year on FridaySeptember 22nd One block of Oak Street will be closed from 2 00 until 8 00 p m with the event occurringfrom 3 00 to 7 00 There will be informational booths a street cafe trick riding demonstrations tours etcWe hope that the Mayor Council and audience members will join us in this car free celebration this Friday

ol

Bi9ri9ommunity

LEAGUE OFAMERICAN BICYCLISTS

161 2 K St NW Suite 800

Washington DC 20006 2850

WEBSITE www bicyclefriendlycommunity org

EMAlL bikeleague@bikeleague org

PHONE 202 822 1333

FAX 202 822 1334

June 9 2006

Derek SeversonAssistant Planner51 Winburn WayAshland OR 97520

Dear Derek Severson

As you already know the League has re designated Ashland OR a Bicycle FriendlyCommunity at the Bronze level The award is presented only to communities withremarkable commitments to bicycling You should be very proud ofthis accomplishment

I have enclosed the award and specific feedback from the League ofAmerican Bicyclistson what you can do to make Ashland OR more bicycle friendly

Your designation will be due for renewal in May of2008 At that point your communitywill be reevaluated so we urge you to make as many improvements as possible in themeantime

If you would like to order additional Bicycle Friendly Community road signs pleasecomplete the enclosed order form and return it to the League

Once again congratulations on your efforts to create acommunity that is truly bicyclefriendly

Sincerely

i5ll7Bill Nesper

Program ManagerLeague ofAmerican Bicyclists

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gTB9r gcommunitYLEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS

1612 K St NW Suite 800 I Washington DC 20006 2850

WEBSITE www bicyclefnendlycommunity org I EMAIL bikeleague@bikeleague org

PHONE 202 822 1333 I FAX 202 822 1334

Feedback on Ashland s application to be designated aBicycle Friendly Community

Ashland is well on its way to becoming a Silver level Bicycle Friendly CommunityReviewers noted that with continued improvement in some key areas the city will

quickly move up the ranks ofBicycle Friendly Communities Highlights of the city s

application included the fact that 79 ofthe community s arterial streets provided wide

shoulders or bike lanes for cyclists the Car Free day improved connectivity through the

city and SOU campus and the expansion of the Safe Routes to School program

Ashland should continue expand its education programs including Safe Routes to School

and motorist education efforts Therefore reviewers provided the following suggestionsto further promote cycling

Increasing bicycle use The City should continue to develop its commuter

encouragement and trial commute program continue to increase encouragementofbike commuting through Bike Month or Bike to Work Day programs and

encourage local employers to offer guaranteed ride home programs secure bike

parking and showers at workplaces

Olympia Washington holds a Bike Commuter Contest during Bike Month and

encourages people to participate in the month long Contest to see who can ride

the most number ofdays or miles in the month of May The growth in

participation has been stunning Olympia also offers city employees a 2 per dayincentive for commuting by bike as well as for walking riding the bus or

carpooling Each year approximately 50 to 60 of the City s 600 employeesparticipate in the Bicycle Commuter Contest Visit www climatesolutions org

for more info

Expand motorist education and Share the Road encouragement programs bycreating informational hand outs for drivers and cyclists Use valuable

information from the League s Ride Better Tips in your outreach education and

encouragement efforts See the Ride Better Tips pages at

http wwwbikel eague org resourceslbetter index php

Work on motorist education and encourage bike commuting with a Bike Month or

Bike to Work Day celebration and use of Share the Road psa s

http www bikeleague orgjprogramslbikemonthl

Expand the Safe Routes to School Program in every school In Arlington Virginiaa team visited every school in the County with representatives from DepartmentofPublic Works the Police and Schools to assess conditions for walking and

biking to each school A list ofproblems and solutions was developed measures

were identified to address problems Short tenn projects such as paintingcrosswalks weredone right away while larger construction projects are on going

0BgrigcommunitY

LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS

1612 K St NW Suite 800 I Washington DC 20006 2850

WEBSITE www bicyclefriendlycommunity org I EMAIL bikeleague@bikeleague org

PHONE 202 822 1333 I FAX 202 822 1334

http www saferoutestoschools org More funding than everbefore is availablefor both infrastructure and non infrastructure projects in the federal transportationbill SAFETEA LU among several other sources at both the federal and state

levels

Continue to expand the bicycle network and fill gaps and to connectivity