City of Houston Bicycle Advisory Committee Education Subcommittee met Sept. 22

City of Houston Bicycle Advisory Committee Education Subcommittee met Sept. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the subcommittee:

Call to Order: Vice Chair Alejandro Perez called the meeting to order at 2:35pm.

Roll Call:

Tom Compson, Chair (A)

Alejandro Perez, Vice Chair (P)

Tracy Alexander (P)

Zion Escobar (A)

Adam J. Williams (A)

Sandra Rodriguez (A)

Com. Kristine Anthony-Miller (P)

Beth Martin (A)

Lisa Graiff (P)

Trevor Reichman (P)

Jessica Wiggins (P)

Yuhayna Mahmud (A)

Nick Hellyar (A)

Judith Villarreal (A)

Amar Mohite (A)

Mike VanDusen (P)

Ana Ramirez Huerta (A)

Nikki Knight (A)

Robin Holzer (P)

Veon McReynolds (A)

Ex-Officio Members:

Ian Hlavacek (A), Lauren Grove present

David Fields (P)

Juvenal Robles (A)

1) Chair’s Report. Vice Chair Perez gave the Chair’s Report:

• Recognition to BAC member Veon McReynolds for winning the Men’s 75-79 Scratch Race at the USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals (LINK).

• Acknowledging the BAC’s participation in the Sep 17 Park(ing) Day

• New bike shops are opening around the City and it would be good for City staff and the BAC to be involved in their pop-up events. This would be a great opportunity to educate and connect with the growing bike community.

2) Public Comment. Tabled for the end of the meeting.

• Paul Derry (email): The Utility Corridor route presented by Brian Smith is clearly an important element to the bicycle network plan. However, not shown, is a connection to the College Ct. subdivision. Are there any plans to connect the future Utility Corridor route to this subdivision? I ask, because there is an empty lot at Sunset and Community St. owned by Centerpoint which currently holds a dog park and is directly on the Union Pacific ROW and the Centerpoint ROW, this seems a logical place to make such connection. It would enhance access to the Corridor for nearly 300 homes in that neighborhood both in Houston and in West University Place. Staff reply (given after the meeting): the bikeway for the utility corridor I presented on in August is still a proposed bikeway. Proposed lanes only highlight the corridor; we would incorporate connections to neighborhoods and destinations like your subdivision during the planning and engagement process. At that time we would look at spaces like the lot at Sunset and Community, which appears to be a sound place to place a connection given the information you shared. Although it’s not high on the priority list now, it will continue to rise as we complete projects and community voices continue to uplift its importance.

• Vice Chair Perez: Vice Chair Perez has plans to host a walkability audit in the Northline area on Sep 28.

• Robin Holzer: A link to the Sidewalk Summit hosted by the City of Houston this year should be on the BAC website to help the community find out how to improve walkability and bike accessibility, and how to connect with county commissioners.

3) Brainstorm: Publicizing the new crosswalk Law (SB 1055). The subcommittee held a discussion on how to educate the public on SB 1055 (Lisa Torry Smith Act)

• Vice Chair Perez: distribute flyers in a manner similar to No Parking in the Bike Lane outreach.

• Matthew Deleon (TxDOT): TxDOT is working on a pedestrian campaign through its Houston Traffic Safety Coalition (partners include City of Houston and METRO) scheduled to launch in 2022.

• Commander Kristine Anthony Miller: using Houston Police Department social media platforms to spread the word. Currently creating content with Joe Cutrufo from BikeHouston to explain the new law. HPD currently provides routine updates whenever new laws have passed.

• Tracy Alexander: connect with bike clubs via social media and have them assist in disseminating information.

4) The CHOICES Project: Benefits of Safe Routes to School Program – Carra Moroni, Houston Health Department

• Carra Moroni presented on the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost Effectiveness Study.

a) Model that researches the most cost-effective interventions against childhood obesity

b) Interventions focused on improving nutrition and physical activity

• Safe Routes to School programming was found to provide both cost savings and health benefits to students and their families.

5) Open Forum

• Joe Cutrufo (BikeHouston):

a) BikeHouston will be offering learn to ride courses again this fall

b) BikeHouston is working with volunteers to pilot “Bike With Someone” program which will offer more advanced training in route planning and riding with auto traffic.

6) Announcements

• Next Meetings:

a) 10/27: Bicycle Advisory Committee

b) 11/17: Infrastructure Subcommittee

c) 12/15: Education Subcommittee

There being no further business brought before the Committee, Vice Chair Perez adjourned the meeting at 4:01pm

https://houstonbikeplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BAC-Education-Minutes_September-2021.pdf