CCB Steering Committee

10/26/06, OJC conference room

(Carrie, Fred, Rick, Gary, Jamie, Scot, Audrey, Jimmy, Christie, Valerie, Eric, Barry, Sue, Charlie, Brandon, Geoff Merritt)

Name: Champaign County Bikes

Oil is for sissies (already taken, can we come up with one of our own?)

Mission Statement: Promote Bicycling; Change the Culture (to be developed)

(A greater presence of bicyclists on the road will help this)

Why should people bike/bike more? Oil independence, health, energy independence; what’s the trend and can we get behind one?

Regular Meeting time: 6:30-8 – once a month; twice at the beginning with dates set of 16 Nov; 30 Nov; 14 Dec.

Meeting place: TBA, possibly the auditorium at the library? Charlie to check; alternative will be OJC unless someone else comes up with a more central location.

Discussion: With possible roles and work groups in mind, we grouped ideas by topic thinking about what the end result of our advocacy would look like. What does success look like?

Success includes these components:

Infrastructure: Physical improvements; evidence of bikes being welcome; parking

Bike signage; routes, lanes, paths (Valerie, Brandon, Barry, Scot, Jamie)

Education: (Eric, Valerie, Christie, Jimmy, Audrey)

Police enforcement of existing laws with respect to bikes

Educated bikers, law enforcement, motorists; planners and engineers

(need to change attitudes)

Grant writing and fund raising (Fred) – seek federal funds

Safe Routes to School (Cynthia Hoyle?) is a new federal program for money.

Safety efforts/issues: make bike lights and helmets accessible (Barry, Audrey)

Sustained life style activity; exercise

Safe Routes to Schools

Media relations/stuff: children’s programs; TV/Radio/Newspaper/Internet;

do demos and show people what and how to; repetition of the message; at large bike interview; develop a regular program/column? (Eric; Valerie, Christie, Jimmy, Gary)

Maps/geography/route planning – safe escapes; throttle points, Rails to Trails (Sue, Fred, Gary, Rick)

Organizational Cooperation/Relations with other bike organizations: Prairie Cycle Club; Bike Project; LIB; (Barry is doing the Bike Project, Sue is involved with others)

Events: Bike Festival that would include a whole bunch of stuff

Bike to work day; (May Bike Month); event that blocks off the roads; midnight rides;

Gearhead stuff, Tour de Bell, family bike parade

(Scot, Rick, Jamie)

Government relations – (Carrie; Brandon, Rick, Sue, Charlie, Gary)

CPD and UPD; RPC/Champaign County; Cities; University; MTD

Need to work around the Boub decision with the planners; resolve legislative/liability impediment (bikes are not intended users of the road?) (you always have liability)