Present: Laura Asermily, Sally Burrell, Doug McCain, David Pistilli, Larry Buck, Kathy Rossier, Carl Robinson (Frog Hollow Bikes), Tim Clark, Eric Remsen, Emma Tso (VDH), Danelle Birong (ACRPC)
Introductions
Shoulder and Sidewalk Repair – Laura and Dave have been taking inventory in Middlebury including photos, especially after this last snowstorm. Snow gets piled up in shoulders and sidewalks and crosswalk entries and paths to traffic light buttons and lines and sharrows are fading due to salt. Current Exchange St Multi-use Bike/Ped Path project will be a great advancement but construction on hold until VTrans clears right of way permission documentation submitted by ACRPC's Adam Lougee (project manager). As snow melts, hoping the streets, major arteries, and Triangle Loop are street-cleaned. How can our voices be heard? What else can be done? Dave had a rough time with SB at last Selectboard Meeting. Need more people to attend town meetings to get voices heard. The goal is to concentrate on this in April.
Ideas:
- Get school-aged children to attend meetings to express their concerns.
- Can ACRPC do more/petition to towns?
- Get on town meeting agendas with a 5-10 presentation (and then it also goes in Packet). Laura & David agreed to work on this.
- Walk-Bike Council should show up as a group – more progress in numbers.
- Ask Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP) to advocate as Selectboard listens to them. (Eric will follow up on previous conversations).
- Reach out to Middlebury Downtown Improvement District Commission but they don’t meet regularly.
- Form relationships with the Road Crews. If Road Crew supports this, then SB will be behind them. This may work better in smaller towns like New Haven, Vergennes, and Bristol. Laura has sent Thank You Card and donuts in the past to Midd Public Works.
- Kathy mentioned how Vergennes operates – Volunteers from The Rec Committee jump in when sidewalks, crosswalks, etc need to be shoveled. The Committee represents issues like these with information and education to Council – this is the main conduit of communication/buy in. Sally noted this is similar to Bristol.
Road Diet Advocacy (read this and watch these) - How can we share this information to educate. Ideas: - Road crew summit? Laura suggested finding out when they meet for professional development and ask for 15-30 minute time slot to present (go to where they are already gathered rather than add to their schedule).
- Local Motion has been a great ally and has liaison to discuss at a state level. It would be ideal if it can be done at a state level for standardization.
- Send the Local Motion webinar information to town departments. Would the road crews watch it? Maybe training session.
Guided Bike Rides (read this) – Kathy stressed that this is not like her program – this is much more competitive/regimented. Doug agreed. Kathy’s program is about getting a community together. She will share details with the group.
Sally would like to start something similar in Bristol. She hopes to join Kathy’s ride to learn more. Carl has rides out of Middlebury, but still not to the level of the article. Agrees that group rides are great for community. If someone wanted to start an accessible beginner class, Carl/his business would support promoting it.
Laura has done a whole spectrum or guided rides. Also works with school-aged children teaching bike etiquette. She enjoys small “easy-breezy” rides modeled on what Local Motion has been doing. Maybe get more going in the month of May? Participants signing of waivers?
David noted having a calendar of available events/opportunities would be great. Need supporting organization for coordination (see Green Mountain Club for ideas/schedule – for comparison).
What else can we do in May?
- Laura - Discussed at the last meeting to gather people at different starting points on the triangle loop.
- Doug – in CT, there was a Bike Committee of sorts, but we have ways to go to get to that level of coordination
- Larry – Sponsorships/Partnerships of local cafes/restaurants? Pop ups for coffee and pastries at town greens? Get more info to local businesses.
- Sally – she operates more spur of the moment based on weather. She looks a few days out, makes a plan, and posts on FPF. Starting small is a great way to grow the Walk-Bike community.
- Larry agrees with starting small, and gather all phones numbers/contact information so they can be called to improve participation.
- Kathy reported that on April 30th, their Wellness Revolution program for women will kick off and that Local Motion brings bike trailer to Vergennes Elem School – in collaboration with Physical Education department at Elementary School. Families can borrow bikes after school and on weekends (sign out). An Adult Training Class is offered using the bikes. If going to cafes in large groups, call in advance. Tim Matthewson with VT Foster Bikes is a great resource in Vergennes. When she offers her group guided rides, they often do Kingsland Bay loop starting at Vergennes Elementary. Triangle loops can be too advanced, especially due to some dirt roads so pick segments for beginners. - Laura said Middlebury hosts Local Motion Bike Trailer each spring at Mary Hogan School where it's incorporated into PE classes K-5, but nothing after school and weekends. Great idea!
--Doug offered to share group ride info he developed (look for separate email)
Sally - a great way to start is FPF.
Doug - read an excerpt from the New Haven town Plan that promotes walk-bike accessibility and touts the Triangle Bike Loop. FYI – portion on Plank Road will be closed for 2-3 months for bridge repair. This needs to be communicated. Detour will be posted, but something should be added to the Walk Bike website.
Laura – brochure due for reprint.
Ideas:
- Social Media and Website postings/page on Downtown Organizations and Village Centers (Better Middlebury Partnership, Vergennes Partnership, etc) and AC Chamber of Commerce sites. Send Partnership Directors language to put on sites. Kathy will reach out to Vergennes and try to get something in the Information Booth and on the website.
- Tell everyone / cross promote
- Larry suggested getting posting on AirBnb, VRBOs sites. How? No volunteers.
- Emma noted that VDH has great resources and statistics that she will send to Laura. Great info to build a presentation.
- Laura - Middlebury has a lot of events planned. Ideal to promote a schedule of all events (see below)
- Bike Parade? “Ride of Silence” held annually and nationally mid-May (but most people like to talk when riding) –Kathy Boe doesn't want to continue the Kelly Boe Ride which was our county's version of Ride of Silence for several years departing MUHS and riding part of the Triangle Bike Loop in a slow paced 8 mile level loop guided by police. Good idea to do one since it elevates the need for better bike/ped infrastructure and motorist behavior toward reducing fatalities and can be a way to raise funds. Consider doing this next year. Lots of logistics and promotion needed.
May Is Bike Month
Sat May 3 Middlebury Bike Swap
Sun May 4 National Ride a Bike Day
Wed May 7 (or May 14) Walk & Roll to School Day (Middlebury, Vergennes, Bristol, others)
May 12-15 Bike Week
Fri May 16 Bike to Work Day
Wed May 21 Ride of Silence
Ultimately, there is a lot of energy as spring approaches. A lot of great ideas! It is ideal if everyone tries to grow this group to get more people involved.
Review and spread the word on these sites.
Local Motion: https://www.localmotion.org/ celebrating year round biking Friday Feb 14 was Winter Bike to Work Day --congrats to our hardy riders!
VBike Solutions: https://www.vbikesolutions.org/ listing 2025 incentives/rebates for e-bikes and cargo bikes and how to redeem them from Drive Electric (part of EVT)
