Once a month we have the pleasure of representing our constituents at the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council (MBAC) and during these meetings we talk about...well, bikes and everything bicycle related in Indy. For some time, I've been meaning to pull together the information I acquire in these meetings and make a monthly post but other projects and programs usually hijack my writing time. So, here goes what I hope to be my first reoccurring monthly article on what happens in the MBAC meetings.

Bike Parking:
The first 50 bicycle meter rings are up and are being used. We hope that we can continue to work with ParkIndy/Xerox to have more racks donated in the coming years. It should be noted that only 49 racks were installed, one is located at BGI-Downtown so that potential end-users can ask questions or get info on the racks.

Broad Ripple is working on getting several "bicycle corrals" installed around the village. Brenda Rising-Moore is driving the process with the help of Green Broad Ripple & the BRVA. The group is looking at placing on-street "bicycle corrals" at 4 locations. One will hopefully be in front of Union Jack since they did win one in a contest with Saris<http://www.saris.com/> (bike rack manufacturer). The other three locations are around the village. Also, Bambu Salon is still fundraising to help build the artistic designed, combed shaped "bicycle corral". We were told that the City has approved installation and Jennifer Barker is just working to raise funds for installation. If you would like to donate to this project you can do so on INDYCOG's site at http://www.theindycog.com/donate and choose the "Bambu Rack" option.
The Broad Ripple group is currently working with the City and ParkIndy to determine the process for removing meter parking and replacing it with the on-street "bike corrals". We'll keep you abreast of this process.

Indianapolis Bike Plan
Initial draft is completed and now the document will go out for public comment period in August or September. Once the public comment process is completed, the Indianapolis Bike Plan will be moved towards the legislative process and we will work to get it codified by the City/County Council. I don't have the time to go into much detail on the contents of the Bicycle Plan but we will post a digital copy on our site as soon as we can.

Current Bicycle Infrastructure Projects
Illinois/Capitol

Illinois to be repaved between 16th and 38th (Fall 2012)
21st to Fall Creek, elimination of unused parking & installation of buffered bike lanes
Lafayette Rd

Symbol thinning in bike lanes (i.e. bicycle symbols are extremely thick)
46th St East of Monon

Concerns by residents and cyclists about drivers cutting through bike lane in curve
Working through potential solutions
Broad Ripple Ave/62nd Street:

Multi-use trail from Keystone to Allisonville (Estimated completion- Nov 1st)
College Avenue:

Multi-Use path on east side of College between 71st and 75th
Connection to bike lanes on 75th
Arlington:

Bike lanes between Washington and 10th St. have been completed
City getting positive feedback from the residents.
West 56th Street:

Bike lanes have been installed between Guion and Cooper
Central Avenue:
This project actually eliminates the implementation of a planned bicycle lanes but INDYCOG supports DPW's decision to convert Central from 34th st to Fall Creek back to a two-way traffic. Due to the conversion, there will not be enough room for bicycle lanes but due to the drop in traffic speeds and the implementation of on-street car parking, the traffic should slow way down and allow safer movement for cyclists. As part of this project, INDYCOG and DPW will work on more and better connections across Fall Creek. Many people who ride and walk in this area, as well as the residents of the mid-north neighborhood, find that there aren't enough safe and convenient access points across Fall Creek.

Greenways/Multi-use Paths
Fall Creek - Extender from Monon to Central Ave

Plans have been turned over to the State for approval
Construction should begin later this year or Spring, 2013
Ft Harrison Extension

In design process
South White River from Indianapolis Zoo to Raymond

Construction should start later this summer
Eagle Creek Trail

The city would like to see this project moved up on the construction list.
Working on reviewing old scoping documents
Extension Monon Hours

Conversation has begun
INDYCOG is seeking 24 hour access to the trail

INDYCOG Bicycle Map

We are in final design process
We are still looking for sponsors
We did not include the old numbered bike routes due to the amount of negative feedback we received on those routes.

Bike Lane Open Houses

There will be nine in total
The city is halfway through the process
3 were completed in July

Complete Streets Ordinance

August 2nd is next Infrastructure/DPW City/County Council Committee Mtg
We expect that the language will be voted on in the next full Council Meeting on Monday, 14th.
There appears to be bipartisan support of the legislation, as well as support from DPW and the Mayor's office.
Petition-we are up to 600 signature online <http://www.theindycog.com/indycompletestreets> and several hundred hand signed

Enforcement

IMPD will have 50 bicycle officers downtown this weekend for Black Expo.
More IMPD are utilizing bicycle patrols across the city.

INDYCOG/LISC Grant

Near West is close to wrap-up
West Indy, we've completed 1st phase of meetings
Southeast, we've completed 1st phase of meetings

Data Collection for Bicycle Facilities

The bicycle specific traffic counter will be installed on the 7/26
Installation will be on Michigan Street bike lanes, east of Capitol
Manual counts need to be completed.
Bikepeddocumentation.org has reference information on this process
INDYCOG will help find volunteers for this project

Events:

IndyCrit went well.
CIBA/INDYCOG Bicycle Swap Meet (8/25)
Tweed Ride (10/27)
Striding Toward Healthy Communities, November 13th, 1-4 & November 14th, 8-4:30pm

Thanks and if you have any questions or comments on these notes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Kevin Whited
Executive Director