Orange County NC Website
266 <br />14 <br />type of cyclist. The 1993 Regional Plan tried to address everyone at the same <br />time. It mixed child cyclists and novice adult cyclists with the advanced <br />cyclists. Most of the cyclists on the Task Force are advanced cyclists. They are <br />comfortable operating in traffic except for the roads in our county because they <br />are too narrow even for advanced cyclists to be able to navigate particularly <br />when large equipment is on the road. The whole orientation of this plan is for <br />transportation and for recreational cyclists to get to those areas providing for <br />recreation. Hopefully, there will be integration between this and the Master <br />Parks and Recreation Plan. <br />McCalip reviewed the schedule of meetings and what was studied and <br />determined at each meeting. He reviewed the primary and secondary routes <br />included in the plan and how they were determined. <br />Barrows asked for more information on what the Bicycle Committee has been <br />doing since creation in 1974 and why just 28 miles of bike lanes. McCalip <br />responded that most of what goes on in the state is in urban areas. Some states <br />have completely turned bicycle routes and lanes over to the municipalities to do <br />as they wish. In North Carolina funds are available and our region has been <br />trying to dedicate STP DA funds to bicycling pedestrian paths but there have <br />been stumbling blocks with NCDOT because it is the only region that is trying <br />to do so. <br />There was discussion about who should review and comment on the Draft Plan. <br />Selkirk asked for clarification of what should be done by the Planning Board to <br />move the plan forward and keep the process moving. McCalip responded <br />giving the recommendations of the Task Force from its fifth meeting as follows: <br />1. That a permanent and formal bicycle advisory committee be formed; <br />2. Dedicate staff to support the advisory committee; <br />3. Update the 1974 Bikeways Act; <br />4. That this task force remain together until after TIP project E3606 is <br />complete ($50,000.00 that the State has programmed for Orange <br />County to develop a bicycle suitability map). <br />McCalip noted that he had asked that the funding be held until the plan was <br />completed. The suitability analysis was done in 1995. <br />Strayhorn and other Board members did not endorse a "full- time" staff person to <br />support the Bike Advisory Committee. However, they did endorse part-time <br />support to the BAC. <br />It was the consensus of the Board that the specific recommendations of the Task <br />Force be included in the recommendation to the County Commissioners. <br />MOTION: Brooks moved to accept and forward the plan to the County Commissioners <br />with the recommendations of the Bicycle Task Force with part-time staff <br />support. Seconded by Price. <br />VOTE: Unanimous. <br />