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D R A F T The review period is short and the State is only accepting comments until April 30th.56 Therefore, the Plan has been pre-reviewed by OUTBoard Vice-Chair, Jeff Charles, and by 57 planningstaff member Abigaile Pittman. Related documents, including Draft Plan 58 Summary, Full Draft Plan, on-line comment form, and community engagement forum 59 (survey):http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/planning/walkbikenc/60 OUTBoard Action:To receive review comments suggested by Jeff Charles and Abigaile 61 Pittman, and consider recommended comments to be provided to NCDOT62 63 Abigaile Pittmanreviewed the WalkBike NC Plan noting that WalkBike NC is North Carolina’s first statewide master 64 plan to define a vision, goals and strategies for improving walking and bicycling for residents and visitors. She 65 shared the comments from staff and Jeff Charles.66 67 Jeff Charles noted that there was a lot of work put into this plan and he thinks the OUTBoard needs to give NCDOT 68 staff kudos for doing a pretty good job. He added that he thinks it’s important to tell them the positives and say ‘oh by 69 the way’ there are other things. Jeff elaborated that they took very unique approach, a good one, in that they looked 70 at economic factors, how it would improve tourism if we became a destination state for bicycling. They talked about 71 health issues, the obesity rates of young children, we rank fifth or sixth in the nation in obesity in children. They also 72 talk about economic benefits of health, safety, savings, environmental issues, increasing the use of these things. He 73 would like to come up with a general statement applauding their efforts in highlighting the need for bicycle and 74 pedestrian for all of these good reasons with the OUTBoard and staffs comments on how it can be improved.75 76 Abigaile Pittman advised that in her researchonline, that most other states have a safe routes for seniors programs.77 78 Jeff Charles noted that in the plan there is a benchmark reporting by the alliance for biking and walking from 2012. 79 Safest states to bicycle, the safest state in the US is South Dakota, North Carolina is 44th, safest state for walking is 80 Vermont and North Carolina is 41st. We are so far behind and we have to recognize they are taking an enormous 81 step forward with this new approach. 82 83 Paul Guthrie added that he thinks the plan is deficient in one way,it doesn’t sufficiently indicate that for any of this to 84 have any major long-term significance it has to integrated with the broader picture of transportation. That is 85 especially true for this county where walking and biking will be the feeders to future transportation systems. We are 86 beginning to look at the infancy of transportation systems across the entire county. One thing we need to is can that 87 be the beginning of feeding for bus transportation, rail transportation and it doesn’t speak to that in this plan.Paul 88 referencesthe statistic of 6.7% of residents without automobiles in the report and suggested that in rural areas of the 89 county that rate is probably higher as high as 13%.90 91 Paul Guthrie suggested that the report should show examples.92 93 Jeff Charles elaborated that this is an enormous step. He noted that this is becoming a big issue in respect to 94 bicycling infrastructure because we are looking for new modes of transportation in Orange County and we are seeing 95 these scooters that can only go 30 mph in 55 mph zones and they are going to flow into the 4 foot bike lanes as 96 bailout to allow vehicles to pass them. He noted that while Segways are not going to catch on but new technology, 97 organic transit, they are 36 to 42 inches wide, so when you talk about a 4 or 5 foot lane that is a problem. He added 98 that they are also designing a truck that could carry 850 lb.loads so you could envision that being used for pizza 99 delivery or grocery delivery and meals on wheels. Jeff noted that the report cites a shift in demographics to 65 from 100 13% today to about 20% and we need to broaden the thought process forthe upright bicycles, scooters and other 101 competing technology in these four foot bike lanes we are arguing for.102 103 Abigaile Pittman added that in some communities residentstool around in golf carts.104 105 Alex Castro agreed with Jeff’s comments and staff’s comments. Alex Castro moved to approve the submitted 106 comments and the additional comments discussed at the meeting. Ted Triebel seconded the motion.107 108 4 ReturntoAgenda