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D R A F T Therefore, the Plan has been pre-reviewed by OUTBoard Vice-Chair, Jeff Charles, and by 56 planningstaff member Abigaile Pittman. Related documents, including Draft Plan 57 Summary, Full Draft Plan, on-line comment form, and community engagement forum 58 (survey):http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/planning/walkbikenc/59 OUTBoard Action:To receive review comments suggested by Jeff Charles and Abigaile 60 Pittman, and consider recommended comments to be provided to NCDOT61 62 Abigaile Pittmanreviewed the WalkBike NC Plan noting that WalkBike NC is North Carolina’s first statewide master 63 plan to define a vision, goals and strategies for improving walking and bicycling for residents and visitors. She 64 shared the comments from staff and Jeff Charles.65 66 Jeff Charles noted that there was a lot of work put into this plan and he thinks the OUTBoard needs to give NCDOT 67 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 68 the way’ there are other things. Jeff elaborated that they took very unique approach, a good one, in that they looked 69 at economic factors, how it would improve tourism if we became a destination state for bicycling. They talked about 70 health issues, the obesity rates of young children, we rank fifth or sixth in the nation in obesity in children. They also 71 talk about economic benefits of health, safety, savings, environmental issues, increasing the use of these things. He 72 would like to come up with a general statement applauding their efforts in highlighting the need for bicycle and 73 pedestrian for all of these good reasons with the OUTBoard and staffs comments on how it can be improved.74 75 Abigaile Pittman advised that in her researchonline, that most other states have a safe routes for seniors programs.76 77 Jeff Charles noted that in the plan there is a benchmark reporting by the alliance for biking and walking from 2012. 78 Safest states to bicycle, the safest state in the US is South Dakota, North Carolina is 44th, safest state for walking is 79 Vermont and North Carolina is 41st. We are so far behind and we have to recognize they are taking an enormous 80 step forward with this new approach. 81 82 Paul Guthrie added that he thinks the plan is deficient in one way,it doesn’t sufficiently indicate that for any of this to 83 have any major long-term significance it has to integrated with the broader picture of transportation. That is 84 especially true for this county where walking and biking will be the feeders to future transportation systems. We are 85 beginning to look at the infancy of transportation systems across the entire county. One thing we can do now is to 86 beginbuilding afunding systemfor busand railtransportation.Paul references the statistic of 6.7% of residents 87 without automobiles in the report and suggested that in rural areas of the county that rate is probably higher as high 88 as 13%.89 90 Paul Guthrie suggested that the report should show examples.91 92 Jeff Charles elaborated that this is an enormous step. He noted that this is becoming a big issue in respect to 93 bicycling infrastructure because we are looking for new modes of transportation in Orange County and we are seeing 94 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 95 bailout to allow vehicles to pass them. He noted that while Segways are not going to catch on but new technology, 96 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 97 that they are also designing a truck that could carry 850 lb.loads so you could envision that being used for pizza 98 delivery or grocery delivery and meals on wheels. Jeff noted that the report cites a shift in demographics to 65 from 99 13% today to about 20% and we need to broaden the thought process forthe upright bicycles, scooters and other 100 competing technology in these four foot bike lanes we are arguing for.101 102 Abigaile Pittman added that in some communities residentstool around in golf carts.103 104 Alex Castro agreed with Jeff’s comments and staff’s comments. Alex Castro moved to approve the submitted 105 comments and the additional comments discussed at the meeting. Ted Triebel seconded the motion.106 107 Ted Triebel added that his thoughts run parallel with Alex’s and he was happy to see the work staff and Jeff did and 108 commended both. He particularly agrees with comment number 6 as going to the critical core to keep in mind going 109 forward.110 4