In Attendance: Matt Anastasi, Chuck Aronson, John Boyle, Jeff Braff, Charles Carmalt, Darren Fava, Kyle Gradinger, Russell Meddin, Ray Scheinfeld, Sarah Clark Stuart, Bob Thomas, Dennis Winters

Meeting was called to order by Russell Meddin at 6:30 PM.

Fairmount Park Status Report. Meddin introduced Darren Fava from the Fairmount Park & Recreation Department. Fava reported on the re-stripping of MLK and Kelly Drive trails. He said that the project was scheduled to go out for bids but that it might be delayed because of the City’s fiscal problems even though it is not being funded by city money.

He described where there will be marked crosswalks, lane dividers, and mile markers on light standards. There were also some recommendations to be made to the Streets Department where new markings are in the actual roadway.

Most marking will be on trail pavement because signs would just get stolen.

On another matter, Aronson said that the size of the groups using the picnic areas on MLK Drive are becoming so large that they fill up adjacent parking areas and then park in the street. Fava said he would pass along the concerns to Park officials. There might be a way to remind picnic area users of the rules when they acquire their permits.

Fava said for the Coalition to send him a letter with its recommendations for addressing the ingress and egress from the Kelly Drive parking lots. He also said he would see that the rangers were reminded of the rules regarding vehicles on MLK Drive while it is closed for recreational purposes.

Finally, Thomas asked why the MLK Drive is open to traffic on national holidays that do not coincide with the weekend. The issue will be taken up at a later date.

Click Fix. Boyle said that there was a button on the Coalition’s webpage where bike/ped hazards can be reported. He said that the report will go to the 311 city line and the Coalition will monitor results. Boyle reported that some of 311 responses leave a lot to be desired in the advice they give. Pot holes and the bike lanes on Washington Street are commonly reported.

The Coalition will write a letter requesting the Parking Authority to enforce the No Angle Parking signs on Washington Street.

Winters questioned why more tickets were not being out for parking cars too far from the curb. He said that on some narrower Center City streets, already large vehicles were a real cycling hazard when they park two feet or more from curbs. Carmalt said he had actually seen tickets for that violation.

Spruce/Pine Bike Lanes. The Coalition has had over 150 letters sent to City Council members. It is also reaching out to residents along the two streets to get them to express their support for the lanes.

Society Hill Residents Association is apparently the largest organized group opposed to the new bike lanes.

Boyle shared bike counts on Spruce and Pine at night with the group.

Old Business:

• Parking Meter Removal. Boyle and Stuart pointed out that with the removal of parking meter heads from the posts bicycles were losing their ability to park there. Boyle said that

• Airport Bike Parking. There is an unconfirmed report that Bike racks have been acquired and were to be place at locations around the Philadelphia Int’l Airport. It isn’t known where the exact locations will be but they are being planned.

• MLK Crosswalk at the Art Museum. Stuart asked about the status of the installation of a traffic light at the new crosswalk. Carmalt said he would check on it in the Streets Department.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:01 PM

Notes taken by: Dennis R. Winters, BCGP Secretary