­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­by Kasia Nikhamina ­

Dear Brooklyn Committee, ­

I’m sorry I missed you all at the meeting on Thursday, July 30th. I heard from Paco that it was nice and low key but that you talked about some fun upcoming events, but also touched base on a few important issues. I hope the following minutes are helpful even though the info is secondhand! I have tried to include useful links as opposed to throwing all the information into this email.

A big welcome to those of you who joined us for the first time - hope to see you at future meetings and/or events! I’ve attached a flyer with our upcoming events, please share it with your friends! ­ 

As always, if I missed anything, please let me know at kasia.krolowa(at)gmail.com

1. CHAIR REMARKS

We decided to skip our monthly ride in July because the summer has been so jam-packed with events, but we wil have multiple rides in August, at Summer Streets - see below. There are a few more opportunities for bike valet this summer at Celebrate Brooklyn and Dumbo’s Movies with a View. Please email Kevin Vincent at kevonbikes(at)gmail.com or Sam Rockwell at samscheduler(at)gmail.com to sign up. Don’t let the summer end without joining us to promote TA and spread bicycle goodwill at these concerts and film screenings! After the shortened meeting, the group headed over to Movies with a View bike valet to promote TA.

2. PROJECT UPDATES

Bicycle Access Bill was passed! Read the excellent coverage on Streetsblog. In the near future, TA will provide a flow chart to break down the jargon of the bill and a step-by-step guide to help bicycle commutes undestand how to ask his/her employer and building owner for permission to park. The bill doesn’t take effect for 120 days, which gives us all enough time to prepare!

Waterfront Epic Ride: Sunday, August 9. Check out the route here. We need rest-stop helpers and marshal volunteers!

Summer Streets is back! Three Saturdays: August 8, 15, 22

The Brooklyn Committee will escort riders from Grand Army Plaza (departing at 8:30am) to Park Ave and back (leaving Manhattan at 12 PM), any volunteers to join in the fun? Also, TA will have tables at 3 locations to do outreach and some fun demos. Need volunteers!

­3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

NYC CENTURY: Sunday, Sept. 13.  There’ll be a route Marking Bonanza Sunday, Aug. 16, at 9 AM. Get a sneak preview of the route & help make the century happen! Marshal Pre-Ride is August 29-30. Email Molly at molly(at)transalt.org if you’re interested.

PARKING DAY: Friday, Sept. 18

We would love to do a Brooklyn Committee parking spot. Does anyone want to lead it?

BIKING RULES PSA COMPETITION:

Now open, hurry, it closes August 31.

We are looking for someone to lead the Brooklyn Committe in a collective PSA. Please email Paco at subtle116(at) gmail.com if you’re interested! Check out the website for more info.

Also, the first committee to contribute 500 pictures (10 pictures from at least 50 members) gets their pictures compiled into a short animation that gets entered into the PSA contest. Email your photos to Paco at subtle116(at)gmail.com with “BK PSA” in the subject line. See here for more details.

FALL SCAVENGER HUNT:

The May 31 scavenger hunt, which kicked of June’s BikeBKLN, was a tremendous success, so we’re bringing it back. The tentative date is Saturday, October 4. (Because this is the same day as the MS ride, the Atlantic Antic, and the LES pickle festival, we might move our scavenger hunt to October 3 or October 11.) Paco, Larry Gast, Lacey Tauber and Jenny Wiese are planning it - email Larry at larrygast(at)gmail.com if you want to help out.

BREAK OUT GROUPS:­

Murray and Sholom brainstormed a game plan to get bike lanes in South (Outer) Brookyn. They collected names to do some surveying at the Kings Highway bus stop to gauge residents’ opinions on street safety, bike lanes, pedestrian improvements, etc. Please email Sholom at brodes20(at)gmail.com or Murray at Lantner.Murray(at)epamail.epa.gov if you are interested in working for livable streets in South Brooklyn.

The group discussed the 5th Avenue bike lane (Park Slope). People ageed that this is a truck delivery problem, not a bike lane. Several people volunteered to speak with merchants who had previously signed a petition asking for the bike lane. Others suggested more truck delivery zones to minimize truck-bike conflict. The group appreciates the lane but admits that it’s a scary for riders due to doubleparked vehicles; people often choose parallel routes to avoid this issue. Paco is meeting with TA this week to devise a game plan for this lane. Please email any additional suggestions to Paco at subtle116(at)gmail.com.

NEXT MEETING

August 27, 2009. Same place: Long Island College Hospital on Hicks St. at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. See you then!­