Hey everyone,

Just back home.... what can I say about this eveing meeting...

There was the topic of Bike Stands and more stands and more stands LOL.

Someone was very adamant on them racks and their cost being too high even thus there was a bidding process done through the city.

Seems there is a $60,000 fund set asside for them and the way it is being approached it bit by bit... (estimated cost for them is $170-$200 installed - little expensive but good with labour)

The Cycling Council of Chatham is looking at get an 8% of the poopulation to be riding their bikes by 2020

They are looking on meeting with company CEO's on promoting cycling to work.

There is also about 1.5 million dollars for cycling in the CK area...

Some disscussion as to where the bike grid would be at...

Now this is looking at a 5 year plan but some of the following to be touched in the Chatham area

Paths or lanes on the following was disscussed;

McNaughton from the College to Sandy

Keil from Richmond to Prestancia project

Sandy from the bridge to Gregory

Lacroix from Park Ave to Bridge

Queen from Indian Creek all the way downtown

There was a mention from Richmond and Bloomfield to Riverview and then to Keil

St-Claire from Gregory to Walmart

As surprised as I was Grand between Keil to Sandy was not there... Man that bit is ROUGH

Other topics where not realy touched due to the overly extensive disscussion on bike rack cost/bidding... but I did bring it up to the president to the Cycling Counsil (durring the bike rack crap) of the comments from our group.

She stated she's in charge of also getting the stuff redy to educate the puplic... the catch phrase that will be used is

Same Road

Same Rules

Same Rights

All are concerns that was brought is already on her list.

Now after the meeting was done I managed to speak to James(Rides with us Sundays) who is part of the Cycling Counsil on who they approche for the Police to enforce present laws.

Seems this was already done and there was a few Radio add by the CK Police to let Cyclists know they should not be riding on the side walks.

To me this is not enforcing the law but seems they are also putting in considerations the risks involved... Bad Cyclists/Bad Drivers

James is on my side with this... if the law is known and enforced to everyone this will curb the bad habits of people... The CycleCK.ca guy thinks that they working on this...

But working on it is useless as they are not enforcing the laws that are already in place.

So seems there is a meeting with City Hall on the 16th and James took the info on the Cycling Laws to throw the book at them saying what the police are doing is a waste of time as the work is already in place to enforce them.

So any how Matt and I did the best we can to represent us as a group for the cycling community.

Now my last comment is a question to all... would you like that I give them access to being able to email in to this list on any updates that come through for the CK Cycling Project. Reason I ask is they would like everyone to at least be on their emailing list by sending them your email address, but the simplest way I think is giving them permission to post as Non member to this list instead. Keeping your info private up to a point.

Let me know

Dan

ps Matt if I missed anything go ahead and add it. :-)