MEETING MINUTES
ASCE - Human Powered Transportation Committee (HPT Com.)
Washington, DC
January 12 and 14, 1998
Attendees: See Attached List.
Distribution:
Attendees
Committee Members (not present)
Mike Hewitt ASCE
Jill Scherer ASCE
UTD EXCOM
ASCE-HPT Web Page
Business: A two part meeting of the ASCE - HPT Committee was held during the 77th Annual TRB meeting in Washington, DC. The following minutes document the issues discussed and actions taken during both meetings.
l. New Chair David Loutzenheiser asked for review of HPT Com. accomplishments the past year. Per Committee Mission Statement, "To foster exchange of knowledge - - - towards goal of greater utilization of HPT", much of HPT Com.'s efforts were aimed at facilitating exchange of knowledge. An effective new Website was developed, (see below). Three Updates on incoming and outgoing HPT info. were mailed or e-mailed to roster of about 125 Committee members & friends, plus posted on Website. ASCE sponsored Moritz Survey of Adult Cyclists was completed and presented at '98 TRB (see below). Proposed changes to AASHTO Bicycle Facility Guide were reviewed (see below). Input was given to college HPT course under development by FHWA (see below). Other HPT research into problems & solutions was encouraged and results distributed (see below).
2. Jeff Davis reported new HPT Com Website is getting high marks from the ASCE-UTD EXCOM. Webmaster Kirk Barrett put site together last summer and updates it regularly. Barrett's work is proving big help in increasing communication, both within and with those outside HPT Com. As of 1/98 site had received 450+ visitors.
3. Bill Moritz reported on his 1997 Survey of U.S. Adult Bicyclists. (ASCE co-sponsored it, updating 1975 Kaplan Survey). 52% response from over 4700 cyclists nationwide. The most comprehensive survey available today. Much useful data on miles ridden, relative safety of various facility types, etc., not available elsewhere.
4. John Fegan of FHWA reported big increase in pedestrian issues and activity in 1997. New member David Harkey brings his experience working on new ITE Pedestrian Design Guidelines (now in publisher's hands), to HPT Com, and will work with Dr. Khisty on ped issues, (as well as bike).
5. Carol Tan Esse of FHWA distributed descriptions of 1998 Current FHWA Ped. & Bike Research Studies. Bill Wilkinson of Bike Federation of America felt research needed by engineers was being overlooked, and suggested HPT Com. take stronger stand on the matter with TRB. John Fegan stated that in view of lengthy time involved in getting bike or ped research from TRB & FHWA (years), that HPT Com. seek other ways of obtaining needed research, particularly where time is of essence.
5a. Suggestions were then made to break proposed research projects into smaller parts for quicker handling. Also that HPT Com. make list of these projects available to universities, ASCE Student Chapters or other agencies. Use Website for starts. And/or put list into ASCE News (Correspondent Sathisan), asking for students or professors interested in projects. Elliott is to start list, and get info to Barrett & Sathisan after review by Control Group.
5b. Elliott noted increasing use of Shoulder Rumble Strips is degrading the roadway environment for cyclists. Some work done re. their negative effects, but nothing definitive enough to discourage or stop detrimental practices, or to define and encourage good practice. Need to start with survey of current DOT policies & practices across the country. John Fegan stated Mike Robinson, Office of Highway Safety in FHWA, has info. Researcher must assemble info, compare, fill holes if needed, perhaps make further contacts with DOT's to ascertain rumble strip experience, recommend further testing if necessary, perhaps follow through on testing, and hopefully arrive at guidelines for policy and practice compatible with both bikes & motor vehicles. Time is of essence. Elliott to send request to ASCE News (Sathisan), asking for student help with research (in writing a White Paper"). Also same info. to be sent to Barrett for posting on Website.
5c. Elliott also noted growing number of Roundabouts in U.S., and noted the European experience of increased bike accidents when conventional intersections were changed to roundabouts. (The Netherlands reported good bike safety with small, 100 ft max. outside diameter, roundabouts using narrow entrances.) John Fegan stated FHWA now doing research to determine "Best Design" for roundabouts. Dr. Khisty stated work has been done by Troutback in Australia and another researcher in Germany, and said he will get names & addresses to Elliott). The foregoing, plus any other pertinent work, needs to be looked at from cyclist's perspective, hopefully with conclusions & recommendations reached that will be beneficial to motor vehicles, bikes, and peds, or at least not detrimental to bikes. After assessing help needed, Elliott is to forward Request for Help to ASCE News (Sathisan) and to Barrett, at Website. Again, time of some essence.
6. Jeff Davis presented preliminary (7/30/97) outline of Coursebook for FHWA Bike & Ped Transportation College Course. Course book is to be called the "Student Guide". Moritz commented it had too much material for a 3 or 4 unit course, and untrained instructors would not know which material was important. Tan Esse stated Instructors' Guide would address that problem. Background info: HPT Com. reviewed previous FHWA college course proposal. In Jan 97, HPT Com. expressed serious reservations. Course then changed direction. Charles Zegeer of Univ. of NC Hwy. Safety Research Center, in charge of project for FHWA, informed Elliott on 12/17/97 of present approach: a) Prepare a Student Guide by assembling best existing materials & only writing a new intro summary for each chapter, b) Prepare an Instructor's Guide including test questions, problems, etc, and c) Prepare 2 - 50 minute Slide presentations (one for bikes, one for peds,) to use either as intro to the course or as stand-alone presentations in other transp classes. Jennifer Toole of RBA & Associates assembled the Student Guide and submitted it to the following 3 reviewers: Jeff Olsen, N.Y. State Ped/Bike Coordinator, Mike Cynecki, Senior Traffic Engineer at City of Phoenix & past chair of TRB Ped Committee, & Jeff Davis, CE Professor at The Citadel & past chair of ASCE HPT Com.. After this review, expected to be completed in Jan 98, Toole is to finish Student Guide, including writing the intro summary for each chapter. Martin Petruka of Penn State is responsible for producing Instructor's Guide and the 2 Slide presentations, after Student Guide is complete. Zegeer expected drafts of Student Guide, Instructors' Guide, and Slide presentations available by late spring 98. HPT Com. needs to provide review before project is completed. Details of our review (who, what, when) need to be resolved. Loutzenheiser to send letter to Carol Tan Esse requesting HPT Com be given opportunity to review the next draft of the document.
7. Jeff Davis reported revisions to '91 AASHTO Bike Guidelines had gone through all external review, and were now in hands of AASHTO Committee & Members. Look for publication around end of '98. HPT Com. provided review & comments up to and including April '97 version.
8. Loutzenheiser will send letter to John LaPlante offering ASCE review of proposed new AASHTO Pedestrian Guidelines. . The AASHTO Bicycle Guide will be voted on by the AASHTO committee in July. At that time they are entertaining the possiblity of preparing a pedestrian guide. This should be voted on as well. If so, John LaPlante will likely chair that committee. The HPT Committee will then be able to submit input and comments as that project (hopefully) gets started later in the year.
9. Suggestion made that HPT Com look at AASHTO Green Book re. any needed work on Peds & Transit, Bikes & Transit, etc. Kevin St. Jacques stated he has access to resources here. AASHTO Green Book will be updated in 2000/01
10. Loutzenheiser reported next MUTCD will have bike related revisions. James MacKay of HPT Com. active in these changes. . BFA applied for sponsorship to the MUTCD. Changes to the current MUTCD will be published in the Federal Register in about July for public comment.
11. Bill Moritz reported delay in producing 45 minute college HPT video. Asked if HPT Com. still wished him to continue. Committee requested that he continue. Present schedule is script draft by middle of April '98 and video draft for review by June '98.
12. Committee discussed preparing letter offering to review proposed new (or to be revised) bike & ped portions of transp textbooks. Review to consist largely of verifying currency of text and providing list of appropriate references & resources. Jeff Davis & Michelle DeRobertis provided this review in past. Letter to go to ASCE News & to Website. Davis will follow through on letter, and on providing list of references. Elliott to place note in Update requesting reviewers.
13. Elliott to review ASCE publication "Residential Streets" and suggest changes to bike portion if it is to be re-published. (See above)
14. Bill Wilkinson stated his experience shows too many engineers still unaware of bike & ped issues, problems, solutions, etc. Would like to see HPT Com. push harder to get word out to engineers. Feels ASCE needs to do this to establish HPT credibility with engineers. Discussion generated suggestions to send notices to related ASCE Committees, (Hwys., Land Use Planning, Air Quality, etc.), giving info on HPT Com., info available, Website, etc. Wilkinson also suggested exploring better ways to use Internet & Website. Elliott to contact Barrett & Sathisan.
15. Committee discussed need for articles on HPT issues & projects, the articles to be published in Transp Engr Jnl, Civ Engr Mag, etc. Elliott to put notice in Update.
16. Wilkinson suggested HPT Com review Urban Transportation Monitor for a listing of recent material from journals that might be of interest. Elliott to investigate.
17. Discussed Roster. Presently at about 125 names. Loutzenheiser and Elliott to check, and delete names of those no longer active or interested. Elliott also to send notice to ASCE News and to Website asking for other engineers interested in working with bike & ped engineering issues to contact HPT Com.. Last notice was in 1991. Review & respond to previous information forms sent to HPT friends/members last year (approx. 60 responses with many offering to help with committee activities.)
18. Re. Pro-Bike, Pro-Walk Conference, (BFA) Sept '98 in Santa Barbara. Bill Wilkinson invited HPT Com. to prepare and sponsor technical session, offered to list ASCE as a Conference Sponsor, and to provide room for HPT Com. to hold mid year meeting. Also asked for HPT Com. suggestions for topics we'd like to see covered. After some discussion, Committee decided to continue its past policy of announcing Pro Bike in Update, including opportunity to suggest topics and to present papers. Decided to decline invitation to sponsor technical session, or to be listed as a sponsor due to anticipated complication with ASCE Administration.
19. Discussed '98 mid-year HPT Com meeting. At Pro Bike in Sept, or at ASCE Land Use, Transp, & Air Quality Conference in Portland in May? Davis & St. Jacques, possibly Loutzenheiser & Elliott, and maybe others, presently plan to attend the latter. Will aim at Portland. Davis to check on meeting room if necessary.
20. Discussed whether HPT Com should sponsor paper session at Velo Mondial 2000 in Netherlands, June 18-22, 2000. Davis pointed out it would conflict with ASCE Conference in June 2000. Decided to emphasize the latter.
21. Loutzenheiser brought Jan `98 issue of ENR, featuring "Taking Back Main Street". Indicates growing acceptance by engineers of traffic calming, bikes, and peds.
22. Dave Daubert asked how his bike racing son, (USCF, NORBA) could help. Committee will put son on mailing list, asking him for racer's perspective on how best engineers can improve road transportation.
23. Steve Faust of Federal Transit Admin, involved in Welfare To Work program, wished to include bikes as well as transit. While agreeing with the effort, & recognizing engineering issues involved, Committee felt issue was primarily advocacy, and took no action aimed specifically at Welfare to Work.
24. Loutzenheiser noted opening for additional Control Group member. C.G. presently consists of himself, Elliott, Dr. Khisty, & Alex Sorton. Radwan, Kaplan & Davis are all on ExCom, and ineligible to serve on CG. Loutzenheiser will take suggestions and seek to fill slot. Davis cautioned that person should want job. Much to be done.
25. The organization of a Transportation Institute was discussed with respect to how that will affect future HPT committee activities.
26. HPT committee will focus on publishing papers in several journals/magazines including the ITE Journal, Urban Transportation Monitor and ASCE News.
Summary of Action Items, (To Do):
5a, 5b. Shoulder Rumble Strips. Elliott to contact Mike Robinson & obtain FHWA info on current policies nationwide, review it plus other info. collected by HPT Com., prepare Request for University Help, get review of Request by Control Group, & send Request to ASCE News (Sathisan) & to Website, (Barrett).
5a, 5c. Roundabouts. Elliott to check ongoing FHWA Research, obtain other existing research per Dr. Khisty's info, assess help needed, prepare request for university help, & proceed per above through Control Group to Sathisan & Barrett.
5. Additional University Research Items: Others to suggest & proceed per above.
6. FHWA Bike & Ped Transp College Course.. Elliott to ask Davis who to talk to about HPT Com. reviewing Course. Committee must then determine WHO is to follow up, WHO is to do review, WHEN, & in WHAT detail. Loutzenheiser, Davis, Kaplan, Elliott, Sorton, Moritz to discuss later.
8. AASHTO Ped Guidelines. Loutzenheiser to write letter to John LaPlante offering HPT Com. review.
9. Loutzenheiser to ask Kevin St. Jacques if he'll look at Green Book re Bikes & Transit, Peds & Transit, & report back if HPT Com needs to get involved. Harkey &/or Dr. Khisty may be of help re Peds & Transit.
11. College Video. Bill Moritz to do Script by middle of April, Video Draft by June 98..
12. Textbook Review. Davis to produce List of References. Elliott to send note re. availability of Review to ASCE News (Sathisan) & to Barrett. Also place note in Update requesting reviewers.
13. ASCE publication "Residential Streets". Elliott to suggest changes to bike portion..
14. HPT Info Distribution to Other Engineers: Elliott or Loutzenheiser to send new letter to related ASCE committees, (Hwys, Land Use Planning, Air Quality, etc), giving info on HPT Com., other HPT info available, Website, etc. Also perhaps send copy to ASCE News (Sathisan). HPT Com. members to contact Elliott or Loutzenheiser with names of other ASCE committees to send letter to. Elliott or Others to contact Barrett about other ways to use Internet & Website.
15. HPT Articles: Elliott to send ASCE News (Sathisan), letter requesting HPT articles for TE Jnl, ASCE Mag, etc.
16. Urban Transp Monitor (Magazine ?): Need Committee volunteer to monitor UTM and list pertinent HPT materials from journals, in Update &/or on Website.
17. Roster: Loutzenheiser & Elliott to update present list. Elliott also to send notice to ASCE News (Sathisan), & to Website (Barrett), asking for other engineers interested in working on bike and/or ped issues.
18. Pro Bike Conference in Sept.: Loutzenheiser to contact Wilkinson re. declining invite to sponsor tech session, etc.
19. HPT Com Mid-year Meeting: Davis to check on mtg. room at Portland if necessary.
22. Add Daubert son's name to Roster. (See Item No. 17).
24. Loutzenheiser to seek another Control Group member. Will entertain suggestions.
25. Loutzenheiser to invite Joe Fazio (who wrote Ped Phase Methodology with Khisty) to join the committee and help with pursuing more activities in the pedestrian arena.
Meeting Attendees
ASCE-HPT Committee
January 12 & 14, 1998
1st Meeting Session
David Loutzenheiser Booz, Allen, Hamilton (415) 281-4986
Jeff Davis The Citadel, Dept. of CE (803) 953-7687
Mac Elliott Mac Elliott Engineering (602) 265-6712
Bill Moritz Univ. of Washington (425) 488-8270
Jotin Khisty Illinois Inst. of Tech. (612) 567-3265
Dave Daubert Search Engineering (612) 933-6520
Bill Wilkenson Bike Federation of America (202) 463-6622
Carol Tan Esse FHWA, R& D (703) 285-2071
John Fegan FHWA (202) 366-5007
Christopher Douwes FHWA (202) 366-5013
Jim Coppock City of Cincinnati (513) 352-5305
Mike Hewitt ASCE Staff Contact (703) 295-6115
2nd Meeting Session
David Loutzenheiser Booz, Allen, Hamilton (415) 281-4986
Kevin St. Jaques Wilbur Smith & Assoc. (713) 785-0080
Bill Moritz Univ. of Washington (425) 488-8270
Jotin Khisty Illinois Inst. of Tech. (612) 567-3265
Mac Elliott Mac Elliott Engineering (602) 265-6712
Jeff Davis The Citadel, Dept. of CE (803) 953-7687
John Fegan FHWA (202) 366-5007
David Harkey UNC Hwy. Safety Resrch Center (919) 962-8705
Steve Faust Fed. Transit Admin. (212) 264-8162
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