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MINUTES of CentreBike General Membership Meeting

May 13, 2016
May 9, 2016
Meeting held at the State College Borough Building

Present: Anna Nelson, President, Paul Rito, Vice President, Joan Potter, Secretary, Jean Bemis, Brian Dempsey, Mark Davison, Melissa Bopp, Austin Keene, Peter Koby, Cecily Zhu

The meeting was called to order by Anna Nelson at 5:35 pm.

Centre Gives Campaign

A total of $1,225 was generously donated to CentreBike during the Centre Gives campaign. Thank you notes were sent to individual contributors, and a complimentary one-year membership given to those who donated $50 or more.

Centre Region COG Bike Map

COG would like to update and post a new biking map online by August. Anna Nelson reviewed the current map key and presented two options to improve the key. Peter Koby offered to provide input, and Anna encouraged anyone else with ideas to email her.

Bike Safety Concerns
- We’re grateful to the Borough, Ferguson Twp and PennDOT who are using their variable message boards in various locations this month with the message: “Yield: Give 4’ when passing cyclists”.
- There have been several recent reports of pedestrians and bicyclists involved in near miss encounters with cars at intersections. Anna suggested approaching municipalities about raising awareness of this issue.
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Sharing the Road Responsibly

May 10, 2016

Thanks to PA State Senator Jake Corman for sharing this in his recent newsletter:

Pedestrians, along with bicyclists and motorists, whether on two, three, f our, or more wheels, are increasingly taking to the roadways as spring unfolds, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and its “Just Drive PA” campaign.

Sharing the Road requires responsible observance of all PA traffic safety laws. Just Drive PA offers resources for all types of motorists and driving conditions.

Among the more pronounced changes is requiring motorists to allow at least four feet between their vehicle and a bicycle, permitting the vehicle to safely pass the bicycle. Motorists may pass at a careful and practical reduced speed. Motorists may cross the center double yellow line, if safe and necessary, to provide the required four feet when passing a bicycle. No turn by the driver of a motor vehicle may interfere with a bicyclist proceeding straight on a roadway or shoulder.
Getting the Word Out About Bike Safety

May 9, 2016
Building on our efforts with Ferguson Township last year, this spring, we worked with the Centre Regional Planning Agency to connect with even more owners of local roadside message signs. Thanks to those efforts, we’re excited to share that variable message boards in and around State College at 5 different locations will share the “Yield 4 feet to Cyclists” message.

Why the 4 feet pass message?

It’s a law that many are unfamiliar with: when cars pass a person on a bike, they must do so safely, and give that person on a bike 4 feet. Cars have the right to cross the center line to give that space, if need be. It’s PA state law. Making more drivers aware and alert of this law (and that bicyclists are co-owners of the road) can help keep people alert as they pass, and help avoid “close calls” when drivers don’t realize how it feels to be passed too close.

Message Locations:
- Blue Course Drive (from Ferguson Township Police)
- Park Ave &College Ave Week of May 2 (from State College Borough)
- South Allen & Gill St. Week of May 9 (from State College Borough)
- Several locations including Atherton Stteet (from PennDOT)
We want to give a huge THANK YOU to each of these folks – Ferguson Township, State College Borough, and PennDOT, for sharing these messages of bicyclist safety at the start of the major riding season. Thousands of cars will pass by these boards this year in May, and little reminders can make a big difference.

MINUTES of CentreBike General Membership Meeting

Sharing the Road Responsibly

Getting the Word Out About Bike Safety