Meeting Summary July 11, 2024
Attending: Hultgren, Palmer, Thorne, Clark
The meeting began shortly after 7pm.
The Cycling Without Age program was discussed: Hultgren will work on setting up routes from the MCNR and Senior Center towards the Separatist Rd bike path and downtown Storrs. Clark will work on assembling the materials that Thorne has into a pilot manual. Palmer, Thorne and Clark will test out the possible scheduling software (Book2Go app) for matching riders with pilots (Hultgren will ask Valentine for further testing of the app as appropriate). Vetting of pilots was discussed and any special requirements by the participating organizations (MCNR, Juniper Hill & Senior Center) need to be determined. Contact people at these organizations also need to be determined. Phone numbers of ride supervisors (?) for pilots to call for information or help prior to or during a ride, need to be determined and included in the materials that will be in the trishaw. Needed equipment is yet to be obtained (tools, bike pump, phone holder, etc.) as well as a container to store them in. Palmer asked if the Mansfield Chapter had been enrolled as an affiliate in the National or World-Wide CWA organization. Thorne will check on this.
Action items from the Town’s Bike/Pedestrian Plan were discussed, but no formal action was taken.
Hultgren said the Town was assembling a “complete streets team” to assist in the drafting of a complete streets plan for the Town, and a representative cyclist would be needed on this team.
Hultgren said there was some money left in the microgrant received from the DOT/CRCOG and asked for suggestions for spending down the remaining funds ($500+). Helmets for next year’s 4th grade bike ed program and larger balance bikes were suggested (since these funds come from the Safe Roads to School program at the DOT, they can’t be used for the CWA equipment). Hultgren noted that fundraising for the 2024-2025 bike ed program may also be necessary for helmets and maintenance.
Hultgren said he will talk to the Parks & Rec staff about restarting the bike workshops in the MCC.
The meeting ended a little after 8 pm.
Lon Hultgren, Sec-Treas
Bike Mansfield