Minutes

Cycling Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

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Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting
Members Present:
  • Pauline Thornham (Co-Chair)
  • Rani Gill (Co-Chair)
  • Laura Bowman
  • Alina Grzejszczak
  • Stephen Laidlaw
  • Dayle Laing
  • Barry Lavallee
  • Kevin Montgomery
  • Lisa Stokes
  • Regional Councillor Rowena Santos
Members Absent:
  • Leslie Benfield
  • Eric Lister
  • Patrick McLeavey
Staff Present:
  • Henrik Zbogar, Senior Manager, Transportation Planning, Planning, Building and Economic Development
  • Nelson Cadete, Project Manager, Active Transportation, Planning, Building and Economic Development
  • Tamara Kwast, Transportation Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development
  • Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator

The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. and adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

The following motion was considered.

  • CYC017-2020

    That the agenda for the Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting of December 15, 2020, be approved, as published and circulated.

    Carried

The minutes were considered by Planning and Development Committee on November 16, 2020, and approved by Council on November 25, 2020.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

Stephen Laidlaw, Committee Member, addressed Committee regarding the City's snow clearing policy and practices specifically relating to municipal bike parking facilities. He advised that the bike racks at the Earnscliffe Recreation Centre were not cleared from snow, and provided details on staff's response to his inquiry, and request for the snow to be cleared. Mr. Laidlaw advised that bike racks at all municipal facilities should be cleared from snow in order to encourage cycling year-round, and suggested that the related policy and/or practice be amended accordingly.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Minimum maintenance standards for clearing snow on municipal parking spaces
  • A request for information on snow clearing standards for bicycle facilities in other jurisdictions
  • Winter maintenance on active transportation facilities, and the need to coordinate snow clearing on sidewalks and pathways to ensure there is no obstruction for active transportation
  • Responsibility for clearing snow on municipal bike parking facilities

Nelson Cadete, Project Manager, Active Transportation, advised that he would prepare a summary of current winter maintenance practices for bike parking facilities to present at the next Committee meeting. 

The following motion was considered. 

  • CYC018-2020

    1. That the delegation from Stephen Laidlaw, Co-chair, to the Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting of December 15, 2020, re: City of Brampton Snow Clearing Policy To Encourage Winter Cycling, be received; and

    2. That staff be requested to report back to a future Cycling Advisory Committee meeting with information regarding current winter maintenance practices for municipal bike parking facilities. 

    Carried

Nelson Cadete, Project Manager, Active Transportation, Transportation Planning, Planning and Development Services, provided a presentation entitled "2020/2021 Active Transportation Implementation Annual Report".

Henrik Zbogar, Senior Manager, Transportation Planning, outlined the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic on active transportation in Brampton, which included a culture shift both internally and externally.  He highlighted the approval of the budget for the implementation of active transportation, and thanked staff for their efforts and dedication.  In addition, Mr. Zbogar thanked the Committee for their passion and cooperation, and Council for its support.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Expressions of thanks to staff for their efforts
  • The need to focus efforts on prioritizing active transportation at the Region of Peel 
  • Suggestion for staff to forward the subject presentation to the Region of Peel and that the Cycling Advisory Committee submit a delegation request to the Region on the importance of investing in active transportation and creating connectivity between the Peel municipalities
  • Indication that staff would review and provide an update to Committee regarding the recent budget approval for the implementation of active transportation
  • Active transportation funding opportunities
    • Staff advised this would be reviewed with Government Relations staff and an update would be provided to Committee
  • Indication that the communication insert on bike lanes, which was provided with the municipal tax bill, was well received
  • Improvements in the cycling infrastructure in Brampton
  • Communication strategy and driver education on how to negotiate active transportation facilities
  • Cost of pedestrian crossovers (PXO)
  • Suggestion that a fulsome review of the implementation of the ATMP could be undertaken during a sub-committee meeting
  • Concerns relating to parking on bike lanes and an indication from staff that an education campaign would be appropriate in 2021
    • Suggestions for the education campaign included distributing information pamphlets at schools and placing them on vehicles parked in bike lanes in lieu of a ticket to educate drivers

Staff responded to questions regarding the implementation of various active transportation elements and "Book 18" guidelines (e.g. green paint standards, solid vs dashed lines, multi-use paths), and advised that any specific questions or feedback regarding active transportation facilities/elements can be sent to Mr. Cadete.  

The following motion was considered.

  • CYC019-2020

    1. That the presentation from Nelson Cadete, Project Manager, Active Transportation, Transportation Planning, Planning and Development, to the Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting of December 15, 2020, re: Implementation of the Active Transportation Master Plan – Annual Report 2020/2021, be received; 

    2. That a copy of the subject presentation be forwarded to the Region of Peel for information; and

    3. That Dayle Laing, Committee Member, delegate the Region of Peel on behalf of the Cycling Advisory Committee on the need to increase focus on Active Transportation mode share, in view of the environment and achieving Sustainable Transportation Strategy goals.

    Carried

The Cycling Advisory Committee 2021 Schedule of Meetings was provided for information. There was no discussion on this item.

The following motion was considered.

  • That the following Minutes of the Cycling Advisory Sub-Committee Meetings, to the Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting of December 15, 2020, be received:

    • May 19, 2020
    • June 16, 2020
    • July 21, 2020
    • August 18, 2020
    • September 15, 2020
    • November 17, 2020
    Carried

The following motion was considered.

  • CYC020-2020

    That the Cycling Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again for a Regular Meeting on February 16, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

    Carried