Present: 25 people, including a newbie (Jeff) and Director of Transportation, Traffic and Parking Mike Piscitelli

TTP: Mike P. gave an update on current projects in various stages. The city got $16 million in federal funds (Tiger II) for Phase 1 of the Route 34 project. He asked for help from ECC members in making it a more complete street and urged attendance at the next planning meeting, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the main library, 133 Elm St. Someone (Moses?) suggested renaming Route 34 with a street name to connote it's not a thoroughfare. A bike lane will be going in on Howard Avenue, and improvements will be made to Elm Street, but that is more complicated and he welcomes suggestions.

Ethan (from TTP) reported that the city is working on addressing gaps in Sharrows and plans to put them in on Woodward Avenue next Spring and look next spring at installing a bike lane on Dixwell (first he said sharrows but Mark A. pointed out that a years-old bike plan calls for a bike lane on Dixwell).

Bike Plan: Progress is being made on implementation, though it's slower than many would like. A draft request is being developed for 2011, which will include more sharrows and address the dangerous railroad track crossing on the east end of the Tomlinson Bridge (where there's been no satisfactory resolution to date). Alderman Justin Elicker said he learned at a recent Board of Aldermen meeting that ConnDOT presented a plan re: the bridge that would create space on the south side for cyclists to take the tracks at a right angle, but there's not room on the north side (the more dangerous side) to do that. He said City Engineer Dick Miller is "on our side" in trying to find a resolution (but it's a state road -- Route 1 -- and the city is not in charge). Ethan said the city wants to encourage the DOT to put a bike lane across the bridge in both directions, but that still wouldn't address the track issue. Paul Hammer will contact an attorney to see about legal options. Matt said he set up a Facebook page about sharrows.

Education and Outreach: Ethan reports that cards explaining sharrows (geared to motorists) will soon be distributed in some way to be determined (someone suggested putting them in the Tax office). The TTP is also almost finished with a booklet (geared to cyclists) explaining many things that cyclists in New Haven need to know.

Melinda reported from the Education and Outreach committee that the Bike to Work Day Breakfast -- for the cold months (at least through February) -- will be held at Devil's Gear, where it's warm, 151 Orange St. Flyers for the Nov. 19 breakfast will be going out early next week. We're also starting work on an updated brochure -- including a complete redesign, with latest accomplishments. It will also be translated into Spanish. We're also conducting a contest to find a slogan for ECC, which doesn't have one now.

Advocacy Updates: Paul H. and Moses will follow up with folks who held a protest against police harassment, including, protesters said, disproportionate enforcement of bike laws against young people of color. We don't know if this is even the case, but they'll see if there's anything to work on together. Also, Bill will propose an op-ed for the Register about not locking bikes to handicapped signs and parking meters, and David will check into asking a Register reporter to do a story about it.