Notes by Loren Demerath.
In attendance: Robert Trudeau, Kathy Fontaine, Susan Fontaine, David Aubry, Kari Brownholland, Cynthia Keith, Garrett Johnson, Maurice Loridans, Steph Pedro, Loren Demerath
Cynthia described her research on the identities of the two young women who spoke at the MPC hearings on the Master Plan and who so thoroughly spoke to the interests of the city in exactly the way we’ve discussed in meetings (the need for bike paths and nature trails among other things [Loren thinks?]). Yes, it was said we stalk our new members!
The radio show was noted and Liz Swain and Kathy Johnson and Susan were all complemented for their contributions. We were so excited by having so many fun guests we forgot to mention this meeting afterwards during the show, or even to invite Liz Swain! Cynthia said we should’ve invited Liz Swain to the meeting. We maybe could partner with them next year. Robert noted we’ve come a long way just to get a walking tour of historic Highland. It happens a lot elsewhere, but not here, and this is a big step getting this here.
A digital copy of the poster that Marion Marks would be nice--one that we can e-mail.
Next week we could talk to Shreveport Green; they and the Ozark Society will be doing a cleanup of the Red River this Saturday. We can talk about how that was and then about Velo Dendro coming up and the tree planting. Robert will contact Donna Curtis about that. Kari will email Marion Marks. Steph talked about her web app that you can use from any mobile device; can be used even from laptops. Jennette can’t be here but the group discussed the letter to send to the police department.
Dear Chief Willie L. Shaw, Jr,
It has come to the attention of A Better Shreveport that our bicyclist police officers in the downtown area do not wear helmets. This is of concern to our organization for several reasons. First, we believe the police should be setting a positive example for the rest of the community, especially children and young adults. Bike-related crashes kill 900 people every year and send about 567,000 to hospital emergency rooms with injuries. Wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent (US Consumer Product Safety Commission). Because of the nature of their duties (chases, etc.), bicycling police officers have a greater risk of injury. With that in mind, we are also concerned about taxpayer costs associated with police bicyclist injuries and rehabilitation. Further, the image of the bicycle officers wearing bullet-proof vests (but not helmets) sends a very mixed message about public safety in the downtown area.
Bicycle advocacy is a priority of our organization and we would be happy to offer our experience and expertise in urban bicycle safety to the police department, if needed.
Thank you for taking this issue under consideration. Please keep us informed of the progress you make on this important issue. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Members of ABetterShreveport.org
Maurice talked about his ambivalence towards helmets. Bright colors and caution are more important. They say, “dress like a clown, and ride like an invisible clown” if you want to be safe. The Europeans don’t use them, nor the Chinese, but they have so many cyclists there’s safety in numbers, urban transportation biking isn’t like racing in the Tour de France--35 mph in a pack.
It was agreed that we should send the letter, nonetheless, because of the priority for setting an example for kids, not to mention adults. Kari mentioned her very serious bike accident--the group was stunned. [Would not have happened on a bike path, Loren wonders?]
Susan passed around the Austin Bike map complete with safety instructions.
Caroline will be here next week and Steph and she will talk about their scope of services for the bike-ped plan. Should be great to see how the pieces can fit together for really designing a more bike-able walk-able Shreveport. Bike paths and nature trails for all!
Because of Susan’s election as CAO and contributions and commitment, etc., all agreed she should be nominated as a board member. She was so nominated, and was then elected.
David Aubry discussed the Riverscape properties and there are a number of businesses considering it, but each is waiting to see who goes first.
The new Petrohawk, #2 driller in the Haynesville Shale is using a lot of the ideas in the Master Plan to build on the old Champion Links par-3 and driving range.
They’ll be making the connector to the bike path there off Preston soon. The bike path linking 70th and Tokyo area of the automall will be fixed soon as well.
In Desoto Parish they’re having to resurface roads because of the hauling trucks associated with drilling. They don’t have an enforcement officer there, but their taxes should be paying for it. But the designs need to accommodate the weight.
Robert fetched the Velo Dendro posters from Marion Marks' nearby office.
April Waren, April Dahm, David Nelson, Carolyn Manning could all pick up and distribute; Steph will take one to Ian Webb for Rivercity Cycling. Maurice will take on to Scott at Scooter’s. [NOTE TO ALL: VELO DENDRO POSTERS ARE OUTSIDE LOREN’S OFFICE -- PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME BY AND PICK UP AT 213 CENTENARY SQUARE.]
The group discussed the need to publicize Velo Dendro. Kathy Fontaine said she is willing to cork. Robert will be taking photographs.
Lastly--but not least!--the group also nominated and voted to the board Cynthia Keith.
Steph also asked what we can do to get a dog park faster. Cynthia thinks the election is holding it up. It was said many of us would be more than happy to do leg work for the dog park. Shelly Raigle had said by this fall we would have one, and fall is certainly here. We need to have a new ordinance that allows people to drop the leash. Stephanie has seen all the ordinances that are going to be introduced and they don’t include that one. It was agreed that we should call somebody.
Loren suggested that next week we vote on the bylaws and it was agreed that we would try to do so and put in on the agenda. Susan said she would review them by then and come to Monday’s with possible suggestions if she thinks we need them.
Next meeting is Monday the 14th, when we’ll vote on the bylaws and hear about the bike-ped plan scope of services from Caroline Majors and Steph Pedro. Should be a great meeting!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Donna Curtis will be guest on "Time for ABetterShreveport" on KSCL, 91.3, Monday at 5:00
NeighborWoods Month (Oct) and the following topics will be discussed by Shreveport Green director Donna Curtis when she appears on Time for ABetterShreveport on KSCL, 91.3 fm. That's Mon, Oct 18, 5 pm.
- Velo Dendro bike tour
- Recent successes of Spt Green
- Bit of history on Spt Green
- Recycling in Shreveport at the 2 year (?) mark.
Hosts are Loren Demerath, Carolyn Manning and Robert Trudeau.
- Velo Dendro bike tour
- Recent successes of Spt Green
- Bit of history on Spt Green
- Recycling in Shreveport at the 2 year (?) mark.
Hosts are Loren Demerath, Carolyn Manning and Robert Trudeau.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Promoting the tree-centered Velo Dendro city bicycle tour on Sat, Oct 23, 8:45 am
Notes by Loren Demerath.
Call 734-9101 anytime to record your idea or comment and hear it broadcast on the live show Mondays. Do it! We DARE you!
Anyway:
In attendance: Loren Demerath, Matthew Linn, Hallie Dozier, Carolyn Manning, Maurice Loridans, Kari Brownholland, David Brownholland, Cynthia Keith, Robert Curry, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson
The group welcomed Kari and David Brownholland. Kari worked with a non-profit in St. Louis before moving here with David, who is Centenary’s new organic chemistry professor. (Both awfully nice folks!)
The group heard from Hallie on what we need for the bicycling city tree tour. Promotion is the main need, but the day of the ride we’ll need help with registration work; we need to have a release signed for each rider. Carolyn and Kari both volunteered to help with registration.
We’ll have an ice chest and a trailer with bike repair materials.
The route people think should be the southern half of the route we didn’t get to complete last year. The total is only 15 miles. Last year was tricky going through the arboretum at Centenary; the route was too tight. We’ll start by going south to Betty Virginia Park where there will be a tree planting in honor of Yvonne Lee who was a Shreveport Green employee who was murdered last year; the Bike Pedaler is donating the tree.
Hallie will need people to help marshal the riders.
Our posters didn’t have the effect that we wanted, but where did we get the 100 riders? Maybe from using e-mail lists as well as the organizational meeting Hallie and Matthew held the previous spring. We can send out the same list; it came from Matthew. Mary Allan Hoffman can put it out. Maurice can send it to the Ozark Society, Loren to ABS, Matthew to his list, Ian can send it to his people too; we can all post and publicize on Facebook. Email instead of posters might be sufficient. We can email the people who registered as well. Steph pointed out that Facebook has over 1,500 members, issuing an invite through there is what Matthew is doing, and we can pass it on to the ABS group...
We’re not stealing people from the Tour de Goodwill, because the roadies and the family riders are different groups.
Postcard size fliers that the stores can put in the bags of customers, etc. Kari pledged to finish a postcard flier by Thursday! A specific day!
Bossier is having a bicycle swap this weekend.
The attic of Mickle Hall; or under the Centenary Square parking lot might be good sites for a much needed old bicycle and parts depository.
Would the Theater Department be o.k. with that? Kari will ask if she gets a chance in her capacity as head of Student Academic Services (in which she often talks with faculty about their needs).
Steph reported a request for a letter to the Police Department by wearing a helmet; Kari said helmets aren’t statistically related to safety; can give the impression of bicycling being dangerous; and give cyclists a false sense of security.
Nutcase.com has cool helmets.
The Europeans don’t wear helmets; they’re going slower and sitting upright... the more people that ride the safer you are, and they have more people riding there.
Susan and Garrett passed 5 people biking on Creswell; none were Salmon or Ninjas. (Ninjas have no lights, Salmons go against the flow.)
We can ask why the police don’t wear them, and remind them it sets a good example for kids. Tweedrides and copenhagen cycle chic are the web sites that talk about cycling in business attire.
Susan said we should push for the permanent airpump installation they saw in Baton Rouge. Matthew said he could install one at Columbia Cafe. Maybe RFC could be the downtown companion, or even better the bus station downtown.
Cynthia said Kathryn Usher--who started the ghost tours--said she’d give ABS a personalized ghost tour, maybe for a special ABS meeting.
She also said there’s a boat tour run by Sam Flood, we could also publicize that and meet during on deck one day, perhaps. We do discuss the Red Rive and Cross Bayou’s potential regularly at our meetings.
Caddo Parish is constantly in a state of renovating the parish courthouse, and there’s a hangman on the top floor that’s one of the last ones in existence; that could be integrated into a ghost tour.
Matthew showed on a map he brought how a sector of land the parish has bought will allow stormwater to be absorbed in a much more effective and environmentally healthy.
We’ll talk next week about the bike-ped plan and greenways scope of services. The greenway plan will be initiated by members of Loren’s class this semester as part of a service-learning project. There are other things ABS can do to carry the plan forward.
Cynthia said the Metropolitan Planning Commission heard the arguments for accepting the Master Plan. Two young women came and spoke for it and everything they said paralleled what we’ve talked about in these meetings. They talked about being able to bike down Gilbert, about the riverfront, about downtown, flea market under the Texas st. bridge, mapped and displayed bike routes... one of the MPC members brought up the difficulty of biking from Sams to Willis Knighton. Cynthia spoke at the beginning and mentioned the blog, the dog park, and spoke in favor of the Master Plan.
Susan mentioned we know a person who’s an engineer who’s may be willing to make our dog poop electricity machine. (All it is, Steph said, is an anaerobic digestor, which they have everywhere; they use it for hog waste; Robert said his turkeys behind his gallery generate a fair amount--they’re in the country in winter and summer.)
Next meeting is next Monday, 6 to 7, as usual.
Call 734-9101 anytime to record your idea or comment and hear it broadcast on the live show Mondays. Do it! We DARE you!
Anyway:
In attendance: Loren Demerath, Matthew Linn, Hallie Dozier, Carolyn Manning, Maurice Loridans, Kari Brownholland, David Brownholland, Cynthia Keith, Robert Curry, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson
The group welcomed Kari and David Brownholland. Kari worked with a non-profit in St. Louis before moving here with David, who is Centenary’s new organic chemistry professor. (Both awfully nice folks!)
The group heard from Hallie on what we need for the bicycling city tree tour. Promotion is the main need, but the day of the ride we’ll need help with registration work; we need to have a release signed for each rider. Carolyn and Kari both volunteered to help with registration.
We’ll have an ice chest and a trailer with bike repair materials.
The route people think should be the southern half of the route we didn’t get to complete last year. The total is only 15 miles. Last year was tricky going through the arboretum at Centenary; the route was too tight. We’ll start by going south to Betty Virginia Park where there will be a tree planting in honor of Yvonne Lee who was a Shreveport Green employee who was murdered last year; the Bike Pedaler is donating the tree.
Hallie will need people to help marshal the riders.
Our posters didn’t have the effect that we wanted, but where did we get the 100 riders? Maybe from using e-mail lists as well as the organizational meeting Hallie and Matthew held the previous spring. We can send out the same list; it came from Matthew. Mary Allan Hoffman can put it out. Maurice can send it to the Ozark Society, Loren to ABS, Matthew to his list, Ian can send it to his people too; we can all post and publicize on Facebook. Email instead of posters might be sufficient. We can email the people who registered as well. Steph pointed out that Facebook has over 1,500 members, issuing an invite through there is what Matthew is doing, and we can pass it on to the ABS group...
We’re not stealing people from the Tour de Goodwill, because the roadies and the family riders are different groups.
Postcard size fliers that the stores can put in the bags of customers, etc. Kari pledged to finish a postcard flier by Thursday! A specific day!
Bossier is having a bicycle swap this weekend.
The attic of Mickle Hall; or under the Centenary Square parking lot might be good sites for a much needed old bicycle and parts depository.
Would the Theater Department be o.k. with that? Kari will ask if she gets a chance in her capacity as head of Student Academic Services (in which she often talks with faculty about their needs).
Steph reported a request for a letter to the Police Department by wearing a helmet; Kari said helmets aren’t statistically related to safety; can give the impression of bicycling being dangerous; and give cyclists a false sense of security.
Nutcase.com has cool helmets.
The Europeans don’t wear helmets; they’re going slower and sitting upright... the more people that ride the safer you are, and they have more people riding there.
Susan and Garrett passed 5 people biking on Creswell; none were Salmon or Ninjas. (Ninjas have no lights, Salmons go against the flow.)
We can ask why the police don’t wear them, and remind them it sets a good example for kids. Tweedrides and copenhagen cycle chic are the web sites that talk about cycling in business attire.
Susan said we should push for the permanent airpump installation they saw in Baton Rouge. Matthew said he could install one at Columbia Cafe. Maybe RFC could be the downtown companion, or even better the bus station downtown.
Cynthia said Kathryn Usher--who started the ghost tours--said she’d give ABS a personalized ghost tour, maybe for a special ABS meeting.
She also said there’s a boat tour run by Sam Flood, we could also publicize that and meet during on deck one day, perhaps. We do discuss the Red Rive and Cross Bayou’s potential regularly at our meetings.
Caddo Parish is constantly in a state of renovating the parish courthouse, and there’s a hangman on the top floor that’s one of the last ones in existence; that could be integrated into a ghost tour.
Matthew showed on a map he brought how a sector of land the parish has bought will allow stormwater to be absorbed in a much more effective and environmentally healthy.
We’ll talk next week about the bike-ped plan and greenways scope of services. The greenway plan will be initiated by members of Loren’s class this semester as part of a service-learning project. There are other things ABS can do to carry the plan forward.
Cynthia said the Metropolitan Planning Commission heard the arguments for accepting the Master Plan. Two young women came and spoke for it and everything they said paralleled what we’ve talked about in these meetings. They talked about being able to bike down Gilbert, about the riverfront, about downtown, flea market under the Texas st. bridge, mapped and displayed bike routes... one of the MPC members brought up the difficulty of biking from Sams to Willis Knighton. Cynthia spoke at the beginning and mentioned the blog, the dog park, and spoke in favor of the Master Plan.
Susan mentioned we know a person who’s an engineer who’s may be willing to make our dog poop electricity machine. (All it is, Steph said, is an anaerobic digestor, which they have everywhere; they use it for hog waste; Robert said his turkeys behind his gallery generate a fair amount--they’re in the country in winter and summer.)
Next meeting is next Monday, 6 to 7, as usual.
Monday, October 4, 2010
ABS Submits Ceiling Tile
Stop by the Lazy Fisherman restaurant at 530 East Kings Hwy (formerly Church's Chicken by Nader's Gallery) to view the ceiling tile submitted by ABS. As a surprise, ABS members Cynthia Keith and Garrett Johnson entered the "Paint a Ceiling Tile" contest, a promotion for the new restaurant. This ABS entry features a nesting egret protecting her eggs. In keeping with the guidelines of a water themed entry, the tile reads "Keep our rivers clean and our food fresh for A Better Shreveport". Stop by the restaurant to view this and other entries displayed on their ceiling. Since the restaurant is close to Centenary College's campus, we thought it would be nice to be represented. Besides ffried ish, the restaurant is home to the "peanut butter burger", they say it tastes better than it sounds!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Correction: April Waren NOT moving to Baton Rouge
In a fuzz of information exchange, I mistakenly reported on this blog a while ago that April Waren would be moving to Baton Rouge, but she's not! Hooray for us! (One of our great idea people AND hard workers.)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
How to help with the expenses of the Velo Dendro, a family-oriented tree-to-tree bike ride on Sat, Oct 23, 8:45 am
Notes by Steph Pedro in Loren's absence.
In attendence at the meeting of September 27, 2010: Robert Trudeau, April Waren, Carolyn Manning, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, Maurice Loridans, Stephanie Pedro, Hallie Dozier (via conference call)
Maurice thinks that we don’t need to get into the t-shirt bike ride business and acquire the LAB insurance for 2011. BRASS has LAB insurance that covered us last year and this year. Is there a cost per head for this year’s insurance?
Carolyn thinks it would be great to drop the food budget and support Columbia Café.
Stephanie and Susan think that if we don’t have a budget for t shirts, then we should not do it. Let’s just all wear a colored t-shirt. Susan does talk about the advertisement of tshirts and how great it is a year-round promoter of cycling.
If ABS has someone in the ranks ($250), then what will the money be spent on?
Conference call begins w/ Hallie @ 6:20.
Maurice knows of some elves that were in the works, but doesn’t know their roles.
Insurance is the reason BRASS is doing it again, b/c Shreveport Bicycle Club insurance was dropped.
The cost is $90 to insure 100 people; it works through a sign-in sheet waiver.
Food: because its a tree ride, the Ag Center will belly up some food; Matthew will cover food left over from Krewe party the night before (fig newtons, bananas, water). Voces Castellanas is having a Day of Dead Festival at Columbia Park later that day and food may be available there also.
The only problem now is tshirts. Hallie cannot spend money on tshirts w/ state $$. What she found last year w/ food and tshirts, the total is $1200. But Maurice doesn’t think we will have 100 riders. Last year’s charge per head was $10. Tshirts come in 100/shirt, or $9.50 per shirt.
Carolyn does math and we need $780 between insurance and tshirts.
--We need an answer on the logos by the end of the week--
We have 2 sponsors: BRASS and Columbia. Others: a Law Clinic, Robinson Rescue, and a vet at $250 each have been approached. Just need 2 more sponsors. Carolyn will pledge $150.
Hallie wants ABS to take the lead for 2011, and join with Shreveport Bike Club for insurance purposes.
Hallie says the roadies don’t want to mess around with urban rides, and Shreveport bike club is just roadies.
Hallie will be here next Monday for the radio show! She has great things to say about Shreveport, and loves leading the rides there.
Susan will ask Merrill Lynch and Akins tomorrow.
April will ask her broker tomorrow.
Maurice suggested a tree trimming company and will call.
Robert will email a sponsor proposal to Pratt Recycling.
Garrett made the point that Velo Dendro ride could become a fundraiser for ABS, but this year, any proceeds will be split between ABS and BRASS.
Robert announced a Celtic celebration - Sat, Oct 16, at Enoch’s in Monroe—the best bar in Monroe! Actually at Forsythe Park in Monroe.
Pet Walk in Fairfield Historic District starts at 10 am, 2121 Fairfield (Cynthia), on October 30. A 10 block tour and dress your pets.
Maker’s Fair is two weekends: October 30 and November 6. Do we want to make a brochure, or bring drums? We don’t think we need a table.
Garrett suggested that Robert put a large paperbag sheet somewhere like at SRAC’s Firefest.
April talked about the recruiting director at TelePerformance in Shreveport and has decided that together ABS and TelePerformance could promote their workers to use the bike racks and bus/bike. Hygiene issues: they will install a locker room, willing to install bike racks, willing to take ABS recommendations on bike racks, challenges include that the closest bus stop is at W.70th and Pines Rd, and then it’s 3 miles from the bus stop to the campus. There is no shoulder, 2 lanes, and shart curves, very rural, not well-lit. Stephanie will get this location worked into the Bike Master Plan. Staggered shifts half hours, 6:30am to 9pm. One account, 13 people that stay overnight and don’t need transportation. The alternative is 3.6 miles, but is safer at Mansfield and W. Bert Kouns. Stephanie has requested the Coordinated Human Services Plan from NLCOG to see if TelePerformance is included in that plan—if not, then get it added. We have the opportunity to pass bike info along to 1400 people!
April suggested we get extra paint to paint sharrows on those routes.
We need to find another sharrow paint donation!
Maurice saw 12 riders on his way to work around 9:30am. {Loren stopped at this point reading the notes, stunned. Really?! 12 riders?! Maybe we ARE becoming a bike commuting town! Let’s roll!}
Caddo Parish Commission has invested in a called the Caddo Sustainability Initiative which strives for public-private partnerships for green business/jobs. Maybe the call center improvements can qualify, suggested Robert.
Carolyn is frustrated about the dues, and is absolving herself about donations. The 501c3 says donors will be able to deduct for tax purposes.
Susan can be in charge of sending letters to ask for donations.
Cynthia announced that Louisiana State Parks will Offer Gift Cards for Sale and Use. www.reserveamerica.com or www.lastateparks.com.
Meeting adjourned 7:10.
We meet again next week, 6 to 7, Centenary Square as usual!
In attendence at the meeting of September 27, 2010: Robert Trudeau, April Waren, Carolyn Manning, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, Maurice Loridans, Stephanie Pedro, Hallie Dozier (via conference call)
Maurice thinks that we don’t need to get into the t-shirt bike ride business and acquire the LAB insurance for 2011. BRASS has LAB insurance that covered us last year and this year. Is there a cost per head for this year’s insurance?
Carolyn thinks it would be great to drop the food budget and support Columbia Café.
Stephanie and Susan think that if we don’t have a budget for t shirts, then we should not do it. Let’s just all wear a colored t-shirt. Susan does talk about the advertisement of tshirts and how great it is a year-round promoter of cycling.
If ABS has someone in the ranks ($250), then what will the money be spent on?
Conference call begins w/ Hallie @ 6:20.
Maurice knows of some elves that were in the works, but doesn’t know their roles.
Insurance is the reason BRASS is doing it again, b/c Shreveport Bicycle Club insurance was dropped.
The cost is $90 to insure 100 people; it works through a sign-in sheet waiver.
Food: because its a tree ride, the Ag Center will belly up some food; Matthew will cover food left over from Krewe party the night before (fig newtons, bananas, water). Voces Castellanas is having a Day of Dead Festival at Columbia Park later that day and food may be available there also.
The only problem now is tshirts. Hallie cannot spend money on tshirts w/ state $$. What she found last year w/ food and tshirts, the total is $1200. But Maurice doesn’t think we will have 100 riders. Last year’s charge per head was $10. Tshirts come in 100/shirt, or $9.50 per shirt.
Carolyn does math and we need $780 between insurance and tshirts.
--We need an answer on the logos by the end of the week--
We have 2 sponsors: BRASS and Columbia. Others: a Law Clinic, Robinson Rescue, and a vet at $250 each have been approached. Just need 2 more sponsors. Carolyn will pledge $150.
Hallie wants ABS to take the lead for 2011, and join with Shreveport Bike Club for insurance purposes.
Hallie says the roadies don’t want to mess around with urban rides, and Shreveport bike club is just roadies.
Hallie will be here next Monday for the radio show! She has great things to say about Shreveport, and loves leading the rides there.
Susan will ask Merrill Lynch and Akins tomorrow.
April will ask her broker tomorrow.
Maurice suggested a tree trimming company and will call.
Robert will email a sponsor proposal to Pratt Recycling.
Garrett made the point that Velo Dendro ride could become a fundraiser for ABS, but this year, any proceeds will be split between ABS and BRASS.
Robert announced a Celtic celebration - Sat, Oct 16, at Enoch’s in Monroe—the best bar in Monroe! Actually at Forsythe Park in Monroe.
Pet Walk in Fairfield Historic District starts at 10 am, 2121 Fairfield (Cynthia), on October 30. A 10 block tour and dress your pets.
Maker’s Fair is two weekends: October 30 and November 6. Do we want to make a brochure, or bring drums? We don’t think we need a table.
Garrett suggested that Robert put a large paperbag sheet somewhere like at SRAC’s Firefest.
April talked about the recruiting director at TelePerformance in Shreveport and has decided that together ABS and TelePerformance could promote their workers to use the bike racks and bus/bike. Hygiene issues: they will install a locker room, willing to install bike racks, willing to take ABS recommendations on bike racks, challenges include that the closest bus stop is at W.70th and Pines Rd, and then it’s 3 miles from the bus stop to the campus. There is no shoulder, 2 lanes, and shart curves, very rural, not well-lit. Stephanie will get this location worked into the Bike Master Plan. Staggered shifts half hours, 6:30am to 9pm. One account, 13 people that stay overnight and don’t need transportation. The alternative is 3.6 miles, but is safer at Mansfield and W. Bert Kouns. Stephanie has requested the Coordinated Human Services Plan from NLCOG to see if TelePerformance is included in that plan—if not, then get it added. We have the opportunity to pass bike info along to 1400 people!
April suggested we get extra paint to paint sharrows on those routes.
We need to find another sharrow paint donation!
Maurice saw 12 riders on his way to work around 9:30am. {Loren stopped at this point reading the notes, stunned. Really?! 12 riders?! Maybe we ARE becoming a bike commuting town! Let’s roll!}
Caddo Parish Commission has invested in a called the Caddo Sustainability Initiative which strives for public-private partnerships for green business/jobs. Maybe the call center improvements can qualify, suggested Robert.
Carolyn is frustrated about the dues, and is absolving herself about donations. The 501c3 says donors will be able to deduct for tax purposes.
Susan can be in charge of sending letters to ask for donations.
Cynthia announced that Louisiana State Parks will Offer Gift Cards for Sale and Use. www.reserveamerica.com or www.lastateparks.com.
Meeting adjourned 7:10.
We meet again next week, 6 to 7, Centenary Square as usual!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Recycling, Zoning, Pratt Industries, the Velo Dendro
Meeting notes by Loren Demerath.
Before the regular meeting Loren met with Caroline Majors and Stephanie Pedro about the service learning projects for his Urban Sociology class. One project will be a class project, and there will also be different team projects.
Related to the interest on outlining a model for downtown building refurbishment, Caroline said her firm did the arranging for the Community Renewal building; they’ve done conceptual design; the project to abate the building; its on the EPA website as a model project.
Caroline said she’d be willing to meet with students about Downtown and the West Edge projects. Steph said she could meet with those working on the Greenways Projects.
Caroline also pitched the idea of doing a downtown parking study with the class, and Loren and Steph liked the idea. Loren later described it to the class and they were willing to adopt it as the class project.
In attendance: Loren Demerath, Caroline Majors, Robert Trudeau, Carolyn Manning, Cynthia Keith, Brian Lusk (opthamologist), Stephanie Lusk (real estate, finance), Will Lowe, Jon Soul, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, Stephanie Pedro, Maurice Loridans, Feico Kempff
Caroline and Steph had a detailed scope of services for the making the bike-ped plan but we didn’t go over it. Next week we can discuss it if both Caroline and Steph can be there.
In the course of making introductions for new attendees, Will noted that his wife, Amy Lowe is organizing the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, and said she could offer us a table to publicize the group’s projects.
Jon said he wants to bring back the lightening bug. They used to be very plentiful in the area.
Robert mentioned Pratt Industries founded in Australia, and that is here recycling, could be a potential partner for us. They’re in all 50 American states. Robert tried to get a recycling bin at Magnet. He’s discovered they have more resources than we’ve been allowed to see. Maurice said when they first came to town the Ozark Society hosted his talk and questioned them. They’ve since discovered there’s no market for glass and plastic and they now take it to the land fill now. The news media hasn’t covered it. Matthew has invited them to track the trucks and record the trucks going straight to the landfill. Originally they were going to haul it to Texas, at some transportation cost. There is a market for metal and paper. Other places have outlawed plastic bags and styrofoam. Carolyn said she sometimes forgets her cloth bags, but carries the stuff anyway. Caroline mentioned you can incentivize not using plastic by charging more or giving a discount. Brookshires and Walmart. Robert said they might help fund our bike path; they might have grants. Jon said an alternative there’s Hughes Recycling in our area. It’s provided recycling for the last two bayou cleanups we did. Channel 6 does “ArkLaTex Green” and did a segment on Michael Hughes. He provides businesses with big cardboard bins; he’s on Linwood and you can take material to him. He’d be good to have on the show. He’s good on a grass roots level and is local. (The students could make a piece on it.)
Maurice noted the recent emails on the Velo-Dendro date; can we move the date? Ian pointed out its the biggest cycling date of the year; the tour de Good Will. Susan and Garrett mentioned they want to do both and that it seemed unfortunate that the two biggest biking events of the year would be happening on the same date.
Loren mentioned Hallie Dozier had signed us up as sponsors, know that we would have to fund raise somehow to raise money. Stephanie Lusk mentioned we might be able to offer in-kind donations for Velo-Dendro; such as promoting it on the radio show.
The group voted to change $5 “donations” to contributions. That will something to change in the by-laws. In addition, we need to officially vote on the by-laws.
In other housekeeping notes, we vowed to list board members on the web site, perhaps alongside capacities or offices or the “specialty” or interest of that person so they can be contact people for those interested in particular projects.
Cynthia said the Sheriff’s dept. and Patrick Williams are collecting old bicycles to send to the penetentiary, at 4910 N. Market the deadline for donating; we could partner with them.
Jon asked if we could post on the website when its an ozone action alert day. Could be a link people could click on; through the National Weather Service.
This last year when Shreveport moved into a non-attainment status, we’ve not been informed about that. Coal-fired power plants are the main culprit; gas-fired is much cleaner. SWEPCO is building a new plant in Arkansas that will be coal-fired. State of Colorado recently banned coal-fired power generation; causes problems in health for children and pregnant women, etc.
Caroline talked about the Ledbetter Heights / West Edge Opportunities Initiative that includes the West Edge, all of Ledbetter, and down to where the new Greyhound bus station will be. They’re partnering with TACA about convening interested parties. They’ll be finding the financing, getting some catalyst projects in the area. Caroline has talked to Ron Hardy, David Nelson, and others about what they want to do there. If everyone had funding it would all be redeveloped. The zoning doesn’t help, nor do the building codes--especially on Texas St. and downtown. There are different ways you can zone to make development possible. Rezoning comes about because of changes in property development. Now the zoing is blunt with B# over everything and doesn’t allow you to develop in specific places, such as allowing mixed use on particular blocks.
Maurice said to Caroline if you ever need our help, just ask, we’ll send a letter. The public has to vote in zoning changes. Some money is budgeted to go towards rezoning.
The meeting ended at 7:08. The next meeting will be Monday the 27th.
Before the regular meeting Loren met with Caroline Majors and Stephanie Pedro about the service learning projects for his Urban Sociology class. One project will be a class project, and there will also be different team projects.
Related to the interest on outlining a model for downtown building refurbishment, Caroline said her firm did the arranging for the Community Renewal building; they’ve done conceptual design; the project to abate the building; its on the EPA website as a model project.
Caroline said she’d be willing to meet with students about Downtown and the West Edge projects. Steph said she could meet with those working on the Greenways Projects.
Caroline also pitched the idea of doing a downtown parking study with the class, and Loren and Steph liked the idea. Loren later described it to the class and they were willing to adopt it as the class project.
In attendance: Loren Demerath, Caroline Majors, Robert Trudeau, Carolyn Manning, Cynthia Keith, Brian Lusk (opthamologist), Stephanie Lusk (real estate, finance), Will Lowe, Jon Soul, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, Stephanie Pedro, Maurice Loridans, Feico Kempff
Caroline and Steph had a detailed scope of services for the making the bike-ped plan but we didn’t go over it. Next week we can discuss it if both Caroline and Steph can be there.
In the course of making introductions for new attendees, Will noted that his wife, Amy Lowe is organizing the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, and said she could offer us a table to publicize the group’s projects.
Jon said he wants to bring back the lightening bug. They used to be very plentiful in the area.
Robert mentioned Pratt Industries founded in Australia, and that is here recycling, could be a potential partner for us. They’re in all 50 American states. Robert tried to get a recycling bin at Magnet. He’s discovered they have more resources than we’ve been allowed to see. Maurice said when they first came to town the Ozark Society hosted his talk and questioned them. They’ve since discovered there’s no market for glass and plastic and they now take it to the land fill now. The news media hasn’t covered it. Matthew has invited them to track the trucks and record the trucks going straight to the landfill. Originally they were going to haul it to Texas, at some transportation cost. There is a market for metal and paper. Other places have outlawed plastic bags and styrofoam. Carolyn said she sometimes forgets her cloth bags, but carries the stuff anyway. Caroline mentioned you can incentivize not using plastic by charging more or giving a discount. Brookshires and Walmart. Robert said they might help fund our bike path; they might have grants. Jon said an alternative there’s Hughes Recycling in our area. It’s provided recycling for the last two bayou cleanups we did. Channel 6 does “ArkLaTex Green” and did a segment on Michael Hughes. He provides businesses with big cardboard bins; he’s on Linwood and you can take material to him. He’d be good to have on the show. He’s good on a grass roots level and is local. (The students could make a piece on it.)
Maurice noted the recent emails on the Velo-Dendro date; can we move the date? Ian pointed out its the biggest cycling date of the year; the tour de Good Will. Susan and Garrett mentioned they want to do both and that it seemed unfortunate that the two biggest biking events of the year would be happening on the same date.
Loren mentioned Hallie Dozier had signed us up as sponsors, know that we would have to fund raise somehow to raise money. Stephanie Lusk mentioned we might be able to offer in-kind donations for Velo-Dendro; such as promoting it on the radio show.
The group voted to change $5 “donations” to contributions. That will something to change in the by-laws. In addition, we need to officially vote on the by-laws.
In other housekeeping notes, we vowed to list board members on the web site, perhaps alongside capacities or offices or the “specialty” or interest of that person so they can be contact people for those interested in particular projects.
Cynthia said the Sheriff’s dept. and Patrick Williams are collecting old bicycles to send to the penetentiary, at 4910 N. Market the deadline for donating; we could partner with them.
Jon asked if we could post on the website when its an ozone action alert day. Could be a link people could click on; through the National Weather Service.
This last year when Shreveport moved into a non-attainment status, we’ve not been informed about that. Coal-fired power plants are the main culprit; gas-fired is much cleaner. SWEPCO is building a new plant in Arkansas that will be coal-fired. State of Colorado recently banned coal-fired power generation; causes problems in health for children and pregnant women, etc.
Caroline talked about the Ledbetter Heights / West Edge Opportunities Initiative that includes the West Edge, all of Ledbetter, and down to where the new Greyhound bus station will be. They’re partnering with TACA about convening interested parties. They’ll be finding the financing, getting some catalyst projects in the area. Caroline has talked to Ron Hardy, David Nelson, and others about what they want to do there. If everyone had funding it would all be redeveloped. The zoning doesn’t help, nor do the building codes--especially on Texas St. and downtown. There are different ways you can zone to make development possible. Rezoning comes about because of changes in property development. Now the zoing is blunt with B# over everything and doesn’t allow you to develop in specific places, such as allowing mixed use on particular blocks.
Maurice said to Caroline if you ever need our help, just ask, we’ll send a letter. The public has to vote in zoning changes. Some money is budgeted to go towards rezoning.
The meeting ended at 7:08. The next meeting will be Monday the 27th.
New Bike Rack at Sportran's City Bus Terminal!
Check it out! Progress in making Shreveport more bikeable! Thanks to Cynthia Keith for the picture, but especially to Gene Eddy and anyone else involved in making it happen!
Friday, September 17, 2010
"Coalition for Better Bus Stops" born of meetings with Sportran, SRAC, Shreveport Green, and ABS
Rough notes from this week's meeting:
In attendance: Stephanie Pedro, David Aubrey, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, April Waren, Jennette Ginsburg, Maurice Loridans, Loren Demerath
The group discussed making ABS letterhead for thank you cards, but decided just plain will work for now to send to the candidates involved in the forum.
Jennette Ginsburg and Stephanie Pedro reported on meetings with Pam Atchison of SRAC, Gene Eddy of Sportran, and Donna of Shreveport Green on the bus project. Jennette and Steph have had a series of meetings with Pam Atchison and Gene Eddy. Using the amenities funds from SGA that have to be spent on things like shelters, benches, etc. Eddy was willing to work with SRAC to design shelters. Pam was already working on a design competition for shelters. Gene didn’t want anything that would require high maintenance, though, and liked the concrete mosaic benches already around town. Using the festivals in festival plaza would be good where neighborhood associations can come and work on their benches. Jennette has talked with Donna Curtis (with whom she works at Shreveport Green) who has committed to planting 10-20 trees at stops in November. Pam said SRAC is proposing a landscaping ordinance to the city that includes public art. It was noted that it’s not clear how they’ll get the money if its not through a public bond issue; but Garrett said it’s part of SRAC’s money that it would receive from the city from the Riverfront Gaming Fund. The city is drafting a budget now and all those non-governmental functions like SRAC and the Sports Authority, etc., have submitted their requests on August 31st. The cost for the public art is 1.5% of the total money in the bond package for infrastructure projects.
David mentioned that we should get in on asking for projects. Pam needs letters of support of the ordinance.
Pam wants the benches to go through her design competition in conjunction with Moonbot at ArtSpace, and the public will invited to observe the process. We would like the benches to come out of the exhibit space and be used.
This is a collaboration between non-profits and neighborhood associations and other groups and individuals to contribute.
The group then brainstormed on a name for the project of collaborative design and construction
Artsy Greener Better Bus Stops
Coalition for Improved Transit Infrastructure
The group settled on: Coalition for Better Bus Stops
“Art in Transit” is the name of SRAC’s design competition.
We will now be able to approach other organizations, schools, churches, etc., and invite them to participate through donations or hands-on work; especially places along the line, e.g., Willis Knighton on the Linwood line. All the hospitals would be good candidates for that.
April is meeting with the recruitment director at U.S. Support Company at West Bert Kouns and Pines Road. They have 1,400 people on their employment roles and take low skill applicants and pay them better than minimum wage there. April wants Sportran to extend one of their routes to their. Their employees don’t have expensive cars and would often need public transit. They’re also planning a new expansion. David noted that’s good, since we have lost some jobs in customer service call centers, and those are good places to work when you’re going to school. In the past they’ve talked about building a fitness center, apartments on site, bringing in a caterer, etc.
Jennette and Steph asked about extending lines and Gene said they have binders full of research on extending lines, and they show that there’s a lot of bureaucracy and cost involved in extending lines. It sounded like they had looked into it thoroughly and rejected it.
Going to city leaders and asking them for more money to allow Sportran to extend its lines is what Gene would ask us to do. Feico mentioned you could get grant money for van pools or car pools just to/from the nearest bus stop. David said you’ll find 2 or 3 more employers that will move to West Shreveport real soon and Gene will have to address the demand.
At the forum all the city council candidates were for better stops, but didn’t say we should raise taxes to do it.
David said the city got between .5 and 1 million to do landscaping and make the interstate prettier; whatever that means, “landscaping” we can get in on the front side of that; David serves on the review board for landscapers/architects and engineers; they’re going to submit plans to spend that money. If there’s a group that’s interested in greenways, we can put in our two cents on how that money should be spent. Others said they thought the land around interstates was off-limits for greenway and bike path development.
Feico mentioned the head of the housing authority Richard Harrington, is one of 10 in the U.S. to go to South Africa to an international symposium on public housing, and he should be congratulated.
We videotaped the pub quiz, and before the battery ran out it’s 2 megabytes. Steph is trying to cut it up but will ask for Robert’s assistance.
Congratulations to all for the forum and ride/walk...
Jennette said to call Shreveport Green for hazardous waste drop off, such as paints and computer materials.
Also, people can drop off books at Cohabitat for the prisoner book drive.
At the Taylor town store there’s a world premiere screening of the Pork Belly Project about a belly dancing group; 7:00 Saturday the 18th.
The next meeting will be next Monday, as usual, 6:00 to 7:00 in Centenary Square.
In attendance: Stephanie Pedro, David Aubrey, Susan Fontaine, Garrett Johnson, April Waren, Jennette Ginsburg, Maurice Loridans, Loren Demerath
The group discussed making ABS letterhead for thank you cards, but decided just plain will work for now to send to the candidates involved in the forum.
Jennette Ginsburg and Stephanie Pedro reported on meetings with Pam Atchison of SRAC, Gene Eddy of Sportran, and Donna of Shreveport Green on the bus project. Jennette and Steph have had a series of meetings with Pam Atchison and Gene Eddy. Using the amenities funds from SGA that have to be spent on things like shelters, benches, etc. Eddy was willing to work with SRAC to design shelters. Pam was already working on a design competition for shelters. Gene didn’t want anything that would require high maintenance, though, and liked the concrete mosaic benches already around town. Using the festivals in festival plaza would be good where neighborhood associations can come and work on their benches. Jennette has talked with Donna Curtis (with whom she works at Shreveport Green) who has committed to planting 10-20 trees at stops in November. Pam said SRAC is proposing a landscaping ordinance to the city that includes public art. It was noted that it’s not clear how they’ll get the money if its not through a public bond issue; but Garrett said it’s part of SRAC’s money that it would receive from the city from the Riverfront Gaming Fund. The city is drafting a budget now and all those non-governmental functions like SRAC and the Sports Authority, etc., have submitted their requests on August 31st. The cost for the public art is 1.5% of the total money in the bond package for infrastructure projects.
David mentioned that we should get in on asking for projects. Pam needs letters of support of the ordinance.
Pam wants the benches to go through her design competition in conjunction with Moonbot at ArtSpace, and the public will invited to observe the process. We would like the benches to come out of the exhibit space and be used.
This is a collaboration between non-profits and neighborhood associations and other groups and individuals to contribute.
The group then brainstormed on a name for the project of collaborative design and construction
Artsy Greener Better Bus Stops
Coalition for Improved Transit Infrastructure
The group settled on: Coalition for Better Bus Stops
“Art in Transit” is the name of SRAC’s design competition.
We will now be able to approach other organizations, schools, churches, etc., and invite them to participate through donations or hands-on work; especially places along the line, e.g., Willis Knighton on the Linwood line. All the hospitals would be good candidates for that.
April is meeting with the recruitment director at U.S. Support Company at West Bert Kouns and Pines Road. They have 1,400 people on their employment roles and take low skill applicants and pay them better than minimum wage there. April wants Sportran to extend one of their routes to their. Their employees don’t have expensive cars and would often need public transit. They’re also planning a new expansion. David noted that’s good, since we have lost some jobs in customer service call centers, and those are good places to work when you’re going to school. In the past they’ve talked about building a fitness center, apartments on site, bringing in a caterer, etc.
Jennette and Steph asked about extending lines and Gene said they have binders full of research on extending lines, and they show that there’s a lot of bureaucracy and cost involved in extending lines. It sounded like they had looked into it thoroughly and rejected it.
Going to city leaders and asking them for more money to allow Sportran to extend its lines is what Gene would ask us to do. Feico mentioned you could get grant money for van pools or car pools just to/from the nearest bus stop. David said you’ll find 2 or 3 more employers that will move to West Shreveport real soon and Gene will have to address the demand.
At the forum all the city council candidates were for better stops, but didn’t say we should raise taxes to do it.
David said the city got between .5 and 1 million to do landscaping and make the interstate prettier; whatever that means, “landscaping” we can get in on the front side of that; David serves on the review board for landscapers/architects and engineers; they’re going to submit plans to spend that money. If there’s a group that’s interested in greenways, we can put in our two cents on how that money should be spent. Others said they thought the land around interstates was off-limits for greenway and bike path development.
Feico mentioned the head of the housing authority Richard Harrington, is one of 10 in the U.S. to go to South Africa to an international symposium on public housing, and he should be congratulated.
We videotaped the pub quiz, and before the battery ran out it’s 2 megabytes. Steph is trying to cut it up but will ask for Robert’s assistance.
Congratulations to all for the forum and ride/walk...
Jennette said to call Shreveport Green for hazardous waste drop off, such as paints and computer materials.
Also, people can drop off books at Cohabitat for the prisoner book drive.
At the Taylor town store there’s a world premiere screening of the Pork Belly Project about a belly dancing group; 7:00 Saturday the 18th.
The next meeting will be next Monday, as usual, 6:00 to 7:00 in Centenary Square.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
CoHabitat Shreveport: Pub Style Candidates Quiz
About 60 people Thursday night enjoyed food, drink, live music, and some very interesting responses to questions by City Council and Mayoral Candidates, wrote Loren Demerath of the Pub Quiz Style Forum produced by A Better Shreveport last week.
Questions were projected on a screen while candidates mingled in the crowd and music played. After each song, candidates went to the front of the room to take turns answering the question.
Thanks to Eagle Distributing for the beer, April Waren, for the wine and delicious, homemade "breads n' spreads," John Grindley, for the use of Cohabitat and other wine donations, and to Stephanie Pedro and everyone else in ABS for organizing it.
But thank you, most of all, to the candidates who participated: City Council candidates Jake Toloso of District C, Deanna Candler of District D, and Deborah Allen, Jeff Everson, and Craig Lee of District B; and, mayoral candidates Dana Bruhnke, David Cox, and Tim Goeders.
Read more detail in the Demerath summary below.
Questions were projected on a screen while candidates mingled in the crowd and music played. After each song, candidates went to the front of the room to take turns answering the question.
Thanks to Eagle Distributing for the beer, April Waren, for the wine and delicious, homemade "breads n' spreads," John Grindley, for the use of Cohabitat and other wine donations, and to Stephanie Pedro and everyone else in ABS for organizing it.
But thank you, most of all, to the candidates who participated: City Council candidates Jake Toloso of District C, Deanna Candler of District D, and Deborah Allen, Jeff Everson, and Craig Lee of District B; and, mayoral candidates Dana Bruhnke, David Cox, and Tim Goeders.
Read more detail in the Demerath summary below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)