Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Select Board prohibition against non-regulatory meetings during the state of emergency, the Bicycle Committee was unable to meet from March 2020 through January 2021.
Awards & Recognition
Provincetown’s road network ranked #2 nationwide in this year’s nationwide PeopleForBikes City Ratings program. The town also ranked #11 overall out of over 590 places they reviewed.
In their analysis of our streets, it is clear that creating safe, low-speed, low-stress bicycle connections across Route 6 to the Cape Cod National Seashore remain our biggest opportunities for improvement.
Road Projects
The reconstruction of the Bradford Street/Prince Street intersection added an uphill climbing lane and a new spot for an accessible bike rack at the entrance to the Grace Hall Lot.
We are looking forward to construction of long-overdue Conwell Street bike lane and sidewalk project this spring. This project will add a sidewalk on one side and bike lanes to both sides of Conwell Street between Cemetery Road and Route 6.
The Department of Public Works submitted a capital plan request for funds to begin the design of bike and pedestrian improvements along Race Point Road from Route 6 to the Seashore boundary. There have been many requests at annual Traffic Hearings for improvements to this roadway, and we expect to see a robust public discussion on how to best serve the needs of residents and visitors.
The Shank Painter Road/Route 6 project design is continuing to be refined by DPW, and we look forward to seeing this go to construction in 2025.
The full text of the Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan outlines many of the projects that are in the pipeline and is available online: http://bikept.org/ocbpmp
Education & Encouragement
This year we continued our education and encouragement efforts with a print run of 25,000 copies of the Provincetown Bicycle Map & Safety Guide. With this printing we have distributed over 225,000 free copies of the guide since 2011.
Our annual Bike Month activities planned for May and Light Bright Bike Ride on New Year’s Eve were postponed due to the pandemic.
The Bike Provincetown web site has a wealth of bike-related information and we encourage everyone to visit it at http://bikeprovincetown.org. There you’ll find bike rack map, the application for the bike rack grant program, suggestions on choosing bike racks, and info on bike projects planned around town. You can also find frequent updates on our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/bikeprovincetown
Feel free to reach out via email (info@bikeprovincetown.org), on social media, or virtually at any meeting. We typically meet on the second Thursday of each month at 2pm, and encourage public comment and participation throughout our meetings.
Awards & Recognition
Provincetown’s road network ranked #1 nationwide in this year’s PeopleForBikes City Ratings program. Of the more than 570 places they evaluated, Provincetown’s high density of bikeable destinations catapulted the town far into the lead. Provincetown also claimed the highest overall rating of any community in Massachusetts.
In their analysis of our streets, it was clear that creating safe, low-speed, low-stress bicycle connections between the town and the Cape Cod National Seashore is our biggest opportunity for improvement. Other top recommendations included adopting a town-wide speed limit for streets where no speed limit is posted and establishing a bike share program.
The Committee continues to work to implement recommendations from the League of American Bicyclists as we look to upgrade from our Silver-Level award to one of the higher levels. Provincetown is one of only 12 communities in Massachusetts designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community, with Cambridge and Somerville as the two Massachusetts places ahead of us in the rankings.
Bike Racks & Repair Stations
The latest round of bike racks was installed this summer, adding over 40 new bike spots in the center of town including the Alden Street Parking Lot, the Bradford St./Standish St. intersection, and at the new waterfront park on Commercial St. Special thanks to the Department of Public Works staff for their hard work assembling and installing this equipment.
Businesses that installed new bike racks this year included the Provincetown Commons, CVS, and the Provincetown Brewing Company.
The Bike Parking Map is available online and includes over 100 bike rack locations, the public repair stations and air pump locations, the bike shops and bike rental locations, and occasional construction alerts: http://bikept.org/map
Safety
Town has more than its share of bike crashes for its size, but we are fortunate that most of them do not result in serious injuries. Commercial Street and the Province Lands Bike Trail remain the top locations for injuries, so we remind everyone to remain alert and slow down. This year’s crash summary (based on the public police logs) shows that the total number of reported crashes in 2019 was down 30% from last year, with the number of reported injuries remaining the same:
Road Projects
The Committee continues to encourage town to move forward with funding and construction of the long-overdue Conwell Street bike lane and sidewalk project, which was approved by the Select Board in 2015 but has been stuck in process. This project will add a sidewalk on one side and bike lanes to both sides of Conwell Street between Cemetery Road and Route 6.
Updated wayfinding signage went up along Bradford St. on the “bike route” poles to indicate distances to common destinations. A major update to the Commercial St. two-way bicycle signage was approved by the Select Board at the fall Traffic Hearing to help clarify and better communicate the street’s unique two-way bicycle traffic regulation.
Regional efforts of the Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan continued with the release of a Cape Cod Commission study report on Route 6 Bike Lanes. The Committee also met in joint session with the Truro Bike & Walkways Committee to coordinate efforts to improve safety across town borders. The full text of the master plan is available online: http://bikept.org/ocbpmp
Education & Encouragement
This year we continued our education and encouragement efforts with a print run of 25,000 copies of the Provincetown Bicycle Map & Safety Guide. With this printing we have distributed over 200,000 copies of the guide since 2011.
Our third annual Bike Month in May was another success with a Bike-to-Work coffee hour, Blessing of the Bikes with Roger Chauvette at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, a Bike Repair Clinic, and the new “Bicycle Culture on the Outer Cape” open-call art exhibit at the Provincetown Commons. Bike Month is a great early kick-off to the summer season, so please reach out if you’d like to volunteer or your organization or business is interested in collaborating on an event. The 2020 Bike Month schedule is available online at https://bikept.org/bikemonth
The Committee hosted Galen Mook, Executive Director of MassBike, and Kristine Keeney, New England Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway, as they finished their ride from Providence to Provincetown. We discussed possible partnerships and barriers that we need to overcome in the near-term to continue progress on creating a safe bike connection from Provincetown to the rest of Cape Cod.
Our annual Light Bright Bike Ride on New Year’s Eve was a resounding success, with an enthusiastic turnout and a number of repeat attendees from out of town. The Provincetown Public Library hosted bike and helmet decorating prior to the ride, local businesses sponsored the ride with contribution of lights and prizes, and the Provincetown Business Guild promoted the event as part of the First Light program.
The Bike Provincetown web site has a wealth of bike-related information and we encourage everyone to visit it at http://bikeprovincetown.org. There you’ll find bike rack map, the application for the bike rack grant program, suggestions on choosing bike racks, info on bike projects planned around town, and more. You can also find frequent updates on our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/bikeprovincetown
Feel free to reach out via email, social media, or in person at any meeting. We typically meet on the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM at the Maushope Community Room, 44 Harry Kemp Way, and encourage public comment and participation throughout our meetings.
Provincetown earned a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of American Bicyclists
Awards & Recognition
In May 2018, Provincetown was awarded a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community Award by the League of American Bicyclists. This level of achievement is unusual for a small town, and it is especially rare for a first-time application to be recognized at any award level. We are now one of only 12 communities in Massachusetts with an award, with Cambridge and Somerville as the only Massachusetts places ahead of us in the rankings.
This award really speaks to the past and present support by town residents, elected officials, town boards, and departments to maintain bicycling as a safe and attractive transportation option. Provincetown continues to lead the Commonwealth with the highest rate of bike-to-work commuters, which places us among a handful of towns and cities nationwide where a large proportion of people ride bicycles to work year-round.
Provincetown’s road network was evaluated this year by PeopleForBikes as part of their City Ratings program. Of the more than 500 places they studied, Provincetown ranked second in the nation for bicycle-friendly road networks and number one among places with populations under 100,000. In their analysis of our streets, it was clear that creating safe, low-speed, low-stress bicycle connections between the town and the Cape Cod National Seashore is our biggest opportunity for improvement.
Bike Racks & Repair Stations
Provincetown was awarded a grant from the Cape Cod Commission for the purchase of bike racks and bike repair stations. There are now bike racks at many town landings, all recreation areas, and every town building. Repair stations are available year-round at the West End Boat Launch parking lot and the Johnson Street parking lot. Special thanks to the Department of Public Works staff for their hard work assembling and installing this equipment.
In addition, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority installed our third public bike repair station adjacent to its bus shelter at MacMillan Pier.
The town’s Planning Board has continued to ask developers to include bike racks in projects they review, so you’ll be seeing new bike racks at Provincetown Commons, CVS, the former Tedeschi’s, the Pilgrim Monument’s funicular, the future Police Station, and the East End Market.
We awarded a matching grant to the Center for Coastal Studies to help fund a new public bike rack at their entrance off of the Grace Hall parking lot.
The Bike Parking Map is available online and includes over 100 bike rack locations, the three public repair stations and air pumps, the five seasonal bike shops, and occasional construction alerts: http://bikept.org/map
Safety
Town has more than its share of bike crashes for its size, but we are fortunate that most of them do not result in serious injuries. Commercial Street and the Province Lands Bike Trail remain the top locations for injuries, so we remind everyone to remain alert and slow down. This year’s crash summary (based on the public police logs) shows that the total number of reported crashes in 2018 was about average for recent years, with reported injuries down 40% from last year:
Provincetown Bike Crash Summary chart, 2014-2018
Road Projects
The new climbing lane along Bradford Street from Shank Painter Road up the hill to Prince Street debuted this year to rave reviews. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and to the Department of Public Works for their attention to detail in making it a success.
The Committee is encouraging town to move forward with funding and construction of the long-overdue Conwell Street bike lane and sidewalk project, which was approved by the Select Board in 2015 but has been stuck in the state department of transportation’s approval process. This project will add a sidewalk on one side and bike lanes to both sides of Conwell Street between Cemetery Road and Route 6.
We continued to advocate for safety improvements on Shank Painter Road and Route 6 and participated in numerous information sessions and public meetings to provide feedback to town staff, the project engineers, the Cape Cod Commission, and MassDOT.
Regional efforts of the Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan continued with a Cape Cod Commission study of alternatives for a multi-use path to connect from the Route 6 bike lanes in Truro through town to Herring Cove. The Committee also provided public comment to the state Department of Conservation & Recreation to support the 2-mile extension of the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Wellfleet. The full text of the master plan is available online: http://bikept.org/ocbpmp
Education & Encouragement
This year we continued our education and encouragement efforts with a print run of 25,000 copies of the Provincetown Bicycle Map & Safety Guide. We adopted two abandoned news boxes (at the Johnson Street parking lot and next to the Coast Guard parking kiosk) to make the guide readily available year-round.
Bike Month in May was another success with a Bike-to-Work coffee hour, Blessing of the Bikes with Reverend Kate at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, a Bike Repair Clinic, the Bikes & Books exhibit at the Provincetown Public Library curated by library director Amy Raff, and the annual Children’s Bike Rodeo in collaboration with Provincetown Schools, the Recreation Department, and the Police Department. Banners at Town Hall celebrated Bike Month, the Select Board proclaimed May as Bike Month, and we recognized the 40th anniversary of the 135-mile Claire Saltonstall Bike Route from Boston to town. Bike Month is a great early kick-off to the summer season, so please reach out if you’d like to volunteer or your organization or business is interested in collaborating on an event.
Banners across Commercial Street reminded everyone to “Slow Down” and “Light up the Night” to encourage using lights at night. We handed out hundreds of bike lights this year at the annual World Fest at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House and tabling at the Fire House. We also received generous donations toward lights from Ptown Bikes and Trek Bikes.
A pilot test of wayfinding directional plaques went up on the 14 “bike route” poles along Bradford Street. This is an effort to make it clear how easy it is to get around by bike with average time estimates for reaching common destinations by bike. We will be installing revised versions in the spring for an extended pilot in 2019 and welcome your feedback.
In the fall we held our first Bike Your Park Ride to celebrate bicycling in the Cape Cod National Seashore with a ride to Beech Forest and hosted MassBike’s executive Director Galen Mook as our instructor for a two-day Smart Cycling course. Our annual Light Bright Bike Ride on New Year’s Eve was a resounding success, with an enthusiastic turnout. The Provincetown Public Library hosted bike and helmet decorating prior to the ride, Mussel Beach sponsored the ride with a generous contribution, and the Provincetown Business Guild promoted the event as part of the First Light program.
The new Bike Provincetown web site has a wealth of bike-related information and we encourage everyone to visit it at http://BikeProvincetown.org. There you’ll find bike rack map, the application for the bike rack grant program, suggestions on choosing bike racks, info on bike projects planned around town, and the calendar of local fun rides that we organize throughout the year. You can also find more frequent updates on our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/bikeprovincetown
This year we welcomed three new members with Karen Cappotto, Tracy Katchers-Anders, and Andrew Kinder joining the committee.
Feel free to reach out via email, social media, or in person at any meeting. We typically meet on the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM at the Maushope Community Room, 44 Harry Kemp Way, and encourage public comment and participation throughout our meetings.
Rik Ahlberg, Chair
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2017
Major Accomplishments in 2017
This year we celebrated Bike Month in May for the first time, with a series of events in collaboration with MassBike and MassDOT.
The multi-year Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan process came to a close early in the year and the Master Plan was adopted by the Board of Selectmen at the Fall Traffic Hearing. This plan gives town a framework for moving forward with bicycle improvements in town and a reference document to measure progress into the future.
Our advocacy for “climbing lanes” was successful with the approval of a new climbing lane on Bradford Street up the hill from Central St. to Carver St. This section of road has one of the highest number of motor vehicle crashes and is the most challenging hill for bicycling in town. We saw an upcoming repaving project as an opportunity for a Complete Streets approach to improving safety and asked for a bike lane to be included in the layout of the road. The climbing lane will allow motor vehicles to pass slower-moving people on bikes and help reduce the amount of passing over the yellow center line. The selectmen voted 4-1 to approve the new bike lane and it will be painted in the spring when this section of Bradford Street is repaved.
Provincetown was recognized as one of the most bikeable places in the United States by PeopleForBikes.org’s ranking of 303 cities and towns. We scored 79 on their “bicycle network analysis” scale, in a tie for first place nationwide and ahead of well-known bike towns such as Davis, CA. For more details, visit http://peopleforbikes.org/bna/
Outreach & Education
The updated Provincetown Bicycle Map & Safety Guide brochure went to print with its annual print run of 25,000 copies. Two new street banners went up on Commercial Street during the summer months reminding everyone to “slow down” and “light up the night” to encourage bike light use.
Bike Month in May was a smashing success, and for the first time the Board of Selectmen issued a proclamation recognizing Bike Month. We put up new “Celebrate Bike Month” banners on the light poles in Portuguese Square next to Town Hall along with banners celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Province Lands Bike Trail. Events included a Bike to Work Day breakfast at Town Hall; a bike repair clinic with demonstrations of common repairs; the Blessing of the Bikes by Reverend Kate on the lawn at the UU Church; and the Children's Bike Rodeo in collaboration with the Police Department. In June, we again participated in the annual WorldFest event to reach out to seasonal workers with the bike safety quiz, free bike lights, and free bike safety checks from Ptown Bikes.
Bike Racks
Town Meeting approved our Community Preservation Grant application for funding to purchase new bike racks and two bike repair stations. Those will be installed around town in the spring of 2018. The biggest new installation will take place at the Johnson Street Parking Lot, where we will install a repair station and increase bike parking from 4 spaces to 40 spaces.
Looking Forward
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Clarie Saltonstall Memorial Bikeway – the state’s only numbered bike route (MA-1) – which runs 135 miles from Boston to Provincetown. Look for our banners and celebrations throughout Bike Month in May and into the summer season.
This spring we will submit our application to the League of American Bicyclists for designation as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” to recognize the work that has been done and receive feedback on policies and efforts that would help make Provincetown the most welcoming and safest place for bicycling on Cape Cod.
The Cape Cod Commission is kicking off a study of a possible reduction of lanes on Route 6 to allow space for a multi-use path to create a safe bikeway from the Truro town line all the way to Herring Cove Beach.
We will continue to advise the Board of Selectmen on how to make riding a bike safer while meeting the town’s environmental goals and reducing congestion on our narrow roads.
The committee is always looking for new members and welcomes input from the community at large, so please feel free to reach out in person at one of our meetings, via email, or online through our Facebook page at http://BikeProvincetown.org
Rik Ahlberg, Chair
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2016
Major Accomplishments in 2016
This year saw more bikes than ever in town, with a peak of 380 bicycles per hour counted on Commercial Street at Winthrop Street. Successes included painting the Town’s rst marked bike lanes on Shank Painter Road, adding shared lane (“sharrow”) pavement markings on Shank Painter Road and Conwell Street, adoption of a parking ne for blocking a marked bike lane, and installation of 60 new bike parking spaces. The bike map and safety brochure was redesigned with more complete and accurate information than ever before. We continued to participate in the Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan process, collaborate with other Town boards and local nonprofits, and advocate for construction of the long-delayed Conwell Street Bicycle Improvement Project.
Outreach & Education
The new bike map and safety guide brochure went to print with its annual print run of 25,000 copies, making it one of the most widely distributed publications in town. We commissioned new illustrations from a local artist which was used in the brochure and will be seen in street banners and other materials in the coming year. Education efforts also included a new rack card for tour guides and informational stickers placed on bike racks. Outreach continued with participation in the new Children’s Bike Rodeo in May and the annual WorldFest in June to reach out to seasonal workers with the bike safety quiz, free bike lights, and free bike safety checks. Tabling at the Firehouse was new this year, with three days outreach during peak weeks in July, August and September. To address an outbreak of bike theft early in the summer season, we added educational stickers to bike racks asking “Did you lock your bike?” to remind everyone to use their locks. A new “Bright Light Bike Ride” was very well attended as part of the First Light celebrations to encourage lights on bikes and continued bike riding in the mild winter weather.
Bike Racks
In collaboration with Provincetown 365, the 60 new bike parking spaces installed this year made a considerable dent in getting bikes off the sidewalks and street trees. An additional 40 bike spaces were approved at the Traf c Hearing and a Community Preservation Act funding request was submitted for racks and bicycle repair stations. We are continuing to identify new locations for racks throughout Town, such as those recommended in the Open Space Plan and Harbor Plan and at business locations in the center of Town. These new racks bring us to just over 325 bike parking spaces on Town property.
Looking Forward
2017 will see the publication of the Cape Cod Commission’s Outer Cape Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, which we will present to the Board of Selectmen for adoption. We will continue to advocate for “climbing lanes” to be added on uphill segments of Bradford Street as it is repaved and begin implementing more of the recommendations in the Outer Cape plan. Participation in “Bike Month” in May will include new events to engage residents and early visitors before the busy summer kicks in. In the fall we expect to apply to the League of American Bicyclists for designation as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” to recognize the work that has been done and receive feedback on policies and efforts that would help make Provincetown the most welcoming and safest place for bicycling on Cape Cod. We always welcome input from the community, so please feel free to reach out in person at one of our meetings or online through our Facebook page at http://fb.com/BikeProvincetown
Rik Ahlberg, Chair
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2015
The past year has been quite dynamic for us. In some ways, that has been especially good for the environment, and in others, the sheer volume of bicycles has raised some issues. One might say we are a victim of our own success. For a myriad of reasons, bicycling is here to stay and we will need to adjust our perspective to integrate bicycle use into our transportation vision.
On the regional level, we have participated in the Outer Cape Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan (OCBPMP) Task Force that has been meeting for many years now to complete the Rail Trail from Lecount Hollow in Wellfleet to MacMillan Pier in Provincetown. The process is complicated because portions of the rail bed through Wellfleet and Truro have been turned over to private ownership. In Provincetown, we have a significant portion intact but must still decide how we will connect at either end at the Truro line and to MacMillan Pier. The current goal is to complete the plan by December 2016.
A Master Plan for bike routes within Provincetown is also under consideration. This plan hopes to offer an overview of the needed improvements for both cyclist and pedestrian safety. Components will include signage, climbing lanes and bicycle parking areas. Essential to its success will be a large consideration for proper education of the cycling public—both local and tourist.
This past year our committee has conducted an extensive traffic study of Commercial and Bradford Street to create a data base for future action. Street by street, we have identified both assets and liabilities for effective design. We have worked with Provincetown 365 to identify bike parking areas for development; we have conducted educational tables for the Year Rounders, World Fest, and school children education via our Police Department liaison. We have also sponsored an evaluation of the Rail Trail potential route with MassBike and East Coast Greenway, both of which have provided us with an important perspective beyond what we see on a local level.
We are not standing still by any means, and the coming year will begin to show progress based on the solid groundwork we have already laid. Our meetings are always open and we welcome community input.
Roger Chauvette, Chair
Annual Meeting - Monday, April 6, 2015
Article 34. General Bylaw Amendment: Section 13-5 Prohibited Use of Bicycles.
(Deletions shown in bold and brackets and new text shown as underlined)
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Provincetown General Bylaws by amending Section 13-5-1-2 to read as follows:
13-5-1-2 Procedure
Bicycle Parking On Public Property
a. Bicycles are permitted to park [against a street sign pole, or] on a bicycle rack or other facility specifically intended for that purpose.
b. Under no circumstances shall a bicycle obstruct the pedestrian path of travel or handicap access ramps. A parked bicycle must leave at least 36 inches of an obstruction free path of travel.
c. Bicycles are not permitted to be parked to: street signs, fire hydrants, hand railings, benches, trees, trash receptacles and parking meters. Bicycles in violation of the above regulations shall be tagged and removed immediately if presenting a public safety hazard as noted in this section.
or to take any other action relative thereto.
[Requested by Bicycle Committee]
Board of selectmen recommends: 3-1-1
Rik Ahlberg moved that the Town vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town as printed in the warrant under Article 34. Motion Does not Pass.
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2014
In 2014, the Provincetown Bicycling Committee went through a major shift in membership and is now in a position to move ahead in 2015. The Committee began by absorbing major data and vision statements from a Bicycling Summit held at the Cape Cod Community College. Much of that information provided a foundation to help us design and develop informed strategies for the next few years. We also updated the “Bicycling in Provincetown” brochure and reprinted it for wide distribution. We added the location of all the public bike racks available in town and modified the information panels on state laws and on the peculiarities of Commercial Street.
We also got approval from the state, with help from the Provincetown Police Department, to create a policy for the Removal and disposal of abandoned bicycles. In May we participated again in the World Festival for foreign workers and handed out bicycling accessories in return for participants taking our 10 Question Quiz directed at educating the community on bike safety and state laws. During the summer months, on various days, we also conducted actual bike traffic counts on Commercial St. In a fairly consistent way, we found an increase of 40 bikes per hour over the previous year, bringing the total to about 325 bikes/hour. We also have met with the Police Department representative to assess the number of accidents that were bicyclist related. All of this will go into our plans for 2015.
Working with DPW, we have also seen to the installation of a dozen of so signs at the foot of feeder side streets that end at Commercial St. indicating Two-Way bicycle traffic. We have also seen to adding signs at both ends of Commercial indicating Two-Way traffic. Work also continued this past year on the development of the Rail Trail from Lecount Hollow in Wellfleet to MacMillan Pier in Provincetown. We hope to have a Master Plan finished by the end of 2015, and then we can proceed by increment to its physical development.
There will be at least one more public meeting for public input at some point in 2015. Finally, the Traffic Light intersection at Route 6 and Conwell has entered the design phase so as to accommodate a bike lane/Share-the-Road plan from Beech Forest to Cemetery Road. This will eventually be part of the Bike Lane pattern in Provincetown. Also completed this past year was the paving of the 600’ stretch at the end of the Bradford St. Extension to the Bike Lane in the National Seashore at Moors Rd. All in all, a good year with a lot of footwork designed to keep us moving toward the esteemed status of a “Bikeable Community” in Massachusetts.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Chauvette
Chair
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2013
* Bike Rack Installations: We have worked hard to install adequate locations for bicycle parking in popular areas of town in a partnership with local businesses.
* Abandoned Bicycle Removal Procedure: Working with the Department of Public Works, we developed a policy for the removal of abandoned bicycles in town. Through a Facebook page (Bike Provincetown) we have also posted pictures of lost and found bicycles.
* Existing State Laws Enforcement: A small state grant was partly used to help educate and lightly enforce bicyclists on the existing state laws. Part of the grant was returned when the large portion of the enforcement addressed motorists instead of cyclists.
* Bicycling Roadway Signage: After repeated efforts to properly mark existing bike lanes, we were recently informed that Provincetown and Barnstable had complex issues with marking bike paths, but new yellow caution signs (Share the Road) will appear in 2014.
Education
* Provincetown Bicycle Map and Safety Guide: This year we reedited the brochure to include the current bike laws, town map and the location of the bike racks.
* World Fest Mass. Bike Week Education Effort: A concerted effort was made to educate International and local bicyclists on state laws via a quiz and conversations. Nearly 100 respondents were quizzed, and safety checks on bikes were conducted in the three-hour period. Bells, lights and reflectors were handed out to those who filled out the questionnaire.
Research
* Evolution of the Rail Trail to MacMillan Pier: We have begun work of planning a dedicated Bike-Pedestrian location for the Rail Trail.
* Lower Cape Joint Task Force on Bicycle-Pedestrian Pathways Master Plan: Long title for a forward thinking group working with the Cape Cod Commission and the Cape Cod National Seashore on a Master Plan that will cover all of Cape Cod.
* Network of Lanes and Pathway Locations: Ongoing research and development on bike traffic on Commercial, Bradford & Conwell Streets & US Route 6 and means of protecting cyclists on the roadways. Also work of the interaction between cyclists and motorists.
* Joint Meeting with Truro Bicycling Committee was held to address mutual concerns.
* Participation in the Cape Cod Bike Summit at Cape Cod Community College.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Chauvette
Chair
Annual Town Meeting - Monday, April 1, 2013
Town meeting voted to adopt a bylaw regulating bicycle parking and abandoned bicycles:
Article 23. General By-law Amendment: Prohibited Use of Bicycles.
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Provincetown General By-laws by inserting a new Section 13-5, including amendments or modifications thereto, to read as follows:
13-5 Prohibited Use of Bicycles
13-5-1 Bicycle Removal Program
13-5-1-1 Purpose
The Town of Provincetown regulates bicycle parking for short term storage only. For the purposes of this by-law, the term “Short-term parking” shall be defined as parking a bicycle at a Town bicycle rack for a period of less than seven (7) continuous days.
The principal intent of these regulations is two-fold: first, to ensure that short-term parking for bicyclists is available in the town and second, to ensure that bicycles are parked in a safe and secure manner. One of the important ways of meeting these intentions is to remove abandoned bicycles that are taking up valuable spaces which could be used by other bicyclists. In addition, it should be clear that the bicycle spaces in the town are not intended for long-term storage. Finally, the regulations address the fact that parking a bicycle to some fixtures is not acceptable: trees can be damaged, benches rendered unusable, or hand railings be unavailable to those who need them most. Bicycles in violation of these regulations should be reported to the Provincetown Police Department.
An abandoned bicycle (that meets the established criteria), or one that is in violation of the time (7 days) restrictions will be tagged and removed. A bicycle determined to be inoperative will be removed by the Department of Public Works for Disposal. A bicycle determined to be operative will be held at the Provincetown Police Department of 30 days.
13-5-1-2 Procedure
Bicycle Parking On Public Property
a. Bicycles are permitted to park against a street sign pole, or on a bicycle rack or other facility specifically intended for that purpose.
b. Under no circumstances shall a bicycle obstruct the pedestrian path of travel or handicap access ramps. A parked bicycle must leave at least 36 inches of an obstruction free path of travel.
c. Bicycles are not permitted to be parked to: fire hydrants, hand railings, benches, trees, trash receptacles and parking meters. Bicycles in violation of the above regulations shall be tagged and removed immediately if presenting a public safety hazard as noted in this section.
d. Bicycles shall not be parked longer than seven consecutive days at the same location on any bike rack, public way or sidewalk. If the bike is determined to be working bike, a tag will be affixed, and after a 72 hour time period be removed for storage purposes. The Department of Public Works (DPW) will transport the bike to Police Headquarters, and the sector officer will generate a report, identifying the bike and removal date. The report will include make, model, color, serial number (if possible) and a brief description of the bikes condition. The serial number will be checked with the Criminal Justice Information System. The Property /Evidence Officer will log the bike into the IMC System and secure the bike for safekeeping in a designated storage area for a period of thirty days. If the bike is not claimed in this period, the Property/ Evidence Officer will release the bike for auction.
e. No motorized vehicles shall be parked on a bicycle rack or other facility specifically designed and intended for bicycle parking. Violators are subject to immediate removal by the Provincetown Police Department. Motorized vehicles parked on sidewalks will be issued a parking citation and towed.
Abandoned Or Inoperable Bicycle On Public Property
A bicycle with one or more of the following defects will be considered abandoned and can be removed and destroyed:
(a) No tires or wheels
(b) Have warped wheels or frame
(c) Missing, rusted or broken chain in such a state that renders the bicycle inoperative.
(d) Missing or warped handle bars
or to take any other action relative thereto.
[Requested by Provincetown Bicycle Committee]
Board of Selectmen Recommends: 5-0-0
Finance Committee Has No Recommendation
Michael Peregon moved that the Town vote to amend the General Bylaws as printed in the warrant under Article 23. Motion Passed.
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Bicycle Committee Annual Report 2012
Be Smart * Be Safe * Be Alert * Be Courteous
It was a busy and productive first full year for the Provincetown Bicycle Committee (BC). A $3,500 gift fund to encourage Provincetown businesses and non-profit organizations to install bike racks on their properties was established in 2012. The purpose was to reduce motor vehicle congestion in town during the busy summer season while allowing easier access to local businesses by providing public bike “parking.” The gift fund contributed up to $350 towards the purchase and installation of a bike rack(s) to any local business and non-profit organization wanting to place one on their property.
The bike rack gift fund was made possible by a grant from the Provincetown Visitor Services Board tourism fund. Funding is still available for the 2013 season and applications can be made on the Bicycle Committee’s web page on the town’s website: www.provincetown-ma.gov/index. In addition, another $2,000 was appropriated by the Visitor Services Board to the Bicycle Committee to install several bike racks in town public areas.
The BC and Cape Cod Commission sponsored an informal gathering at the Crown & Anchor Inn in May for bike committees on the Outer Cape as well as friends and supporters of regional biking. In addition to meeting each other, attendees shared biking stories and discussed the ongoing work to create a bicycle master plan for the Outer Cape.
The BC 2013 budget of $1,900 funded the graphic design and printing of 20,000 Bike Map & Safety Brochures as part of the committee’s ongoing bike safety education effort. The brochures, which included information about local bike routes and state bicycling laws, were widely distributed throughout town. Also in 2012, the BC created a pilot program to help address safety concerns on Commercial Street, which is heavily congested with foot, bike and motor traffic during the tourist season. Bike sharrows – a shared lane street marking indicating two-way bike traffic – were applied at several places along Commercial Street. Special thanks to Julian Popko for creating the template for the bike sharrows.
The BC and Provincetown Police Chief worked together to create a bicycle enforcement/education public outreach project in 2012. Police officers, including summer officers, handed out the Bike Map & Safety Brochure and stopped bicyclists for infractions that included youths riding without helmets, speeding, riding on sidewalks, failure to stop at stop signs, defective equipment, crosswalk violations, and improper operations. The program was deemed a success and plans are underway for the 2013 season that will include issuing “police cards” with infraction check-off boxes to give out as warnings.
Working with the Cape Cod Commission and Cape Cod National Seashore, the Bicycle Committee made a public safety recommendation to the Provincetown Board of Selectmen to create bike/pedestrian lanes on Bradford Street from West Vine to Prince streets to create safer traffic flow. The recommendation received the support of the Provincetown Chief of Police, the Provincetown School Committee, the Provincetown Recreation Department, the Provincetown Board of Health, the chair of the Provincetown Disabilities Commission, the Provincetown Council on Aging, the Provincetown Renewable Energy and Recycling Committee, and the Provincetown Animal Welfare Committee.
Another gift fund, this one for Bicycle Safety and Public Bike Paths, was created and funded in 2012 through a donation program generated by BC member Bill Meadows, owner of Ptown Bikes. Many patrons of the bicycle rental and sales store donated $1 that will go towards purchasing a public safety awareness banner that will be hung over Commercial Street this summer. Bicycle Committee board member Roger Chauvette was appointed by the Board of Selectmen to represent Provincetown on the Outer Cape Master Bike and Pedestrian Plan Committee. Special thanks go to Clay Shoefield of the Cape Cod Commission and Daniel Alexander of the Cape Cod National Seashore for their time and invaluable input throughout the year. Bicycle Committee members in 2012 were Bill Meadows, Jeff Epstein, Michael Peregon, Roger Chauvette, Mary Ann Powers, Douglas Cliggot and Candace Nagle.
Respectfully submitted,
Candace Nagle
Chair
2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011
Special Town Meeting - October 24, 2011
Town meeting voted to establish the Bicycle Committee:
Article 6. Establish Bicycle Committee.
To see if the Town will vote to establish a standing committee of the Town to be known as the “Bicycle Committee” to be comprised of five regular members and one alternate member appointed by the Board Selectmen for three year overlapping terms so arranged that the terms of at least one member shall expire each year.
It shall be the mission of the Bicycle Committee to advise the Board of Selectmen on matters pertaining to the advancement of Provincetown as a Bicycle Friendly Community, including public awareness and education of bike safety programs; Identifying and promoting needed bicycle amenities, facilities, routes, lanes and the elimination of dangerous areas; and to assist in promoting Provincetown as a bike friendly destination;
or to take any take any other action relative thereto.
[Requested by Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen]
BOARD OF SELECTMEN RECOMMENDS: 5-0-0
FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS NO RECOMMENDATION
VSB RECOMMENDS: 5-0-0
David Bedard moved that the Town vote to approve Article 6 as printed in the
warrant. Motion Passed.