Bicycle Alliance member speaks to city council
Peter Engstrom, member of the Madison Pedals and Feet Alliance, spoke at the city council meeting Monday about bicycling in Madison.
Engstrom said the city’s narrow roads and heavy traffic are unsafe for bicyclists.
“The city provides no alternative to the roads for bicyclists, then the city is not serving well that population of its citizens,” Engstrom said. “I want to encourage the mayor and this administration to do more for citizens in Madison that want to bicycle or walk around the town.”
Engstrom listed projects that he said would help his cause of providing for a safer Madison: 1) Begin a city of Madison bicycle and walking routes map. Alliance members have developed a map that includes a comprehensive listing of connectors between subdivisions and alternate routes to the major east/west and north/south corridors. 2) Join Alliance members at the Madison Street Festival parade Oct. 1. 3) Come to the Alliance monthly meetings at the Public Library. 4) Make the consideration of walkers, bicyclists and bicycle travel as important as other major projects. 5) Try to make all the public schools and the public library walking- and biking-accessible to all citizens. Commit the time and funds.
The Madison Pedals and Feet Alliance was established in September 2010.
The purpose of the Alliance is to work with the city to focus funds for bicycling and walking infrastructure projects and to increase awareness of the safety needs of bicyclists and walkers. Alliance members meet monthly at the public library. Members work with local civic groups, school PTA organizations, and library and school administrators. Members write and submit grant applications for the federally-funded Safe Routes to School program of Alabama.
In other actions, the council approved resolutions:
-accepting into public use and maintenance the subdivision improvements for Waterford Subdivision Phase V.
-accepting into public use and maintenance the subdivision improvements for Ashbury Subdivision Phase 3.
-authorizing execution of application and fee schedule for Moody’s Investors Service
-approving an annual agreement with the City of Huntsville to provide public transportation services (MARS).
-approving Change Order No. 1 and 2 increasing contract with Brooks and Sons Construction, Inc. in the total amount of $4,415.80 for Joe Phillips Sidewalk project (to be paid from Capital Improvement budget).
-approving an agreement with OMI, Inc. for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Management and Annual Reporting in an amount not to exceed $5,000 (to be paid from departmental budget).
