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The Bicycle Advisory Committee. Johann Weber – Chair, BIIC Georgia Institute of Technology. Bicycle Advisory Committees (BAC ’ s). Ongoing committee comprised of various stakeholder groups Can be tasked with dedicated projects, or more general advisory role
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The Bicycle Advisory Committee Johann Weber – Chair, BIIC Georgia Institute of Technology
Bicycle Advisory Committees (BAC’s) • Ongoing committee comprised of various stakeholder groups • Can be tasked with dedicated projects, or more general advisory role • Common in localities around country (ex: Tucson, Arlington, San Francisco) • Especially common at universities (UC-Berkeley, CSU, OSU, Auburn, Utah, Cornell, etc). • Why: Provide consistent opportunity to bring stakeholders together; encourage discourse and cooperation.
Strengths/Limitations of the BAC Strengths: • Build social capital • Opens lines of communication • Recurring opportunity for discussion • Facilitates other efforts • Resource pooling • Weaknesses: • Limited actual power • Reliant upon level of commitment of members • Process is low-visibility • In the end, it’s still a committee
The Bicycle Infrastructure Improvement Committee (BIIC) • Official student government-sponsored Institute-Wide Committee created by students • Brought together members of critical administrative departments, including: • Capital Planning and Space Management • Parking and Transportation • Facilities • Campus Police • Environmental Health and Safety
The Bicycle Infrastructure Improvement Committee (BIIC) • In addition to staff, committee includes: • 4 Undergraduate Students • 3 Graduate Students • 2 Faculty • Committee tasked with improving the quality of bicycle infrastructure for the Georgia Tech community, as well as: • Recommending yearly project priorities • Identifying and pursuing diversity of funding sources • Education and outreach • Promoting interdepartmental coordination for improvements
Accomplishments of the BIIC • Identified priority infrastructure needs on campus • Awarded $26,146 by Student Government Association • President’s office supplied additional $40,000 to complete bike network roadway improvements • Received over $2,000 in startup grant funding and donations for education and encouragement programs
Accomplishments of the BIIC • Awarded 2011 Georgia Tech Environmental Initiative Award • Featured in AASHE Student Diary Series, AJC. • Executed first Georgia Tech Bike Week (September 26-30, 2011) • Created website (bike.gatech.edu), and social media accounts to spread information and involve students
What to Take Away • The bicycle advisory committee is an excellent way to bring together important people and departments. • Bridges gaps which are often the only thing stopping improvement from occurring. • A BAC alone won’t make you bike-friendly, but it can facilitate major improvements.