At its first meeting of 2025 the Norwalk Bike Walk Commission reviewed and refined a strategic-plan outline that assigns commissioners to lead projects on education, outreach, infrastructure input and events while asking city transportation staff for quarterly coordination and technical support.

The plan centers on five priority areas: education (including a safe-cycling course and acquiring additional League-certified instructors), communication and bilingual outreach, infrastructure and Complete Streets input, events (bike valet and repair pop-ups), and pursuing grants and Bicycle Friendly Community recognition. Chair Emily Verneman said the commission has “budget to spend by June,” and commissioners agreed to form subgroups to prepare applications and event plans for TMP review.

Why it matters: the commission’s work is intended to expand safe walking and biking in Norwalk, coordinate volunteer-led programs with city departments and community partners, and support TMP (the city transportation staff) during a period when TMP officials say staffing constraints limit what they can deliver this spring.

Education was the most detailed topic. Commissioners identified a summer/fall goal to hold a safe-cycling course in partnership with Norwalk Public Schools and community partners, and to certify at least one additional League cycling instructor. Commissioner Becca Stoll and others proposed outreach to driver-education programs at local high schools so motorists learn to share streets with cyclists. Commissioner Manny Salgado urged using new infrastructure as an education hook, noting promotional materials and short instructional videos could explain features such as high-visibility crosswalks and upgraded pedestrian signals.

On outreach the commission reiterated quarterly newsletter and social-media goals and set a target for one short-form video per quarter. Members asked whether large technical documents should be translated into Spanish; Greg, a TMP staff member, advised that translating the Complete Streets design guide would require outsourcing because “we would have to probably go outsource that to get it translated,” and that the city does not have internal capacity to translate hundreds of pages.

Infrastructure and TMP coordination were recurring subjects. Commissioners asked TMP to present its budget request and project priorities in a public meeting or otherwise provide transparency during the budget season. Commissioner Tanner Thompson recalled past TMP line-item presentations and encouraged TMP to repeat that practice; Greg said he would talk with TMP staff about scheduling a review. Commissioners proposed a quarterly working session with TMP staff to review active projects and public feedback so monthly commission meetings need not cover technical project details.

The Complete Streets Design Guide is in a public-comment period that the commission encouraged the public to use; Greg said the comment period began Dec. 12 and runs 30 days. Commissioner Tanner Thompson noted a deadline for a separate Bicycle Friendly Community application: “there is a the definitive deadline now is 06/25/2025.” Commissioners discussed whether TMP bandwidth and open technical positions (a traffic analyst vacancy was cited) would allow TMP to run the GIS and infrastructure queries the application typically requires. Greg cautioned that TMP is “stretched very thin in TMP right now, especially with 2 positions open right now.” The commission set a near-term task to inventory what parts of a Bicycle Friendly Community application the commission can complete itself and what TMP must provide.

Events, volunteer programs and equipment received sustained attention. Commissioners set a goal to provide bike valet service at about four community events, re-start bike-repair pop-ups, and explore partnerships with local co-ops and bike shops. Public commenters flagged existing community efforts and asked about recovered or abandoned city bikes; commissioners and staff agreed to check whether police or the transit district still make decommissioned bicycles available for community distribution or repair programs. The commission also discussed using some budget to buy helmets, lights, bike locks and to fund instructor training or paid mechanics for pop-up clinics.

Budget proposals discussed included line items for helmets and locks, certified-instructor training, event logistics and a possible bike giveaway or donation program. Verneman said the commission has remaining fiscal-year funds and a separate active-transportation microgrant to spend by June; commissioners agreed to gather quotes and firm numbers before any vote. Greg reminded the group that purchases and any distribution program need written process steps—delivery, storage, installation and equitable selection criteria—if the commission intends to fund bike racks or donate equipment to private organizations.

Decisions and next steps: commissioners agreed to prepare written drafts of the Bicycle Friendly application sections the commission can complete, to request a TMP presentation on the department’s budget and timeline (to be scheduled before the next budget hearings if possible), and to form subcommittees for events, education and the Bronze bicycle-friendly application. Chair Emily Verneman set a next-meeting date for Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 at 6 p.m. The commission tabled approval of the December minutes because a quorum was not present; commissioners moved to adjourn and ended the meeting.

Members of the public were invited repeatedly to submit written comments on the Complete Streets design guide and other agenda items; commissioners emphasized that email or written submissions to the city clerk or the address provided for the design guide are required for official record. Commissioner Tanner Thompson also reminded the commission that his term expires in June and that he is available through that time to help lead application work.

What the commission asked TMP to provide: a quarterly project briefing or a public meeting slot to review TMP’s line-item budget requests; confirmation of whether TMP can run the GIS queries needed for the bicycle-friendly application; and guidance on the logistics and city rules for purchasing and installing bike racks or distributing equipment.