March
1992

Coalition¡s Earth Day exhibition for Alameda Park takes shape
by Ralph Fertig

• We're picking up momentum as our plans move forward toward Earth Day. At the last two meetings of the Bicycle Coalition, we have had some great ideas about what we can do.
• Cici Menchen, for example, is writing a letter to local shops, asking if they're interested in providing manpower and loaning equipment. Les Drake is working with Schwinn and Specialized representatives, while Mike Rogers from Open Air Bicycles (Isla Vista) is contacting the Trek representative. In addition, Steve Johnson from the Police Department said that he would check out participation by the Bicycle Patrol.
• Meanwhile, the April 26th Earth Day Outdoor Festival itself has been moved to the two blocks of Alameda Park in Santa Barbara. At their public meeting on February 10th, the Earth Day organizers conducted themselves as a very capable, dedicated group of people.
• All Earth Day people that I've talked to have expressed enthusiasm about our participation. Indeed, many of them are avid bicyclists too.
• At the 2/5/92 meeting, I came up with a 12'x30' booth proposal that people seemed to like. It places emphasis on three areas within the booth space: Bicycle Display, Bicycle Repair, and Information. The Bicycle Display area would contain several bicycles. Proposed at this time are a commuting bicycle, a mountain bicycle, a Santa Barbara Police Patrol bicycle, and a long-distance racing bicycle.
• The Bicycle Repair area would contain one or more bike repair mechanics who would offer free bicycle check-ups and maybe repair demonstrations.
• The Information Stand would offer bicycling experts to answer questions and provide literature. It could include safety tips for children, lists of local bicycling maps, bicycling groups, bike shops, how to start bicycle commuting, upcoming bicycling events, national advocacy organizations, the mountain bike trail maintenance program, and basic material on the Bicycle Coalition itself. If you've some good ideas, share them at our next meeting.

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Igor Nalimov to talk about Russian bicycling

• Igor Nalimov is going to stop his pedaling tour of California long enough to give us a slide presentation about what it's like to bicycle in Russia.
• Nalimov has a PhD in laser physics, but found that he preferred leading bicycle tours in Russia to a career in physics. A member of a Moscow bicycle touring club, he will show and talk about his slides of several trips to various parts of the country.
• Jointly sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition and Goleta Valley Cycling Club, the hour lecture will take place on Friday, February 28th at 7:00 pm. It will be at the Goleta branch of the public Library, 500 N Fairview Ave. A voluntary donation will be accepted.

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Bicycle Commuter Club in Santa Barbara?

• Is Denver getting ahead of Santa Barbara again? This announcement appeared in the March 1992 issue of Bicycling magazine:
• ÀThis spring a new concept in bike commuting debuts in Denver. It's the Denver Bicycle Club, an upscale shower and locker facility near downtown offices and only a block from the city's major bike path. For $100 a month, 225 bike commuters get membership in a luxurious social club featuring valet bike parking, a personal locker for helmets, gloves and shoes, and another jumbo locker for a week's worth of business suits or dresses. The club also has steam rooms, lounges, and exercise equipment including indoor bikes, stair climbers, treadmills, rowers, and weight machines. For an extra charge, dry cleaning, bike maintenance, breakfast, lunch, and massage are available. Several months before opening, co-owners Jon Meredith and Dave Darling had received hundreds of inquiries and were expecting a waiting list. The idea, born through the bike commuting frustration of former banker Meredith, may soon spread. Already, the partners are scouting Newport Beach, Seattle, and San Diego.”
• It sounds like heaven to me, so when will it start here? Are there enough upscale bicyclists around to support this? Maybe a local health club can add some bicyclist services.

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Local bicycle clubs serve varied Santa Barbara County interests

• The purpose of this section is to acquaint SBBC members with bicycling clubs within the County.
• If there are any special upcoming club-sponsored events that you believe others would be interested in, please submit them for publication here. Also, this is doubtlessly incomplete and possibly out of date, so send the right information to Ralph Fertig, or bring to a meeting.
• Bicycle Touring Club of Solvang. Phone: 688-3330. Address: c/o Don Henry, 1669 Maple Avenue, Apt 21, Solvang, CA 93463.
• Equipe Goleta. Phone: 967-9669. Address: Coastline Cycles, 286 South Fairview, Goleta, CA 93117.
• Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Phone: 684-6060. Address: P.O. Box 1547, Goleta, CA 93116.
• Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers. Phone: 683-0371. Address: 225 Valdez Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117.
• Santa Barbara Bicycle Club. Phone: 967-2813. Address: P.O. Box 91717, Santa Barbara, CA 93190.
• Tailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa Maria. Phone: 925-7269. Address: P.O. Box 48, Santa Maria, CA 93456.
• UCSB Cycling Team. Phone: 968-2424. Address: c/o Trevor Thorpe, Activities Planning Center, Room 3145, Box 21, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.

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Modoc Road parking ban now in effect

• According to Jay Hillje, Transportation Management Program Coordinator for Santa Barbara City, approval was given to extend parking prohibition along the bicycle lanes at La Cumbre Junior High School. New signs should be in place by now stating the day time prohibition of any parking there. If you ride there regularly, and find parking violators, phone the Santa Barbara police to request enforcement.

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National Bike Day

• National Bike Day is going to be celebrated on Thursday, May 21. Do you have any ideas about how we can promote ourselves and bicycling on that day?
• Can we get press coverage in the Santa Barbara News-Press a week before? Maybe we can talk prominent some local people into bicycling to work on that day. Maybe we can get TV coverage of bicyclists? What can you think of us doing?

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Local Bikers Clear Los Padres Trails

• A local group of responsible bicyclists, the Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers, is rescheduling its "trail day" after being rained out on February 9th.
• Founded in 1989, the MBTV has been actively involved in local trail maintenance, land access issues, and the furthering of mountain biker education and awareness. With full cooperation and encouragement from the Forest Service, the MBTV is going to clear the Buckhorn Trail in the Santa Ynez Recreation Area.
• So if you like bicycling the trails, why not help maintain them? For details, call Steve Silva at 683-0371 or Mark Garza at 967-1313.