December
1993

Bicycle Coalition to become non-profit corporation

• Officers of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition have been working on the structure and description of the organization as a prerequisite for incorporation.
• The Coalition will become a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(C)3 organization. With that status, individuals, businesses, organizations, and foundations would more likely contribute to our causes because donations would be tax deductible.
• The official set of bylaws that are being written will include descriptions of officers, a board of directors, election procedures, meeting frequency, members, committees, and voting procedures.
• Our membership status will need clarification. Currently, we have a mail list of 190 individuals to whom we send, without charge, Quick Release. We could keep it that way, but have noted that other bicycle advocacy groups in the state—at least eight others—have official paid membership. Stay tuned.

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Buellton, Solvang, Caltrans plan bikepath

• Planning is moving ahead for a project called the Buellton/Santa Ynez Valley Regional Bikeway Link and Roadside Recreational Enhancement along Highway 246. It consists of a Class I bikeway (that is, a two-way bikepath separated from motorized traffic) through Buellton, Solvang, and the unincorporated section of County between the two.
• Recently, David Lee Soanes, a consultant for Buellton, contacted the Bicycle Coalition for an endorsement of their proposed bikeway from McMurray Road to Ballard Canyon Road along the north side of 246. They are applying for Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) funds to help pay the cost. Unfortunately, there was only a day to respond, so without examining their maps and route, only a very general statement about the benefits of bicycling could be faxed in response.
• The section through Solvang includes a segment in Hans Christian Anderson Park that was recently turned down for Transportation Enhancement Activities funding. At the time of review, the path appeared to be an isolated half-mile segment that would require removal of oak trees, contend with a steep drop, and probably attract few bicyclists off 246.
• The connecting segment between the two cities is proposed on the north side of Highway 246. A problem with the Class I bikeway (as opposed to providing wider shoulders for bicyclists) is the splendid mature deodars that parallel both sides of the road. The trees have graceful low hanging limbs that would have to be cut off to accommodate the path, whether the path is located on one side or the other of the trees. The path could be located north of the tree span only by buying new land. As the planning moves ahead, we will keep you informed.

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May ’94 Bike Week considered

• Recent discussions with Traffic Solutions have stimulated plans for coordinating a cluster of bicycling events next May. Maeve Grimes from Traffic Solutions has been in touch with Tom Fulks, her Rideshare counterpart in San Luis Obispo, concerning a program.
• San Luis Obispo, Boulder, Colorado, and many other US cities have one or more days of events in May, the official Bike Month. Events typically include a bike-to-work day, donated breakfasts, a bicycle rodeo for children, helmet programs (especially important since the California compulsory helmet law for children under 18 starts in 1994), movies, rides, races, and maybe an alternate transportation event relating to the widening of Highway 101.
• We hope to involve bicycle shops, environmental groups, child safety groups, concerned elected officials, and certainly as many people on bicycles as possible. Contact any Coalition officer if you have ideas.

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How safe are bikepaths?

• There seems to be a sudden increase of interest in Class I bicycle paths in Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley. The question about safety on such separated paths is frequently asked.
• John Williams and Poody McLaughlin from Bikecentennial tackled the subject in the August 1992 issue of Bicycle Forum. The following has been condensed from their article:
• It's hard to say how safe bikepaths are because bicycle crashes tend to go unreported. About one in 5 car-bike crashes, and one in 20 non-car-related crashes typically get reported. As a result, virtually no agencies in the US really know how relatively safe or dangerous their paths are.
• Safety consists of a lot more than mere separation from motorized traffic. It results from a combination of three main factors: the environment, the bicyclist, and other pathway users.
• The environment. Most serious bicycle crashes result from falls or collisions with stationary objects. These objects may be posts, buildings, supports for structures, railings, fences, trees, bridges, culverts, or steep drop offs.
• Pathway width, design, and maintenance can cause problems. Two-way bike-only paths less than 8 feet wide, or shared bike-pedestrian paths less than 10-12 feet give users no margin for error. Curves that are too sharp for the design speed, curves with restricted view, and steep grades are hazardous. Sand, gravel, rocks, and plants on the path, particularly on curves, all cause problems.
• Finally, since most bike-motor vehicle crashes occur at intersections, it's very important to minimize intersections, especially those that occur at blind curves or odd angles.
• The bicyclist. Bicycle paths tend to attract less experienced bicyclists, who have more accidents. John Forester's book Bicycle Transportation cites crash rates per million miles for three types of cyclists: elementary school (720), college-affiliated (510), and adult bicycle club members (113). The first two groups are more likely to find bicycle paths attractive.
• Other users. It's seldom possible to have a bikepath solely for bicyclists. Increasingly, paths are shared with pedestrians, in-line skaters, skateboarders, and joggers. [And our tourist-rented surreys, locally.] The more shared use, the more dangerous bicycling is. One study, An Investigation of the Potential for Pathways Shared by Pedestrians and Bicyclists, published by the Federal Highway Administration, 1987, concludes that bicycle travel "is more compatible with vehicular traffic than pedestrian traffic."
• Questions about bicycling conditions can be addressed to John Williams, Bicycle Forum Editor, Bikecentennial, PO Box 8308, Missoula, MT 59807. Phone 406-721-1776.

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New California laws

• In addition to the well-publicized helmet law, three other bicycle-related bills have been working their way through the California legislature. Two have become laws, and the third, SB 833, is awaiting a Senate committee hearing.
• Non-motorized transportation, SB 1095, introduced by Lucy Killea, senator from San Diego. It clarifies and consolidates existing state law about bicycling. The bill makes permanent the state bicycle facilities coordinator; it requires publication of a state map showing all state highways open to bicyclists and suggesting alternatives where they're closed; and it requires Caltrans to adopt highway design criteria where bicycles are permitted. Both Gary Hart and Jack O'Connell voted for the bill, which becomes effective January 1, 1994.
• Bicyclist offenses, AB 669, introduced by Tom Hannigan, assemblyman from Fairfield. This bill allows cities and counties to reduce penalties for law infractions by bicyclists; maximum amounts are set, and there is no minimum. The intent is to encourage law enforcement officers to cite offenders, knowing that the fine will now be lower. Again, Gary Hart and Jack O'Connell voted for the bill, which becomes effective January 1, 1994.
• Railroad right-of-way, SB 833, introduced by Tom Hayden, senator from Los Angeles. This requires regional transportation agencies to identify abandoned railroad rights-of-way suitable for acquisition as bicycle corridors, and requires cities and counties to legislate for bicycle parking at all new developments. This bill may be passed next year.
• Bicyclist helmets. This law will go into effect January 1, 1994, but only warnings will be given for a year. In 1995, the first violation will be dismissed, and the maximum fine thereafter will be $25. Unlike most traffic laws, helmets will be required on any street, bikepath, or trail, but apparently not on sidewalks unless marked as a bicycle route or path.

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Two TEA bikepaths become three

• At the November 10 meeting of the Association of Governments, recommended ranking of proposals for Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) was shifted around before being submitted to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in Sacramento for final review. The CTC may see things differently than we do locally, noted SBCAG Transportation Planner Greg Nielsen; they could rearrange the ranking or even disqualify certain projects.
• Of interest to bicyclists was the new inclusion of a proposed cantilevered bikeway/pedestrian walkway attached to the west side of the H Street bridge over the Santa Ynez River. Its cost is estimated at $828,000, of which Lompoc hopes to obtain $497,000 from TEA. Two other bikeway projects, the Santa Maria Bikeway and El Capitan Ranch Bikeway, remained in the recommended list.
• We should hear by March, according to Jim Kemp, SBCAG Deputy Director, what TEA projects will be in the State Transportation Improvement Program.

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New regional representative to CABO

• Ralph Fertig has been named as the new regional representative to the California Association of Bicycling Organizations (CABO). Fertig, secretary of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, will work to forge stronger links between the state organization and local groups. Our region, one out of 12 statewide, consists of four counties—Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and San Benito.
• CABO has been a federation of bicycling-related groups since 1972. It monitors bicycle-related bills and lobbies the California legislature in conjunction with the Planning and Conservation League. On most bicycle related bills, CABO takes a position. On a local level, it has a legal fund ready for battling bicyclist-threatening ordinances, like Napa County's attempt to restrict organized rides.
• There are four meetings a year, two are board meetings and two, general membership meetings; one of the latter takes place during the Great Western Bike Rally in Paso Robles each May.
• Membership is open to individuals, clubs and other groups interested in bicycling. Members receive a quarterly newsletter CommuniCABO, and a good calendar of upcoming California bicycling events. Individual membership is $6 a year; call Fertig at 962-1479 for an application.

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Upcoming 1994 conferences

• Three upcoming meetings and conferences of interest to bicyclists have come to our attention:
• Partnerships for Greenways & Trails in California. March 18-20, Pacific Grove, CA. Sponsored by California Department of Parks & Recreation and other groups. For hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, land managers, and trail planners. Phone 916-653-8615.
• LAW National Rally ‰94. July 7-10, San Diego, CA. Sponsored by the League of American Wheelmen. Workshops on every aspect of bicycling, many emphasizing advocacy; group rides on and off road; social events; exhibit hall. Phone 410-539-3399.
• Pro Bike Conference. September 6-10, Portland, OR. Sponsored by the Bicycle Federation of America. This is the big US advocacy conference held every two years, with sessions on all aspects of bicycling safety, facilities, and advocacy. Everybody interested in improving our bicycling conditions should go. Phone 202-463-6622.

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Bicycling paths on Goleta overpasses

• A recent meeting of county employees Dan Gira, Chris Gabriel, Mark Schliech, Alissa Hummer, and Steve Foley included discussion of bicycle facilities on Highway 101 overpasses in Goleta—at Fairview, Los Carneros, Storke, and Hollister.
• According to an October 18th memo about the meeting sent to the Bicycle Coalition, the Goleta Community Plan calls for Class I bikepaths to be included on freeway overpasses as they are built or reconstructed in the future. Or, if entirely unfeasible, to construct "enhanced" Class II bikelanes. (The memo says that an enhanced Class II bikelane is separated from the roadway, possibly by being raised and merged with the sidewalk.)
• Further, the County Board of Supervisors has adopted a Community Plan policy that requires each overpass to "be sited and designed to encourage and accommodate pedestrian and bicycle use," if feasible. In view of all this, three standards were created to determine overpass bike facilities:
• Class I bikepath should be provided if it will link with or is located near existing or proposed Class I bikepaths.
• If no Class I bikepaths are nearby, an enhanced Class II bikelane should be constructed.
• Regardless of bicycle facilities, pedestrians should be encouraged by providing landscaped approaches and grade separations.
• Using these standards, the memo concludes that efforts should be made to create Class I facilities on all four overpasses, even if it entails cantilevering a bikepath off the bridges. Difficulties exist on all overpasses, however, and separate bridges might be considered.
• The memo ends with a statement that the Resource Management Department "is more than willing to work with Public Works staff to help in the design, location, linkages, and funding for any and all of these needed bikelanes."

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Cielo Velo club has successful start

• A new South Coast group, the Cielo Velo Cycling Club, started up this fall and appears to be an instant success. Founded by Jill Hibbitt, the club has lined up a group of sponsors and over 60 members by November.
• A particular emphasis of the club is children and women who are thought to be under-represented by other local bicycling groups. They offer road rides on Saturdays, and mountain bike rides on Sundays and Wednesdays. Membership is open to everybody. Call Sabina MacDonald, club president, at 964-6890 for details.

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Initiative means $12 million to bicyclists

• A new initiative (nicknamed "Son of 116" after Prop 116 that gave us bicycle facilities) calls for a 4% sales tax on gasoline. Sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League, the annual estimated $600 million would go mostly to rail and bus, but $9-to-12 million of that would be for bicycle projects.
• Another $12 million would go to a new fund for which off-road recreational bicycle projects are eligible. Also, rail cars purchased with the tax money would accommodate bicycles.
• With enough signatures, the initiative will be on the November 1994 ballot.