August
1995

Alternative transportation recommended instead of Highway 101 widening



Caltrans' photo simulation of the proposed six-lane freeway through Montecito. About 3000 trees and shrubs will be removed.

• On July 20, a public presentation and comment period for the "final draft" of the alternative transportation study of the Highway 101 corridor between Milpas Street in Santa Barbara and the Ventura County line attracted several hundred people to the Miramar Hotel in Montecito. The majority of the public spoke in favor of the recommended alternative package, which consists of seven components:
• Bicycle system improvements
• Transportation demand management (TDM)
• Bus transit expansion
• Highway operational improvements
• Transit-oriented land use
• Tourist trip reduction
• Highway 101 monitoring.
• The 18-month study has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny by our Bicycle Coalition. Bicyclists can lose or gain substantially depending on whether the widening to six lanes occurs or alternatives are implemented.
• The study actually evaluates three alternatives: rail, bus, and the seven-component group. All three packages include a bicycle program of bikeways and support facilities that are identified as needed in the 1994 Regional Bikeway Study. This includes bike lockers and racks at express bus stops and bike racks on all MTD buses and shuttles, as well as an entire network of bikepaths and bikelanes throughout the South Coast.
• A copy of the Draft Final Report Alternatives Analysis of Highway 101 Corridor executive summary is free from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) at their address below.
• From here, there are several upcoming milestones:
• August 15. A hearing before the Santa Barbara City Council will determine what the City will support.
• August 17. A formal public hearing on the study before the SBCAG Board of Supervisors.
• September and October. SBCAG Board of Supervisors will consider options.
• December 21. Deadline for SBCAG to include 101 widening or alternative funding in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for years 1996-2003.
• What can you do? Express your support for the alternative package in general—and bicycling facilities in particular—at the August meetings, or mail your opinion to:
• Mayor Harriet Miller
  Santa Barbara City Council
  735 Anacapa Street
  Santa Barbara, CA 93101
• and for SBCAG to:
• Michael G. Powers, Deputy Director
  SB County Association of Governments
  222 East Anapamu Street, #11
  Santa Barbara, CA 93101
• This is the time to speak up for what you believe. If we don't tell our elected representatives that we want alternatives now, we'll just get run down by all the extra cars.

---

New Carpinteria bikepaths

• "A half million is a small amount compared to $130 million for freeway widening," said County alternative transportation coordinator Wilson Hubbell. He was walking a stretch of land between Santa Claus Lane and Carpinteria Avenue that was identified as a potential connecting link for bicycle commuters. Joining Hubbell were Carpinteria Public Works director Bob Nisbet and Architectural Review Board head Bill Cooper.
• Their walk revealed some small culverts that the bikepath would have to bridge, but they uncovered no major obstacles to the project. It will provide a bikeway link that connects Carpinteria south of Highway 101 to Padaro lane and Via Real. The next step, according to Hubbell, is to write a proposal and seek funding, possibly from a combination of CREF, Measure D, and a Caltrans minor capital projects grant.
• A separate Carpinteria bicycle project that's been on hold for 15 years may be realized soon. It's a bikepath through Chevron property east of Carpinteria. The bikepath was a condition imposed upon Chevron by the Coastal Commission in exchange for permission to build a pipeline. Chevron agreed to build the bikepath, and has been ready to go ahead as soon as Carpinteria finalized a development plan for the entire Bluffs area. Bob Nisbet expressed hope that an agreement could be achieved by August.

---

National survey shows support of bicycle improvements

• Rodale Press, publisher of Bicycling magazine, released new national survey results on commuting modes. They show a that a clear majority of adults want an increase in secure bicycling and walking facilities, and they want their government to fund it. The results offer no significant changes from a similar Rodale poll taken in 1992.
• When people were asked what mode of transportation they use to commute to work, 76% said that they drive alone, and 2% bicycle. Those numbers are not very different from the 1990 commuting Census figures for Santa Barbara County: here, 70% drive along and 3% bicycle. (On the County's South Coast, 5% bicycle commute.)

Which of the following is your primary means of currently getting to and from work, running errands or "getting around?"

• If good facilities existed for all modes, however, only 56% of the surveyed people wanted to drive along, and bicycling rises to 6%. We have no comparable figures for Santa Barbara County, but if bicycling use would rise proportionally, we would attain a 9% local bike commuting. Other communities in the US have 10% bicycling to work, and we can certainly achieve it here too.

All things bing equal, and if good facilities for each existed, which of these means of transportation would you prefer the most?

• When survey participants were asked whether their local governments should make walking, running and bicycling a safe part of transportation, 70% said "yes."

Would you like to see your town or locale adopt an overall planning structure that would make walking, running, and bicycling a safe and integral part of the area's transportation system, or not?

• When asked about allocating more funds for that purpose, the positive response dropped to 56%, but still a sound majority.

Would you like your government to devote more funds for safe and secure bike and pedestrian paths in your area, or not?

• A sizable proportion of people would "sometimes commute to work by bicycle, or commute more often" if the following conditions were met:
• 40% If there were safe, separate designated bike paths
  39% If there were safe bike lanes on roads and highways
  36% If there were showers, lockers and secure bike storage at work
  36% If there were financial or other incentives from your employer.
• The survey confirms a strong level of public support for improving conditions for bicycling and walking. The report notes, "While three out of four Americans cite driving along as their primary mode of transportation, one of these three would like the opportunity to choose some other form of transportation to get around."

---

No charges filed in cyclist's death,
by Ralph Fertig

• This is an update on the recent death of bicyclist Stan Bilski. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office has decided not to file charges against the 18-year old driver who collided with Bilski on June 12. The accident took place at the intersection of Tunnel Road and Montrose Place in the hills above Santa Barbara [see July Quick Release for details].
• The District Attorney's decision was based on the belief that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the young driver was negligent. According to the CHP Report and the District Attorney's Rejection Summary, the decision was based on several factors:
• The driver stated that he saw Bilski coming down Tunnel Road "really fast," in an aerodynamic, flat-back position
• For almost 3 hours the next day, CHP officers watched bicyclists descend into the intersection and calculated speeds of 25-40 MPH
• For those speeds, bicyclists could be seen by approaching drivers for 3 seconds or more
• The speed limit for that road is 25 MPH and the curve just uphill from the intersection has an advisory sign of 15 MPH
• Motor vehicles coming up Tunnel typically slow down prior to making any left turn onto Montrose
• Bilski had a vision impairment that may have contributed to his not braking prior to impact
• The bicycle was in the second-highest gear out of 21 gears
• There is a general perception that the intersection itself is unsafe.
• In spite of Bilski's having the right of way and the driver turning left in front of him as they both approached the intersection, the CHP concluded that the "primary collision factor" was Bilski's violation of California Vehicle Code ã22350 by riding at "unsafe speed for the conditions."
• Upon examining the report, talking to Bilski's relatives, and visiting the site five times by bike and car to make additional observations and measurements, this author has uncovered disconcerting problems:
• Either the driver was never asked whether he were signaling for his left turn, or his answer was omitted from the police report
• The CHP spent time measuring bicyclist times coming down the road, but either failed to measure or didn't report on speeds of typical cars traveling down or up the road, and the limiting factors on traffic views that result from these speeds
• The driver said that he saw Bilski only a half second before the collision; the report never questioned why he failed to see Bilski earlier
• The vehicle's windshield was "clear but dusty"
• Bilski was wearing a highly-visible white shirt
• According to my rough measurements, motor vehicles coming up the hill are traveling between 24 and 37 MPH, giving them between 3 and 4.5 seconds vision of any approaching traffic
• On the average, approaching drivers do not attain a complete view of the entire upcoming curve all the way to the ground until 1.5 seconds before crossing the intersection
• According to Stan's sister Rose, only his peripheral vision on the right side was impaired; the fact that he frequently and successfully rode his mountain bike up and down singletrack trails suggests that his eyesight was fine for scanning what lay ahead and taking evasive action if required
• Measuring other bicyclist speeds may or may not indicate what speed Bilski was traveling; if the CHP asked Bilski's biking friends what speeds he used, it wasn't in their report.
• My personal interpretation is that Bilski was in view for at least 3 seconds and the driver failed to see him approaching until the last instant. The driver was probably not signaling his left turn or Bilski would have braked or swerved left to avoid any collision. Since there were no bike skid marks and the collision did occur, Bilski expected the vehicle to continue straight or stop. Stan Bilski never had a chance!
• As for making the intersection safer for future bicyclists, my current best ideas are a warning sign below the intersection, "WATCH FOR ONCOMING BICYCLISTS," and another above the intersection warning cyclists, "DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AHEAD."
• But there must be more that we can do. Please contact us with your thoughts.

---

Advocacy workshop in Davis this October

• The Bicycle Federation of America is offering a series of two-day workshops around the country this fall, the closest of which will take place in Davis, California on October 14-15. The workshop, called Bike Action 2000, will guide participants in implementing their local bike plans.
• Having a plan is one thing, but the difference between having it sit idle on a shelf and infusing it with life is a matter of action by people who care enough to make a difference in their community. The workshop will concentrate on the following:
• How to work with bicycle coordinators, engineers, and advocacy groups
• How to work with politicians and bureaucrats
• How to fund a bike plan
• How to use the media effectively
• How to save federal pro-bicycle legislation.
• There will also be a choice of break-out groups dealing with advocacy skills or bicycle facility planning. The sessions last all day Saturday and half of Sunday, then followed with an optional bike facilities tour of the Davis area. Davis is arguably at the forefront of California cities in terms of bicycle use and friendliness.
• The Bicycle Coalition is hoping that a large contingent from Santa Barbara County will attend. The cost is $50 per person, including all workshops, a workbook and one lunch. We understand that inexpensive housing will be available. For an application, write to:
• Bicycle Federation of America
  1506 21st Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20036
• or phone them at 202-463-6622.

---

News coverage of bicycling issues continues to rise

• An ongoing survey of printed media maintained by Coalition president Ralph Fertig shows that a general increase in South Coast coverage of substantial bicycling-related subjects has continued since it was last measured and reported in the September 1994 Quick Release.
• Separated into editorial articles and letters to the editor, the most important change is the rise in letters: the number of letters published in the past year has increased by 100% over the average of the prior two year periods. Articles have also risen, by a more modest 44% over the same time period.
• In examining the authors of the letters, several were written by Bicycle Coalition members, but more were not. This probably indicates an increasing awareness and concern about bicycling by the general public. Good for us all!

---

Courtesy bike program

• Fisher Chevrolet in Boulder, Colorado has a great idea: courtesy loaner bikes for drivers who bring in their cars for repair.
• Five Schwinn bikes are available for use. They come with bike maps, locks and helmets; the bicyclists must sign a liability waiver. Thank goodness there's dependable transportation to replace all those broken cars.

---

Early bus bike rack deployment planned

• Acording to Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) transit development director Chuck McQuary, they are going ahead in the next two months with purchasing and installing new bus bike racks. They were awarded $30,000 last June 15 from the Motor Vehicle Emission Reduction Projects for purchasing 19 racks.
• When asked about violating the current Vehicle Code about bikes sticking too far out from the bus front, McQuary felt that if indeed the Code revision is passed, and it's slated for going into effect January 1st, they could go ahead with full deployment. With the summer waning, we're hoping for as early access as possible.

---

Notes from July 5 Bicycle Coalition meeting,
by Sandra Wintermoss

• In attendance: Ralph Fertig, Alan Bergquist, Benjamin Sawyer, Jean Thomson, Pat Maurice, Jan Koegler, Wilson Hubbell, Paula Huddleston, Jim Alessi, Arnie Schildhaus, Elihu Gevirtz and Sandra Wintermoss.
• Ralph Fertig: Bill Hunter of National Highway Research Center Safety visited here in May. He wants to study bicyclist accidents here and will return in August.
• The balance of the meeting was spent talking to Jim Alessi and Paula Huddleston from Caltrans District 5 offices in San Luis Obispo.
• Ralph: What happened to District 5 bicycle project and report now that Scott Eades is gone?
• Jim: Doesn't know about bike program.
• Jim: The Fairview overcrossing of 101 is built with reactive aggregate and needs replacement. Caltrans will only pay for fixing the bridge.
• Jean: Goleta Community Plan requires Class I facilities for bikes and pedestrians. This is the time to build it. $500,000 allocated for Highway 246 bikepath might be available.
• Jim: County bikepath is out of Caltrans' realm, it is not the state's responsibility.
• Alan: There must be a dedicated bikelane on Fairview during construction.
• Benjamin: Cyclists are not interested in tweaking the bridge; we need individual overpasses. Wider bikelane on overpass is meaningless because of the extreme danger of exits and ramps.
• Wilson: If it's connected with Caltrans project, they have some responsibility to fund a bridge.
• Wilson and Elihu: The cost of a Class I bike overpass is approximately $1 million. Elihu: What is the additional cost of widening shoulders to 8 feet?
• Jim: Possibly that money could be set aside for the bikepath project.
• Wilson: What if we found a way to save money on bikelane width, can Caltrans give it to us for the bikepath?
• Jim: It is likely the money would go elsewhere.
• Wilson: Explore the possibility of smaller bridge and money transference to separate bike bridge.
• Elihu: Call Supervisor Wallace and see if we can find the money to make this happen.
• Jim: I am not in a position to fund bike overpass.
• Jim: Caltrans has washed hands of the Highway 246 bikepath. Letter to Supervisor Wallace details why Caltrans won't do it.
• Ralph: It's up to the County to designate bikelanes on the highway itself.
• Wilson and Jim: both said they are willing to stripe shoulders as a bikelane.
• Wilson: Talked to Rick Blunden (Caltrans) about rumblestrips on the SB County part of Pacific Coast Bike Route. Blunden never heard of them. The problem is freeways with bikelanes.
• Jim: Never heard of rumblestrips before. He is trying to get ahold of someone in District 7 who installed them. Wants to find out if they're successful. Doesn't know if he has the authority to put them in.