December
1995

Bicycling projects contend for CREF and TEA funding sources

• Proposed bicycling projects within Santa Barbara County are currently being considered for funding under two of the most bicycle-favorable sources: the Countywide CREF (Coastal Resources Enhancement Fund) and the Federal TEA (Transportation Enhancement Activities).
• CREF Program. Currently, there are 32 CREF applications requesting $2.5 million from an available allocation of $900,000. Of those 32 projects, six are for bikeways, listed below.
• The six bicycling projects account for $398,000, or 16% of the total requested. The County staff have reviewed the submissions and recommended 15 of the 32 projects, while deferring $54,000 for later use. They recommended the first three listed bikeway projects, for a total of $103,000, or 12% of their recommended funding total.
• The next CREF step is a public hearing before the County Supervisors on November 27 where people can comment on the projects. The hearing will take place after this goes to press, but written and phone comments will be accepted by the Supervisors up to December 5, when they will make a final determination.
• TEA Program. Ten projects have been submitted for TEA funding within the County, six of which include bikeways. The bikeway total is $1.7 million, or 63% of that requested. A maximum of $1.2 million is available for projects.
• The November Quick Release incorrectly conjectured what bicycling projects would be submitted for TEA funding. The actual submitted ones are listed below.
• Note that the Santa Claus Lane´Carpinteria CREF application was for planning the project, and TEA funding is for the actual work. Also, the Santa Barbara Westside-Banos del Mar bikepath was submitted to both.
• A local TEA Review Committee is currently assessing the projects. Their recommendations will be reviewed by the Technical Transportation Advisory Council (TTAC) on January 4 and passed to the SBCAG Board of Directors (see name list in November Quick Release) to discuss on January 18 and/or February 22. Their adopted list will then be submitted to the California Transportation Commission for final action.
• CREF Bicycling Applications
• Study of Santa Claus Lane´Carpinteria bikepath $ 50,000
• El Capitan Bikepath $ 50,000
• Amendment to Santa Maria´Guadalupe bikepath $ 3,000
• Study of Ortega Hill bikepath, Montecito $ 60,000
• Santa Barbara Westside-Baños del Mar bikepath $ 175,000
• Santa Maria´Guadalupe bikepath $ 60,000
• TEA Bicycling Applications
• Alamo Pintado/Grand Avenue bikelanes $ 374,000
• Santa Claus Lane´Carpinteria bikepath $ 320,000
• Outer State Street bikelanes, Santa Barbara $ 117,000v Santa Barbara Westside-Baños del Mar bikepath $ 175,000
• Santa Barbara City College bikepaths $ 384,000
• Alan Hancock College bikepaths, Lompoc $ 322,000

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New vote allows bicycling projects along US 101

• In an unusual reversal of their October 19 action that precluded all transportation alternatives—like bicycling—from any Highway 101 funding, the Association of Governments (SBCAG) Board voted on November 16 to now consider funding alternatives like bikeways among improvements along the Highway 101 corridor from Santa Barbara through Carpinteria. Future widening to six lanes would still be retained as a possibility.
• Immediately after the October vote, a new coalition called COAST was formed to marshal opposition to SBCAG's preclusion of alternatives. The Bicycle Coalition voted to join COAST. COAST has retained legal council who subsequently dispatched letters of clarification to SBCAG. The Bicycle Coalition sent separate letters to all 12 board members urging them to reconsider their positions.
• So what's next? SBCAG has requested two years to determine what "operational improvements" and what alternatives to fund with its requested $71 million. At the December meeting, SBCAG staff will propose a task force that will in turn prepare a package of measures for Highway 101. Since Caltrans says that no funding will be available until next millennium anyway, just keep biking the same old routes.

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Bicycle Coalition gets its own Web page

• Thanks to the generosity of the Regional Alliance for Information Networking (RAIN) tri-county network, we have been given our own World Wide Web presence on the Internet. This online information resource, currently under construction, will provide individuals who have computers, modems, and Internet access with bicycle-related news, information and—hopefully—pleasure. It's located at:
• http://www.rain.org/~bicycle/sbbc.html
• The exciting characteristic about the Web is its links that connect users at our site with other sites around our county, California, US, and around the world. Robert Bernstein, Ralph Fertig and Gary Wissman have been exchanging ideas about what to include, but we need help with further suggestions and actual implementation. Links to local bicycle, environmental, sport, and other groups are desirable.
• To learn more about the Internet, attend RAIN's 2-hour free "Get Your Feet Wet on the Internet" educational program. It's each Saturday at 12:00 noon at RAIN, 1129 State Street, Santa Barbara; and each Monday 6:00 pm at Earthling Bookstore, 1137 State Street, Santa Barbara. Phone RAIN at 899-4695 for further details.

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Commute survey shows bike use stable

• The Traffic Solutions office has released 1995 statistics on its annual survey of commuting modes for 450 South Coast businesses. They show a slight bicycling increase over 1994. The numbers, however, are lower for both large and small businesses than the 1993 counts.
• Large businesses are those with 50+ employees, while small businesses have 20-49 employees. Not included are smaller businesses and UCSB, where a large proportion of employees are known to bicycle—4% of the staff and 12% of the faculty.
• This April 24-28th when the survey took place, the weather was fine, compared to three days of rain during the 1994 survey week. It had been hoped that the proportions of bicyclist commuters would return to 1993 levels, but—for whatever reason—they didn't.

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Coalition Directors vote on membership fees

• At their November 15 meeting, the Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors decided to proceed with paid membership. They looked at different categories of individuals who are currently on the Quick Release mail list and they considered what similar bicycle advocacy groups around the country charge for membership. It had been feared that there were too few bicyclists in the County to sustain an advocacy group, but the proportion of bicyclists here is exceptionally high. It turns out that we have about the same number of bicycle commuters that San Francisco has, and the SF Bicycle Coalition has 600 members.
• It was determined that six categories of membership, with associated annual amounts (except lifetime), should be created:
• Minimum $12
  Individual $25
  Century $100
  Business $100
  Sustaining $500
  Lifetime $1000.
• In order to implement paid membership, a change in the Bicycle Coalition's Bylaws will be made. A very short meeting of the Board of Directors will be held during the regular December 6th Coalition meeting in order to make that adjustment.

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Youth bicycle rehab program progresses

• On November 9th, the Bicycle Coalition's Safety and Education Committee and others met with Girls, Inc representatives Rosemarie Jauco-Owens and Michael Figueroa to discuss the possible creation of a South Coast youth program for bicycle rehabilitation.
• Arnie Schildhaus had initiated the contact that led to the meeting. Previously, members of the Coalition had voiced concerns about whether the Coalition should work with other groups or forge ahead by itself. Others felt that the expertise of Girls Inc could more quickly help us establish an initial program than otherwise.
• Girls Inc of Greater Santa Barbara has three centers in Santa Barbara and Goleta. They work with 1500 children, mostly girls. Since their present space is all used, another site would be needed to store and work on bicycles.
• On November 15th, the Coalition's Board of Directors approved further program development with Girls Inc as long as it doesn't preclude future relationships with other groups.
• The proposed program would probably work with 11-14 year-olds, teaching them not only bicycle repair, but also educating them about street safety. In what manner it would entail actual rides is still undetermined. Are there individuals or other groups out there who might be interested in leading youth on rides?
• Bicycle rehabilitation programs for young people have been recently emerging all over the country. Interest is accelerating and everyone is benefiting. To offer help or ideas, call committee head Steve Morris at 965-7979.

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Right arm signal is safest for right turn

• What's the safest way to signal that you're turning right? According to a 1979 study by Drury and Pietraszewski, the bent-left-arm signal was correctly perceived by 65% of following drivers, but the straight-right-arm signal was perceived correctly by 78%. Not only is it safer, but the right arm signal is easier to teach children: "Point which way you're going."
• The study also determined that correct perception of arm signals was reinforced by the position of the bicyclist on the road. Finally, if a bicyclist looks back, drivers interpret it to mean that the cyclist is about to do something, but they don't yet know what.
• The conclusion is that we should look back at drivers to get their attention, point in the direction of our turn, and move when safe to the correct road position for that turn.

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Police/cyclist cooperation brings Solvang ride success



On November 4th, the sixth annual Solvang Prelude bicycle ride attracted 3000 bicyclists to the North County for 25, 50 & 62 mile rides plus related entertainment and a cycling expo. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Over the past two years, the Prelude ride and its springtime companion, the Solvang Century, have been subject to inconsistent and, in the view of many participating bicyclists, discriminatory treatment from the various law enforcement officers through whose jurisdictions the rides pass. Lt. Dale Schade inherited these grievances when he assumed his current position as commander of the Sheriff's department in Solvang last spring.
• Schade should be commended for bringing all sides to the table to identify and resolve issues of contention. He created a working committee of bicyclists and officers, a liaison with the local schools, and outreach to the Solvang Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. Committee bicyclists are Ralph Fertig, Dan Henry, Wilson Hubbell, Tim Neenan, and Pete Nicklin. The County Sheriff, the Highway Patrol and Lompoc Police all cooperated to make the event as safe and pleasant as possible. Starting in January, the committee will be coordinating efforts for the 6000-rider Solvang/Santa Maria Century.
• Coalition president Ralph Fertig bicycled the 62-mile route and observed that, "as usual, the country roads were fairly empty of motor vehicles. During the hour that I pedaled along Santa Rosa Road, for example, only seven motor vehicles passed me, and three of those were police vehicles."
• Concerning enforcement, Fertig said, "During and after the ride, I asked riders what they thought of the police conduct. It was totally favorable. Lots of bicyclists greeted or thanked the officers for their help as they passed controlled intersections."
• Over the past two years, bicyclists all over California have watched our deteriorating situation with increasing apprehension. Decreasing ride participation can probably be attributed to rigorous police surveillance and perceived hostility. We hope that active cooperation and awareness will continue to smooth our road for future rides.

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New SB City Bikeway Plan to be written

• Starting in January 1996, the City of Santa Barbara will invite the Bicycle Coalition and the public to help update its Bikeway Master Plan. The current (and only) plan was written in 1974. It has served our community for 21 years, but it's time to revise it. The rewriting will be coordinated by transportation planner Rob Dayton.
• In 1974, gasoline prices were soaring and there was a resurgence of bicycle use unseen for nearly a century. The 1990s are experiencing a new renaissance in bicycling and it is within this climate that we are being asked to form a vision of the future of bicycling for Santa Barbara.
• This is the time for us all to ask what we want our community to look like in the year 2010 or 2020. What must we do now to foster healthy, human-scale, non-polluting, non-congesting transportation and recreation? What legacy do we wish to pass to future generations?
• The new plan needs a vision of our future community and implementation strategies that will accomplish that vision. Watch the January issue of Quick Release for details about how we all can shape the future we want.

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United Way accepting donations for Bicycle Coalition

• The Bicycle Coalition, now a nonprofit corporation, is receiving donations through Santa Barbara County's United Way.
• You can designate us to receive all or part of your donation. What you have to do is write "Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition" on United Way's Optional Designation Form, Part 3, on the line marked "Other." This is an investment in providing a better, more human-oriented community for us all. We appreciate all help, whether through United Way or directly to us.

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Carry bikes on new trains

• On October 30, Amtrak started express service between Santa Barbara and San Diego using the new "California Cars." The two-level cars have racks on the lower level for bicycles that you carry directly on board and lock yourself.
• The train cars represent U.S. state-of-the-art passenger service built for speeds up to 125 mph. Caltrans has ordered 66 cars for intercity service that is operated by Amtrak.
• The express service leaves Santa Barbara daily (except Sundays and holidays) at 2:30 p.m., stopping in LA at 4:55 and San Diego at 7:40. The return trip leaves San Diego at 6:33 a.m., stops in Los Angeles at 9:15 and arrives back in Santa Barbara at 11:36. There are nine other intermediate stops along the way.
• Now you can avail yourself to true multi-modal transportation and visit places south of here without any driving or bother of boxing your bike. Think about it!

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Police bike patrols expanded in Westside SB

• In order to reduce crime on Santa Barbara's Westside, the City Council voted on November 14 to allocate $30,000 for increasing bicycle patrols in the area. Another $20,000 was set aside for a possible police substation. When it became clear in Council discussions that the substation would be manned by community volunteers rather than police officers because of cost, it was suggested that all the money go to bicycle patrols. The final decision was placed in the hands of the Westside Community Group.

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Bike Cult

• It's the rare bicycling book that has the proverbial "something for everybody," but Bike Cult is crammed full of nearly 600 pages of fascinating bicycling information, including 500 illustrations. Bike Cult was written by David Perry, a former bike racer and editor of New York's Transportation Alternatives newspaper City Cyclist.
• The book includes a few pages on the rediscovery in 1966 of a rough sketch of a bicycle hidden on the back of one of Leonardo Da Vinci's architectural drawings. Scholars agree that it wasn't Da Vinci's hand because it lacks his refined style and characteristic notations. More likely, it was done by an apprentice around 1493, and Da Vinci may have never seen it. What a different world this would be if a chain-driven safety bicycle had appeared 400 years earlier! The $24 book was published earlier this year by Four Walls Eight Windows press. Ask for Bike Cult at your local bookstore.

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Noel Weyrich offers advice

• Noel Weyrich offered advice to bicycling advocates at the Bike Action 2000 workshop in Davis last August. "Arguing with a Public Works engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig. Not only will the pig win, but he'll enjoy every minute of it."

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Notes from November 1 Bicycle Coalition meeting
by Sandra Wintermoss

• In attendance: Ralph Fertig, Wilson Hubbell, Robert Bernstein, Pat Maurice, Benjamin Sawyer, Robert Bernstein, Steve Morris, Arnie Schildhaus, Lori Risque, Gary Wissman, Vie Obern, Rob Dayton, Bob Burgess, Alan Bergquist, Dennis Whelan, Ken Reed, Frank Ellis, JeanÞThomson, Louis Andaloro, Alex Pujo, Elizabeth Gallery & Sandra Wintermoss.
• Ralph Fertig: Network News contained news clippings of 2 articles by Coalition members
• — BFA's Bike Action 2000 conference: Two days in Davis; 80 attendees. They said if you're writing a bicycle plan, push for everything, write in the facilities you want to have.
• — Federal transportation legislation: ISTEA is under attack & up for renewal in ¯96. Andrea Seastrand is on the key House Committee.
• Rob Dayton: SB City mayor wrote a letter to Seastrand requesting that the emphasis be on alternative transportation modes.
• Vie Obern: The Trails Council wrote to Seastrand.
• Louis Andaloro: What about Sierra Club—one letter from them represents 5000 people?
• Alex Pujo: People are confused about Highway 101 expansion & alternatives. He graphed 3 years of events from 1993: Caltrans' 6-lane design & EIR report through 1995: Parsons-Brinckerhoff alternative plan & Caltrans' change from widening to "operational improvements," now a 12-part safety project. A new group is forming to counter SBCAG's vote against alternatives.
• Jean Thomson: Moved that the Coalition join the new group for alternatives to 101 widening. Passed. Robert Bernstein is our representative.
• Arnie Schildhaus: Bike rehabilitation project. Safety & Education Committee met to discuss pros and cons of affiliating with another group already working with kids. Arnie met with Girls, Inc & they're interested. They have a grant writer and a program developer on staff. County Mental Health may fund it. Concerns were expressed about location, viability of Girls, Inc, number of guys who would come. They have a track record in getting things off the ground.
• Louis Andaloro: We're moving too quickly with Girls, Inc without a vision of our own.
• Louis Andaloro: ÞHas done a mayoral candidate environmental forum on TV next Monday; includes questions about bikes.
• Rob Dayton: SB City will offer installed $100 "hitching post" bike posts, no encroachment fee.
• Vie Obern: Requested letter to State Department of Parks and Recreation for TEA funding of Coastal Bikeway segments. Coalition will write.
• — Lincoln Road: SB City Council put off decision on bike path connector until after homes are built; easement has been retained.
• Dennis Whelan: New bike program at UCSB—employees who don't buy quarterly parking pass get 6 courtesy parking passes per quarter.
• Lori Risque: Number of people signed up for Rideshare Week was same as last year, but traffic has increased at 2% per year.