May
1999

Earth Day provides bicycling ambience for hundreds



Under the spreading pepper tree, our bike mechanics perform checkups while booth volunteers chat with visitors. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• For the eighth consecutive year, the Bicycle Coalition established a successful presence at Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, April 18. As always, the weather was splendid and the turnout of bicyclists looked like the greatest ever. Our large location in front of City Hall under a spreading pepper tree gave us the room we need for bike mechanics and a commanding view of everything. Our thanks to the Community Environmental Council for providing us with an expansive and fitting place.
• Alan Bergquist, event coordinator, once more did an excellent job arranging for local bicycle mechanics who offered free checkup services, and people to staff our table. Because of some last-minute changes, he had to nimbly shift things around to serve us all.
• Our special gratitude goes to the five bike mechanics who spent busy hours giving bike checkups to nearly 100 bicyclists who came by:
• Kenneth Acklin, Bicycle Bob's
• Tosh Bulger, VeloPro Cyclery
• Mike Mitchom, VeloPro Cyclery
• Rex Stephans, Santa Barbara Bikesmiths
• Kyle Vouhoetzendorft, VeloPro Cyclery
• We're pleased to note that a sizable amount was put into the mechanics' tip jar, that was later distributed to them. The Bicycle Coalition added a bonus donation.
• In addition to the mechanics and Bergquist, booth volunteers included Dave Beamer, Charles Coffey, Rob Dayton, Ralph Fertig, Ann & Mike Lawler, Jean Thomson, Dru van Hengel, and Gary Wissman. Overall, lots of people stopped by, took literature, and chatted. Some were new to town and others, simply supportive.
• Earth Day places us in the mainstream of environmental awareness and action in our community. We'll certainly benefit from continuing to encourage this receptive audience.

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Mark your calendars and bike to work May 18th!

• The Sixth Annual Bike to Work celebration will take place at seven locations around our County on Tuesday, May 18th. This is our big annual event and we're betting that it will attract over 2000 bicyclists this year. Help us close out the 1900s with a record turnout!
• Volunteers needed. All seven sites need volunteers to help with registration, managing food, set-up and break-down. If you can help, contact the Bike to Work coordinator Jonathan Humfrey by email at ccprod@silcom.com or by phone 688-9507.
• Spread the word among co-workers and friends. Bike to an event near your home or work, whatever fits best into your schedule. If you can help a friend who is attempting a first-time ride, offer to bike with them.
• Although we strongly believe it will never rain again on Bike to Work Day, we just might be wrong. So in case it's needed, the rain date is Thursday, May 20th. Either day, we'll see you on your bike at one of these seven locations:

SBCAG hearing goes well

• At the April 15 SBCAG meeting, public input about projects proposed for Federal TEA-21 funding was taken. It seemed to go quite favorably. However, because there was no following discussion, it was hard to tell.
• There were 45 speakers who talked over the three hours. Ten of them were Bicycle Coalition members—Alan Bergquist, Robert Bernstein, Ralph Fertig, Eva Inbar, Art Ludwig, Ken Palley, Alex Pujo, David Ramsteller, Jean Thomson, and Gary Wissman—but many others encouraged the SBCAG directors to fund bicycle projects.
• Late-entry projects from transit provider MTD were included by the County only after others were reduced in cost: the Cathedral Oaks bikepath was cut by $222,000 and the San Jose Creek bikepath, by $1,316,000. The other four South Coast bike projects remained intact.
• A group from Lompoc spoke for the H Street bike bridge, plus the Allan Hancock College bikepath connector. Equally supported was the Air Pollution Control District's "Take a Vacation from your Car" program to encourage tourists to leave their autos behind and get around the South Coast by foot, bus or bike.
• Public input is finished, so it's now in the SBCAG Directors' hands. It's a difficult process and the outcome is hard to envision at this point.

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Goodbye Susanne and Benjamin



Benjamin Sawyer is here flanked by Susanne Hammel at the right and good friend Ann Lawler, left, at the Coalition party. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• It was with joy and sadness that we had a Bicycle Coalition party on March 28th to commemorate the dedication of Benjamin Sawyer and his wife, Susanne Hammel. Benjamin especially has played an important role in the nurturing of the Bicycle Coalition from the beginning. He served on the Board of Directors and unstintingly helped with Coalition events. His wide-ranging vision kept us aware of bicycling's place in large social and environmental contexts.
• Susanne came to our help with organizing walks and other details for the Pro Bike/Pro Walk conference here last year. She and Benjamin often took long walks around the South Coast area and discover wonderful niches of life that are too often overlooked.
• The party attracted 25 people, on bikes of course, to Ralph Fertig's house. We were treated to a whopping meal cooked up by Sandra Wintermoss. All agreed that we should have more informal gatherings like this one, but shouldn't have to wait for people to leave.
• We will miss Benjamin and Susanne's energy, insight and compassion, but wish them well in Ashland, Oregon where they plan to grow herbs, play music, and sell children's books.

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Dunn to serve 7 years

• Steven Dunn, charged with felony charges of assault of bicyclist Richard Erskine with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run, was sentenced to prison on April 15.
• The incident happened after Dunn, provoked because someone had vandalized his car, drove out in anger looking for vengeance. Spotting Erskine bicycling in Goleta, he ran him down, severely injuring the cyclist. For years, Dunn has had mental problems with aggression.

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Bike Week is coming !

• Bike to Work Day has expanded with inspiration from Rob Dayton and input from the APCD, Traffic Solutions, SB County, SB City, and Bicycle Coalition members. In the future years, people will talk about the 1999 start of greater fun and recognition for local bicyclists. Here's what's on the menu, in addition to the Bike to Work Day.
• Bike Saturday, Saturday May 15. This event will take place in De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara. Watch for finalized details in the next three weeks as this exciting idea takes shape. Bike Saturday will probably have a bike rodeo for kids, bike safety, free bike checkups, booths (currently, we're hoping to have Shimano and Specialized there, as well as local shops and manufacturers), and a local bike tour led by Ralph Fertig. Think of it as an Earth Day Celebration just for bicyclists! Time will be 8:00-11:00 A.M. If you have ideas or contacts, call Dru van Hengel at 564-5544 and come to our meetings.
• Bike to School Day, Friday May 21. This is being undertaken by the bicycle-smart students and educators at Santa Barbara Middle School. They are planning to work with the students at three South Coast schools, as well as provide a blueprint for other schools to use. Details are still being developed, but contact Brian Bargiel for the latest information, by phone at 452-2707, or by email sbmsbargs@west.net. If you work for any school or know of other cyclists who do, be sure to tell them about this opportunity to bring the fun of bicycling to youth and pave our future with bikelanes.

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Our online forum turns one

• In April 1998, the Bicycle Coalition inaugurated an online forum where subscribers could post and read messages that pertain to local bicycling advocacy. There are currently 64 subscribers and, over the year, lots of worthwhile messages have been posted. It's used to post meeting notices, alert people to important government meetings, complain about conditions that need improvement, report on events, congratulate people for their actions, and in general, keep us all informed and closer.
• You too can be part of our online group by subscribing. It's free to anybody and you can "unsubscribe" at any time with the directions that come with it. To subscribe, just send an email message to:
• list-request@sbbike.org
• The subject line can have anything, but in the body of the message, put a single word:
• subscribe

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Bicycle Coalition nominations on May 5

• At our general meeting on May 5th, nominations will be accepted for the four officers and five other members of the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. If you wish to nominate somebody, but can't make it to the meeting, mail or email it in or ask somebody else to make the nomination for you.
• Think about how you can better serve our bicycling community by offering your services.

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Two cross-country treks



Joseph Mastroianni chats with Mayor Harriet Miller before his ceremonial departure for the East Coast via an electric bike. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Starting a day apart from Santa Barbara, and unknown to each other until a week before, two separate groups set off on bikes for long treks to the East Coast.
• Jim Howley from Carpinteria led a group of challenged and able-bodied athletes in this third Tri4Life mission across the country. He hopes to spread his message that exercise is empowering regardless of life's challenges as they run, bike and swim to New York City in 65 days. On April 11, in steady rain, the group took off as Mayor Harriet Miller and a crowd of 100 cheered them onward. Follow their progress at their web site www.tri4life.org.
• For another Carpinteria resident Joseph Mastroianni, crossing America by bike was a dream until he was hit by a motorist and seriously injured in 1988. Nearly losing a leg, Mastroianni endured eight years of surgery and therapy. He's making the 6-week trip with his 13-year old son and a support crew, riding a U.S. Pro-Drive electric bike. Mastroianni, who left on April 12, is in touch with school children and others during the ride via the Internet. Updates are being posted on their web site www.eeta.net.
• We certainly offer our admiration to these strong, courageous people.

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Derrick joins SBCAG staff

• William Derrick has been selected as the new executive director of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). Beginning work on May 3rd, Derrick will be responsible for directing SBCAG staff in important transportation implementations within our County.
• Derrick has over 22 years of experience in the planning, administration and operation of transportation systems. We congratulate him and certainly look forward to the opportunity to work with him on the multitudinous transportation issues that effect our daily lives.

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Montecito Community Day & Bike Rodeo



A Safe Moves worker shephards young cyclists through the miniature town as he explains potential urban hazards. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On April 10, about 100 kids on bikes showed up at Montecito Union School for a whole group of events including a Bike Rodeo. They were accompanied by parents who were encouraging their children. It was very heart-warming to see.
• Ralph Fertig set up the Bicycle Coalition banner and table to talk to people and pass out literature. It was obvious that our display had scant attraction for the kids, but Fertig did talk to parents about what we're doing, and they were fully supportive. As parents of elementary school kids, they were rightfully concerned with safety on the roads in Montecito, where cars race too fast, they said, along the narrow roadways.
• The Santa Barbara Middle School "bike monkeys" were there with four repair stands doing basic bike checkups. They were kept busy for all the time and everybody seemed grateful.
• The bike rodeo was run by Safe Moves from Van Nuys. They set up their miniature town in the school parking lot and were engaged all morning taking kids through in small groups. Pat Hines, the director, was elsewhere but one of the instructors said that they were supported by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, and Federal agencies—DOT, FHWA and NHTSA.
• Although not very many people at the event were really interested in the Bicycle Coalition, it was a pleasure to talk to some capable and concerned people about common goals. They obviously want their children to share the joys of bicycling. They are very concerned about roadway safety. And they're willing to work hard to improve conditions.

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Maldonado supports Safe Routes to School bill

• The California Assembly AB 1475 Safe Routes to School Bill that would fund about $18 million a year to improve child safety passed the Assembly Transportation Committee 12 to 5 with a supporting vote from local Assemblyman Abel Maldonado. The Bicycle Coalition president Gary Wissman sent a letter to Maldonado, and Lisa Finerty, one the organizers of Montecito Community Day, gathered about 100 signatures there in support of the measure.
• AB 1475 would help California children who bike or walk to school have safer trips. The money would help construct crosswalks, bikelanes, sidewalks, paths, and other safety measures. Stay tuned.

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First UCSB Bike Expo

• The University of California, Santa Barbara's Bike Expo took place on April 15, and by all indications, it was a fine success. Coordinator Jim Dalton worked hard with the Associated Students group to celebrate bicycling with a BMX stunt team, a product display by Specialized, free bike checkups by local bike shops, giveaway water bottles and decals, and an hour of live music.
• Although the Bicycle Coalition at UCSB is defunct, its functions have been taken over by the Associated Students Bicycle System Improvement Committee. That group meets regularly to discuss how campus bicyclist needs can be best met through available funding. Last year, the students voted to contribute about $40,000 a year from their fees to improve bicycling conditions.