January
2001

T*E*N   Y*E*A*R*S



Bicyclists enjoy a pleasant winter ride on Santa Barbara's Beachway, pedaling toward a future we all share. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• This January 2001, our Bicycle Coalition celebrates ten years of actively contributing to community enrichment for bicyclists and non-bicyclists alike.
• At a December 1990 luncheon meeting between Trisha Davis (Rideshare Coordinator) and Jamie Newett (Santa Barbara County Traffic Demand Management Coordinator, later named Jamie Andree), the idea of forming a County bicyclist advocacy group was hatched. It resulted in a memo, reproduced below, to a group of County bicyclists known to them. Then on January 9th, 1991, our first meeting took place.

• The immediate idea was to propose a bicycling project that would be funded by the newly-passed Proposition 116. The repaving of the Atascadero Creek Bikepath between UCSB and Santa Barbara was subsequently proposedÐand funded $462,000 in 1992. Further impetus to form a bicycle advocacy group came from the need to support the County Board of Supervisors in complying with the new Transportation Demand Management ordinance.
• By mid-1991, the name had been shortened to "Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition," a list of advocacy goals was formulated, and there were 42 bicyclists involved. Their names, listed below, include the first three presidents of the Coalition: Trisha Davis (1992-1994), Ralph Fertig (1994-1997), and Gary Wissman (1997-1999).
• We are the benefactors of the pioneer work of those early participants, and without their vision and dedication, bicycling in our community would not be as joyous and enriching as it is today.

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1991 Bicycle Coalition participants

The useful bicycle: an engineering marvel

• Bicycles are magnificent devices with a 150 year history. Here's what our fine steeds are doing (thanks to Bicycling magazine):
• A bicycle can support 10 times its weight. No car, bus, plane, train or person comes close.
• Bike cops have arrest rates 24% above their non-bike comrades.
• One lane of roadway accommodates 40,000 bicyclists an hour, but only 3300 motorists.
• The bicycle wastes almost no energyÐ98.6% of your energy propels you forward.
• A single-occupant car uses 53 times as much energy as a cyclist to move a given distance.
• Nearly 80 million US adults ride bikes, mostly for fitness and recreation.
• Bicycle delivery of mail by a bike instead of truck saves about $5000 a year per carrier.
• A bicyclist can haul five times as much as a person on foot.
• In Third World countries, workers using bikes earn three times as much as those who walk.

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Celebrate the people

• These heroes have dedicated energy to make local bicycling safer and more enjoyable. Our gratitude to the Bicycle Coalition's board members, officers, and committee chairs since 1991:

What’s significant?

• Quick Release editor Ralph Fertig asked Bicycle Coalition online subscribers, "What is the most significant advance or improvement in bicycling that the SB Bicycle Coalition has made?" Here are the replies:
• I think the most important contribution of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has been the change of attitude in the minds of South Coast policy makers regarding automobile dependency and the alternatives available.
  — Alex Pujo
• I'll make a vote for the increase in striped bike lanes on our roads. I've particularly benefited from the lanes on upper State Street.
  — Chuck Anderson
• I think the 1998 Pro Bike / Pro Walk Conference was a huge feather in the Coalition's cap. It may not be the most important thing we've ever done, but it has to rank pretty high on the list.
• Putting Dru van Hengel and me to work on bike related issues also must be credited to the Coalition. I doubt that the County and the City would have us here if it were not for the Coalition.
  — Wilson Hubbell
• Two words: "Ralph Fertig."
  — Dennis Whelan
• Congratulations to SBBC on your ten-year anniversary. I continue to look forward to receiving each issue of Quick Release. Ralph asked for comments regarding SBBC's most notable achievements. Although many come to mind, two stand out: 1) The SBBC web site was one of the first good bicycle advocacy sites in California; it prompted many of us to take our own sites more seriously, and 2) For someone interested in building new advocacy organizations, SBBC has served as a model all-volunteer organization, effective well beyond its means. CBC wishes SBBC all the best as you explore how best to tackle the challenges of the next decade.
  — Chris Morfas, California Bicycle Coalition
• I think the most significant advance in bicycling that the Bicycle Coalition has made has been working with the staff of the various government entities. Before the Bicycle Coalition bicycle advocates were outsiders and it was very inefficient trying to get information in a timely manner.
  — Bob Burgess

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Ten years of bicycling progress: chronological highlights



The Bicycle Coalition works hard on Bike to Work Day events like this 1998 Santa Barbara morning gathering. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• 1991
• Defined SBBC goals and implementation.
• Helped propose Prop 116 repaving and lighting of Atascadero Creek Bikepath in Goleta.
• Launched Quick Release.
• 1992
• Met with Santa Barbara City police.
• Hosted Russian touring cyclist Igor Nalimov.
• Participated in Earth Day for first time.
• Won Atascadero Bikepath funding.
• Put bicycling exhibit in Earthling Bookstore.
• Elected Trisha Davis first SBBC president.
• Quick Release was posted on electronic bulletin board.
• Met with Supervisor Naomi Schwartz.
• Worked with County to plan Goleta bikeways.
• Encouraged Bicycling Museum in Solvang.
• 1993
• Created Road Improvement Form.
• Helped propose "Sports Track" for County Park.
• Encouraged Santa Barbara City to design widened Beachway and bike lanes at Mission/Highway 101.
• Helped Bicycle Ride Against Drinking Drivers.
• Advocated alternatives to Highway 101 widening.
• Assessed bike projects for SBCAG.
• Worked with SB City over Prop 116 funding.
• Hosted LA bikeway planner Ryan Snyder.
• Applied for SBBC nonprofit status.
• 1994
• Started mailing Quick Release to Employee Transportation Coordinators.
• SBBC Planning Committee worked on Goleta Bikeway Plan.
• Worked with Ventura Caltrans for safer cycling on 101 near La Conchita.
• Helped Traffic Solutions with Bike to Work Day.
• Provided "valet bike parking" at Earth Day.
• Advocated bike racks on MTD buses.
• Advocated safer Montecito biking conditions.
• Worked with County on ISTEA bike projects.
• Requested SBCAG bicycling coordinator.
• Helped SBCAG with Regional Bikeway Study.
• Helped Traffic Solutions revise Bikeway Map.
• Worked with Goleta Trails to keep bike access.
• Praised County for hiring Wilson Hubbell as "alternative transportation coordinator."
• Encouraged 6 locals to attend Pro Bike/Pro Walk '96 conference in Portland, Oregon.
• 1995
• Worked with Santa Barbara City on their Circulation Element.
• Discussed bike law violator program.
• Worked with CHP and Sheriff concerning bike rides in Santa Ynez Valley.
• Partnered with County Health Care Services for "Share the road with cyclists" stickers.
• Promoted multiple bikeways in Goleta Transportation Improvement Plan.
• Bike lockers installed by SB City and County.
• Conducted mobile bike workshop for American Planning Association conference.
• Achieved SBBC nonprofit status.
• Established SBBC membership fee structure.
• Created SBBC web site to be hosted by RAIN.

Bike lanes and bike racks on buses are major objectives of the Bicycle Coalition. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• 1996
• Helped South Coast bikeway signage design.
• County's video cameras begin to detect traffic.
• Started "Earn a Bike" program with Girls Inc.
• Hosted local California Association of Bicycling Organizations meeting in Santa Barbara.
• MTD installed bike racks on 3 bus routes.
• Proposed Pro Bike/Pro Walk '98 for Santa Barbara City.
• Advocated 3 bike projects along 101 corridor in Montecito and Carpinteria.
• Hosted lunch with FL planner Walter Kulash.
• Held SBBC meetings in North County.
• Encouraged dog/leash signs on Goleta paths.
• Encouraged design of Ellwood bridge over 101 and San Jose Creek undercrossing of 101.
• Won "Green Award" honorable mention.
• Announced Bike to Work '97 poster contest.
• 1997
• Received funding for bike safety video.
• Promoted bikelanes on Carpinteria Ave in Carpinteria and Hollister Ave in Old Town Goleta.
• Advocated renewal of Federal ISTEA programs.
• Helped Santa Barbara City study Beachway congestion.
• Had 1700 participants on Bike to Work Day.
• Fought for outer State Street bikelanes.
• Bought our own Internet domain sbbike.org.
• 1998
• Hosted 520 Pro Bike/Pro Walk '98 conference participants with info table, housing, bike rides, and literature pack.
• Founded Bicycle Coalition at UCSB.
• Encouraged Alamo Pintado bikelanes for Santa Ynez Valley.
• Worked with Earth Force youth bike program.
• Hired Jonathan Humfrey as Bike to Work coordinator.
• Started online SBBC email forum.
• Participated in "Take a Vacation from Your Car" tourist program.
• Started annual bicyclist count in Santa Barbara City.
• Advocated wide shoulders or bikelanes on Highway 246 between Solvang and Buellton.
• Bicyclists Fertig and Burgess are recognized as "Local Heroes" by Santa Barbara Independent.
• 1999
• Dru van Hengel is appointed Santa Barbara City's "mobility coordinator."
• Worked with MTD to get bike racks attached to their new low-floor Nova buses.
• Expanded Bike to Work Day to "Bike Week" and added new events.
• Supported state Safe Routes to School bill.
• Finished Decide to Ride safety video.
• SY Valley's Dan Henry Bike Route is opened.
• Proposed to Caltrans a bike-favorable redesign of Fairview overcrossing at 101.
• Encouraged designating De Anza Trail and Coastal Trail as "Millennium Trails."
• Proposed a Bike the Coast booklet.
• Hosted Willie Weir and Joe Kurmaskie on their West Coast bike/book tour.
• Promoted "Bikestation" in Santa Barbara City.
• Caltrans planner Pat Mickelson located in Santa Barbara.
• 2000
• Advocated Santa Barbara's Ortega bike/ped bridge rebuild.
• Asked MTD to put bike racks on all large buses.
• Helped get wide lanes on Lompoc's H Street.
• Helped start Liveable Streets Coalition.
• Redesigned Web site, got 70 viewers/week.
• Expanded Bike Week with new activities.
• Held "Why I love to Bike Commute" contest.
• Won $25,000 for "Kids on Bikes" program.
• Held first SBBC Board member Retreat.
• SBBC considered hiring executive director.
• Helped Santa Barbara City appraise bike projects.

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We change people

• "Our cycling affects everyone who touches us in any way. We change people. We're never just riding."
  — Bill Strickland, Executive Editor, Bicycling

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Comments about Pro Bike '98

• It was great to meet you all. Santa Barbara was gorgeousÐno wonder I've heard so many terrific things about it over the yearsÐand I thoroughly enjoyed Pro Bike.
  — Jody Newman
• Thank you for all the hard work that you and the others in the SBBC did to make this a truly successful and rewarding week for national cycling advocacy.
  — Khal Spencer
• Thanks for all your effort to make the conference successful. But then I was positive that Santa Barbara could be nothing but an unqualified success.
  — William Hunter
• The conference was terrific, the site was great, and we all had a wonderful time. Thanks!
  — Dave Burch
• By bringing Pro Bike to California and making it a great time, you've brought people together in ways that will have a lasting impact on this state.
  — Patrick Siegman
• Thanks again so much for all your great efforts in making the Pro Bike conference in Santa Barbara the best I've been to!
  — Jeffrey Miller