April
2002

Will new Goleta be friendly to bicyclists?



Kids on bikes were attracted to Goleta's birthday celebration February 2, but what's their future? Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Last November, people voted to create Goleta, the 478th city in the Golden State. Carved out of the unincorporated South Coast of our County, this new city will change things for us all. It's unclear, however, just what the future will bring.
• One immediate change is the addition of Goleta representative Jack Hawxhurst to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) board. SBCAG is important because they make transportation decisions that effect bicycling. Because Goleta just became incorporated February 1, it's too early to see what position they will take.
• Of concern to bicyclists is the transfer of functions from the County to Goleta. On July 1, that transfer will be made for public works (technical design and construction of roadways, paths, and other street infrastructure) and planning (land use and zoning issues). Although Goleta will hire the County Public Works department, they haven't decided whether to hire employees or consultants for planning.
• The Goleta City Council will be making many decisions about projects that effects bicyclists, especially those in Old Town Goleta. Check their web site www.cityofgoleta.org for meeting agendas, and consider attending to speak out for better and safer bicycling for us all.

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Solar bikepath lights



Some will call them ugly, but the new Atascadero bikepath lights are sustained by solar power. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Those of you who use the popular Atascadero Creek Bikepath between UCSB and Santa Barbara in the evenings will be pleased that the lighting system is being extended, although still not all the way to Goleta Beach. What makes the new lights different from existing ones is that they're solar-powered. They have built-in timers and use high-pressure sodium bulbs that don't disturb nesting birds in the adjacent riparian and wetland habitats.

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Neighborhood safety bill

• A bill introduced into the California legislature by Senator Tom Torlakson on February 20th is very important to bicyclists. It's Senate Bill 1555, the "Neighborhood Traffic Safety Act." What makes SB 1555 important is that it would appropriate funds to:
• promote biking and walking
• offer bike handling courses
• educate kids, parents and teachers about safe biking and walking
• educate motorists regarding welfare of pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Funding for the program would come from an additional $4 levy on each motorist fine for unsafe driving. The funds would be administered by the California Department of Health Services. The Bicycle Coalition has already sent letters to Senator Torlakson and to Senator Jack O'Connell from our County. The letters strongly express our support of the bill.
• You can do your part by writing to Senator O'Connell, asking him to approve SB 1555. Write to:
• Senator Jack O'Connell
  California State Senate
  State Capitol Room 5035
  Sacramento, CA 95814
• You can view bill details and status at www.sen.ca.gov under "Legislation." SB 1555 will help clean our air, enhance public fitness, and increase bicyclists' safety. It's hard to envision anything better.

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Bicycling in Paradise
Word from the President, by Wilson Hubbell

• It happens to all of us: When we visit cyclists outside of Santa Barbara County we get comments about how lucky we are to live and ride in what many consider to be a bikie paradise. Those of us who live and ride here know that the place we call home has its share of problems with traffic, inconsiderate drivers and other hazards, yet Santa Barbara County has a worldwide reputation for being a great place to ride. Why is this?
• From a comparative standpoint, where we live is an outstanding place to be on a bicycleíand it did not happen that way by accident. As we strive to make life better for cyclists in our communities, we need to enjoy the progress that has already been made and remember the people who are largely responsible for the cycling improvements we have today.
• Much of what we sometimes take for granted came from the earlier struggles of bicycle advocacy pioneers like George and Vie Obern, Bob Burgess, Dan Henry, Don Longstreet, Mike and Ann Lawler, Tim Brummer and others. Think about the bicycling facilities you use every day, like the Atascadero and Maria Ygnacia Creek bikepaths, the Castillo and Bath Street bikelanes, the Alamo Pintado Road / Grand Avenue bikelanes in Santa Ynez, and the eight-foot paved and striped road shoulders on Highway 246 between Lompoc and Buellton. These improvements came to us because local bikies went to the meetings, wrote the letters and worked with elected officials and local governmental agency staff members to make good things happen.
• We are truly blessed that many of our pioneers, including all those mentioned above, are still pushing for better bicycling facilities for all of us. As we continue the struggle to right those wrongs that still exist in our communities, we must not lose sight of all that has been accomplished—and why many consider Santa Barbara County to be one of the best cycling locations anywhere because of it.

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Free money

• Here's a real-life drama we can live with:
• Armando: Hello?
  Shannon: Is this Armando
  Armando: Yes, this is.
  Shannon: This is Shannon from Traffic Solutions. I'm calling to let you know that you won $200!
  Armando: No way. Really?
• Armando is a US Postal Service employee and bicycle commuter who won $200 on January 2. Traffic Solutions is working to reduce drive-alone commuters to Downtown Santa Barbara with their "Try Something New" program. For the first six months of 2002, they are drawing names from those who bike or choose other alternative transportation to commute to work. Each day there's another winner and Shannon McEttrick has the enviable job of phoning them.
• During January and February, nine bicyclists won $200 each out of 41 prize days. That suggests that 21% of Downtown participants bike! If you already bike to work or want to start, check with your employer to see if they've signed up for the program. Contest details are online at www.trafficsolutions.info under "What's New," or just phone 963-7283.
• Traffic Solutions' program has been featured on Inside Santa Barbara, showing four times a week during March on Cox Channel 18 television in the South Coast area.

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Return of the bikelane



Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara has freshly-painted bikelanes. Use them! Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• In the March Quick Release, it was noted that a new slurry seal coat had been applied to Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara on the City side of the Mesa, but the bikelanes had not been striped back in when traffic lanes were painted. Thanks to fast action by the Public Works and Transportation people, we have our bike lanes back, so bicyclists have a place back on the roadway once again.

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Opinions wanted

• We hope to have a new section in Quick Release where you can offer your thoughts about some bicycling issue. It should be concise, about 200 words maximum length, emailed to the editor at sb-ralph@cox.net. Keep it to topics of interest to fellow bicyclists within our County. It might be edited to fit.

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Andy Singer comes to Quick Release

• Anybody who has been around the pro-alternative, sustainable-transportation culture for a while knows Andy Singer for his cartoons. Sometimes nasty, usually edgy, always perceptive, they show us in drawings what words often fail to convey. Singer describes himself as a nomadic starving artist who now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was married in a car-free wedding, riding off on his honeymoon on a bicycle.
• If you like what you see here, check out Singer's web site: www.andysinger.com. And consider buying his book CARtoons. Author Jane Holtz Kay describes the book: "With quotes and statistics, this book takes us on a journey through Autoland and nimbly digests our travails with this devilish instrument of toxins and pollutants, of sprawl and ecological disaster. Anyone who cares about the fate of the globe will savor his vilification of our car-bred planetary ills."
• You can support the forces of good by buying CARtoons directly from Singer's web site.

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UCSB Transportation

• Tom Roberts has been appointed as the Director of Parking and Transportation Services at UCSB, a position starting this May. Roberts has a BS degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning from Cal State Dominguez Hills. He directed Easy Lift Transportation in Santa Barbara for 15 years, and just completed eight years of service on the Santa Barbara City Council. We welcome him to his new position and hope that his work for social equity will help bring balance to UCSB transportation.

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Author, teacher, grandma…bike commuter
by James Wagner



What better way to keep young than by biking to work? Just ask Grandma Susan. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Susan Kinnell Carty works at the UCSB Bookstore and has been a bike commuter to her job there for the past 10 years. She will be retiring December 6, 2002íher 65th birthday. She is planning a combination birthday party, retirement celebration, and bike commuter pep rally with her department on that date.
• Susan is doing research for the presentation she is planning for her coworkers, as a part of her farewell bash. She reports she bought one quarterly parking pass right when she started at UCSB, and rapidly figured out that commuting by car was a "bad deal." She has saved $2,472 by not buying annual parking permits and has saved even more by not driving her car the 8-mile round-trip to campus. She is logging how many days she is commuting by bike this year and will generalize, back in time, to come up with calculations in terms of dollars saved and calories burned for her presentation.
• Susan had an arthritic hip replaced three years ago and was back on her bike six weeks after her surgery. She says about the only time she does not commute to work by bike is when weather does not permit or when she has cases of books to tote around for her job. One of her younger colleagues rides at a blazing pace on a snazzy bike, but only does so occasionally. Susan rides in so often, by comparison, that she teases this fellow by calling him "wimp."
• When asked what she likes best about bicycling Susan spoke about connecting to her environment and enjoying the seasons, especially early in the morning. She likes being a part of her neighborhood.
• As she ages, Susan has gravitated toward basics like quilting, cooking, gardening, reading, and traveling. After her retirement she and her husband plan to bike across the country, in stages. So far they have biked the first stage to...Ojai. "Just a few more to go," she said with a smile.
• I asked Susan about her vision for cycling at UCSB and Santa Barbara. She talked about how wonderful it would be if cars could be banned from UCSB and we could have a people-mover from remote parking structures to campus, sort of like "an academic Disneyland!"

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Cachuma Lake input extended two months

• As described in March Quick Release, three hearings on Lake Cachuma management in mid-March provided the public with an opportunity to say what they want in terms of future recreation in the Federal area.
• The Bicycle Coalition has not taken a position on any plan, but individuals can. Some may advocate no increase in activities in the Federal land around the lake. Others might advocate for increased bicycling opportunities. Some options are:
• Do nothing new
• Expand paved bike paths near Lake Cachuma County Park
• Create an unpaved trail around the lake
• Facilitate paved access from the Solvang/Santa Ynez area to the County Park.
• Recreation facilities requested at the three public meetings included rowing, kayaking, canoeing, flying model airplanes, kids' sailboat lessons, windsurfing, horse trails, and bicycle trails. Others emphasized the need to assure a clean water supply and preserve natural conditions.
• The US Bureau of Reclamation that manages the lake area has scheduled three additional public meetings a month from now, and also extended the deadline to May 8th to submit your written comments. Send those comments favoring whatever you believe is desirable to:
• Dan Holsapple
  Bureau of Reclamation
  South-Central California Area Office
  1243 N Street
  Fresno, CA 93721

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Amtrak funding

• Our country's passenger rail service Amtrak is in danger of losing Federal funding. Members of Congress who think nothing of vast subsidies to other transportation industries, balk at supporting our rail lines. The Bicycle Coalition has taken a position of support for Amtrak because their passenger service has increasingly accommodated bicyclists. The Pacific Surfliner trains that ply between San Diego and San Luis Obispo in particular have roll-on bike service with special racks for nine bikes per train.
• In February, the Bicycle Coalition wrote to our Representative Lois Capps about maintaining funding for Amtrak. It said, "You may wonder why a local bicycling organization would be concerned with passenger rail travel. In conjunction with the League of American Bicyclists and other groups, we have worked with Amtrak for years to expand rail service opportunities for bicyclists. In so doing we have made excellent progress in helping to establish bike racks in rail cars on local routes, and preferential baggage handling procedures for bicycles on long distance routes, throughout the country."
• Our letter ended, "We are also concerned about the loss of any passenger rail capability from a national security standpoint. If the events of 9/11 taught us something, it is that a well-diversified transportation network is less vulnerable to catastrophic disruption by terrorists, oil cartels, acts of nature or other causes."

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Dangers of sidewalk biking



A bicyclist rides on the sidewalk, endangering himself and pedestrians. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Late last year, the Bicycle Coalition received an email from a Los Angeles bicyclist who was cited by Santa Barbara police for riding on the sidewalk. He wrote, "I ride on the sidewalk when there's any traffic because the streets are not safe for cyclists. I have a constitutional right to safe and free travel, and since the streets are not safe for cyclists, it is my constitutional right to ride on the sidewalk if I do so safely and carefully." He asked for our support in fighting the citation. We declined and Ralph Fertig explained our position.
• The biggest study on bicyclist behavior and safety was done by William Moritz, PhD, titled Adult Bicyclists in the United StatesíCharacteristics and Riding Experience in 1996. Moritz surveyed 1956 bicyclists, all members of the national League of American Bicyclists, about their biking experiences during the year 1996.
• The surveyed individuals biked an average 2800 miles each in 1996. About 9% had a crash with $50 or more in medical or property expense during the year. Thus the average cyclist in this group might expect to have one such a crash in 11 yearsíor in 30,800 miles.
• Location of crashes. Where were these crashes likely to happen on a given facility? Here is the crash rate per million miles:
• On-street bike lane 43
  On-street signed bike route 53
  Major road without bike facilities 68
  Minor road without bike facilities 98
  Multiuse path or trail 147
  Off-road unpaved 470
  Sidewalk & other places 1710
• Kind of crashes. Here is their kind of crash that the bicyclists had:
• Falling 59%
  Running into a fixed object 14%
  Colliding with a motor vehicle 11%
  Colliding with another bicyclist 9%
  Other 7%
• The Bicycle Coalition considered our position on sidewalk bicycling two years ago after the Santa Barbara Police Department asked what our policy was. We debated and wrote:
• "The Bicycle Coalition supports those laws that prohibit bicycle riding on sidewalks as they pertain to able-bodied adults. We also believe that law enforcement officials should exercise discretion in enforcing these laws as they pertain to children and elderly adults."
• For the LA bicyclist, we told him that his best hope for fighting his case might be that the officer won't show up for his hearing.
• In the meantime, let's ask for what the data shows to be the safest bikeway facilityíbike lanes on streets.

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Ads in Quick Release

• Starting in May, we will accept small advertisements in issues of Quick Release. Circulation is 400-500 individuals, most of whom cannot be reached through ordinary channels like bicycle club lists. In addition to bicyclists, our circulation includes: about 100 of the largest local Employee Transportation Coordinators whose job is to encourage alternative transportation like bicycling within their companies; bike clubs, bike shops, and bike services in Santa Barbara County; plus all county supervisors and city council members.
• Ads must be standard business card size, 3.5" wide x 2.0" high. Cost per ad is $18 each, or 12 consecutive issues for $180. Details and an order form are available on PDF format online at www.sbbike.org/QR/ad.pdf.

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Active members

• We're pleased to welcome new Bicycle Coalition members David, Teresa, Aron and Sean Bothman of Santa Barbara.
• We greatly appreciate business membership renewal of MarBorg Industries in Santa Barbara and Rincon Cycles in Carpinteria. And we are additionally grateful to the following who renewed their existing membership: Pierre Delong, Gary Wissman, Bob Cooper, Steve Morris, Jean Thomson and David Ramsthaler, Diane Krohn and Wayne Beckman, Bob Burgess, Alan Bergquist, Alex Pujo, Chuck Anderson, Judy Keim, Hugh McGuire, Doris Phinney and Owen Patmor, Richard Lambert, Brad Heavner, Raymond and Domi Smith, Ralph Fertig, Woody Wilde, and Richard Fortune.

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LAB training

• This May 4-5th, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) will send a training instructor to Santa Barbara to conduct its BikeEd course. The course is being supported by our Safe Routes to School Coalition and the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. About 20 individuals will learn how to teach othersíespecially childreníhow to bicycle safely. Upon completion of the course, participants will become "certified instructors" joining Wilson Hubbell and Steve Morris who have already had the training.

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Car-free program ready for prime time



Project coordinator Mary Byrd holds a prototype of their new Car Free brochure. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The Santa Barbara Car Free program, also called "Take a Vacation from Your Car," is attracting more interested individuals to their program. The Bicycle Coalition has been present since the beginning, making sure that bicycling is well represented in the "car-free" options offered to visitors to Santa Barbara County's South Coast and Santa Ynez Valley.
• A major project that will debut on Earth Day and run through the end of 2002 is a program that offers discounts at local hotels as well as car-free services. Those services include Pedal and Paddle of Santa Barbara and Cycles4Rent. Others are welcome to join. Brochures are being printed to promote this "Santa Barbara Car Free Vacation" package. They will be widely available on Amtrak trains as well as local visitor centers. Several Bicycle Coalition people have reviewed the brochure prototype, and our web site will definitely be featured.
• The Car Free group has its own web site www.santabarbaracarfree.org with a separate section on bicycling. Check it out and send any suggestions to project coordinator Mary Byrd whoíby the wayíis a Bicycle Coalition member and supporter from way back.

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March meeting topics

• Here's a brief agenda report about what was discussed at our March 2002 general meeting:
• Gary Wissman will head a planning sub-committee dealing with Goleta issues
• We'll have a booth at Earth Day April 21
• UCSB will close the Coast Route to bicyclists during building construction on campus
• UCSB may start its new "in-car parking meter" system this summer
• Our Safe Routes to School program is wrapping things up
• League of American Bicyclists' BikeEd program is scheduled for May 4-5
• There's a potential for limited downhill mountain biking above the Tajiguas Landfill
• Advertising will be sought for Quick Release; Singer cartoons will be included
• Coalition wrote to National Park Service about Gaviota Coast trails, and to Senator Torlakson about SB 1555
• Coalition will write to Lois Capps about possible loss of Amtrak service.

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Bike to Work Day is May 22nd

• Since 1994, Bike to Work Day has been our major annual event. This year, there will be seven Bike to Work locations, each with its own coordinator. Each site needs volunteers to help set up, staff, and close down. This is a fun way to meet fellow bicyclists and make a contribution to a better world. If you want more info, just contact one of the site coordinators here:
• SB City College Brian Fahnestock 965-0581 x2357
• Santa Barbara Dru van Hengel 564-5544
• Carpinteria Rick Fulmer 684-5405
• Goleta Erika Lindemann 961-8919
• UCSB James Wagner 893-5475
• Lompoc Shannon McEttrick 961-8918
• Solvang Fred Lageman 688-7529
• Santa Maria Brian Halvorson 925-0951 x244

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Lunchtime in Santa Barbara



The bicycle is often the most sensible means of travel to lunch in Downtown Santa Barbara as seen in this photo outside the Natural Cafe, although finding a parking place can be a problem. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

New Gaviota deadline

• The National Park Service has extended the deadline to submit comments about Gaviota Coast protection to September 1. This gives us extra time to ask for bicycling paths and trails within the study area that runs between Point Sal on the north and UCSB on the south.
• The Sierra Club is taking an increasingly-active interest in protecting this unique section of undeveloped California coast. They have designated Ariana Katovich as conservation organizer; you can reach her at 564-7892 for project information.
• At a program that the Sierra Club sponsored on March 19-20, featured speaker Mike Lunsford suggested that too-easy access to future public lands will invite abuse because too many people will be there. Biking, hiking and horse trails that run parallel to the ocean as well as down to the beach and into the mountains can alternately provide access while minimizing damage to the environment.

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Goodbye Susie

• On March 21, national bicycling advocate Susie Stephens was struck and killed by a bus while crossing a street in St. Louis, where she was preaching the gospel of transportation reform.
• "Can the universe be so cruel?" asked Ellen Vanderslice. "It is a loss that hits the heart hard."
• "If you were there, you'll never forget beautiful, brave Susie standing up after lunch at the ProBike/ProWalk '98 in Santa Barbara. 'There is no viable movement without music,' she said, and lifted her voice in that old spiritual. If you weren't there, imagine 500 voices filling the room with her new words:
• "Ain't gonna let nobody
  Turn me around, turn me around, turn me around,
  Ain't gonna let nobody
  Turn me around,
  Gonna keep on biking, keep on walking,
  Gonna build a brand new world."
• Susie Stephens entered bicycle advocacy in 1993 as program director for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. She became its executive director and served until 1998 when she helped found the Thunderhead Alliance. Last year she passed the torch and became a transportation consultant.