June
2002

Bike Week brings out...bicyclists



The number of kids bicycling to Vieja Valley School rose by 50% this year over last. Perfect sunny weather made bicycling a real pleasure for everybody. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• At first, a girl arrived by bike. Then a mother came by with her young son. They were followed by clusters coming from different directions, heading toward the "Bike to School Day" banner and balloons next to the large bike parking area at Vieja Valley School on May 21st.
• Eva Inbar was ready, handing out reflective stars and other treats, while greeting the parents and children. Ralph Fertig and Wilson Hubbell were there to pass out our new Bicycle Coalition brochures and talk to parents and teachers as they bicycled in. Coalition member David Madajian biked in with two of his boys.
• Last year, there were 97 kids who biked to Vieja Valley school on Bike to School Day. This year, the count was nearly 150 students! What happened at Vieja Valley was repeated at five other South Coast schools, where hundreds of kids had the pleasure of bicycling to school. By any measure, the Bicycle Coalition's Safe Routes to School program, managed by Dru van Hengel, Ann Lawler, and Wilson Hubbell, was a success.
• Bike to Work Day was another success, thanks to Erika Lindemann, the site coordinators, and the Bike week Committee. Eight sites around the County attracted an estimated 1250 bicyclists in highly visible gatherings. Downtown Santa Barbara again sported our colorful Bike Week flags along State Street.
• Our third big venture was a booth at the Children's Festival in Santa Barbara where we sold helmets to kids and passed out ID tags, reflective stickers, bumper stickers, and lots of literature. Dru van Hengel was the guiding force behind the event. Overall, we vigorously succeeded once more in promoting bicycling for all.
• Congratulations and thanks to the following people, companies and organizations that made our Bike Week an enriching community event:
• Albertson's of Goleta, Aldo's Restaurant, AllGoode Organics, American Diabetes Society, American Silkscreen, Ann and Mike Lawler, Bicycle Bob's , Bicycle Connection, Bike Barn, Bit o' Denmark Restaurant and Bar, Bob's trailer, Borders Books and Music, Brandon School, Brian Fahnestock, Brian Halvorson, Cafe Off Pine Street, CD Coffey, Chaucer and Company Bookstore, Chris King Precision Components, Chumash Casino, City of Carpinteria, City of Lompoc, City of Santa Barbara, City of Santa Maria, City of Solvang Recreation, Coastal View News, Coffee and Company, Costco, County of Santa Barbara, Cutting Edge Hair and Body Salon, Dr. J's Bicychiatry, Drusilla van Hengel, Echelon Santa Barbara, Emergen-C, Epiphany Restaurant, Farmer Boy Restaurant, Food for the Family, Foothill School, Fox Hollow Coffee, Francis Gilliand, Fred Langeman, Gary Atkins, Gary Wissman, Gina's Pizza and Pasteria, Goleta Valley Athletic Club, Goleta Valley Cycling Club, Guayaki Yerba Mate, Hazard's CycleSport, Isla Vista Bike Boutique, Isla Vista Food Cooperative, Jack's Famous Bagels, James Wagner, Java Hut, Kaffee Hus, KBKO, KEYT-1250, KJEE 92.9, KRUZ, KSBL, KSPE, KTYD 99.9, Lynn Mathes, Main Street Cycles, Marborg Industries, Marian Medical Center, Megan Miley Graphic Design, Montecito YMCA, Mountain View School, Pacific Travellers Supply, Pascucci, Pedal Power, PTA Safety Committee, Ralph Fertig, Rick Fulmer, Roosevelt School, Santa Barbara Baking Company, Santa Barbara BMX, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara County Helath EMS, Santa Barbara Downtown Organization, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara Inn, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Natural of History Museum, Santa Barbara News-Press, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Santa Maria Sun, Santa Ynez Valley News, South Coast Railroad Museum, South Side Coffe Company, Starbucks Coffee, Stratford Coffee House and Cafe, The Family Services Agency, The Gas Company, The Lompoc Record, Tracey Strobel, Trader Joe's, Traffic Solutions, UCSB 93106 Newspaper, UCSB Bookstore, UCSB Faculty Club, UCSB Transportation Alternatives, UCSB UCen Catering, Valley Voice, VeloPro Cyclery, Vieja Valley School, Wilson Hubbell, Woodstock Pizza, and www.unicycle.com.

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Mirror, mirror on the bike?
Word from the President, by Wilson Hubbell

• Seems like there is always more equipment that people feel is essential for safe cycling. Once upon a time we rode without rearview mirrors or helmets—sometimes without shoes--and did not think much about it. Riding around the neighborhood and hanging out with friends° Helmets, mirrors, footwear? Naaaah.
• Times have changed and we don't just ride around the neighborhood anymore. We go farther, faster and mingle with way more traffic than ever existed at the end of that cul-de-sac long ago. We also have a safety consciousness that makes most of us chose to wear helmets (and shoes°.).
• So, what about mirrors? Well°, none of us would drive a car in traffic without one—it isn't safe and it isn't lawful—but many of us routinely ride our bikes in traffic without a mirror. Some time ago I began using a rearview mirror while bicycling, and now I think it's as important as a helmet. You see, a helmet will save your head in a crash but a rearview mirror can help prevent one from happening in the first place.
• The League of American Bicyclists makes a big deal about learning how to turn your head and look toward the rear so you can see what is behind you when you ride. This is an important skill to have, but a rearview mirror allows you to look behind with only subtle head movements—so you end up monitoring what is going on to your rear much more frequently than you would otherwise. Maybe the League should encourage mirror use and teach people how to look to the rear.
• A mirror also allows you to safely move out into the roadway to avoid road debris, car doors and other obstacles without having to turn your head to see what is behind you. This is a real benefit in an urban environment where there are plenty of obstacles and adjacent traffic that needs to be considered—and not much time or opportunity to turn your head from what is in front of you toward what is behind you.
• The mirror I use now is one of those tiny ones that mounts on the inside of my glasses. It's very effective and very inconspicuous. What you may use is up to you, but I recommend that you get a mirror and use it regularly. After awhile you won't bike without it!

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Coalition delivers Cachuma petition



Lake Cachuma is tucked in rugged hills, but new bike trails are possible. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• In an attempt to gain support for more bike facilities in the area of Lake Cachuma, the Bicycle Coalition crafted a petition and gathered names of 216 supporters in a few days. It was sent to the US Bureau of Reclamation, the lead agency currently considering changes in recreational opportunities in the Lake Cachuma area. Copies of the petition were sent with explanatory letters to Jennifer Briggs, director of County Parks, and Lois Capps, our representative to Congress.
• People signed the petition to "ask that the United States Bureau of Reclamation seriously consider increasing trails in the Lake Cachuma area. Extending a paved trail for a few miles in both directions from Lake Cachuma County Park would allow people using wheelchairs, skates, bicycles, and their own feet to explore the area. Creating an unpaved loop around the entire Lake would enable fit hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians to make an entire circuit. All trails should be limited to non-motorized use."
• At this point, things are in the hands of the Bureau of Reclamation. They are preparing two draft documents, a Resource Management Plan and an Environmental Impact Statement. Those two draft documents will be issued later this year for further public comment. Afterwards, final decisions will be made in mid-2003. We'll keep you posted.

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Bicycle Coalition election on July 2

• Nominations were made on May 7 for the Bicycle Coalitions' nine positions on the Board of Directors: four officers and five others who serve on the Board. Bicycle Coalition members are eligible for voting either in person at our regular July 2 meeting or by mailing in the ballot below to the Coalition (PO Box 92047, Santa Barbara, CA 93190). Copies of the ballot will be available at the meeting. Vision statements by candidates are available on our web site www.sbbike.org.
• BALLOT
• Vote for one person for each of the following offices:
• President
  Wilson Hubbell or ____________
• Vice President
  Ralph Fertig or ____________
• Treasurer
  Gary Wissman or ____________
• Secretary
  Sandra Wintermoss or ____________
• Choose five of the following for Board of Directors:
  Dru van Hengel
  Pierre Delong
  Erika Lindemann
  Mike Hecker
  Chuck Anderson
  Drew Hunter or ____________
  

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Other bike week events



Bicyclists were attracted to the Isla Vista Food Co-op for their Bicycle Day. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On May 22, the Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club in Goleta held its first Bike Day. Manager Charlotte Valentine encouraged club members to bicycle by offering bicycle valet parking, energy drinks, raffle prizes and a bag of goodies for every cyclist. Fifty members bicycled out of the usual 300 or so who normally visit the club on a weekday.
• In Isla Vista on May 25, manager Marcelino Sepulveda organized an IV Food Cooperative Bicycle Day. The Bicycle Coalition was there with our booth, giving away maps, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and Coalition brochures. The Co-op had raffle prizes and food for bicyclists.

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260 racers in Goleta



The 18-19 year-old men line up before Echelon Santa Barbara's criterium race. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Echelon Santa Barbara's "Smog-Free Criterium" in Goleta May 19 attracted 260 cyclists. Indeed, it was a sunny, smog-free day as promised. The big news, according to Echelon's president Bryan Krouse, was that Cody O'Reilly won both the junior state road race in Sisquoc and criterium in Goleta for the 13-14 age group! Cody is the son of Olympic cyclist Rory O'Reilly, Echelon's Junior Team coach.

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Meet the Buddha on a bike—and love him
by Jamey Wagner



Ken Yamamoto uses his bike to shop at the Santa Barbara Farmers' Market, filling his bags full of fruit and vegetables. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Ken Yamamoto came to Santa Barbara 21 years ago to attend massage school and recently finished marriage family therapist training. He has been a vegan for 23 years, composts, has a vegetable garden, recycles, and uses greywater.
• Ken's house is filled with skylights. One corner is filled with drums and the walls are covered with books and decorated with Tribal baskets and masks. Ken reports that he first became interested in the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition after Jim Hopperstad at Bikesmiths told him about the dedication of the key players in our group. Ken expressed amazement over this dedication: "It [SBBC] is like having our own personal bicycle lobby."
• Ken expressed fatalism about the way "humans are like a virus destroying the host organism," the earth. "We are an evolutionary mistake because we are not in balance with our ecosystem." He fears we are headed for extinction, an ecological collapse, or a nuclear holocaust.
• I asked him why he bothers living his life as simply as possible. Ken spoke of living life in balance and seeking the Buddhist concept of "right livelihood" in a world of ignorance, pain and suffering.
• Ken seems frustrated by the pervasive addiction to the automobile. He told me of a person he met recently who said that she liked doing ecological things "as long as it did not effect her quality of life."
• In contrast, Ken clusters errands to minimize car trips. He likes bicycles because they provide an efficient combination of alternative transportation and healthy exercise, as well as being recreational and environmental. He also is concerned about cyclists who use unsafe road habits. He recently took the League of American Bicyclists' BikeEd training and got feedback that he is a natural teacher. Given Ken's dedication to the subject of safe cycling, I think we are all fortunate to have him in our midst.

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Can the Coalition run the Bikestation?

• At our May 7th general meeting, mobility coordinator Dru van Hengel commented that a "request for proposal" RFP would be coming out soon for Santa Barbara's Bikestation, and that the Bicycle Coalition might consider responding to it.
• The Bikestation is included in plans for the upcoming Granada Garage parking structure on Anacapa street. It's located next to the Coffee Cat, with chairs and tables on an outdoor connecting patio. Just what would be involved in managing the facility remains to be seen. But it could be a prime opportunity to promote bicycling further.

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Bikelanes to become parking for 18 months

• The City of Santa Barbara is constructing the "Granada Garage" parking structure behind the Granada Theater starting this summer. To compensate for the lost parking spaces during construction, the City created extra spaces here and there. Existing bikelanes will be replaced with parallel parking for three blocks on Anapamu Street near the Courthouse. When the new Garage is completed in 2003, the streets will revert to their present conditions.

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Andy Singer

Gaviota trails cleared by Chuck Anderson



Trail volunteers gather at Gaviota State Park for morning instructions. Photo by Chris Orr.

• On Saturday, May 18th a veritable army of 100 cyclists, hikers and horse riders gathered at Gaviota State Park for the spring 2002 installment of King Trail Daze. This was the first time the King Trail Daze visited Gaviota State Park, and it was a great success. Volunteer crews cleared brush and reestablished tread on the Beach to Backcountry, Woodland, Tunnel View and Ortega trails. The trails are in beautiful shape so get our there and enjoy!
• Now in their seventh year, the King Trail Daze events have become the hallmark of volunteer trail maintenance events. Twice a year the events bring together 100 to 180 volunteers from every walk of the trail community. Working side by side, mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians put aside their trivial differences and join in a common effort to preserve the trails we all use and love.

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Mountain bike race a great success



The start of one of the many races at Firestone meadow near Los Olivos. Photo by Tony Manzella.

• On May 5th, the second Firestone Brewing Company Cross Country Mountain Bike Race took place. Race producer Mike Hecker reported that nearly 400 racers participated this year, up from 330 last year. And 50 kids showed up for the children's races. Hecker also invited the Bicycle Coalition to host our booth there, and we accepted.
• Thanks to Mike and Ann Lawler, Drew Hunter, and Michael Kwan for staffing our booth. They passed out literature and gathered names on our two petitions, one for Lake Cachuma trails, and the other for Gaviota Coastal Trail.
• "What a great event," commented Ann Lawler. "Beautiful weather, good food, wonderful music all day long! We heard from a lot of folks who said the course itself was great. We spoke with a lot of folks about the SB Bicycle Coalition, gathered signatures for the Cachuma trail petition and the petition for the Coast trail from Ellwood to Gaviota. Many thanked the Coalition for being there and organizing the petitions." Lawler summed it all up, "Don't miss this fun event next year!"

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Active members

• We greatly appreciate business memberships; please support them:
  MarBorg Industries, Santa Barbara
  Oasis Design in Santa Barbara
  Rincon Cycles,Carpinteria
  Lightning Cycle Dynamics, Lompoc.
• We're pleased to welcome new Bicycle Coalition member Michael Nichols of Santa Barbara. And we're grateful to the following who renewed their memberships: Annemarie Horner, Carl Beehler, Ken Yamamoto, Dennis and Patricia Forster, Tom Towle, David and Christine Bourgeous, Mary Byrd and John Fisher, Michael Takahara, Kathy Blake, Kelley Roberts, and Cheryl Everett.

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88 Magazine is out

• The first edition of a new active lifestyle publication called 88 Magazine is available. The owner-publisher Brett Ellingsberg has done an outstanding job in collecting 88 activities that visitors and residents alike can enjoy in the Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez areas.
• Brett generously offered the Bicycle Coalition a free half-page ad, which Ralph Fertig created. And it's right in the magazine center when you flip it open. Right next to "Biking" and "Mountain Biking" descriptions. Our ad says the following:
• Come ride with us
• You'll find some of the finest year-round bicycling in the country, both on-road and off-road, in Santa Barbara County. And we're proud to say that a lot of it is because of our efforts to make it better and safer.
• Get the map
• The best guide to bicycling is the free Santa Barbara County Bike Map. Phone 805-963-7283 for your copy. It has on-road bicycling routes throughout the County, plus signed bike routes in the Santa Barbara area.
• Check the web
• The best web resource is the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition's web site www.sbbike.org, especially the section "Bike Santa Barbara County" where you'll find:
• Bike clubs that you can join for rides
• Bike shops for bikes, repairs, accessories and info
• Bike rentals by the hour, day or week
• Bike accessories, shops for those extras that we need
• Bike books, for on-road and off-road travel.
• Bike rides. On our site, you'll also find a group of bike rides in the Santa Barbara area. They range from easy 5-mile rides to a 26-mile tour of the South Coast. They were created to introduce you to a wide variety of neighborhoods, features, and destinations in our area. We hope you'll enjoy every minute of them!
• 88 Magazine is free at numerous locations, just look for it. Our thanks to Ellingsberg for his publication that increases the visibility of bicycling in our county.

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May meeting topics

• Here's a brief agenda report about what was discussed at our May 2002 general meeting:
• Nominations were made for Coalition officers and board members. It was decided to hold the election in July to allow for mailed ballots to arrive.
• Jamie Goldstein reported on the Isla Vista Workshops; an important meeting on transportation will take place in July.
• Our Earth Day area was a fine success, but maybe two locations would be better next year.
• Petitions for new trails at Lake Cachuma and the Gaviota Coast will be sent in after additional names are solicited.
• Mike Hecker reported that participation in his Firestone Cross Country Races increased, and that racers welcomed our petitions.
• Chuck Anderson reported that Senator Boxer's wilderness bill will not limit local mountain biking, but will in the Sierras.
• Bike Week 2002 activities are lined up and ready to roll.
• Victor Garza described the changes in parking that will be made during construction of the City's Granada Garage.
• The Bicycle Coalition wrote to County Supervisor Gray asking for shoulders on Purisima Road near Lompoc.
• Our four new bumper stickers have arrived.
• The Coalition will write a welcoming letter to Tom Roberts, UCSB's new transportation director.
• The Santa Barbara Car Free program has published flyers aimed at tourists to promote non-motorized and low-pollution transportation around the South Coast.
• Eight bicycle shops have responded to requests to offer discounts to Bicycle Coalition members.

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Anderson and Orr attend IMBA Summit by Chuck Anderson



Chuck Anderson chats with a Moab bike advocate at dinnertime at the IMBA Summit. Photo by Chris Orr.

• Chuck Anderson and Chris Orr of the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers joined 170 other mountain bike advocates from around the globe for the International Mountain Bicycling Association's 2002 Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit in Moab, April 18-21.
• The unprecedented event featured four days of strategic planning, networking, information exchange and riding. Participants included nearly all of IMBA's state and international reps, key federal land managers from the National Park Service, US Forest Service, BLM and Army Corps of Engineers, journalists, key IMBA sponsors, and leaders of other cycling and conservation groups. Summit topics covered the spectrum from fundraising and political lobbying to youth programs and Wilderness issues.
• One of the Summit's hottest topics was downhill riding. Chuck moderated the conference session discussing the issue, and Chris was a member of the session's panel. They shared their experiences and success stories from dealing with the issue in Santa Barbara. A working group laid the foundation for IMBA's strategies to help land managers and IMBA clubs provide technical riding opportunities while preserving trails and ensuring the safety of all trail users.
• Important IMBA agreements that resulted from the summit include: A memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance branch of the National Park Service. A renewed partnership with the BLM that will remain in force until 2007; BLM leaders attended the Summit to gather feedback to develop the agency's new mountain bike strategy. A formal partnership between IMBA and the UK Forestry Commission that focuses on improving UK mountain bike opportunities. A partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and IMBA that will encourage new trail development on Corps land.

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Bike kids say goodbye



Some SB Middle School students prepare to ride to school while others finish their breakfasts. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Santa Barbara Middle School kids who meet each Friday at Mike's Place restaurant for breakfast before biking to school said goodbye for the summer on May 24th. In appreciation, they presented Mike and his staff with a school jersey signed by the students.
• They are ending the school year with bike trips to either Marin County or Washington state. Teacher John Seigel-Boettner is leaving soon after with his wife Lynn and a small group students for a bike ride across America. They will have digital cameras and computers to update a web site about their adventures.