June
2004

Thank you for Bike Week 2004



Bike to Work Day in Downtown Santa Barbara attracted hundreds once again. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



At Roosevelt School, Santa Barbara's Mayor Marty Blum and parent Scott Burns watched kids. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Kids came to our booth at Santa Barbara's Children's Festival for helmets and more. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• "There was no congestion this morning," the Roosevelt School crossing guard said. Usually, it's all cars, but this morning I got my exercise by helping kids walking and biking to school."
• Fourteen South Coast schools from elementary to high school participated in Bike to School Day on May 18. At Roosevelt, their bike racks overflowed with bikes.
• Santa Mayor Marty Blum returned to Roosevelt where she used to teach, to watch the parade of kids arriving by bicycle.
• Bike to School Day was just one event in a busy week full of bike rides, bike movies, Bike to Work Day, the Children's Festival, and our first annual "Bike Week Celebration" kick-off dinner, award ceremony, and entertainment.
• At the Children’s Festival, held in Alameda Park in Santa Barbara, our booth continued to attract kids and adults all day. We were busy distributing about 60 bike helmets that came from Santa Barbara County Health Services. Special thanks to Bicycle Coalition members Ann Lawler, Erika Lindemann, Nancy Mulholland, David Madajian, Chuck Anderson and Gary Wissman who put in long hours at our booth.
• Chris Greenfield at the County’s Emergency Medical Services was very pleased with our success distributing helmets. Next year, he promises to provide more in all sizes. Gary Wissman suggests that we advertise helmets so more people know about them.
• Our new event this year, Bike Week Celebration, took place Friday evening before Bike Week. It was held at Chase Palm Park Center, between Cabrillo Boulevard and the beach bikepath in Santa Barbara. Being an entirely new venture for us, it was difficult to anticipate the response. We did lose money on the event, however the 35 people who attended all had glowing responses. Read some of their comments—and those from actor-cyclist Willie Weir—in separate Celebration articles.
• Bike to Work Day took place on a sunny Wednesday morning at 13 places throughout our county. Coordinator Erika Lindemann is to be praised for all her hard work organizing things. As this goes to press, final counts from the sites are still coming in.
• Throughout Bike Week, our 125 bike-logo flags proudly flew along State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara, promoting bicycling to the world. They could not be missed!
• What about 2005? Why not more bicycling for everybody? Why not, indeed!

Santa Barbara City praises our Bike Week

• A Bike Week proclamation was presented to Ralph Fertig and Rob Dayton by Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum on May 18 at a City Council meeting.
• Dayton passed out Bike to Work T-shirts to Council members, noted that the percentage of bike commuters was increasing, and urged everybody to bike to work the next day. Fertig related his experience of disappearing traffic at Roosevelt School that morning as kids biked to school instead of being driven by parents. He further commented on the energy efficiency of bicycles: "For the same energy expenditure that it takes a motorist in gasoline to drive from State to Milpas Street, a bicyclist fueled with a fish taco, for example, can bike to Ventura and back." And he finished by saying that, with gas prices increasing and obesity rising in all age groups, the bicycle is becoming a more attractive choice.
• Here is what the City's proclamation says:
• WHEREAS, the City of Santa Barbara actively encourages bicycling as an important mode of transportation in preserving its quality of life; and
• WHEREAS, the goal of Bike Week is to promote and celebrate the joys and benefits of bicycling for transportation and recreation; and cyclists in the City of Santa Barbara enjoy optimum riding conditions because of the temperate climate and over 40 miles of marked cycling routes; and
• WHEREAS, the League of American Bicyclists has designated the City of Santa Barbara as a silver level recipient of its Bicycle-Friendly Community award, recognizing the community for providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists, using policy and design to increase opportunities for physical activity, and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation; and
• WHEREAS, the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, the Goleta Valley Cycling Club, and numerous other community members have worked diligently over the past years to improve the system of bikeways, to educate the public about bicycling, and to promote safe bicycling for recreation and transportation,
• NOW, THEREFORE, I, Marty Blum, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara, California, do hereby proclaim the week of May 15-23, 2004 as Bike Week and May 18, 2004, as Bike to School day and May 19, 2004 as Bike to Work Day. I encourage every citizen of this community to ride a bike to school, to work, to shopping, or to any other of the events planned this week, and join your fellow residents in sharing this healthy and pollution-free form of transportation.
• Judging from the number of people bicycling during Bike Week, it seems that we got the message across.

New bikepath lights are under attack



The Obern Trail lights consist of solar cells, lights, batteries and timers. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Last April, new solar lights along the Obern Trail were turned on. In early May, we learned that Supervisor Susan Rose had received complaints about the size and aesthetics of the new lights.
• Admittedly, they are not beautiful, but because they are solar-powered, they are environmentally responsible. They are taller than the earlier solar lights along the path so fewer are needed, thus saving taxpayers money. Also, the low-pressure sodium bulbs were selected so there is minimal disturbance of native wildlife. The reason for lights in general is for safety on the trail after dark, thereby encouraging more people to bicycle, jog and walk for recreation and transportation.
• Area resident Dennis Mihora is organizing a petition drive to have the new lights removed. He wrote to the County Supervisors saying, "Residents close to the bikepath are particularly upset that they have to constantly see the worst Black Eyesores. Can you explain ANY procedure for starting a local or county petition to remove these huge black eyesores?"
• If you use the trail, you may have a different ideas, especially if you bike after dark. Consider expressing your opinion about the solar lights with an email to these people:
• Supervisor Susan Rose
  srose@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
  
  Wilson Hubbell, Public Works senior engineer
  hubbell@co.santa-barbara.ca.us

Coalition's bike tours of “green” buildings



A family takes off on a bike tour of the Sustainability Project's sites on May 1st. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Again this year, the Bicycle Coalition teamed up with the Sustainability Project for its "Parade of Green Buildings" on May 1st. The Coalition's president Ralph Fertig put together three bike rides that covered 22 residences, gardens, and commercial buildings that have sustainable construction or maintenance features. What better way is there to visit sustainable sites than with responsible transportation?
• The rides were put on our web site for people to download, print, and follow by themselves. You can look at them at www.sbbike.org/green/parade.html. In addition, Erika Lindemann and Susan McLaughlin led two of the rides, attracting about 20 bicyclists. Many others just rode by themselves to those sites they wished to tour. Overall, there was a greater response this year to bicycling than at the last Parade. Good for us all!

Santa Ynez River trail

• Three public meetings were held in Solvang in April and May concerning the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan. We are taking it seriously because there have been threats to remove planned bike trails from the Plan. On April 29, Ralph Fertig from the Bicycle Coalition and Corey Evans from Dr. J's bicycle Shop in Buellton spoke in favor of the trails, especially one proposed between Buellton to Lake Cachuma.
• The result is that our trails remain as a recommended feature of the Plan. In July, the board of supervisors will hopefully approve the Plan and initiate the required Environmental Impact Report (EIR). We'll be monitoring it over the rest of the year.

Coalition’s “Celebration” event praised

• Our first annual Bike Week kick-off event called "Bike Week Celebration" was a great success. It consisted of beer and wine, a dinner by Country Catering, bicycling awards, and a fantastic performance by touring cyclist Willie Weir.
• Thanks go to the 35 people who attended, to Don Lubach who managed drinks, to Gary Wissman who did the desserts, and to Ralph Fertig who coordinated everything else.
• Four awards were given to individuals for their contributions to bicycling in Santa Barbara County: Erika Lindemann, Wilson Hubbell, Dru van Hengel, and Mike Hecker.
• Here's what some participants said about the Celebration:
• Wilson Hubbell. "I personally think Friday night's event was great! The location was good, the food was excellent, the attendees were interesting and Willy Weir's presentation was top-notch. People who did not attend really missed out!"
• Nancy Mulholland. "Willie put on a very entertaining presentation. And it was fun to share it and bike culture with the other attendees. I am looking forward to next year's celebration already."
• Chuck Anderson. "I thought the event was great. Now that we know we can do it, next year we can advertise it sooner and more broadly. I think the last minute nature of this year's event is the only reason the event was not sold out."
• Kathleen Boehm. "All was great and we had a good time. Willie was certainly the highlight. The desserts were heavenly. Only compliments all around."
• David Madajian. "Dinner was great. As you know, I thought your speaker choice was excellent. Inspirational and entertaining. I am also enjoying his book. I can just hear him talking."
• Don Lubach. "I loved every minute. Willie spun my biking enthusiasm into a tornado with his great delivery and wonderful stories."
• Gary Nett. "Yes, we had a very enjoyable time. Willie's presentation was inspirational, the food was fine, the wine intoxicating, and the company at our table very pleasant. The price was very reasonable, and the location perfect. I think that this annual event should provide a little more generous recognition of the champions of bicycling advocacy who are the heart and the muscle of the Bicycle Coalition. Greater effort should be made to at least triple the attendance at this event. Our compliments to everyone responsible for making this first annual gala event happen. Good job!"
• So there we have it. A fine success and model for 2005! We promise to think and plan further ahead next year.

Willie likes us too

• Willie Weir, the star attraction at our Bike Week Celebration, sent the following email to Ralph Fertig upon returning to Seattle:
• "It was completely my pleasure. I'm so sorry I didn't have the time to spend a couple of days in Santa Barbara and enjoy your company. I hope that your bicycle banquet can become an annual event. You have a great group of people and I find that often bicycle advocates spend all their time focusing on what's wrong and what needs to be fixed. It is refreshing to be able to meet as a group and celebrate. And you have a lot to celebrate in Santa Barbara! Your hard work shows in one of the most livable cities in our country."

Bike commute warm-up



Two days before Bike to Work Day, Don Lubach held a morning coffee-and-muffin trailside warmup. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bicycle Coalition board member Don Lubach came up with a fine idea—hold a coffee-and-muffin event before Bike to Work Day. And to do it along the Obern Trail in Goleta, bringing everything there by bike.
• So Don, who works at UCSB, hooked a child carrier onto his bike and hauled a stove, coffee maker, wind-up radio, card table, muffins and breakfast breads to the junction of the Obern and Maria Ygancia Trails. Between 7:00 and 9:00 AM, maybe 200 people biked by, most of them stopping to chat and get caffeinated and stuffed on their morning commute.
• Among Bicycle Coalition members who showed up included Vie and George Obern (arriving on their tandem bike), Wilson Hubbell, Erika Lindemann, Bob Cooper, Nancy Mulholland, David Lawson, Ralph Fertig, Chuck Anderson, Robert Young, and Mary Byrd. It seemed to be so successful that others might want to offer a similar bike-to-work warm up event.

May Coalition meeting topics

• Our May 4th Bicycle Coalition meeting attracted 10 people to the County's Public Works conference room to discuss these and other issues:
• Ralph Fertig and Corey Evans spoke in favor of the Santa Ynez River Trail at a public meeting in Solvang; many local residents were opposed to all trails.
• Our Earth Day participation was considered a great success. Our two new canopies defined and protected our mechanics in the bike check-up area.
• Ralph Fertig described logistics to date for our "Bike Week Celebration" event that kicks off Bike Week on Friday, May 14.
• Mike Hecker considered his Firestone Bike Weekend a great success, attracting more racers than previously to Los Olivos.
• On May 8th, Mike Hecker will bring back the Solvang Criterium after a 25-year absence.
• Ralph Fertig reported that many people turned up on bicycles for biking instead of driving to building and garden sites that were part of the Sustainability Project's Parade of Green Buildings on May 1st.
• Rob Dayton described the Shoreline Drive changes and new parallel bikepath that are under construction in Santa Barbara. A dedication ceremony is being planned.
• Alternatives to repeating our annual bicyclist counts in Santa Barbara were discussed. Possibilities are having them alternate years, only doing those facing changes, or doing counts elsewhere in the county. Any decisions were postponed until our June meeting.

Burma Shave signs

• For decades, American motorists were entertained by sequences of roadway signs, ending with a plug for Burma Shave. This year in the Burma Shave spirit, Jamey Wagner wrote some for paths leading to UCSB for Bike to Work Day, for example:
• Try a bike
  Its cooling power
  Refreshes like
  An April shower.
  
  Bike to UCSB Celebration
  Near Campbell Hall
  Wednesday May 19th, 7-9am.
• Why not help Jamey and the rest of us next year with new ones?

Owen and Doris—biking everywhere
by Ralph Fertig



Owen and Doris with bikes and a carrier for grandson Miles. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Nineteen years ago Owen Patmor and Doris Phinney met on a Goleta Valley Cycling Club ride, and they have been cycling together ever since.
• Their rides have not all been short, casual ones, but some great ones like cycling across the United States in 2000, or riding the Davis Double, a 200-mile ride in one day. How do they do it? By lots of training rides like one from their home in Goleta to Ventura, Santa Paula, Ojai and back over Casitas Pass. These are two accomplished cyclists!
• Doris, raised in Ventura and Santa Barbara, recalls that she got her first bike when she was only four years old. Back in those days in Santa Barbara's Westside, bikes were left unlocked on the porch—and even the houses were left unlocked.
• Owen came here from Wisconsin where he too biked as a kid, traveling 4 miles to school by either bike or foot. After college, his job with Delco brought him to Goleta when the company moved here, and after a brief time of car pooling, he started biking to work.
• Doris, meanwhile, was working at UCSB and likewise commuting by bicycle each day. Bike commuting is like drinking a double espresso in the morning, and a double martini after work—so she tells us.
• Owen and Doris have supported the Bicycle Coalition from our early years, and Owen served as our treasurer from 1997-1999. What is most important in their view? —to make conditions safer for kids to bike to school. Who could argue with that? Thanks to them, our bicycling community is a better place.

Active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Hazard's Cyclesport, Santa Barbara
• Rincon Cycles, Carpinteria
• We welcome new members Jeff Lindgren and Don Irby. And we thank those who renewed their memberships: Dru van Hengel, Chuck Anderson, Erika Lindemann, Michael Kwan, Galen Edward Miller, Corey Anderson, Carl Beehler, Kathy Blake, Mary Byrd & John Fisher, Dennis & Patricia Forster, Amy Frease, Lindsay Webster, Bob Swinney, and Connie Styrwoll.

Bike swapmeet success

• The second bike swap meet sponsored by Java Station was spiced up this time with a live blues band and barbecue—in addition, of course, to fine coffee. The well-attended May 16th event was the creation of Java Station's John Martin. Buyers, sellers, and swappers all seemed pleased.

Coalition supports Isla Vista bicyclists

• Since 2000, the Bicycle Coalition has been actively concerned with the Isla Vista Redevelopment and Master Plan. The transportation elements of the plan must, in our view, continue to safeguard and foster bicycling in the dense, student-populated community.
• In July 2003, with our support, the Board of Supervisors approved the proposed plan and decided to accelerate the parking component separately from the environmental impact report (EIR) needed for the rest of the plan.
• The parking plan was accelerated because everybody agreed that parking in IV was a serious problem. The plan would cost $1 million a year to implement and bring in $1.3 million in revenue. According to the planning committee recommendations, the $300,000 profit would be used for IV transportation programs.
• Figures show that 40% of IV residents have no car. Out of the 60% who do, two-thirds of those park off street. So only 20% or so of IV residents would be effected by a permit plan.
• As details of the plan emerged, residents with cars and motoring surfers began to complain. Because the plan was an overall benefit for bicyclists, the Bicycle Coalition asked the supervisors to approve the Parking Program at their May 18th meeting. We said that parking control is needed because:
• parking is limited
• more Isla Vista residents own cars
• more commuting UCSB students drive to IV and walk to campus
• more weekend visitors compete with residents for parking.
• The Board of Supervisors meeting was jammed and lasted four hours. Of the Isla Vista residents speaking, 14 were against the plan, 16 felt it should be revised, and 23 spoke in favor of it. Supervisor Joe Centano commented that he was irked by receiving nearly 100 opposing emails generated from the Surfrider web site.
• The supervisors made no decisions, and continued discussion to June 1st. Supervisor Gail Marshall expressed hope that the parking meter program would be implemented quickly as permit plans are reworked.
• One of the IV committee's goals is to "reduce automobile impact on the community by minimizing automobile dependence." We couldn't agree more with that and their plans to enhance bicycle safety at key intersections, offer more bicycle parking in downtown, calm traffic, and create a Sueno "bicycle boulevard." We'll be watching.

Races in Solvang and Los Olivos

• Two bicycle events attracted hundreds of participants to the Santa Ynez Valley in late April and early May, both of them organized by Mike Hecker who is without question the most active bike race promoter in our county.
• The 5th Annual Firestone Walker MTB Weekend that took place April 24-25 was, in Hecker's words, "a raging success." This year, there were 798 registrants, easily topping last year's 493. Public attendance was estimated at 600 on Saturday and 3000 on Sunday. The Shimano Youth Series Kid's Race, hosted by the Lompoc Valley Bicycle Club, had 43 children take part. Volunteers from the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Volunteers, Santa Barbara Bicycle Club, and Cielo Velo worked throughout the weekend.
• Hecker scarcely had time to recover from the Firestone races before he put on the closed-circuit Solvang Criterium two weeks later on May 8th. It's been 25 years since the Solvang "Crit" last took place, so people were wondering whether it could be revived. It could indeed!
• The Criterium had 264 racers, a fine turnout for a race. Although the Solvang city and tourism officials welcomed the downtown event, some merchants were nervous about possible lost business. Nevertheless, everything went smoothly, and a USA Cycling representative wants to make it a "National Racing Calendar" event, possible as early as next year. Local racer Nieko Briskner turned out a fine performance by winning the professional race.
• Next year? Hecker is looking forward to bigger and better events. Bring them on!