December
2004

County may cut back bike staffing
by Ralph Fertig

• At the urging of the Bicycle Coalition in early 1994, Santa Barbara County Supervisors created a new position to fill a need. It was that of an alternative transportation coordinator who would support bicyclists, pedestrians, and bus patrons within our County. In August 1994, Wilson Hubbell was selected to fill that position.
• In the decade since, Wilson has served the County's unincorporated population that is greater than that of any city within our County. He has brought in over $10 million in outside funding for programs like the state's Safe Routes to School. He has coordinated efforts with the eight cities in our county, transit agencies, SBCAG programs, and individual organizations like the Montecito Association, PTA School Safety Committee, Santa Barbara County Tails Council, and our Bicycle Coalition.
• Last year Matt Dobberteen was hired to work with Wilson. The results of their combined efforts have multiplied—over $600,000 in outside funding has been obtained since then. With the recent startup of intercity bus service, the rising interest in commuter rail, and the major role of alternatives in the 101 In Motion process, Matt's arrival was not only timely, but also necessary because of the great increase in the work load brought on by our new transit programs.
• What we are facing now is Wilson's retirement in spring 2005. The County is considering not replacing him, which we feel is a serious mistake. Maintaining the County's alternative transportation program while managing and nurturing contacts with dozens of private and government organizations requires the efforts of more than one alternative transportation person.
• Bicyclists have benefitted from a large number of programs that Wilson has pursued and implemented for us. They range from bikepath bridge resurfacing in Goleta to widening North Jameson Lane in Montecito for bikelanes.
• Alternative transportation is not a trivial add-on to automobile travel, it is an integral part of our transportation mix—and the most socially and environmentally responsible part. Two people are now needed to do the job correctly and losing one should not even be considered.
• What can you do? Write to our County Supervisors and tell them how important retention of Wilson's position is to our future. It's that simple.

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Partial funding of Trail Stop looks promising



Here is one view of architect Jeffrey Stoutenborough's 3D model of our proposed Trail Stop.

• On November 22, Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig gave a presentation on our proposed rest stop on the Obern Trail to the County Supervisors. It was one of many presentations given by government and nonprofit groups contending for Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF) money.
• The battle is uphill because there are 29 projects like ours asking for $1.2 million—and there is only $320,000 available this year. Even worse, the County staff has made recommendations to the supervisors to fund 10 out of those 29, and we're not included.
• If you want to see his PowerPoint presentation that Fertig used, download it from this location: www.sbbike.org/temp/Trail-Stop.ppt.
• Apparently, the Supervisors were attentive and intrigued by the trail project. They certainly had to be impressed with Jeff Stoutenborough's 3D images of the trail stop.
• The Supervisors will vote on actual fund allocation at their December 7th meeting. In the brief discussion that followed the presentations, however, Supervisor Susan Rose commented favorably on our proposal. She expressed a desire to see the project at least started with some funding. So Fertig is meeting with others to figure out what might be built with partial funds. If you want the project to move ahead, please ask Supervisor Rose to help us: phone 568-2191, or email srose@co.santa-barbara.co.us.

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Cyclocross races return to Goleta



Heft that bike! Cyclocross is part leaping over barriers, then remounting quickly. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On November 14th, with perfect sunny weather, the first of this season's two local cyclocross races was held at the Campus Pointe Industrial Park in Goleta.
• Organizer Mike Hecker called the race "a resounding success." There were 72 racers showing up, and with some of them doing two races, there were 88 total race participants contending for $2250 in prizes.
• Cyclocross is said to be the fastest-growing US cycling sport. There were reported to be 17,000 cyclocross competitors in the US last year, up from only 4,000 participants a decade earlier.
• It's a cross between road and mountain bike racing, used as a conditioning sport between race seasons. There are special bikes that serious riders use: they have drop handlebars, mountain bike frames, and tires a little wider than touring tires.
• The second Santa Barbara Cyclocross race will be held on Sunday, January 2nd. Why not try it? Details are available at the RideSB site www.ridesb.com.

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Holiday gift ideas

• Wondering what to get those bike-loving people on your holiday gift list? Let us help you with four timely suggestions.
• For your convenience, we have an Order Form online at www.sbbike.org/docs/order.pdf. If you prefer, phone 962-1479 and we'll mail you the form.
• Bicycle Coalition membership
• For those bicyclists on your gift list, why not give them a membership in the Bicycle Coalition? Membership of $25 a year will bring your lucky bicyclist discounts at local shops, Quick Release for a year, a card announcing your thoughtfulness, and the satisfaction that you're doing good. Use our membership form, or the online form mentioned above.
• Street Skills Class
• Give somebody more confidence this year. Buy a certificate that's good for one of our Street Skills for Cyclists classes. Read about the upcoming class January 8th on the next page. We plan to offer the $30 classes once a month in 2005, so one will likely meet your recipient's schedule.
• Bike Week flag
• Want to flaunt something? Get your favorite cyclist one of our big 4x6 foot Bike Week flags, just like the ones that hang along State Street each May. It has a white bicyclist logo on a terra cotta background. Construction is heavy nylon with two grommets at the top for hanging. Price is $30.00 per flag (plus $2.33 tax if delivery is within California) and $3.00 postage.
• Decide to Ride video
• Here's another suggestion. Consider our video Decide to Ride. It is a story about a local woman who decides to commute to work. It shows her visiting our booth at Earth Day, joining others at our Bike to Work Day, learning what to buy at a bike shop, and getting on-road safety instruction. There is a lot of information packed into the 25-minute video and since it's all filmed in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, most of the footage will be familiar. It's $18 including shipping and tax.

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UCSB paves new bikepath, plans more



Too close to palms for comfort, the new path along Lagoon Road offers superb ocean views. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Many cyclists arriving on UCSB campus the week before Thanksgiving were surprised to find paving crews busy at work on a new bikepath.
• Those arriving along the Obern Trail and Goleta Beach bikepath first enjoy a wider, straightened section of path at the campus entrance. That path, constructed early this year and paid with $70,000 in self-assessed student fees, provides a safer and much smoother biking surface. Next is an older section that used to deliver bike commuters across Lagoon Road onto a bikepath south of Kohn Hall that led through campus. That later bikepath is gone, and not going to be replaced.
• The new section of path is a continuation of the old one along the ocean bluffs (as shown in the photo), and will cross Lagoon Road further south. Soon, we are told, it will connect with paths on the campus side of Lagoon Road leading further south to UCen Road.
• Campus architect Marsha Zilles says that during summer 2005, a three-branched bike corridor with a bike roundabout at the center will be constructed. One branch will run east to the new Lagoon Road bikepath. One will head westward, south of Broida Hall (funded likewise with student fees). And the third will head north to connect with the existing path between Engineering II and Chemistry.
• As for the lost bikepath south of Kohn Hall, it is gone, replaced with 30-minute automobile parking. Through campus cyclists will continue to use Kohn Hall's adjacent service road for the next nine months until the new paths are finished. Then, Zilles says, "it will be phased out as too 'unsafe' for cyclists."

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Bike Education News



Our November 6th Street Skills Class was a success, with indoor lessons followed by outdoor bike skills exercises. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Our first Street Skills class was successful
• On November 6th, Erika Lindemann led our very first Street Skills for Cyclists class. Everybody considered it very worthwhile. The were eight participating cyclists with varied experience. The small class size made it possible to devote individual attention to all. It included three teenage brothers who, with their parents, have recently completed a three year sailing trip and will be using bicycles for transportation while here in Santa Barbara.
• The second and optional part of the class will be held on Sunday, January 9th, the day after our next Street Skills class on the 8th (details below). Cyclists, led by Erika, will ride on-street under real traffic conditions on that Sunday.
• Street Skills Class January 8th
• Scared of drivers hitting you from behind? Unsure what the best way to make a left turn in traffic is? Worried by close SUVs? If these and other fears keep you from biking around town as freely as you would like, take our Street Skills for Cyclists class.
• The class will help you look at any street or intersection and know the best place to ride. You'll gain confidence to ride where you want to. Our class includes: your legal rights and responsibilities, common causes of crashes, how to be visible and avoid accidents, what lane position to take, emergency on-bike maneuvers, and more.
• The class will take place on Saturday, January 8th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. An optional follow-up will be offered on January 9th for those desiring the experience of on-road bicycling. Chuck Anderson, LCI, will lead this session. Cost is $30 for both days. It's open to anybody at least 16 years old. Registration is required, details online at www.sbbike.org.
• Logo and name contest
• We received 25 entries for names and three entries for logos. Thanks to all who submitted their ideas. The Bike Education Committee will meet soon to select the winning name and logo, and award prizes later this December. Watch for them in the January edition of Quick Release.
• Three-year education plan
• The Bike Education Committee is currently working on a Three Year Plan to be presented to the Board of Directors. This plan will outline the major goals of the program and actions needed to reach these goals. Watch for details.

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BikeEd Fact Sheet

• How to Avoid Getting Doored
• Lane positioning
• Ride at least three feet from parked cars
• Never swerve between parked cars; use the outside of the next car as your guide
• Avoid riding on the right side of any stopped car, especially if it is near the curb.
• Speed positioning
• As you begin to overtake cars in urban settings, always pass them on your right
• If you are traveling at the same speed as traffic, ride in the center of your lane
• As traffic begins to speed up, signal and begin moving to a lane on your right.
• Sudden stops
• If a car stops in front of you suddenly, stop, look for exiting passengers, then pass on left
• Make sure that you stop safely before you release the handlebar to signal and pass
• Maintaining control of your bicycle is the most important task.
• Intersections
• Before turning, look for cars double-parked in your destination lane
• When turning, take the lane so you don't get forced to the right of a stopped car
• Plan your turn so that you remain at least three feet to the left of any stopped cars.
• Bike lanes
• You do not have to ride within a bike lane if you are avoiding a hazard
• Cars must not drive in bike lanes but bikes may leave bike lanes at any time
• Regardless of bike lane position, never ride within three feet of any parked car.
• — from Better Bicycling Fact Sheets, League of American Bicyclists, Bicycle Advocacy and Education Center. www.bikeleague.org

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Coalition expresses concerns to Amtrak



This new Pacific Surfliner has the name, but not the bike racks of earlier Surfliners. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• With much ceremony on November 17, a fifth Pacific Surfliner train was added to the four that run through our County. Three of the original four run between San Diego and Goleta; the fourth continues on to San Luis Obispo. The new Surfliner runs between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo.
• We were delighted with the Surfliners, run by Amtrak California, because they employ new "California Cars" that have bike racks in coach cars for roll-on, do-it-yourself service. Because of that, you could get on and off at any Amtrak stop. That is true for the first four trains, but it's unfortunately not true for the new one.
• The new train consists of refurbished cars with no bike racks. On November 24, the Bicycle Coalition wrote to Warren Weber, Chief of Caltrans Division of Rail: "We don't know why it was decided that bike racks would not be included as part of the refurbishing process, but we feel that it is detrimental to multi-modal transportation that is espoused by Caltrans."
• Before, it was easy to tell people that they could roll their bikes onto the Surfliner cars, hang them up, and get off with them at any stop. Now, on the new line, they can only have their bikes put in the baggage car at stations that have baggage service—that means only at Santa Barbara, not at Carpinteria, Goleta, Lompoc or Guadalupe.
• Our letter continued, "We wonder whether accommodations for bicyclists will still be possible in the cars? Maybe by allowing them into a wheelchair space unless it's needed by a wheelchair user? Or removing one set of seats per train and replacing them with bike racks?"
• We feel that it's worthwhile to remind Amtrak California that we care. Perhaps, we write, "...future decisions about car design will include accommodation for those who wish to combine bicycling with California rail travel for their transportation."

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November Coalition meeting topics

• Our November 2nd Bicycle Coalition meeting attracted 10 people to discuss these important issues:
• Ralph Fertig described the Coalition's proposal for a rest stop on the Obern Trail, and our application for CREF funds to build it.
• Wilson Hubbell spoke about a recent letter to the County from the Lompoc Valley Cycling Club. They asked about widening Pur¨sima Road. We learned that a project study is about to be finished, and decided to take action after it comes out in December.
• Ralph Fertig described the new Pacific Surfliner train and its lack of bike racks like prior Surfliners. He will write a letter complaining to Amtrak California.
• Erika Lindemann described and encouraged people to attend our Bike Education class on November 6th.
• Mike Hecker talked about a new mountain bike racing team in our community, and reminded us of his upcoming cyclocross races.
• Ralph Fertig apologized for a misreporting in November's Quick Release repairs to the North Goleta Bike Route over San Jose Creek. The new paving was done mostly by the City of Goleta, and only partly by Santa Barbara County.
• Loss of the bikepath along Kohn Hall and USCB's disruption of continuous campus bikepath facilities was discussed. A letter to the University will be written and mailed to them.
• Ralph Fertig talked about San Luis Obispo's Bike First program that put 22 town bikes into the hands of winning essay residents who pledged to bike instead of drive. The question discussed—but not resolved—was how to start a similar program here.
• We discussed the County Public Works reluctance to replace Wilson Hubbell when he retires next spring. No immediate action was taken, but the possible loss of this critical position was very disturbing to those present.
• It was decided to have our January meeting, another quarterly evening one, at Sizzler Restaurant in Goleta.

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Yolanda Blue: A new face in our biking community
by Erika Lindemann



Yolanda warms the world with her great smile. Photo by Erika Lindemann.

• It's always a joy when someone new joins our Coalition, especially when they bring enthusiasm and a new perspective. I met Yolanda Blue when she participated in our first offering of "Street Skills for Cyclists" last month.
• Growing up in Atlanta, Yolanda didn't have many opportunities to ride a bicycle for transportation or recreation. There were very few bicycle amenities and facilities and very few people out on bicycles. Shortly after she moved to California in 2001 to work for UCSB, Yolanda's car broke down and she decided to start using her bicycle for transportation. She quickly became a dedicated bicycle commuter.
• Another breakthrough happened when Yolanda traveled to China and was amazed to see the number of bicyclists and the many creative uses of bicycles in Asia.
• When she got back to California she was reminded that Santa Barbara is a fantastic place to ride.
• Now Yolanda is quickly becoming a more seasoned bicyclist. She recently purchased a new road bike and participated in the MS charity ride.
• Yolanda joined the Bicycle Coalition because she supports our efforts to improve bicycling in Santa Barbara County. What's more, she is quickly becoming a bicycle enthusiast. Recently her son commented that he could not understand why a person would need two bicycles—we understand, don't we? We warmly welcome Yolanda into our biking community.

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Keeping it adventurous

• "Frugality will get you a long way in the adventure department. Contrary to what the ads tell us on TV, having more money does not mean having more adventures. I had more adventures when I was younger because I didn't have the money to avoid them."
• —Willie Weir, Adventure Cycling, Nov 2004

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Greg Siple

Clarification of Goleta bikepath repair

• Thanks to Bicycle Coalition member Cecilia Brown for pointing our an error in November Quick Release. We incorrectly attributed the new bikepath paving on the North Goleta Route across San Jose Creek to the County.
• It turns out that all the new work on the west side of the Creek was done by the City of Goleta, not the County. Our apologies to the City, and belated thanks to Steve Wagner and Mike Page from the City's Community Services Department for their fine job. Repair on the east side of the Creek was done by Santa Barbara County's Public Works Department. Our thanks to all.

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Our cycling class helps

• Only a week after Carla Billings took our Street Skills Cycling class, she had a chance to put what she learned to use. "Your street skills course helped me avoid having a very bad accident this morning," she wrote after using an emergency maneuver to avert a crash with a car. She was all right but shaken, and one who appreciates the value of what she had learned.

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Traffic management made clear

• Want to take back our streets from speeding motorists and return them to people on bikes and foot? Transportation Alternatives in NYC has just produced a great publication that clearly describes traffic problems and solutions. It's full of photos that plainly show what can be done. You can view and print the 15-page document at: www.sbbike.org/docs/TA-streets.pdf. Perhaps our local jurisdictions can publish a similar document for widespread distribution.

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Active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Hazard's Cyclesport, Santa Barbara
• Jeffrey Stoutenborough, Architect, Santa Barbara
• Piekert Group Architects, Santa Barbara
• Rincon Cycles, Carpinteria
• We welcome new members Mary Gastil and Arnie Schildhaus, and thank those who renewed their memberships: Gary Nett, Doug Allard, Jeff Stoutenborough, Cecilia Brown, Benjamin Ellsworth, and Wilson & Gail Hubbell.

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Oak Park Mobility Plan



Oak Park residents vote for importance of 36 neighborhood traffic management projects. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The sixth community workshop for residents of the Oak Park neighborhood in Santa Barbara took place on November 16th. At this meeting, residents were asked to consider their 36 proposed Neighborhood Area Mobility Plan changes and to rank them according to importance.
• One project was considered so important that people voted to take it out of their ranking process. It's the realignment of the State/De la Vina Street intersection so that the free right turn that endangers bicyclists will become a signal-controlled right-angle turn.
• Residents voted by placing dots on display boards that showed the 36 projects. The four that got most vote-dots were all in the Samarkand neighborhood, but the fifth most important out of 36 was changing the six blocks of Chapala and De la Vina Streets north of Mission Street from two traffic lanes into one traffic lane and one bikelane.
• The rebuilding plans for Cottage Hospital in the neighborhood are moving ahead at the same time. Proposed components for the project include a parking cash-out program where employees receive a cash payment each month to use as they wish for transportation, and car parking will not be free. Similar programs have reduced single-occupant commuting by 25% and some choose to bicycle to work instead of paying to park.

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Coalition’s request is rebuffed by Caltrans

• The Bicycle Coalition has been following Caltrans' project along Foothill Road between Mission Canyon Road and Alamar Avenue in Santa Barbara and the unincorporated County for a few years. It consists of replacing the deep drainage ditches with an underground culvert, and filling on top. While filling in the deep and dangerous ditches will reduce seriousness of crashes, cyclists would still have to slow traffic on the narrow, busy roadway because the new shoulders would not be paved.
• Our letter of August 4, 2004 to Caltrans requested that the new 4-foot shoulders be paved. A form reply came back from Caltrans' Brandy Rider saying that our letter was received and was "responded to appropriately" in their Mitigated Negative Declaration and if we wanted to know what they said, we would have to ask for a copy.
• The County's Wilson Hubbell fared better with his letter to Caltrans likewise asking for shoulder paving. A reply letter from Caltrans' Johanna Andris explained that paved shoulders were considered and the estimated costs were $8.1 million instead of the $2.8 million for culverts and filled ditches. That was due, she said, to relocation of utilities, acquisition of private property, construction of retaining walls, and potential disruption of historic and prehistoric resources.
• The $8.1 million cost includes widening the road lanes from 11 to 12 feet each; supposedly Caltrans' standards require that 4-foot shoulders can be paved only if the roadway lanes are increased to 12-foot ones at the same time. While we suspect that the impacts and extra costs are due mostly to the wider road rather than paving the 4-foot shoulders, the project is going ahead in 2006 without paved shoulders. Maybe in the future we can get the shoulders paved.