January
2006

Looking back while sprinting ahead

• The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has just finished another successful year of accomplishments. Our 15th year to be exact. Here are the highlights of what we have done in 2005 to make bicycling safer and better for people who bicycle in Santa Barbara County:
• Brought Rick Cole to speak about sustainable communities on the Central Coast.
• Offered six Street Skills for Cyclists classes during 2005, including one in May that was part of the South Coast's Adult Ed series.
• Advocated keeping the Santa Ynez River area within the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan, in anticipation of funding for the River Trail.
• Gave a presentation to Santa Barbara City's Transportation and Circulation Committee on non-automobile transportation for tourists.
• Brought Judy Keim and Wilson Hubbell onto our Board of Directors, and added Matt Dobberteen as an Advisor.
• Asked the City of Santa Barbara for better bicyclist access to their upcoming Bikestation.
• Represented regional bicyclists at Caltrans' GoCalifornia workshop in San Luis Obispo.
• Took an active role with other regional nonprofits in pursuing a more equitable renewal of Measure D half-cent transportation tax.
• Gave our report Posts on Bikepaths to Caltrans for them to use in their workshops on standards for bike facilities.
• Protested to the UCSB administration about the closure of bikepaths for building construction projects without the provision of detours.
• Coordinated the annual bike tour for the Sustainability Project's "Parade of Green Buildings."
• Crafted two do-it-yourself bike tours in the Santa Ynez area that follow Sideways film locations.
• Five members attended—and two gave presentations about our activities—at the Walk/Bike California conference in Ventura.
• Conducted a "Santa Barbara Recharge" bicycle facilities tour following the Walk/Bike conference.
• Participated in a "Restorative Justice" process following contentious bicycle impounds at UCSB.
• Proposed the installation of secure bike lockers at the Goleta Amtrak station.
• Conducted another count of bicyclists within the City of Santa Barbara, suggesting stable numbers, but increasing riding on sidewalks, and decreasing use of helmets.
• Distributed 288 flashing LED lights to low-income residents who bike to jobs, funded by the Goleta Valley Cycling Club.
• Coordinated another Bike Week of events that included our Annual Bike Week Celebration dinner featuring adventure cyclist Willie Weir.
• Worked with UCSB's Associated Students BIKES committee to plan new bicyclist facilities.
• Participated at the Earth Day event with bike parking, free bike checkups, and an information booth, for our 14th year.
• Suggested improvements to the City of Goleta's proposed Transportation Element.
• Convinced Amtrak to put bike racks on all Surfliner trains after some refurbished cars without them went into service.

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Coalition distributes safety lights to biking workers



Bob Cooper offers flashing LEDs to bikers near UCSB, as Bicycle Coalition commuter David Madajian looks on. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• During the last three months of 2005, the Bicycle Coalition has given away 288 red flashing LED bike lights to low-income workers who depend on their bicycles to get to their jobs. Funded by a grant from the Goleta Valley Cycling Club, and coordinated by Bob Cooper and Dru van Hengel, the lights provide needed visibility and extra safety for nighttime commuters.
• Some lights were given directly to workers, and others to employers to distribute. When asked how many workers biked to one operation, the response was "all of them." Near the Goleta Beach on December 8th, Bicycle Coalition people passed out 20 lights to workers heading home to Isla Vista. The riders were surprised, suspicious, and then thankful. Two South Coast papers, the Santa Barbara News-Press and Independent picked up the stories about our good deeds.

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Latest Measure D renewal plan is dumped

• The latest version proposed for Measure D renewal was crafted by city managers, city public works directors, SBCAG staff and County managers. It was presented to us by Gregg Hart at our December 6th meeting, to the South Coast Subregional Planning Committee on the 7th, and then to the SBCAG Board on the 15th. It was a complex concoction of two parts, half-cent and quarter-cent taxes. They were barely described in a series of spreadsheets with hundreds of cells, and a rapid-fire 20-minute explanation.
• When it went before the SBCAG Board, a presentation was followed by about 20 public speakers, none of whom liked the plan. Six members of the Bicycle Coalition spoke—Ralph Fertig, Robert Bernstein, Eva Inbar, Jean Thompson, Harley Augustino, and Alex Pujo.
• Fertig represented the Bicycle Coalition in stressing the need for a "safe routes to school" component in the final measure. He noted that when county voters were polled last summer, out of 24 transportation projects, the third most desirable was to create a program that provides kids with safe routes to walk and bike to school. The only projects that got higher priority were maintaining local streets and coordinating traffic signals. Fertig noted that Marin County voters thought so much of their kids' safety that they dedicated 11% of their half-cent sales tax to it last fall. The proposed Measure D dedicated 0.1%.
• In Measure D language, Fertig noted that Alternative Transportation was a separate category for funding from Congestion Relief, a term used for street and road expansion. That suggests that alternatives do not relieve congestion, when they may be more cost-effective than adding pavement. Next, he noted that 25% of morning rush hour congestion is caused by parents driving their kids to school. What if those kids were provided with a safe way to get to school on foot or bike instead? And as an added benefit, they would get the exercise that being driven denies them.
• Fertig ended by proposing adding a condition to Measure D—a "Complete Streets" clause. Because everybody pays the tax, not just the two-thirds of residents who have access to cars, it should reflect everybody's transportation needs. Complete streets says that all users of our streets will have safe access to them, including those in wheelchairs, on foot, on bicycles, on buses.
• Several other public speakers and two SBCAG Board members specifically said that a Safe Routes to School program was desirable. As the Board members spoke, it was clear that the two-part tax plan was doomed.
• The meeting ended with the SBCAG Board sending everything to their own Executive Committee to tackle anew. As this goes to press, that meeting will reportedly be closed to the public. This is in spite of strongly voiced public complaints over the prior closed meetings. The Committee will meet in Buellton on January 6th.

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Measure D Platform

• We, the undersigned organizations, support the following platform regarding renewal of the Santa Barbara County transportation tax measure known as Measure D.
• 1. Measure D is a sales tax, not a gas tax. It is paid by all people, regardless of whether they use a car or not. Therefore, it needs to benefit all segments of the population and all modes of transportation. It needs to provide for regional and local transportation systems that are balanced and multimodal.
• 2. We oppose extending the current formula, known as the 70/30 split. We believe a better formula is necessary to reflect today's priorities and future needs.
• 3. The new formula must contain substantial designated allocations for:
• * Local and regional transit, including long distance buses and rail, covering both capital and operating expenses.
  * Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and maintenance, including Safe Routes to School projects and programs.
  * Support of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Measures.
• — Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
  — Sierra Club
  — League of Conservation Voters of SB County
  — Santa Barbara County Action Network
  — Environmental Defense Center
  — PUEBLO
  — Energy Independence Now
  — Coastal Rail Now
  — Citizens Planning Association
  — Coalition for Sustainable Transportation
  — Committees for Land, Air, Water and Species
  — Our Children's Earth Foundation

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Brown to help Planning

• Last November, Bicycle Coalition member Grant House was elected to the Santa Barbara City Council. Now, longtime Bicycle Coalition member Cecilia Brown was just appointed by Supervisor Susan Rose to the County's Planning Commission. Her background in transportation makes her ideal.

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Parade of Bikes lights up the night



Matt Wilhelm leads his pet albino reindeer, as others roll up to the Santa Barbara Roasting Company for warming drinks. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Each December, the Goleta Valley Cycling Club has put on an evening "Parade of Bikes." Last month, the number of participants grew to about 25 bicyclists, probably due to additional publicity generated by the Bicycle Coalition through our meeting, web site and email list.
• Bicyclists showed up with lights everywhere on their bikes, trailers, outriggers, and them- selves. They wore seasonal costumes, rang bells and broadcast music as they made their way for four miles along State Street in Santa Barbara. People on the sidewalks stopped in their tracks to watch, grin and cheer them on. Lots of motorists blew horns in passing approval. We tried to get KEYT to capture our parade for nighttime TV, but they apparently were busy elsewhere.
• Thanks to the GVCC's Wendy Manning for organizing what was a fun local "electrical parade." Afterwards, somebody suggested that next year we need eight lighted reindeer instead of Matt Wilhelm's one. They also said that we should have been in Santa Barbara's evening Christmas parade. And that led to thoughts about the Summer Solstice parade, with decorated bikes.
• One shortcoming was some underpowered lights that went dark partway through the ride. But overall, it was not only good promotion for bicycling, but simple fun.

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Bike Week 2006

• Mark you calendars for Bike Week 2006—May 13th-21st. We're excited that Willie Weir has agreed to return to highlight our Bike Week Celebration dinner, ceremony, and another of his presentations on May 13th. Right now, Willie and his wife Kat are cycle touring in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia for three months, so we're anticipating Asian tales from the saddle.

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CycleSmart bicyclist education news

• Bicycling Skills for Women
  The Art of Cycling: Using a Bike to Transport and Transform
• WHAT: We're offering a two-day course for women, taught by women. If you have been wanting to learn the basics of driving your bicycle confidently on the road with other vehicle users, in a supportive and fun environment, then this is the class for you! Have you thought about using your bike for getting around town or for fitness, but just don't feel comfortable on the road? We'll show you how to ride legally and confidently. We'll also talk about women-specific bikes and clothing and how to make decisions in traffic. Have you always wanted to learn to change a flat tire or to perform other simple on-road repairs? We'll teach you. We'll also practice bike handling skills and emergency avoidance maneuvers such as quick turns and stops. Then we'll take you out for a road ride with women League Cycling Instructors (LCIs). WHO: Any woman 16 years of age or older. Bring your daughter who is 14 years or older, with your supervision.
• WHEN Day 1: Saturday, January 21, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM for Basic Street Skills class (no bicycle is required for this part).
• WHEN Day 2: Saturday, January 28, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM for basic bicycle mechanics, commuting tips and on-road riding instruction and practice.
• WHERE: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments building, 260 North San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara.
• COST: $30, payable to LCI Erika Lindemann. You can pay at the class or by mail to 260 North San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, attn: Erika Lindemann.
• Don't have $30? That's okay, we want you to join us regardless! Some scholarships are available by calling or emailing Erika (contact info below).
• TO REGISTER: Simply call or email Erika Lindemann at 961-8919 or at CycleSmart@sbbike.org. (We appreciate an RSVP so we know to expect you.)

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Distributed systems
by David Madajian

• As I read about how the current New York mass transit strike has impacted the entire city, I see yet another argument in favor of bicycles for transportation.
• Any centralized transportation system like a subway or airport hub can easily be disrupted by accident or malicious intent. The Internet was created by the military to decentralize communication and make it robust and reliable. If a hub is down for whatever reason, your email is automatically routed around it to reach its intended destination. Similarly, roof top solar panels make us less dependent on the electrical grid and central power plants.
• In contrast, our transportation system is much too vulnerable to single point failure. Subways and airports are the worst, but cars are not much better. Cars give people the illusion of power and independence, but when Katrina took refineries off line, we found that cars are dependent on a centralized petrochemical infrastructure. Our community is further dependent on one freeway, occasionally isolating us.
• A bicycle based transportation system is completely decentralized and robust.

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Tour of California

• The Tour of California is coming through Santa Barbara County on February 24th-25th. It's a true Tour-de-France style stage race with impressive logistics, world-class cycling teams, ESPN2 television coverage, and live helicopter video of the Tour projected onto a large screen at the finish line.
• The local organizing committee is headed by Barney Berglund. We're hoping that we can obtain space for our booth near the stage finish and start in Santa Barbara. A bicycle parking area is needed. The Tour folks are publishing a wellness and health handbook in January for distribution to kids, but the content is still unknown to us.
• The Tour needs volunteers to help manage things. It's being coordinated by Steve Boelter who will be at our January 3rd meeting to describe Tour logistics. If you want to hear more before then or to volunteer, phone him at 565-5776, email him at steveb@capitalsb.com, or look at the volunteer form at www.sbbike.org/docs/Tour.doc.

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Coexistence is more common than conflicts
by Erika Lindemann

• I regularly hike and bike on our front-county trails. I am saddened by the horse Rocket's recent death and I know this incident has convinced some community members that bikers, hikers, and equestrians cannot coexist on our trails. I beg to differ.
• I've spoken with many people as a trail education volunteer and I've watched countless interactions between hikers, bikers and equestrians. Most encounters are friendly, calm and easy, but all uneducated trail users can be a threat to our public safety. As responsible trail users, we all need to work together and insist on appropriate trail use when we see violations occurring.
• The nonprofit Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (www.sbmtv.org) has been working for over 15 years to increase trail safety and to promote coexistence.
• SBMTV volunteers have created a culture of bell use and trail etiquette through a trail-head education campaign that encourages bikers to ride in control and to yield to hikers and equestrians. Volunteers also install and stock boxes with bells at several trail heads. SBMTV volunteers actively participated in the Front Country Trails Working Group and worked in earnest to help create a package of proactive solutions that address the potential for conflict caused by irresponsible trail usersóhikers, bikers and equestrians alike.
• Frankly, there are far fewer incidents and near misses than some groups would have the public believe. Irresponsible people can be found everywhere, including in our foothills, but it's up to all of us to help make sure they don't compromise our safety.

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UCSB cited for fitness

• Last fall, Mens Fitness magazine reported on student health at US college campuses. With help from Princeton Review, they surveyed 10,000 students from 660 campuses, with questions about activities, weight, lifestyle, and school support. Our University of California Santa Barbara ranked second in fitness out of the 660! It was beat only by Brigham Young University in Utah.
• Among the top 20 most fit campuses, three others were in California: UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and Cal State Long Beach. Out of the 20 least fit campuses, none were in California. Good for our healthy state!

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Coalition supports Purisima Road safety

• Following the Project Study Report released last year, our Bicycle Coalition has taken a position in getting work on Purisima Road north of Lompoc funded and constructed.
• In a letter to the County last November, Bicycle Coalition President Ralph Fertig writes, "As we know, this narrow and busy County road connects to wider segments of roadway (with paved shoulders) to the east and west, including Highway 1 and the Caltrans Pacific Coast Bike Route, and also serves as the primary route for cyclists to La Purisima Mission State Park."
• He continues, "Local cyclists, including the Lompoc Valley Cycling Club and the Bicycle Coalition, have frequently requested that the County install bikelanes on Purisima Road to eliminate the "missing link" of shoulderless roadway that exists there now. To do so would enable safer access to the State Park and provide a linkage to the paved shoulders that currently extend to the east and west of the project area."
• Work on the road might be years away, or sooner if the Supervisors agree with us that safer conditions should be given priority. We'll let you know when opportunities to speak out arise.

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New UCSB path nears completion



A cyclist tries to cross the still-closed Broida bikepath during the quarter's break from classes. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Construction of the University's "Broida Expressway" bicycle path, which began in last October, is approaching completion—weather permitting—by early February, according to Marsha Zilles, an architect with Physical Facilities. The 12-foot-wide, landscaped thoroughfare will stretch 120 yards along the south and east side of Broida Hall. It includes a new bike roundabout just southeast of Broida.
• The $300,000 cost is being borne to a large extent with student funds, and overseen by the Associated Students BIKES Committee. Yet to be funded and constructed is a connection between the new roundabout and the recent bikepath along Lagoon Road.
• Watch for an upcoming dedication ceremony for this important link that connects the campus center with the eastern buildings and access via the Obern Trail.

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Local bike tour follows Tour of California

• Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours, located in Santa Ynez, is offering its own bike "follow tour" that follows several stages of the professional stage race the Tour of California. For five days starting on February 22nd, the cycling vacation includes riding several stages of the Tour, seeing stage starts and finishes in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, viewing the mid-race passing of the peloton on two stage days, along with deluxe accommodations, gourmet dining and a wine tasting dinner.
• For more information, phone 888-557-8687 or view www.winecountrycycling.com.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara & Goleta
• Commuter Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Jeffrey Stoutenborough, Architect, Santa Barbara
• King Cycle Group, Portland, Oregon
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• We welcome our newest Bicycle Coalition member Jeff Thomsom. We additionally thank those who renewed their memberships: Drew Hunter, Mike Gard, Steve Morris, Roman Baratiak, Diane Krohn, Wayne Beckman, Dottie McLaren, Richard Lambert, Merle Clark, Arnie Schildhaus, and Woody Wilde.

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Goleta Amtrak bike lockers look promising



This is one of two alternative plans. The other would have different bus access, and the restrooms would be located west of the new bike lockers.

• Last February, our Bicycle Coalition proposed to Caltrans that they include secure bicycle lockers as part of their improvements to the Goleta Amtrak passenger station. It has taken a while, but in November, a design consultant for Caltrans contacted Ralph Fertig, Coalition president, and Jamey Wagner, UCSB TAP program manager, for clarification.
• What has just emerged is a preliminary plan that incorporates Cycle-Safe lockers for eight bicycles at the station. They would have cell phone access like that already implemented at UCLA, BART, LA Metro, and elsewhere. With UCSB and Isla Vista less than two miles away, secure bike parking will make train trips more appealing to students.
• There are actually two alternative plans being proposed, the main difference is the path that MTD buses would take to turn around at the station. The bike lockers would be in the same location next to the existing bike rack, but the restrooms would move from the east side of the rack to west of the lockers. This is an exciting project, the first in our county to use cell phone reservations and access. It will demonstrate the need for further multimodal bike/rail facilities.

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December Coalition meeting topics

• Our December 6th noontime Bicycle Coalition meeting attracted 16 people. We discussed these topics:
• Ralph Fertig described his attendance at UCSB's Transportation Alternatives Board meeting on December 1st, and interest in attending future ones.
• SBCAG's Gregg Hart described a new, complex tax plan proposed to replace the expiring Measure D. It has two components, a half-cent tax and a quarter-cent tax. It will be unveiled to the public before the South Coast Subregional Planning Committee on December 7th.
• Matt Dobberteen described The County's application for state Bicycle Transportation Account funds to repave the bikepath in Goleta Beach. Dru van Hengel described the City of Santa Barbara's BTA application to improve bicyclist detection at signalized intersections.
• Dru van Hengel updated us on distribution of the 288 flashing LED lights. Over 100 have been given out, and on December 8th, they will be given to bike commuting workers near Goleta Beach.
• Matt Dobberteen described the County's proposed re-planking a bridge on the Obern Trail for $30,500. Hopefully, the County Supervisors will approve $19,000 in CREF funds toward it on December 12.
• Nancy Mulholland described our upcoming Street Skills class for women that will take place in late January. Also, our CycleSmart program is developing a lending library of visual material for LCI instructors to use.
• Our January meeting will be another evening one, hopefully at Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant in Santa Barbara.
• Erika Lindemann discussed the "bike buddy" program that teams new bike commuters with experienced ones.
• Ralph Fertig described opportunities during the February Tour of California that will pass through our county February 24-25.