June
2006

Bike Week raises bicycling awareness



People gather before dinner and an evening of entertainment at our Bike Week Celebration on May 13th. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• An hour before we kicked off our Bike Week of activities with our annual Celebration dinner, the sun broke through the clouds, giving us a superb view of the ocean and wharf. From the Chase Palm Park Center, we overlooked Santa Barbara's beachway path with an ongoing procession of people biking by, confirming our dedication to fitness and sustainable mobility.
• At our Celebration event, we had 56 people join together for drinks on the patio, a catered dinner, and bicyclist awards from us and Assemblyman Pedro Nava to Mayor Marty Blum, Dan Henry, and the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. Finally, we were regaled with tales from Willie Weir about his recent bike tour in South East Asia. Willie's message: on your bicycle, you can access places off the tourist tracks and meet some truly wonderful people.
• We were pleased this year to be joined by Mike Fasth from Open Air Bicycles, Barry Kroepelin from Bike Gear Bike Gear, and Channing Hammond from Old Man Mountain. In addition, Grant House from the Santa Barbara City Council, and Keith Coffman-Gray, chairman of SB City's Transportation and Circulation Committee, attended our Celebration.
• The next afternoon, Café de Velo bike shop had its grand opening (see story, below). There were two bike rides to the opening.
• Bike to School Day drew hundreds of kids on bikes to South Coast schools on May 16th. Thanks to many Bicycle Coalition members and COAST for organizing this important event.
  
  
  
  City Councilmembers Helene Schneider and Grant House smile at Santa Barbara's Bike to Work Day, May 17th. Photo by Robert Bernstein.
  
  It was followed by Bike to Work Day on May 17th. We managed to attract six new members at our booth in Downtown Santa Barbara, and at a stop near the Obern Trail entrance to UCSB. Downtown, City Councilmembers Helene Schneider, Grant House, and Brian Barnwell showed their support for bicycling by pedaling to the event. Thanks to Dru van Hengel and Jamey Wagner for organizing the respective Santa Barbara and UCSB events.
• On Friday, May 19th, there was a Bike-In Movie behind the Mercury Lounge in Goleta. Organized by Matt Wilhelm and Dawn O'Brien, the cult film Return of the Scorcher was shown for free, followed by a ride.
  
  
  
  Matt Dobberteen and Debbie Castanha fit bike helmets on youngsters at the Children's Festival on May 20th. Photo by Ralph Fertig.
  
  Finally, we worked with COAST and the Kiwanis Club to sell 72 low-cost bicycle helmets for kids at the May 20th Children's Festival in Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, helmet demand exceeded supply.
• In times of growing energy costs and American obesity, the humble bicycle can be the solution to both challenges. We thank all those who have helped make our Bike Week the vehicle for raising awareness of all.

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Coalition election

• Our Bicycle Coalition election of officers and members of the board is held every two years. This year, voting will be held during our monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 5th. All members in good standing at the time are eligible to vote. You can vote by either mailing in the ballot or a copy of it to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, PO Box 92047, Santa Barbara, CA 93190, or by coming in person to the meeting where weíll have ballots.
• BALLOT
• Vote for one person for each of the following offices:
• President
  Ralph Fertig or ____________
• Vice President
  Wilson Hubbell or ____________
• Treasurer
  Mark McClure or ____________
• Secretary
  Drew Hunter or ____________
• Choose five of the following for Board of Directors:
  Judy Keim
  David Bourgeois
  Don Lubach
  Jim Marshall
  Nancy Mulholland or ____________

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Earth Day 2006 attracts more bicyclists



Our popular bike check-up area was next to bicycle parking, with our Bike Week flag mounted between them. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On April 23, the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition participated in our 15th Earth Day event at the County Courthouse, attracting what people said were more bicyclists than ever. Our involvement started in 1992, reflecting our ongoing commitment to sustainable and appropriate transportation.
• For the last four years, we have been in two areas: our bike parking and adjacent free bike check-up area on Anapamu Street, and our regular information booth in an alternative transportation area on the County Courthouse lawn.
• Thanks to bike mechanics Robert Rainwater, Bill Davidson, Wilson Hubbell and Mark Lowenstine who checked 95 individual bicycles, up from 80 bikes in 2005. The bike parking was full (50 bikes) most of the day, with overflow bikes locked to all nearby posts and railings. We're thankful to Dru van Hengel at the City for arranging the barricades that worked nicely for "lean and lock" parking.
• We again raffled off $30 bike shop gift certificates to those who biked to Earth Day. Our thanks to VeloPro Cyclery, Big Gear Bike Gear, Fastrack Bicycles, Hazard's Cyclesport, Commuter Bicycles, and Open Air Bicycles for supplying us with the gift certificates.
• We passed out 85 copies of Quick Release, over 100 County bike maps, 52 Bicycle Coalition brochures, and 199 flyers describing our Celebration dinner, the Café de Velo opening, our Street Skills for Women class, Bike to Work Day, and a list of our popular web site pages. As a result of promoting membership, we enlisted 15 individuals who are now part of our growing bicycling movement.
• Special thanks to Ralph Fertig and Pierre Delong who worked all day long, and to others who contributed so much to make Earth Day another success in our community outreach: Judy Keim, Don Lubach, Bob Burgess, David Madajian, Bob Swinney, Nancy Mulholland, Mark Sapp, and Drew Hunter.
• Now how can we make 2007 even better?

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CycleSmart bicyclist education news



Dru van Hengel, center, describes bicyclist safety maneuvers to participants in our Street Skills for Women class, May 20th. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• "This class does exactly what is advertised—increases confidence in repair and on the road."
• That was a comment from one of the 15 participants in our latest Street Skills class. Led by cycling instructor Dru van Hengel, the three-day class targeted women. Its success, and that of our January women's class, demonstrate that there is demand for classes that concentrate on their needs. Another student wrote, "While I thought I knew a lot, I learned a lot more!"
• We will have another Street Skills class in July, email Cyclesmart@sbbike.org for details.

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Channing—the man at Old Man Mountain
by Wilson Hubbell



Channing Hammond at work. Photo by Wilson Hubbell.

• Channing Hammond is a Santa Barbara local and an avid cyclist. A while back he wanted to do some backcountry touring on his mountain bike and discovered that nobody made pannier racks for mountain bikes with front or rear suspension, and most high-end mountain bikes have no rack mounting eyelets anyway. He also correctly recognized that he was not alone in wanting to tour off-pavement on his mountain bike.
• Channing already knew something about metalwork and rack making. He grew up around his parent's metal fabrication business and had a unique look at how things are put together and how they can be designed and constructed to withstand difficult conditions. He had used this background to set up Jandd Mountaineering's bicycle rack production facility, which made front and rear racks designed primarily for conventional road bike
• So Channing founded Old Man Mountain—a company dedicated to making racks for any bicycle, including those that were not intended to accommodate racks. Today his Goleta made racks are considered to be among the best in the world. Organizations like Adventure Cycling sell Old Man Mountain racks to their membership and Old Man Mountain products are now available in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany and Canada. They are also available on the internet or direct from the factory at 23 South Fairview, Suite C in Old Town Goleta. In the future, donít be surprised if you see great performing mountain bikes as well as great performing racks being made by Old Man Mountain.
• When nothing else will fit and nothing less will do, Channing Hammond is the guy to go to!

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Café de Velo grand opening a grand start



City Councilman Grant House (with cap) performed the ribbon cutting with Baron and Cecile Corpuz, and their three children. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• All afternoon on May 14, bicyclists streamed through the newly-opened Café de Velo bicycle shop in Santa Barbara. City Council members Roger Horton and Grant House attended the opening, as did many members of the Bicycle Coalition and our guest Bike Week Celebration entertainer Willie Weir.
• While their online Renaissance Cycles business will continue to be their mainstay, owners Baron and Cecile Corpuz believe in bicycling as a sensible means of transportation and recreation, and they have accordingly opened the Café de Velo to reflect just that.
• Their shop at 615 East Gutierrez Street offers not only new vintage bicycle components, but also Italian road bikes built up to your needs, and Dutch city bikes that are ideal for short trips around town. They offer complementary coffee and for-sale snacks for cyclists who visit, and they plan to add a full-service bicycle repair facility.
• The Café is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Their web site just went online at www.cafedevelo.com, with a shop photo and hours of operation. Stop by, check out the scene, and welcome them to town.

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Cycling in London

• When London's Mayor Ken Livingstone introduced a congestion charge in 2003 on vehicles entering the city center, cycling surged 28% in the first year. Previously nervous merchants saw sales rising as the population of more fluid bus and cycle lanes fed them more customers.
• Worldwide, accident rates have dropped when cycling gained momentum, as motorists slow down and become accustomed to sharing the road. In London, the number of crashes has fallen in half as the number of cyclists doubled.

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Bikestation update



Santa Barbara Bikestation's bike racks will be next to arched windows facing Anacapa Street, on the right in this photo. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Visible progress is being made with Santa Barbara's Bikestation that's under construction in the Granada Garage. The city's Dru van Hengel says it will open in July.
• The Bikestation will have two-tier bike racks from Germany for 80 bicycles. The 1300-square foot space will also have a bathroom, lockers, a shower, and a retail space. To begin, it will be unstaffed and the annual membership fee will include 24-hour keyfob access to the building. There will also be a "green bike" program where members will be able to rent bicycles. Watch for the festive grand opening next month.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara and Goleta
• Big Gear Bike Gear, Santa Barbara
• Café de Velo, 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
• Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle Company, Santa Barbara
• We welcome these new Bicycle Coalition members Barney Berglund, Rich Wilson, Sally Lombrozo, Howard Howe, Michael Beiley, Joya Sexton, Mike Hecker, Carolyn Dukes, Kim & Peter Shingle, Nea Jackson, Nancy Golden, Scott Schulte & Christen Kavanaugh, Justin Reucher & Vanessa Moore, Matthew Burns, Jaydean Franco, Dayna Williamson, John Shuken,Matt Wilhelm, Lisa Zawacki, Karen Boyd, Linda Hill, Ralph & Vicki Kornahrens, Soumil Mehta, Mike Abbott, Ann Dundon & Robert Else, James McLean and Jake Clinton.
• And we are grateful to those who renewed their memberships: Grant House, Amy Frease, Kathy Blake, David & Christine Bourgeois, Chris Orr, and Corey Anderson.

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Census data shows gains and losses
by Ralph Fertig

• Every ten years the US Census count is taken. Most households get a simple form, but one in six receives a form with extra questions, like how people travel to jobs. With the data for the four largest cities in Santa Barbara County, and average US numbers, I have compared results for 1990 and 2000 census counts.
• There are no simple generalizations. Nevertheless, the following can be said for the two healthy modes of travel to work:
• For bicycling, the South County had increases, and North County had declines.
• Santa Barbara was the only city with increases for both bicycling and walking.
• Carpinteria had an increase in bicycling, but a decrease in walking.
• All four cities had more bicyclists than the US average. Santa Barbara had nine times the US figure in the year 2000.
• For walking, South County cities were above the US average; North County cities were below.
• The decline in walking in Carpinteria, Lompoc and Santa Maria closely parallels the general US decline.
• Nationally, bicycling held to the same 0.4% over the decade, but walking declined from 3.9% to 2.9%.
• Given the changes in healthy travel, what will the 2010 census show? If the trends continue, nobody in the North County will walk or bike to work any more, while in the city of Santa Barbara, fewer will drive to work. However, as gasoline prices rise, and people become more aware of the adverse effects of inactivity, we might have more walking and biking everywhere.

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Coalition working to return Tour to SB

• Our Bicycle Coalition has teamed with the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau to submit a proposal to bring the Tour of California back to Santa Barbara in 2007.
• Bicycle Coalition member Barney Berglund, the capable chairman of local efforts for the 2006 Tour, is again heading a Local Organizing Committee whose purpose is to attract funding, coordinate logistics with others, and promote the event
• While road racing itself is not a main concern of ours, we note that 58% of attendees to the 55-booth fitness festival at the stage finish were local residents, and they pedaled there on BMX, mountain bikes, cruisers, city bikes, and road bicycles. Few of us are competitive cyclists, but itís still exciting to see what professional athletes can accomplish on machines akin to our modest bicycles.

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SG Productions gift

• Mike Hecker pulled off another series of Firestone Walker Classic mountain bike races April 28-30th near Los Olivos. We're pleased that he and his SG Productions made a generous donation to the Bicycle Coalition in return for help serving the Saturday night pasta dinner. Our thanks to Bicycle Coalition volunteers Scott Young, Nancy Mulholland, Mark Sapp, Thomas Matthias, Judy Keim and Ralph Fertig.

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Craigslist lists us

• Thanks to Bicycle Coalition member Richard Lambert, we now have a link to our site at the Santa Barbara Craigslist bicycle section. The list is a good place to buy and sell bicycles and other things for free, or find an apartment or job. Lambert contacted them after seeing the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition on the SF Craigs-list. Visit http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik. Thank you Richard!

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Coalition Board’s Mulholland marries



Nancy and Mark leave the Mission in style. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bicycle Coalition members Mark Sapp and Nancy Mulholland were married on May 20th. That wasn't so unusual, but the way they traveled to their reception was. Bicyclist Dominic Clark pedaled them from the Santa Barbara Mission to Chase Palm Park Center in his bike trailer.

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May Coalition meeting topics

• Our May 2nd monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting attracted 11 people. We discussed these topics:
• The success of obtaining a favorable Measure D from SBCAG on April 20 was described. From here, a majority of the cities have to approve it before it's put to vote next November. The big challenge will be to educate the voting public about all the benefits of the proposed tax measure.
• We thanked members who volunteered to help serve dinner and raise money for the Coalition at the Firestone mountain bike weekend.
• Santa Barbara's Earth Day, with our bike check-ups, bike parking, and general information, was a success. We gained 15 new members during the one-day event.
• Erika Lindemann passed out posters and described Traffic Solutions' Team Bike Challenge that will take place during the entire month of June. Their web site www.trafficsolutions/info has all the information.
• Dru van Hengel talked about the City of Santa Barbara's plans for Bike to Work Day, and solicited volunteers to help with the 7:00-9:00 AM event.
• Erika Lindemann reported that 10 people participated in a bike maintenance workshop held at Open Air Bicycles in Santa Barbara.
• Dru van Hengel said that the Bicycle Coalition's three-day Bicycling Skills for Women class will start May 11th. The January class was sold out, so she expects to have another good response.
• Ralph Fertig announced that the Goleta Valley Cycling Club is soliciting proposals for funding projects in June. Bicycle headlights and mirrors were suggested. Other ideas are welcome.
• Wilson Hubbell volunteered to write an article about Channing Hammond from Old Man Mountain for June Quick Release.

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Super Cycler school



Super Cyclers, from left—Sydney Eilbacher, Alex Meiburg, Madison Hall, Alex Seyle, and Clare Holehouse.

• Five students at Monte Vista Elementary School in Santa Barbara just completed a "Super Cycler" 10-week class taught by Nancy Mulholland. The photo shows them with certificates documenting successful completion of their course. What did the students learn? Here is a report by Madison Hall, with help from her classmates:
• "In bike class, we learned that no matter what, you shouldnít ever ride on the sidewalk, and to always do an A.B.C. handle quick check before you ride. We also learned how to signal. We also learned how to get off our bikes properly. What I was doing to get off my bike was just tilting over and putting my feet on the ground and putting both of my feet down on one side. Then, Nancy told me that I should go in front of my seat, so that I could put both of my feet on both sides of the bike.
• Our favorite parts of the bike safety class include: the snail races, taking the really long bike ride on the bike path to the beach, and the little bike rides around the San Roque neighborhood.
• I think that other kids should take the course because you learn a whole bunch of things that you never knew before, you get a lot of exercise, you get to have fun with your friends, and also learn how to ride your bike properly. You just have a lot of fun!!"

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