December
2006

North County off-road biking looks promising



Santa Barbara's Elings Park BMX track successfully hosts races for youth—we need other tracks in the county. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• There are mountain biking events at Firestone and Chamberlin ranches near Los Olivos, and ongoing programs for BMX and off-road racing at Elings Park in Santa Barbara, but North County people need something permanent. They're currently working to change that with three projects:
• BMX track at the Elks Unocal Event Center north of Clark Road, east of Highway 101.
• Mountain biking trails at the newly-purchased 1778-acre Las Flores Ranch property south of Clark Road, east of Highway 101.
• BMX track in the Buellton area to replace the Valley BMX that lost its land several years ago.
• Our young people especially need facilities nearer their homes where they can learn the joys of biking that will carry over into adulthood.

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What defeat of Measure D means
by Ralph Fertig

• Our Bicycle Coalition offers sincere gratitude to all those who worked hard over the past two years toward the passage of Measure D renewal.
• Disappointingly, it attained only 54% of the vote, 13% less than the required two-thirds. In the South Coast, it nearly attained the two-thirds, it was in the North County where it failed dramatically. Voters did pass five out of eleven similar California county transportation taxes. The only tax renewal that failed was in Santa Barbara County—possibly because it was an increase and voters failed to perceive a sufficient benefit.
• It's difficult today to discern whether any transportation tax will now be passed in our county, whether in 2008 or 2010 or ever. I personally see three possibilities:
• Return to the old 1989 Measure D half-cent tax that goes to roads and local governments.
• Pursue a half-cent measure that includes some dedicated funding for transit and alternatives.
• The county will be fragmented as each city passes its own tax for its transportation needs.
• At this time, I feel that the first and second would both be defeated in 2008, out of disappointment over what they fail to provide. As for fragmentation, that is exactly what just happened in San Luis Obispo County, where four cities passed their own taxes. If that occurs here, that will leave the unincorporated county residents with scant funds, and inter-community transit at risk.
• Whatever evolves, our Bicycle Coalition will work to assure that we are included at the table.

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Light up for South Coast’s Holiday Parade of Bikes



Forget that packs of LED lights like these say they're for "wreaths, garlands, small trees and centerpieces," we know they're for bikes. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• This is your opportunity to be cheered by pedestrians stopped in their tracks, to have motorists honk in approval, to vanquish the dark winter night with an electric bicycle parade. Last year 25 bicyclists had a blast biking in Santa Barbara with imaginatively-lighted bikes, trailers, reindeer, Christmas trees, costumes, bells, horns, and more. The upcoming holiday ride promises to be better, so start thinking of what you can do.
• This year's Holiday Light Bike Parade is being coordinated by Wendy Manning from the Goleta Valley Cycling Club. It will start at 5:00 PM at the World Savings Bank parking lot, 3891 State Street. Enjoy a fun ride down State Street to Santa Barbara Roasting Company and back. Every bicyclist wearing a helmet is welcome to join in the fun.
• Wendy notes that Walgreens has strings of LED lights for $5; they run 150 hours on four AA batteries. For the technically inclined, there is a site that describes how to select, wire and power lights for bicycles: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dc-christmas-lights.html. It also has links to other sites that have mail-order light sets.

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Pedro Nava heads Transportation Committee

• On November 7, Pedro Nava was reelected to the California Assembly's 35th district by 62% of the voters. His district includes Santa Ynez Valley, the South Coast, and Ventura. We congratulate Nava on his return to office.
• Of special interest to bicyclists is that Nava is now the head of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. That important 11-member committee has jurisdiction over the California Highway Patrol and Transit Authority; and over the operation, licensing, registration, and drivers licenses for vehicles, aircraft, and vessels. If you have issues that concern our access and safety, contact Nava at 916-319-2035 or assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov.

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Dominic pedals through our county



Dominic Gill with his big rig in Santa Barbara. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Dominic Gill is a 25-year old cyclist from England who is on an epic ride from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuala in Patagonia. He is riding a tandem bicycle, pulling a BOB trailer, and inviting people to help him pedal.
• Gill passed through Santa Barbara County in early October—a guest of Ralph Fertig for a night—impressing and inspiring those fortunate to meet him. His background includes biology and environmental studies. His passions are bicycling and mountain climbing, and personal challenges like this trip.
• In Lompoc, Ernie Greenwald saw Dominic's impressive rig at an ice cream parlor, so they chatted. Dom invited Ernie to join him on his ride the next day to Santa Barbara. Ernie said no, he couldn't, and left. A half hour later, however, he came back with "YES!"
• Gill later wrote, "Perhaps my most memorable stoker was a senior gentleman called Ernie. I knew he may have trouble cycling the sixty miles to Santa Barbara, but I also knew that at 135 pounds, I could pull the man if necessary. It was however, not necessary. Ernie was an inspiration to me. He sat on the back of my bike and gave it absolutely everything as we rolled along the coast. What inspired me most is how much fun he was having. He hurt, doubtless his limbs were burning, but he was living life, and for that he was ecstatically grateful."
• It turns out that Greenwald had been an avid cyclist in the 1970s in Goleta, where he worked for Raytheon. He would ride up to Camino Cielo and back for fun. "Sometimes," he recalls, "an informal group of us would ride up the pass, continue to Solvang for lunch, then Alisal Road to the coast, and back down 101 to home."
• What is so wonderful about the happenstance encounter is that both Gill and Greenwald learned and gained. Greenwald observes, "without Dominic, I don't know if I would have carried through with my good intentions to begin serious riding again. Now there is no doubt. Since our journey, I've been riding as much and as hard as time allows."
• Gill notes, "It made me grateful too, and once again, served to wash away the slight film of indifference that had begun to grow over my eyes. I'd helped Ernie get up and get going again. He'd helped me see what I'm doing for what it really is—an adventure that lots of other people as well as me can benefit from. I like that."
• You can ride along with Dominic on his site www.takeaseat.org as he continues his epic journey south.

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Coalition asks Nava for greener DMV

• On November 22, our Bicycle Coalition send a letter to our Assemblyman Pedro Nava asking him to consider actions that would make the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) more environmentally responsible.
• The suggestion was spurred by an article in the London Times about changes that their Driving Standards Agency was making. The November 5th article titled "The driving test that is preparing to go green" starts out:
• "Congratulations Miss Jones, you've passed your driving test—now get on your bike. Officials in Britain are planning to make the driving test eco-friendly by asking learners not just how to operate a car but whether they should be using one at all."
• The DSA asks drivers to consider issues about the appropriateness of driving for any given trip, when to use air conditioning, whether a smaller vehicle would make sense for their trips, how to increase mileage by driving more smoothly, and so on.
• Our letter to Nava notes that California has a history of environmental awareness and protection, and requests him to consider introducing greater awareness of energy consumption into DMV literature, examinations, and policies. We don't know whether changes require legislative action or not, but we asked for changes to reduce our energy consumption and dependence on imported fossil fuels.

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Bed, breakfast and biking

• Don and Pam McMurray have maintained a web site called Your Guide to Bed, Breakfast and Biking since 1996. Their listing includes bed and breakfasts, inns, and guesthouses—presumably because hungry cyclists always take advantage of the free breakfasts, and possibly because the innkeepers may provide more personalized accommodation for those on bicycle. Their web site www.BBBiking.com offers searches for trails by state and trail name. There are two trails listed within Santa Barbara County:
• Pacific Coast Bike Route that runs 1836 miles from Canada to Mexico has a list of nearly 400 bed and breakfast establishments, 20 of which are within our county.
• Foothill and North Goleta Bike Routes is the name they use although they really describe a string of several interconnected South Coast routes. They list 17 bed and breakfast locations in our area.
• Overall, the Guide site now lists nearly 4000 lodging properties near 250 plus trails in thirty-eight states. If you have suggestions for the Guide, contact the McMurrays (who run a B&B in Utah) at info@BBBiking.com.

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Payne and Boysel cases continue in December

• The case against asphalt truck driver Marcos Almaguer in the death of UCSB triathlete Kendra Payne was heard on October 20th, and continued until December 8th. The County's District Attorney has filed a charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter against Almaguer who has entered a plea of not guilty.
• Payne was run over by Almaguer last January 11th while on a bicycle training ride up Gibraltar Road above Santa Barbara. Assistant District Attorney Pat McKinley said that they are negotiating a settlement that may or may not be reached by December 8th. At that time, either a settlement will be formalized or a request for a trial will be entered. The hearing will take place at 8:30 AM, in Department 10 of the Superior Court, 118 East Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara.
• Separately, the District Attorney's charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter against motorist Ernesto Botello has been continued to December 12th. Botello hit and killed 12-year old Jake Boysel on September 6th as Jake was biking on Calle Real to La Colina Junior High School in Santa Barbara. At the arraignment on November 13th, Botello pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison.
• On December 12th, a settlement agreement may be reached, or a decision to go to trial will be made. The hearing will take place at 8:30 AM, Department 10 of the Superior Court, 118 East Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara.

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Coalition gives out bike lights



Manager Randy Baldwin at San Marcos Growers stands next to one of his co-workers bicycles. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Daylight savings time is gone, the days are shrinking, and nights are filling the chilling void. We are all facing more darkness, biking in the fading light, biking in the dark.
• To help community members who have to bike in the dark, our Bicycle Coalition is now distributing 200 lights to improve their safety. Thanks to a grant from the Goleta Valley Cycling Club, we have purchased white LED headlights to give to low-income South Coast workers who depend on their bicycles to get to their jobs.
• The first 20 lights were given to San Marcos Growers in the Goleta Valley where a third of their workers bike to their jobs. General manager Randy Baldwin says that worker safety is very important and they have a monthly meeting to discuss issues. He will pass out the lights along with a Spanish/English brochure that we gave him, describing basic bicyclist safety.
• Our wish is that all bicycle commuters have a safe and enjoyable journey, whether it's by choice or necessity. Thanks to our partnering with the GVCC, we are making that happen.

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Crossing 154 is safer

• Thanks to Caltrans and Supervisor Brooks Firestone for making the Edison Road crossing of Highway 154 safer. New stop signs will make it safer for bicyclists on Santa Ynez Valley road rides, not to mention motorists. New flashing lights will alert speeding 154 motorists about the new stop.

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Tour plans for kids

• Our Bicycle Coaliiton is working with the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitor Bureau, and the City of Santa Barbara to craft a program for young people before the Amgen Tour of California stage start in Santa Barbara. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is welcoming ideas for events that will attract families to the waterfront for an hour or two before the stage begins its ride to Santa Clarita on February 24th.
• Suggestions so far are a bike races, a slow race (last person in wins), bike rodeo, chalk drawing, poster contest, and helmet sales. Our Bicycle Coalition will share a booth with Santa Barbara Car Free to promote responsible travel to the stage start. To offer ideas or volunteer, email Barney Berglund at barney_berglund@hotmail.com.

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Bicyclists like their commutes to work

• Statistics Canada did a survey last year on how Canadian workers perceive their daily commute to work. It showed that only 8% of the people who bicycle commute dislike the trip, and 92% either like the ride, or are neutral about it.
• While walking to work had a slightly larger percentage of commuters who liked the trip than those who bicycled, over twice as many pedestrians—19%—disliked their trip by foot. Less happy with their commutes were those who drove, those who took the bus or train, and least happy were those who combined driving with transit.
• The survey asked people what activities they like the best during their day. Surprisingly, 3% said that their commute to work was their favorite. Further analysis revealed that 19% of those who rode their bicycles to work reported that their commute was the most pleasant activity of their day. In contrast, this was true of just 2% of workers who drove to work.
• These results are from the report Like commuting? Workers' perceptions of their daily commute by Martin Turcotte. The data are derived from Statistics Canada's telephone General Social Survey of 19,597 individuals aged 15 or above. Read a summary at www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061107/d061107b.htm. Although this survey deals with Canadians, Americans very likely feel the same about their trips.

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November Coalition meeting topics

• Our November 7th monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was at noon at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, attracting 15 people. We discussed these topics:
• Passage of Measure D today may or may not happen, but if it fails, bicyclists will be great losers.
• Charges filed in the death of 12-year old Jake Boysel were discussed. An arraignment will occur on November 13th.
• Owen Dell from the Fossil-Free Landscaping Group described their proposed public garden with bike facilities near the railroad station. Next steps were suggested.
• Ralph Fertig described additional funding for UCSB bike facilities through the student BIKES committee.
• Dru van Hengel invites couples to participate in a Street Skills class November 16-18.
• Kirby Jones from England showed pictures and described good and poor bicycling conditions around Exeter.
• Vie Obern brought apple pies to share with us, plus talking about trails and passing out copies of her Santa Barbara County Trails newsletter. She thanked the biker who spent hours helping her publish the latest issue.

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Street Skills class in January

• The idea of having a Street Skills class that encouraged couples to enroll seemed good, but the proposed classes in September and November unfortunately both failed to attract enough people to warrant holding them. We will be offering no class in December, but watch for another offering in January.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• Big Gear Bike Gear, Santa Barbara
• Café de Velo, 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
• In addition, we welcome new members Laurence Ortiz, Robert Suh, Dianne Burns, Ellen Goodstein, Cynthia Boche and Pat Veesart. We further thank Bill Frost who renewed his membership.

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Innovative bicycle parking facilities in Europe
by Erika Lindemann



Andrea White, Executive Director of US-based Bikestation, smiles inside a Biceberg bike parking entry slot in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Erika Lindemann.

• People who aren't bicycle enthusiasts look at me with part curiosity and part astonishment when I tell them I recently went to Europe to learn about innovative bicycle parking systems. But you, dear readers, will understand the thrill of exploring grand cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen with an eye for innovative street designs that accommodate and even cater to bicyclists. I know you would have shared the satisfaction I felt when I saw people of all ages, many in the latest classy fashions, children in tow, riding their bikes for transportation.
• In addition, I was accompanied by my colleagues and dear friends from the Bikestation Coalition, Andrea White and Todd Boulanger. Bikestation is a US-based not-for-profit organization that offers secure bicycle parking and related services to make cyclists' lives easier. The group will soon begin operating Bikestation Santa Barbara, in the new Granada Garage, as our first 24 hour un-staffed facility.
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  Here's an example of the huge demand for bike parking in Amsterdam. The ferry in the foreground is free and designed so bikes and motor scooters can roll on and off. Each trip is filled with bicyclists crossing this short passage. Photo by Erika Lindemann.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands: We all know that Amsterdam is teeming with bicycles, but many don't know that bike parking and theft are big problems that city officials and bike planners are still working to manage. We visited a number of facilities operated by a group called BikeLocker. These facilities provide secure, underground parking and most are staffed so as to provide bike maintenance and general facility upkeep.
• Barcelona, Spain: On a bright sunny day in Barcelona, we met up with Jamie Palacios who showed us his innovative bike parking installation called Biceberg. His ingenious design takes up about four car parking spaces on two floors where it can hold up to 92 bikes, which are organized in individual pie-shaped containers on turnstiles. This allows the user to leave bike gear in the container along with the bicycle, and the parking is completely secure and shielded from the elements. Visit www.biceberg.es to understand the system.
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  Bicyclists use the ramp from the street level to access underground bike parking for 3500 bicycles in Münster, Germany. Photo by Erika Lindemann.
• Münster, Germany: Although the Westfalia region of Germany has over fifty Radstations (Bikestation in German), the facility in Münster is by far the largest and most impressive. It holds up to 3500 bikes and is located directly adjacent to the main train station. A bike specific ramp leads down to the underground bike parking area and the building's architecture is reminiscent of the Louvre in Paris. There is a full-scale bike shop, and rental bikes are available.
• I plan to put together a slide-show of photos from my trip, so stay tuned if you are interested in hearing more about my bicycle parking adventures in Europe.

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ATOC needs volunteers

• If you want a front-row view of the Amgen Tour of California next February, consider volunteering for either the Solvang or Santa Barbara stages; apparently you cannot sign up for more than one stage. Sign up online and choose what position you prefer-from course marshal, hospitality host, security, media relations or medical support. To volunteer, go to www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. Keep in mind, however, that if you wish to help with our Santa Barbara pre-stage events, there may be a conflict of time.

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“Conference Bike” offers 7-person fun



Riders confer while cruising by the UCSB Lagoon on November 17th. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Eric Staller brought his Conference Bike through Santa Barbara county in mid-November, offering free rides around UCSB and Isla Vista. The ingenious machine actually has three cushy wheels, one circular handlebar, and bike seats for seven people who can pedal or slack off as they choose.
• Bicycle Coalition members Don Lubach, Ralph Fertig and Harry Nelson enjoyed rides around the area, joined by others who hopped on and off along the way.
• Nelson wrote, "We had a great time on the Conference Bike, built by Eric Staller an American Ex-pat who lives in Amsterdam. He is mostly an artist interested in creating new experiences for groups of people."
• About 100 have been sold to groups that include retirement home residents, blind people, theme parks, and corporations seeking teambuilding experiences. Nelson envisions further uses, "I'm thinking of getting one to use as a mobile speed dating platform in IV."
• You can read about the crazy vehicle at www.conferencebike.com. You can buy the German-made machines from Staller if you wish to have more fun with friends.

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New 3-foot passing law now in Florida

• Pedro Nava's proposed three-foot minimum passing distance for California bicyclists failed in committee earlier this year. Other states continue to pass such laws however, Florida being the latest. Drivers of vehicle overtaking a bicyclist must pass by at least three feet. Laws already exist in Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Utah. Nava is considering another try.