April
2007

County presence at DC Bike Summit
by Ralph Fertig



For whatever reason, there are few outside bike racks around Washington, but this one is located outside the Supreme Court building. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• "Time me," Representative Lois Capps said as she strode out of her office, "I'm going to vote." A group of us waiting for our upcoming meeting with her watched as she rushed down the Longworth House Office Building corridor. Fifteen minutes later, she returned from voting, and eight of us were ushered into her office where we asked her to support national bicycling measures.
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  Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig (left) met with League of American Bicyclists' director Andy Clarke before the Bike Summit.
• Because of outside support, four of us representing Santa Barbara County—Erika Lindemann, Chris Orr, Ralph Fertig, and Bob Zimels—were able to attend the Washington DC Bike Summit on March 13-16th. We are all grateful for the help from our Bicycle Coalition, Goleta Valley Cycling Club, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
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  Senator Diane Feinstein's assistant Kit Batten (center) listened to the 50 California participants describe our bicycling needs. Photo by Ralph Fertig.
• So much happened during those 4 days, I can barely touch on the topics from the six general sessions, three specialized workshops, and meetings with members of Congress. There are separate articles below about Shimano's new "Coasting" bike components that were introduced to us, and by Chris Orr about the Summit. Additionally, here are some of the Summit highlights:
• Over the past two decades, bicycling has surged to a multi-billion dollar industry. Representation on Capitol Hill has increased, and federal funding for bicycle facilities and programs has grown ten fold.
• The major challenge facing us over the next two years is to increase bicycle funding in the reauthorization of the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation act.
• The "Complete Streets" movement, where all roadway right-of-way users like bicyclists must be considered, is gaining traction. It's becoming "Complete Green Streets" where permeability, runoff, landscape, and other issues are embraced.
• Summit organizer League of American Bicyclists, now 127 years old, reported that its League Cycling Instructor (LCI) training program will surpass 1000 instructors this year, that it is partnering with Multiple Sclerosis rides for safety training, and that it has recognized 60 Bicycle-Friendly Communities (including the City of Santa Barbara).
• Thirty US cities are considering "congestion pricing" where rush-hour fees are assessed. This has been successfully deployed in London, Singapore, Stockholm, and elewhere. It reduces pollution and congestion, while increasing bicycling, walking, and transit.
• Gasoline prices are rising, there's a new political perspective in Congress, climate change is high on their agenda, obesity is increasingly a concern, and bicycling is now being advanced as a solution for all those challenges. We will be working with Congress to promote it as such.

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“Coasting” bikes test market appeal



The new Trek "Lime" bike uses Coasting components. Photo courtesy Trek.

• For the past five years, bicycle component manufacturer Shimano has reversed its usual approach to selling its wares. Previously, they made products, then sold them to people who bicycle. This time, they sought out adult non-bicyclists to determine why they don't bike.
• There are 150 million adult Americans, most of whom have positive memories of biking as kids, and would like to rediscover that experience. The study showed that they don't want a competitive sport, new technology, danger, confusing accessories, or an exercise machine. They just want to ride, to escape with friends on a safe path or trail. Plus, for those who haven't biked since childhood, the experience of going into a bike shop is intimidating and confusing.
• The result of this research is Shimano's new "Coasting" component set. New bikes using the components are being manufactured by Raleigh, Giant and Trek. Last month, a promotion effort for the bikes began in 15 pilot areas, including San Diego, Orange County, and San Francisco.
• How are the bikes different? They have internal, microchip-controlled, automatic 3-speed shifting and coaster brakes (pedal backwards to stop). When there's a flat or mechanical problem, what then? Simple—the tool kit is a cell phone.
• Are we ready for these new bicyclists? Maybe not. Riders will be looking for quiet bikepaths or calm streets where they feel safe. They may seek others to ride with, but most bike clubs are for racing or long rides, not casual social cruises. Our CycleSmart classes might even be too technical.
• At the Bike Summit, Kozo Shimano, grandson of Shimano's founder, talked about the increasing need for safer places to ride. Their website www.coasting.com lists rides and information for new bicyclists. Energy is building to return adults to bicycling—how can we best welcome them home?

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Buellton BMX track and athletic fields nixed

• The County Planning Commission, faced with outspoken opposition to a proposed 23-acre sports complex, rejected the plan on March 7th. The Santa Ynez Valley Youth Sports Foundation that proposed the project near Buellton has been seeking a location for 15 years for soccer, baseball, and football fields. It was understood that once approved, a BMX track could be added to the complex, although it wasn't in the formal proposal.
• Foundation president Stu Gilred lamented the opposition from agricultural interests, saying that any other location will meet identical rejection. Everybody expressed favor for athletic fields, just not in any location near their current agricultural land.

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Abandoned bikes clutter UCSB racks



Too often on campus, existing bike racks are so full that students have to risk fines and impound by parking elsewhere. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The University of California Santa Barbara's Associated Students BIKES committee recently surveyed the campus bike rack situation in an attempt to identify abandoned bicycles. They surveyed 39 main bike parking areas on a Sunday when, with no classes, few students would be around and those bikes in the racks would closely approximate the number that were abandoned.
• Overall they found that 46% of available bike slots were occupied. In a few instances, all bike parking was taken, or even overflowing onto adjacent areas.
• The AS BIKES committee is working with the student-staffed Community Service Organization (CSO) over spring break to tag bicycles that may be abandoned in preparation to remove them. That way, additional spaces for parking current students' bicycles will become available. Everybody will be happier.

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California Complete Streets Act

• On February 23, San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno introduced AB 1358, the California Complete Streets Act of 2007. It's possibly the most sweeping and important piece of legislation for California bicyclists ever introduced.
• AB 1358 will ensure that the transportation plans of California communities meet the needs of all users of the roadways and streets. That means including the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Taking effect in 2009, it will require all California cities and counties, whenever they update their General Plans, to fully consider accommodation of all road users.
• We helped add a Complete Streets clause in the Measure D renewal for our County last fall, but it was sadly defeated.
• There will be some opposition to the bill. We will be watching it and taking action as needed. What you can do individually now is to write a letter of support to Assemblyman Leno. There's a sample letter that you can use as a basis on the California Bicycle Coalition's site at www.calbike.org.

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Coalition’s bike skills class another success



Class participants prepare to take their steeds out on the road on March 3rd. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On March 1st and 3rd, our Bicycle Coalition offered another of our bicycling skills classes. This was another for women, dealing with women-specific issues like bikes and clothing. Like earlier classes, it was a great success, with 12 signed up.
• Erika Lindemann ably taught the 2-day class. One day classroom, the second on bikes. Watch for our next class in May.

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A cycling magnet

• During the Amgen Tour of California stage in Solvang, the Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang visitor centers passed out over 500 flyers to cyclists. It promoted the area with reasons to bicycle there, contained quotes from Lance Armstrong, David Zabriskie and Ray Ford. It had a list of resources (including our www.sbbike.org website), and upcoming local bicycling events.
• Most interesting were reasons why professional teams choose the Valley:
• Varied terrain, from gentle rolling hills to steep mountain climbs
• Uncrowded, picturesque country roads
• Bike friendly drivers who share the road
• Sunny, mild climate with clean air
• Incredible scenic views as you pedal past vineyards on our quiet rural roads
• Great rides for beginners, serious cyclists, and families, as well as professionals.

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Coalition helps host Amgen Tour of California



About 15 kids took advantage of Safetyville prior to the stage start in Santa Barbara. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The Amgen Tour of California breezed through Santa Barbara County on February 23rd and 24th, thrilling cycling fans and providing us with an opportunity to engage and educate our community.
• The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition was actively involved with both the Solvang time trial and the Santa Barbara-to-Santa Clarita stage start. We had a booth that we shared with Santa Barbara Car Free at both locations. Overall we distributed nearly 500 copies of the Santa Barbara County Bike Map, bicycle safety booklets, bumper stickers saying "My other car is a bicycle," copies of Quick Release, Bicycle Coalition membership forms, Bring Your Bike on Amtrak California brochures, and more.
• In Solvang, the crowd was much larger. However people were there to watch the cyclists starting and finishing, so quickly passed by our booth. Fewer picked up literature, although the proportion of the County Bike Map was greater, suggesting that more were visitors—and that they were considering returning to bike. Bicycle Coalition member John Padfield excited local school children about the Tour. Earlier in the year he brought cycling team members to schools while they were training in the Santa Ynez Valley.
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  Santa Barbara Car Free's Mary Byrd and our Bicycle Coalition's Don Lubach staffed our Santa Barbara booth. Photo by Ralph Fertig.
• In Santa Barbara, we were a Tour stage co-sponsor along with the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau. Bicycle Coalition members Barney Berglund, Drew Hunter, Mike Hecker and Ralph Fertig worked hard to involve the community. We brought in COAST to run Safetyville for kids, and Mike Hecker to organize bike races for kids, both in view of the starting line. Berglund, especially, devoted large amounts of energy as stage coordinator to bring everything together. He organized an evening Gala event at the Maritime Museum as a benefit for our Bicycle Coalition. Santa Barbara bike shop owner Dave Lettieri went to local elementary schools to enthuse the kids about cycling.
• According to race promoters, the eight-day, 650-mile Amgen Tour of California involved 12 host cities and attracted a record-breaking 1.6 million spectators. It clearly demonstrated that cycling in America is more popular than ever. Locally, it was estimated that our two Tour stages brought in $1.2 million in visitor revenue to businesses in Santa Barbara County.
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  A Team BMC cyclist poses with a future bicyclist. Photo by Ralph Fertig.
• Everything went well in both cities. The two Local Organizing Committees were elated with the results. Here are some comments that we gathered: "Had a good time. Would love it to end in town. Great event! RAD! Fans are fantastic. Great—kids race is very fun. Keep in SB." We certainly applaud the Tour and the awareness that it brings to our County. How about 2008? Bring it back!
• Oh yes, Californian Levi Leipheimer won the Tour.

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Bike to School Day sponsorship request
by Debbie Castanha

• COAST (Coalition for Sustainable Transportation) and its Safe Routes to School program are seeking a partner to help with the upcoming "Bike to School Day" on May 15th.
• What could be greater than encouraging school children to ride bikes to school? We're looking for someone willing to donate $1,500 so that we can purchase small prizes, healthy snacks and promotional materials for participating schools on the South Coast. We'd love to include your or your company's name as the sponsor on all promotional materials and news releases.
• This truly is a fun, worthwhile and easy way to help kids in our community see how much fun cycling can be. Our goal is that they'll have so much fun, they'll do it over and over again!
• Perhaps an organization you belong to or a friend who is an advocate for safety and/or cycling would consider becoming a sponsor for a fairly modest sum. Please contact me at 687-0011 or email Debbie@coast-santabarbara.org with any questions about sponsoring Bike to School Day, or to schedule a presentation about the Safe Routes to School program in general. For more information about our activities, please visit our website: www.coast-santabarbara.org.
• COAST and our Safe Routes to School thank you for your consideration!

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Notes on the national Bike Summit 2007
by Chris Orr

• Newly appointed as a regional International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) Representative, I traveled to Washington DC to advocate for bicycles with local Bicycle Coalition members and 447 other bike advocates.
• Bicycle transportation issues and bicycle trail access issues are not so different. Nationwide parallels include difficulties in having the bicycle recognized as a valid form of transportation, difficulties in building, including, or modifying bicycle infrastructures, and difficulties in developing local, state, and federal funding for bicycle infrastructure.
• Through a series of lectures and speeches by advocates, city mayors, and a former Secretary of the Department of Transportation, summit attendees learned how to address bicycle issues, dress appropriately—sans spandex—and then speak with congressional senate and house representatives (or their staff). It was very heartening to have our state representatives listen to our bicycle transportation issues, give positive feedback, and have them comment that our group was one of the best organized and well spoken to come through their offices.

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Can bike rides provide effective activism?



Over a hundred people on bicycles rode to a Santa Barbara peace rally. Photo by Robert Bernstein.

• On March 17, hundreds of UCSB students and community members made the connection between bicycling, oil consumption, and peace by cycling 14 miles from Isla Vista to a peace rally in Downtown Santa Barbara. To many of those biking, the use of oil and related resources for private motor vehicles is the major force driving our wars.
• The bicycle is not often associated with protests. Last November, there was a bike ride in Isla Vista promoting the passage of Measure D. If the percentage of IV voters in favor of it—80%—is an indication of effectiveness, then it had a definite impact. There are monthly Critical Mass rides in Santa Barbara, intended to promote safer bicycling conditions, but their message is not always clear to others.
• The Isla Vista ride had a police escort all the way. It stopped to plant an olive tree of peace at Raytheon, take the lanes on Hollister Avenue and State Street, stop for water at shopping plazas, return waves from pedestrians, and arrived just in time for the peace rally.
• Former Bicycle Coalition president Robert Bernstein reports, "Almost exactly at noon we rolled to the staging area for the peace march! We were greeted with cheers almost as if we were a triumphant army! And in a way, we were. Riding a bicycle to save resources often feels like going into battle." He notes that we're killing and injuring many more on our home highways that in our current wars. Bernstein has posted his photos of the ride at www.swt.org/act/criticalmass031707.
• Whether the ride is a harbinger of future protests via bicycling remains to be seen, but it has definitely made a debut.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle Company, Santa Barbara
• Chris King Precision Components, Portland OR
• In addition, we welcome new members Cheryl Rogers, John Padfield, Paula Makara, and Mark Hansen. We further thank those who renewed their memberships: Robert Burgess, Scott & Susanna Shaw, Nancy Golden, Matthew Burns, Linda Hill, Alex & June Pujo, Chris King, Cathy Peterson, Lee & Anita Carter, Owen Patmor and Doris Phinney.

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Bike Week is coming

• Our annual Bike Week of exciting events is taking shape this May 12-20. Check out our website listing at www.sbbike.org/BW/bw.html for details. Whatever you do during the week, don't miss the kick-off Bike Week Celebration on Saturday, May 12. It's a fun evening with dinner, bicyclist advocate awards, and Willie Weir telling us about biking around forbidden Cuba.
• We welcome other bike-related events during the Bike Week period, so let us know what you propose. Contact Ralph Fertig at 962-1479 or sb-ralph@cox.net.

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March Bicycle Coalition meeting topics

• Our March 6th monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was at noon at the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust conference room. We discussed these topics:
• County Public Works staff Scott McGolpin and Kevin Donally described the County's.plan for roadway maintainance.
• Erika Lindemann reported having a very successful Street Skills for Women class.
• Ralph Fertig described upcoming Earth Day activities, with our information booth, bike parking and free check-ups.
• Prospects for the proposed BMX track and athletic fields in Buellton are looking dismal due to opposition.
• Ed France described arrangements for a Saturday bike workshop at Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara on March 24th.
• Four people from Santa Barbara County will attend the National Bike Summit in DC this month.
• With new funding secured for Highway 101 widening along the Rincon in Ventura County, it offers the potential for safer bicycling conditions.
• Ralph Fertig requested safety signage on the Cliff Drive downhill west of Arroyo Burro Beach, Santa Barbara, in response to recent crashes by Santa Maria cyclists.
• Bike Week events are coming. We voted to have Willie Weir talk about bicycling in Cuba as part of our Bike Week Celebration.
• Ralph Fertig noted that replacement of the Mission Creek bridge over Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara offers a potential for improving safety on the existing Beachway.
• The Amgen Tour of California was a great success for us in Solvang and Santa Barbara.

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Caltrans contact for bicyclist problems

• We have been requested by Caltrans' Aileen Loe to use their online form to report bicyclist problems rather than contacting Pat Mickelson in Santa Barbara. The maintenance request form is online at: www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html. Your request will be tracked on a statewide system. We have been told that your issue will be addressed.