June
2008

Bike Week accelerates bicycling



Drew Hunter, left, leads the second annual Ride of Silence in memory of those bicyclists lost or injured on public roadways. The local Ride was one of 293 similar ones worldwide in 17 countries taking place at the same time. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



From the left, Bike Week honorees Grant House and Ed France; touring cyclist Willie Weir; Bike Art winner Mary Carol Kenney; and Bicycle Coalition President Ralph Fertig. Photo by Laura Kath.

• Our Bicycle Coalition’s 2008 Bike Week of nearly 20 events took place on May 17-25, attracting thousands of participants.
• Our Street Skills for Cyclists class held May 15-17 this time attracted several Boy Scouts from local Troop 2. Our Bike Week Celebration evening took place for the fifth year. We were delighted to have a Bike Art contest added to the evening (see story on page 2). We honored City Councilman Grant House and Bici Centro director Ed France for their dedication to the promotion of bicycling. Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and Goleta Valley Cycling Club President Doris Phinney also attended the Celebration evening. Willie Weir returned from Seattle to describe his recent tour of Venezuela and Colombia.

Hollister Elementary School principal Ryan Sparre greets a responsible dad with his two children in tow for Bike to School Day, May 20th. Another 120 students biked there. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Bike to Work Day in Downtown Santa Barbara attracted 200 bicyclists on May 21st. At UCSB, 120 commuters participated in their separate event. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The traditional mainstays of Bike Week are Bike to School and Bike to Work Days, together attracting over a thousand participants at 22 sites around the county. This year, the school events were organized by COAST, and the work events by UCSB and the City of Santa Barbara.
• Thanks to Judy Keim, we were able to obtain use of Farrand Hall at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History where Willie Weir this time talked about biking in India, and Matt Dobberteen, Dru van Hengel, Don Lubach and Ralph Fertig offered inspiration about bicycling for transportation.

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Summer bike camps

• This summer, six day camps are available in the South Coast area for BMX, triathlon, and mountain biking. (If you know of others, let Ralph Fertig know, sb-ralph@cox.net.)
• BMX Camp. These week-long camps at Elings Park are for ages 5-12 and designed for riders of all levels and abilities. Daily 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Info at www.elingspark.org. Weeks of June 23, June 30, July 28.
• Kid’s Triathlon Camp. This camp is sponsored by Momentum 4 Life for children ages 7-12 who can swim 25 yards in a pool and ride a two wheel bike. Class at UCSB, 2:30-5:00 PM. Info at momentum4life.com. Week of July 14.
• Mountain Bike Camp. These week-long camps at Elings Park are for ages 7-14. Instructors cover basic trail etiquette, bike maintenance, and riding skills. Daily 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. Info at www.elingspark.org. Weeks of August 4 and August 11.

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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 evening meeting on Tuesday, July 1st. 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 we’ll have ballots.
• BALLOT
• Vote for one person for each of the following four offices:
• President
  Ralph Fertig or ____________
• Vice President
  Wilson Hubbell or ____________
• Treasurer
  Dave Bourgeois or ____________
• Secretary
  Mark McClure or ____________
• Choose five of the following for Board of Directors:
  Judy Keim
  Drew Hunter
  Don Lubach
  Michael Chiacos
  Erika Lindemann
  Ed France or ____________

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Chavez and Kenny are Bike Art winners



Adult Bike Art winner Mary Carol Kenney stands next to her winged bike. Photo by Judy Keim.



City Councilman Grant House congratulates Bike Art youth winner Alex Chavez for his glistening low-rider bike. Photo by Judy Keim.

• Last fall, our Bicycle Coalition Board member Judy Keim came up with the idea of a “Bike Art” contest as part of our Bike Week. We liked the idea, so over the following months, she developed it into a memorable, exciting addition to our Bike Week Celebration evening.
• Entries had to be rideable to be eligible for prizes of $200 for the best adult bike, and $100 for the best youth one. At the start of the Celebration event, about a dozen artists displayed their creations, and event participants voted for the two winners—our congratulations go to Mary Carol Kenney and Alex Chavez for their exciting creations.
• Everybody seemed to be pleased with the new expression of bicycling. We believe the contest will continue to grow and mature in upcoming years.

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Wet Willy Sez
by Wilson Hubbell

• Dear Wet Willy: There are several traffic signals in the Santa Barbara–Goleta area that won’t detect the presence of a bicyclist. I’ve called the appropriate phone numbers listed in Quick Release to complain about this, but shouldn’t the people who maintain these things know that they’re supposed to be adjusted to detect cyclists? Thanks! — Tired of Waiting
• Dear Tired of Waiting: The signals can and should be adjusted to detect bicycles, but, for some older traffic signals, bicyclists need to know where to be stopped on the roadway in order to be detected. In general, older traffic signal detection mechanisms are triggered by wires buried in the street that detect bicycles and motor vehicles in the traffic lanes. If you are stopped along the edge of the roadway at a signalized intersection, no cars are coming and the green light just won’t shine, move away from the curb and out into the lane where you have a better chance of triggering the mechanism.
• Most of the traffic signals owned and maintained by Santa Barbara County and the cities within the County are video actuated and don’t depend on wires buried in the street. These contemporary systems do a much better job of detecting cyclists—anywhere on the roadway—than older systems that depend on buried wires. My own experience has been that it is these older signal detection systems that are most likely causing you problems.

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Anapamu bikelanes are meeting topic

• Come to our June 3rd Bicycle Coalition meeting to hear about possible design conflicts between proposed curb extension “bulb-outs,” and part-time bicycle traffic on West Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara. Dru van Hengel will describe the situation and ask for suggestions. Parking is permitted there except for commute times to and from the High School.

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UCSB’s long-range plan shows foresight, but raises questions



This drawing shows proposed housing development along Ocean Road. Isla Vista is in the upper left. Art by Urban Design Associates.



This drawing shows a new Pardall corridor as it intersects Ocean Road and leaves campus toward Isla Vista. The corner Bicycle Coop is a nice touch. Art by Urban Design Associates.

• Over the past several years, UC Santa Barbara has been developing a blueprint for the future of the University. It’s called the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) and it proposes growth and change through 2025. By that year, the student population will have increased by 5000, faculty by 340 and staff by 1400—all of them to be housed on University land.
• You can read the LRDF online at www.UCSBVision2025.com. There also is an intimidating Draft Environmental Impact Report (draft EIR) of 832 pages—not to mention the EIR Appendix of 1124 more pages.
• Vice Chancellor Marc Fisher described beneficial characteristics of the LRDP at a May 22 meeting of the UCSB Transportation Alternatives Board. He emphasized that while parking spaces would increase by 40%, nearly all of those spaces would be in conjunction with the new student/staff/faculty housing, and those residents could not obtain separate campus parking permits, forcing them to walk, bike, or bus to their classes and jobs.
• The new housing developments would include some commercial spaces, perhaps for cafés or small grocery stores. Other needs could be served in Isla Vista, within easy bike/walking distance. The idea is to create villages of dense housing up to 6 stories high with services within easy reach without driving.

This map shows proposed development all along Ocean Road, with bike/pedestrian connectors from each IV street.

• A concern is traffic management on the new Ocean Road. The Pardall bike tunnel will be removed, all Isla Vista roads will have direct bicyclist access to Ocean Road that will include bikelanes. About 500 new housing units—plus ground-floor shops—will line both sides of Ocean Road, replacing the current “eucalyptus curtain.” Several new bikepaths will lead from Ocean Road to campus destinations. The challenge is to manage thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians, plus hundreds of motor vehicles on Ocean Road, all entering and leaving the road at every block. Fisher suggested that traffic signals may be installed. It seems that management will be considered and introduced as development evolves. But is this enough?
• Overall, the plan has much to love. In spite of the population growth, it’s embedded with means to keep motorized traffic at its current level while increasing travel on foot, bus and bike. It appears to be the perfect model of sustainable, walkable, bikeable urban communities.
• There is an opportunity to hear what is coming our way at this public meeting:
• Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 7:00 PM
  Isla Vista Theater
  960 Embarcadero Del Norte, Isla Vista
• Following the local public hearing, the documents will proceed to the UC Board of Regents this fall, then to the California Coastal Commission in 2009 for review, modification and adoption.
• Pay attention to this progressive model of development—it’s doing exactly what many are proposing. Unlike many regional governments, the University is able to nimbly adopt development paradigms faster than any other entity.

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ATOC 2009

• The Amgen Tour of California may return to Solvang in 2009, but won’t be back in Santa Barbara. The Solvang Local Organizing Committee has proposed that they again host the Tour time trial as they have done the past two years. The Santa Barbara committee did not gain major sponsorship for hosting an expensive stage start or finish by the time a proposal was due in mid May, so declined the opportunity.

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QR issue 200

• Back in November 1991, Ralph Fertig named and created the first issue of Quick Release. The name stuck and so did his dedication to creating 199 additional ones up to this June 2008 issue.
• All published with Adobe PageMaker on a Macintosh, the printed issues now consume 1.1 gigabytes of data. Originally published on two pages, the issues increased to four pages in 1992, and then to six pages in 2002.

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Bikelane work proceeds at Mission/101



Looking west on Mission, the bikelane construction requires closing one traffic lane at a time. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Long identified as the most dangerous bicycling route in Santa Barbara, the Mission Street undercrossing of Highway 101 is under construction for new bikelanes. The $2.2 million project actually does a lot more. We get bikelanes on both sides of Mission for three blocks between Castillo Street and Modoc Road. New sidewalks, lighting, curb ramps, retaining walls, and landscaping with native plants are also part of the project.
• Currently, no bikelanes exist and the roadway has cracks and potholes. Work will continue into September, so be extra careful biking through the construction zone.

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May Coalition meeting topics

• Our May 6th monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at noon in Santa Barbara, attracting 14 people to discuss these topics:
• Earth Day events were discussed. It was considered a success all around in attendance and interest.
• Nominations for officers and Board members were held.
• SBCAG’s Gregg Hart described features of the Measure A transportation tax renewal up for vote this November. He was followed by COAST’s Alex Pujo and Mark Bradley who offered a similar positive take on the measure.
• Lori La Riva from Traffic Solutions described how the Team Bike Challenge will be incorporated into a new Commute Challenge.
• Ed France described ongoing activities at the Bici Centro community bike program in Santa Barbara.
• We considered Bike Week activities, including Bike Art contest, Celebration evening, Willie Weir on India, a Bike Film Night at the Mercury Lounge, and more.
• Ralph Fertig described youth biking camps available this summer.
• We discussed applying for grants from the Goleta Valley Cycling Club this coming June; several ideas were considered.

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UCSB adopts new bike standards



The Life Sciences Building was constructed with no bike parking. Students had no nearby choice, so parked as best they could around the building. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On April 29th, the UCSB Campus Planning Committee voted to approve construction guidelines to encourage and accommodate campus bicyclists. It’s the Bicycle Plan for Construction that was crafted by the student AS BIKES committee, and modeled after those already in place at the Universities of Washington, Oregon and California—UCSD, UCI, UCLA, UCSC and UCD.
• Need for a plan arose with recent construction of buildings not only lacking bike parking and paths, but also losing existing bike facilities through land acquisition. Examples are Bren, Marine Science, Psychology, Life Sciences, and Student Resources. The new guidelines include these:
• New buildings and expansions must have a bike route that connects to a dedicated bike parking area at the building.
• New construction projects must provide bicycle racks for short-term parking, and bike lockers or rooms for long-term parking. Bike rack choice is based on theft-preventing features, ease of maintenance and use, cost, durability, and appearance.
• Bicycle racks shall be placed in clearly defined bicycle parking areas near building entrances in high visibility areas.
• Bike racks shall be installed to provide spaces for 25% of the building population (faculty, staff, student workers), plus 60% of the student classroom capacity.
• Secured bicycle parking shall be installed to provide for 5% of the building population or 2 lockers, whichever is greater.
• Buildings should include shower/changing facilities to support the biking members of faculty, staff, and graduate students.

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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
• Chris King Precision Components, Portland OR
• Run Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara.
• In addition, we thank those who joined us: Rachel Weber, Dhill Conrad, Elizabeth Soriano, Rosie Dyste, Kathleen Boehm, Jean Roberts, Dan Gira, Daniel Boffey, and Otis Calif. And we greatly appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Michael Kwan, Andy Cranmer, Howard Howe, Lindsay Webster, Edward Barrier, Kathleen Blake, Mark Mittermiller, and Jerry Vassallo.

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Carpinteria alters bike routes



This drawing shows the new bikepaths on both sides of Via Real, and on the west bank of Carpinteria Creek under Highway 101.

• The $50 million Milpas-Hot Springs Highway 101 improvements are starting this month, and just as they finish in 2012, construction will begin on a $97 million project in Carpinteria. It’s the Linden Avenue and Casitas Pass Road Interchanges project.
• Both Linden and Casitas Pass bridges over Highway 101 will be reconstructed. We’re pleased to see that each one has five-foot bikelanes on both sides, plus adjacent five-foot sidewalks.
• Of greater interest to bicyclists is the extension of Via Real. On the east, it currently ends at Carpinteria Creek where a popular bikepath continues through the creek, under Highway 101, and onto Carpinteria Avenue. The new project includes continuing Via Real over the creek and west to Casitas Pass Road. There will be bikelanes on the road, and a traffic signal at the freeway on/off ramps to the west.
• The major change is that a new bikepath complex will be created entirely on the west side of Carpinteria Creek, so the creek crossing is eliminated. There will be two entrances to the path, one on each side of Via Real so bicyclists don’t have to cross the road. One section will even have its own tunnel under Via Real.
• A public workshop was held on May 7th in Carpinteria. Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig attended and spoke in favor of the bicyclist accommodations. The project is a joint effort by Caltrans, SBCAG, and the City of Carpinteria. You can learn more from Cathy Stettler at 549-3797. Comments can be submitted by June 24th. Late in 2008 a Draft Environmental Impact Report will be released.

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