September
2010

Film Festival coming to Santa Barbara

• Thanks to a collaboration between our Bicycle Coalition, bike shop owner Jim Cadenhead, and many sponsors, the Bicycle Film Festival and associated events are coming to Santa Barbara September 16-19th.
• It's actually the tenth annual Bicycle Film Festival, but this is the first time that local people can see great bike films without traveling to LA or SF. This year, we will join 38 other cities on four continents to host the burgeoning event.
• While the Film Festival on September 18th consists of five showings of films (see below), Cadenhead is combining it with a Bicycle Swap Meet from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, product exhibition, and a demonstration bike polo match. It's going to be an awesome day, and we're excited to be part of it.
• The events will take place on Saturday, September 18th at Santa Barbara Junior High school, 721 East Cota Street, Santa Barbara. The films will be screened at the Marjorie Luke Theatre inside the school. Admission to each film program is $10.
• Other bike events on days around the film day are still being created, so watch our website and Cranky's Bikes' website as well for updates.
• You can read about all the individual Santa Barbara films—and links to several film trailers you can watch—on our website, and about the Film Festival in general here.

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Bicycle Film Schedule

• 1:00 PM
• Bicycle Dreams
• 3:00 PM
• Constant Movement
  BMX at Burnside
  Macramento
  RIH
  Riding the Long White Cloud
• 5:00 PM
• Lucas Brunelle Line of Sight
  A New Challenge
  Erik Elstran's Dragon Shredit!
  The Birth of Big Air
• 7:00 PM
• Anima D'acciaio (Soul of Steel)
  Where Are You Go
• 9:00 PM
• We've Got It On Tape
  Tokyo Jitensha
  On Time
  Belle Epoch
  Day Labor
  Grime Presents
  Wolfpack Hustle All City Team Race 3
  Tokyo to Osaka
  Lucas Brunelle Line of Sight

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Your Bicycle Coalition wants you
by Ed France

• It is a pivotal time in the bicycling world, and our coalition has been gearing itself up for considerably increased involvement from members like you! We have an upcoming board election in November, as well as a set of committees in need of more input and people power. In short, this is the time to step up your involvement with our Coalition. Our promise is that we are ready to help put your efforts to most effective use toward of shared goals of a bike friendly, and even a bicycling destination Santa Barbara County. Please consider:
• Active membership: We are in the midst of our biggest ever membership drive. We've already added over fifty new members and we are looking for more recreational, competitive, and commuter cyclists to join our shared cause. Help us forward the membership drive! Join, renew your membership, or encourage your two-wheeled friends to join. Local activism starts with all of us coming together.
• Volunteering: Between a myriad of bicycling events, bike valet services offered to the community, youth education, coaching bike repair at Bici Centro, and other campaigns, there are no shortage of ways to put some of your spare time to fun and fulfilling use. Check out www.bicicentro.org/volunteer and note that 25 hours of volunteer time is another great way to earn your membership, perfect for the student or retiree!
• Committee work: The Bicycle Coalition maintains seven committees that meet monthly: Events, Education, Finance, Membership-Advocacy-Communications (MAC), Bici Centro, Spanish Language Outreach, and our Executive Committee. What is important is not so much the meetings, but all that happens in the month in-between! A schedule of our committees is available here.
• Board election in November. Have you been a long-time cycling advocate but not previously part of the Coalition Board? As a true "coalition" we seek to represent the varied bike clubs, organizations, as well as the varied demographics of the cycling community. Do you have any special skills such as legal, accounting or administrative experience? We have a 20-year track record and significant credibility in local governance through Santa Barbara county. Think both of how our Bicycle Coalition can help your interest in cycling, and how you can help your Coalition!
• How do I run for a Board position? We invite that you submit a biography describing who you are as a cyclist and what skills, experience, and interest you have that would help you contribute as Board Director. No more than 300 words, please. Submit it to board@sbbike.org. We will then invite you to take a "Board Assessment Survey" that has already been taken by our current board members. This will help us analyze the needs and strengths of our new Board.

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Adventure Cycling evening a fine success



Jim Sayer and his wife Wendy delayed their departure from Santa Barbara to catch the Fiesta parade.

• Our Bicycle Coalition held an "Adventure Cycling Evening" on August 4th in Santa Barbara to honor Adventure Cycling director Jim Sayer and his bike touring family—wife Wendy and daughters Samantha, Keilan and Lucy. About 80 people showed up, bringing in $257 in donations to help our youth and adult bicycle education programs.
• The event consisted of Ralph Fertig describing his week of biking around Angkor, Cambodia; John Seigel-Boettner showing a film of local students biking in Rwanda; and then Sayer talked about the pleasures of his family's Pacific Coast tour and all the exciting things that his 45,000-member Adventure Cycling organization is doing.
• We're pleased that our country's premier bike touring family spent nearly a week in Santa Barbara county. Thanks go to Robert Rainwater and Brigitta van der Raay for opening their house to them, and to all who joined us for a pleasurable evening.

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School has started

• If you're driving or biking near any Santa Barbara county school, please watch for kids on bikes and on foot. Help keep us all safe, healthy and happy.
• Our Education Coordinator Christine Bourgeois reports that Hope, Vieja Valley, Monte Vista, and Cold Spring elementary schools will offer after-school bicycle classes this fall. And La Colina Junior High will offer our Pedal Power program. Read about them all here.

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The Santa Barbara Fiesta Cruiser Ride



An estimated 840 bicyclists took part in an informal Cruiser Ride on August 8th in Santa Barbara. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The very informal Cruiser Ride on the last day of Santa Barbara's Fiesta was started by four guys going for a ride 30 years ago. It certainly adds another dimension to theFiesta's numerous equestrian and pedestrian activities. Notorious for outlandish behavior and many refreshment stops, this year's ride attracted women and children who pedaled along and probably moderated some of the behavior. If nothing more, it reveals a large, enthusiastic bicycling community.

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Bicycling lifestyle

• The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's Chris Morfas, a longtime bicycle advocate, said "We're seeing the emergence of something that might be deemed social advocacy or bicycle-lifestyle advocacy. This new aspect of the bicycling movement is focused less on prevailing in government meetings and more on reclaiming streets, food, fashion and film."
• — Owen Howlett, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates

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Sport retailer REI coming to Santa Barbara

• Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI), the large outdoor gear co-op, will open a store in Santa Barbara next year. The new 24,500 square-foot store will be located on State Street near Highway 101, joining 26 other California REI stores. They currently have 7900 co-op members in the South Coast area, out of 3.9 million overall. Whether it will harm existing bike shops, or enhance the bicycling culture here, remains to be seen.

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Wet Willy Sez
by Wilson Hubbell

• Dear Wet Willy: I have a bunch of inner tubes that don't match the tire width I'm using for my commuting bike. Is there a problem with using narrow width tubes (like 1 inch or 25mm) in a wider width tire (like 1-1/4 inches or 32mm)? — Stephan
• Dear Stephan: The simple answer is yes, there is a problem. You should get inner tubes that are designed to fit your tires and then mount them on your bicycle accordingly. However, inner tubes do stretch and you can normally—and safely—put narrow tubes into slightly wider tires. For example, a 25mm (or 1 inch) width inner tube will normally work in a 28mm (or 1-1/8 inch) width tire without a problem. In reality, most bike tires can be wider than their actual stated width depending on the width of the rim they're mounted on. Inner tube manufacturers know this and design their tubes to accommodate rim width disparities. Bottom line: Wet Willy can't recommend putting a 25mm width tube into a 32mm (or larger) width tire. The tube may be stretched too far and a major blowout can result. You have been warned…

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Maria Ygnacio path gets needed repaving



Dappled sunlight under the eucalyptus trees belies the smoothness of the new wider path. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Thank the County's Matt Dobberteen for obtaining $120,000 from the state's Bicycle Transportation Account. Originally designated for extending the Maria Ygnacio path to Cathedral Oaks Road, Dobberteen swapped it to resurface the deteriorated section between Highway 101 and University Drive. Try it, you'll definitely like it.

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Bici Centro activities

• Our Bici Centro community bike program is offering bicycle services each week. Below are hours for various groups. Details online or phone 617-3255.
• Tuesday, "Learn Your Bike" classes, 7:00-9:00 PM
• Wednesday, open shop, 4:00-7:00 PM
• Wednesday, volunteers only, 7:00-8:00 PM
• Thursday, open shop 4:00-7:00 PM
• Saturday, open shop 2:00-5:00 PM

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Guide helps communities design for activity



These maps show the alarming increase in obesity in the US over the past 18 years, brought about in part by inactivity.

• As America faces soaring rates of obesity, smarter transportation policy that makes it possible for everybody to be more active will play a key role in our battle against this epidemic. It's especially alarming that 32% of American children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese.
• The National Center for Bicycling and Walking has an update to their most popular publication, the Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design—A Guide for Public Health Practitioners (or IPA Guide for short). The new IPA Guide is an innovative report that explores health reform through community design, and recognizes the advancements that are being made by advocates for the environment, equity and social justice.
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• The IPA Guide leads you through a description of the dire decline in physical activity in the US, means of increasing conditions for bicycling and walking, how to get improvements funded, and helpful community alliances. NCBW director Sharon Roerty observes, "public policy and transportation decisions will increasingly turn on the question of their health impacts."
• You can download a copy of the 60-page IPA Guide here.

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France and Fertig to attend conference

• Our executive director Ed France and president Ralph Fertig will be participating in the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in Chattanooga this September 13-16th. They expect to learn about best practices for bicycling infrastructure and education, economic and social benefits of active communities, bicycling for minorities, assessment measures, project funding, and more. We're expecting they'll return enlightened and recharged.

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Sharrows in Goleta and Santa Barbara



The city of Goleta has recently applied newer, bigger sharrows on Hollister in Old Town Goleta. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Shared Roadway Bicycle Markings called "sharrows" are being increasingly used in the US. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices states that sharrows:
• Help bicyclists avoid parked vehicles' opening doors.
• Help bicyclists in lanes too narrow for side-by-side travel.
• Alert road users of the location that bicyclists are likely to occupy.
• Encourage safe passing of bicyclists by motorists.
• Reduce wrong-way bicycling.
• They are currently used in our county at least in Goleta and Santa Barbara. In California, the stencils are nine feet long, they can only be used next to parallel parked cars where there are no bikelanes, should be centered at least 11 feet from the curb, and be placed immediately after each intersection and every 250 feet thereafter.
• Santa Barbara's mobility coordinator Sarah Grant reports that the city's pavement maintenance program provides opportunities for installing sharrows where appropriate as part of pavement repair or slurry projects. City staff has determined that sharrows provide a means to tell all roadway users when and where to share the road. Grant observes, "This is a very cost-effective way to maintain and increase the bicycle facility network."
• We urge others jurisdictions will consider their appropriate application.

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Street Skills Clinics

• For years, our Bicycle Coalition has been offering a two-day, ten-hour Street Skills Class. In order to better serve the needs of busy people, we have broken it into four independent clinics that people can choose from. They continue to be taught by licensed League Cycling Instructors (LCIs).
• Get your bike ready to ride (offered every month).
• Rights and responsibilities to become a confident rider (offered every other month).
• Bike handling skills on a parking lot (offered every other month).
• Group ride around Santa Barbara (prerequisite: clinics 2 and 3).
• Each confidence-building clinic is $20. Learn more about them here.

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Bike & Build cyclists arrive in Santa Barbara



The 32 Bike & Build cyclists prepare for their ceremonial wheel dip in the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On August 24th, an exuberant group of 32 college cyclists were overjoyed to finally complete their 3766-mile bike trip from Boston to Santa Barbara. They had been cycling and stopping every few days to help build low-income housing along the way.
• After a 100-mile ride through the boiling Mojave Desert just days ago, they kept returning to the ocean to splash and cavort. "I'm both happy and sad it's over," reflected one participant. Learn more about the program's eight cross-country summer student tours here.

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Slip sliding away on bicycles



This area on Bella Vista Road, dry here in late August, was slippery just a few weeks earlier. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Santa Barbara's brick crosswalk slickness might result from new sealer and drizzly mornings. Photo by Ralph Fertig

• On July 14, cyclist Erin Tague crashed on an algae-slicked roadway and broke her hip. It happened where Romero Creek crosses Bella Vista Road in Montecito. Much of the year it's dry and sometimes the water is too deep to cross, but before it dries, it reportedly results in multiple crashes. The County has recently installed road hazard signs. Nevertheless, Tague is suing the County for damages. For a long-term fix, however, a culvert under the road would serve to prevent algae growth on the roadway.
• Separately, the City of Santa Barbara recently was questioned about the slickness of new brick crosswalks. Mark Saatjian complained that he nearly crashed twice when cycling over a new crosswalk on Cabrillo Boulevard. The bricks are treated with a sealant that protects them from motor oil, perhaps making them initially slicker; that, however, is just conjecture.
• In any event, be careful out there, especially on foggy and drizzly mornings, and when crossing any creek roadways flows.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support these Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Dr J's Bicycle Shop, Solvang
• Hazard's Cyclesport, Santa Barbara
• Chris King Precision Components, Portland, Oregon
• Santa Barbara Pedicabs, Santa Barbara
• WheelHouse, Santa Barbara
• Santa Barbara Bikes To-Go, Santa Barbara
• Tailwinds Bicycle Club, Santa Maria
• We welcome these new members: Frank & Leslie Schipper, Roger McConnell, Christopher Murhpy, Kyle Richards, Geena Coghlan, and Hector Gonzalez.
• We appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Mark Gibson, Jim Snow, David Madajian, Dennis Thompson, Lori La Riva, Cliff & Kathy Runge, Kenneth Hershberg, and Paolo Gardinali.

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The Tour of California: a return to Solvang?



Levi Leipheimer won the Solvang time trial by eight seconds in 2009, before going on to win the Tour. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The Amgen Tour of California race has brought thousands of cycling fans—and their dollars—to Solvang in 2007-2009, but not 2010. Our Bicycle Coalition and the city of Solvang are urging the race directors to bring it back in 2011. The promotion of our area as a cycling destination is invaluable. We're hoping we can bring back the Tour.

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August Coalition meeting topics

• Our August 3rd monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held in downtown Santa Barbara, with 13 people talking about these topics:
• Ralph Fertig reminded everybody that we need volunteers to staff a rest stop for the Santa Barbara Century, October 23rd.
• Michael Chiacos described the Community Environmental Council's efforts to urge SBCAG to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Peter Imhof described the County's strategy to similarly reduce emissions. They are looking at cost-effectiveness, incentives and regulations to achieve a 20% reduction by 2020.
• George Amoon described the new study of transportation redesign in Old Town Goleta. A public workshop is coming this fall.
• Wilson Hubbell showed pictures and talked about his recent bike tour of Germany, France and Switzerland.
• Ralph Fertig described the upcoming August visit of Adventure Cycling's Jim Sayer and family.

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US Bicycle Route System



This is a part of the Western National Bicycle Route.

• Partly finished, partly under development, partly a dream on paper, the United States Bicycle Route System will guide people on bicycles throughout America. A product of collaboration between Adventure Cycling Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the network of cycling routes has recently received endorsement from Ray LaHood, secretary of the US Department of Transportation.
• The system will connect urban, suburban, and rural areas of the nation with numbered routes similar to our Interstate highways. So far, 28 states have become involved in implementing it. Locally, Caltrans' Pacific Coast Route will be the basis for travel in Santa Barbara county. The system will definitely increase bicycle touring.