SBBIKE's End of Year Appeal
Dearest SBBIKE Supporter!
Second grader Albert Varelas has a degenerative muscle disease which he was told would make bicycling impossible. But thanks to the insight of his teachers at Tunnel Elementary and to Bici Santa Maria’s Ken Dahmen’s work on a GoFundMe campaign and a grant, Albert is now cruising on a specially designed bike alongside his friends. His smiles, and hundreds of others, are our greatest reward.
Community Giving
Thinking of where to give this Tuesday? Consider SBBIKE!
Introducing the Interim
We are so excited to have David Landecker join the team to help keep us moving forward, especially through this season of transition and giving (End of Year Appeal TBA). David, a 40 year resident and activist in Santa Barbara, has been hired as the Interim Executive Director of SBBIKE. He has a long history of experience in non-profit work including serving on the boards of directors and as an officer of more than a dozen local organizations, and as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and the Environmental Defense Center.
“The prospect of maintaining and building upon the great work of Ed France with SBBIKE was tempting enough to lure me out of retirement,” said David. “The Board was looking for someone who could step in immediately to support SBBIKE’s amazing staff, assess its future needs and opportunities, and facilitate the identification and a successful hand off to their next E.D. I felt that the job description sounded like me. So I’m honored and excited to take on the task.”
Iluminando Recharged: Environmentally Friendly Lights … and Angels!
Caught off guard by the early sunset? Brighten your evenings. Be a part of SBBIKE’s new way of getting lights to those who’ve fallen back to a dark commute with the end of daylight savings time.
Board Transition Statement

Looking Forward - A Statement from SB Bike Board of Directors
November 1, 2019
SB Bike, aka The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, is a countywide organization with a long history of success working toward building healthy and vibrant communities by promoting bicycling for all; advocating for better bicycling conditions; and educating children, adults, and motorists about safe bicycling.
On October 31st the long serving Executive Director of SB Bike, Ed France, will be moving on to new opportunities here in Santa Barbara. But the managers of our great programs -- BiciCentro, Volunteer Events, Advocacy, and Education will continue with coordination being provided by Christine Bourgeois.
To ensure a smooth transition to the next chapter, the Board of Directors has initiated the hiring process for an interim executive director. The interim will serve as a bridge to the future while we pause and do an organizational assessment and perform an exhaustive search for a permanent replacement to carry on the organization’s rich legacy.
Over the coming months we’ll challenge ourselves as we consider how to best execute our core mission, and carefully plan for selecting the right person to help us achieve these goals and make this organizational change successful.
Our volunteers, dedicated staff, and community partners are the heart of this organization and we want to hear from you. Transformation won’t be as easily achieved without broad support and involvement from our community.
If you would like to be interviewed as part of the process, please email info@SBBIKE.org.
For future information, look to the SB Bike webpage for regular updates during this transition.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
SB Bike Board of Directors
My Send-Off From SBBIKE
I'd like to thank you for the shared efforts and memories we've achieved together with the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition and Bici Centro. Over 12 years, I've grown a whole lot, and so has our organization. As I depart, I'm filled with appreciation for this fine organization and community that we've built together.
Ed France departs
It’s the end of an era – our Executive Director is leaving for a new role here in Santa Barbara.
Please join the SBBIKE board, our staff & volunteers, and the bicycling community at-large in offering a hearty farewell and congratulations to Ed France.
A profound Legacy
During Ed’s tenure, SBBIKE and its programs have grown substantially; his strong leadership and passion for biking have benefited our community immensely. We look forward to leveraging his legacy, to move the organization to new milestones and expanded scope.
These are big shoes to fill and as we begin recruiting for Ed's successor we ask for your patience during this transition.
While this is a big change, our commitment remains the same. Our future mandates we find cleaner, sustainable transportation alternatives and many think the bicycle, in one form or another, will be how we sustain our environment and assure our own good health. We're busy fine-tuning our Strategic Plan to meet these ends.
Let's party!
Join us in celebrating Ed and sending him forth with our deepest appreciation and best wishes. A party is planned to celebrate Ed as well as our volunteers. RSVP here.
Thank you Ed France, for everything you have contributed to Santa Barbara.


FIVE MINUTE SURVEY, CHANCE TO WIN A NEW BIKE
Great prizes? Rating your city? Giving your opinion? All reasons to take the PlacesForBikes (PFB) City Rating survey, yes. But the benefits to our entire county when enough people-that means you, please-take the 5-minute survey are numerous and significant, says Dr. Daniel Fishbein of Dr. Dan's Health Corner (QR page 11) fame.
Bike to the Sideways Fest
Thinking of a weekend getaway?
Pinot Noir and biking go together well in the Santa Ynez Valley. Take in a movie, too?
Make it a wine, movie, and bike celebration getaway, October 18-20th at the Sideways Fest hosted by Sta Rita Hills.
If you're going, bring the bikes – ride the Sideways bike route along Santa Rosa Road. Find more details at cycleCalCoast.
Bicycling into a Climate Resilient Future
This general climate strike movement is an assertion by youth that those of us in the working world, the private sector, public sector, government and academia, are simply not making the change that is necessary to slow the acceleration of the greenhouse effect and climate change.