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www.sbbike.org Serving Santa Barbara County We’re a countywide advocacy and resource organization that promotes bicycling for safe transportation and recreation.

How to reach us Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara CA 93190-2047 phone 962-1479 email info@sbbike.org web www.sbbike.org

April 6th meeting Join us on Tuesday, April 6th for our monthly meeting. Let’s improve bicycling in 2004: Tuesday, April 6 Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant 3524 State St, Santa Barbara No-host dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00

Online email list We sponsor an online email forum where you can post and read messages that pertain to regional bicycling issues. It’s easy and free. To subscribe to our general forum, just send an email message to: sbbike-subscribe@topica.com

Leave the subject line and body of the message blank. That’s all!

April 2004

Coalition pursues Santa Ynez Trail The ranchers and property owners along the Santa Ynez River don’t want people on bicycles near their land, and up to now, they’ve been the only ones to voice an opinion on a proposed Santa Ynez River Trail. We’re changing that. At our March 2nd Bicycle Coalition meeting, Santa Barbara County planner Stephen Peterson updated us on the proposed trail that would run between Buellton and Highway 154, with a possible extension to Cachuma Lake. The trail is one of many, existing and proposed, in the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan. The Community Plan is still under development, and there are upcoming opportunities this spring to ensure that trails continue to be included, in spite of opposition. Currently, the Santa Ynez Valley has off-road biking in Los Padres National Forest, and onroad cycling on the numerous connecting rural roads. The Santa Ynez River Trail would offer new commute opportunities by connecting the cities of Buellton and Solvang. East of Solvang, it would have several spur trails or paths to residential areas south of Highway 246, and the highly-desirable connection to Cachuma Lake will provide access to camping and recreation. The entire Santa Ynez Valley will benefit from a Buellton-to-Cachuma trail because recreational hikers, bicyclists and equestrians will be attracted from all over California and beyond. Similar trails have seen boosts in their local economies from those who come just for the trails, and from those who choose to add an extra day to their stay. Local hotels and restaurants always profit

RIVER VIEW. Looking west from the Alisal Road bridge in Solvang shows the quiet river and opportunities along the edges or banks for the Santa Ynez River Trail.

from hungry and exhilarated people. The Bicycle Coalition has followed the lead of Corey Evans at Dr. J’s Bicycle Shop in Buellton, by creating a petition that will be available at Earth Day, the Firestone Mountain Bike Weekend, and South Coast bike shops. Most important will be your attending the Community Plan workshop that will take place in late April. A map of trails is online at: www.sbbike.org/docs/SYV-trails.pdf

Join us for dinner & meeting April 6th We’re having another one of our quarterly evening dinner/meetings. Please join us for either or both: Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant 3524 State St, Santa Barbara No-host dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00

Join the Coalition You can help improve bicycling safety and conditions in Santa Barbara County by joining others in our own regional Bicycle Coalition advocacy group. Together we will continue to make a real difference. See page 6 for details.

For sale: video & flag We’re pleased to offer our own video “Decide to Ride.” It’s about a young woman who learns to bike commute to work. It’s only $18 (tax and US shipping included) from us, address above. Plus, we’re selling Bike Week flags, 4’x6’ heavy nylon, terra cotta and white. They’re $33 plus tax. Look at this PDF file: www.sbbike.org/art-home/ flag.pdf

Coalition asks MTD for more bicycle support After researching what other bus agencies around the country do to accommodate bicyclists on their buses, Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig spoke before the MTD Board of Directors on March 2nd. The article “How to get more bikes on MTD buses,” published in last month’s Quick Release, was distributed. Timing could not have been better. QUICK MOVE. Fast to deploy the 3-bike Steve Holm, MTD bus racks shown here, the San Luis acting materials Obispo Regional Transportation Authority has replaced 2-bike ones. manager said that

2-bike Sportworks racks had been ordered for 26 new buses to be delivered by summer. The Sportworks 2-bike racks are currently on all 40-foot MTD buses. However, starting last December, Sportworks started delivering a new 3-bike version. So the MTD immediately ordered one of the new racks to test on its buses. If the 3-bike racks don’t obstruct the drivers’ views, they will probably be ordered instead. While the possibility of bikes inside the buses is subject to insurance constraints, an increase of bike-carrying capacity by 50% would be a major improvement. We thank the MTD for their timely action, and look forward to an increase in multi-modal transportation in their area of coverage.


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