0501

Page 1

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

January 4th meeting Join us on the first Tuesday of each month for our general meeting: Tuesday, January 4th Rusty’s Pizza 232 W. Carrillo Street 2nd Floor, rear room Santa Barbara, California 6:00 PM No-host dinner 7:00 PM Meeting

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!

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.

Our Cycle Smart program The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition’s Cycle Smart bicyclist education program offers bicycling skills classes for school children and adults. Look for details of upcoming classes inside Quick Release, or contact our Coordinator Nancy Mulholland by phone at 563-9073 or email nmulhol04@yahoo.com.

January 2005

Coalition begins 15th year of advocacy On January 3rd, 1991, a simple memo was circulated among County employees who bicycled, announcing the formation of an advocacy group to “lobby for funds currently available for the improvement of bicycle lanes and paths.” That’s how it all began and now we are beginning our fifteenth year of continued successes for people who bicycle. Looking over the past year, we are very grateful to our talented and thoughtful members, our board of directors, and government people who have been helpful and understanding the benefits of more bicycling throughout our county. Here are some of the highlights of our Bicycle Coalition accomplishments during the year 2004: • Established a “Cycle Smart” program of bicyclist education, with “Street Skills for Cyclists” classes. • Held a premier “Bike Week Celebration” dinner, award ceremony, and entertainment by adventure cyclist Willie Weir. • Helped with “bike rodeos” at schools for kids. • Conceived and designed a “trail stop” with information panels along the Obern Trail. • Worked with UCSB to plan new bicycle facilities. • Wrote to Amtrak about their new Surfliner train without bike racks, with suggestions for change. • Worked with Caltrans to get bikelanes on Foothill Road in Santa Barbara, but funding was reportedly not available at this time. • Worked with the City of Santa Barbara on bicycle safety in community transportation plans. • Asked for safer bike-to-work conditions for

Mixtec farm workers in the Santa Maria Valley. • Had our Bicycle Coalition booth at California Lemon Festival and the Children’s Festival where we distributed bike helmets to kids. • Worked with the City of Goleta for bikelanes on and approaching the upcoming Cathedral Oaks crossing of Highway 101. • With funding from Goleta Valley Cycling Club, purchased flashing LED safety lights and gave them to kids who bike to local schools. • Helped the GVCC with it’s People Powered Ride. • Obtained over 700 names on a petition favoring a Santa Ynez River Trail as part of a Supervisorapproved Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan. • Tried to bring Walk/Bike California 2005 conference to Santa Barbara, but Ventura beat us to it. • Offered three bike rides as part of the Sustainability Project’s Parade of Green Buildings. • Supported the bicyclist-friendly parts of the Isla Vista Redevelopment and Master Plan. • We participated in Santa Barbara’s Earth Day with bike parking, free check-ups, and an information booth. • Worked on the bicycling part of the South Coast Livable Communities’ Transportation Platform. • Participated in Santa Barbara City College’s Project HOPE, telling students about the advantages of bicycling . • Urged the MTD to install 3-bike racks on their new buses, along with possible inside bike accommodation in certain situations. • Worked with the County to keep the 1915 Rincon Hill Road bridge open for cyclists.

Bicycle Coalition lights the way for kids the club members for their outstanding gift to The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is giving red children in our community,” said Bicycle Coalition flashing safety lights to kids who bicycle to President Ralph Fertig. school. In the week be“The lights have five fore the holiday break, different pattern modes lights were passed out to that kids love, so they students at Monte Vista, are more likely to use Washington, Hollister, them for safe bicycling.” Mountain View, and Participating in the Vieja Valley Elementary program so far are Dru schools. Other South van Hengel, Nancy Coast schools are being Mulholland, Drew targeted in early 2005. Hunter, Judy Keim, Over 300 of the lights Jean Thomson, Janet were purchased with a Rowse, Debbie donation from the Goleta Passing out safety lights at Mountain View Elementary Castanha, Ralph Valley Cycling Club, a School. From the left, Drew Hunter, Emily Thomson, Fertig, Jessica Scheeter recreational bicycling Allie Frankel, Evan Thomson, and Jean Thomson who biked with her two children and Allie to the school. and Lisa Fleischauer. club. “We’re grateful to


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.