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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

July 7th meeting Join us for our general meeting: Tuesday, July 7th Rusty’s Pizza 15 East Cabrillo Boulevard Santa Barbara No-host dinner 6:00 PM Meeting 7:00 PM

Online email list We sponsor a free online email forum where you can post and read messages about regional bicycling issues. To subscribe, send an email to:

July 2009

Bicycling jumps 16% in Santa Barbara Intersection

Change

Cabrillo/State Carpinteria/Milpas Montecito/Castillo Beachway/Stearns Wharf Anapamu/State Micheltorena/Castillo Maria Ygnacio/Obern Trails Anapamu/Castillo Canon Perdido/State Ortega/Castillo Canon Perdido/San Andres Mission/Bath Hollister/Fairview State/La Cumbre Carrillo/Castillo Micheltorena/San Andres Victoria/Bath State/Los Positas Hot Springs/Coast Village Canon Perdido/Garden Gutierrez/Milpas Mission/Modoc Cabrillo/Calle César Chávez Cliff/Meigs Shoreline/Loma Alta

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Since 1997, Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has collected data on bicyclist presence and behavior at intersections mostly within the city of Santa Barbara. The 2009 survey was just completed on June 18, and it tells us that bicycling is increasing significantly: g Compared with four prior years, bicycling has increased by 16% g 3861 people on bicycles were counted at 25 intersections this year g 13,356 people were counted over four prior years at those same 25 intersections—an average of 3339 per year g 21 of the 25 intersections had an increase or no change.

The chart at the left lists the 25 intersections where volunteers collected data, with the difference between the 2009 count and the prior 4-year average count.

Each year, the data were collected on one of six mid-week afternoons between 4:00-6:00 PM in the second and third weeks of June.

We’re very thankful for the 16 people who volunteered this year to collect data over the 50 hours.

All across the country, communities are reporting increases in the number of people bicycling. Several factors have been ascribed to the change in behavior—the higher cost of gasoline, the recession, an increasing awareness of emission-caused climate change, and a quest for fitness. Add in increased government and business efforts to encourage sustainable transportation, plus advocacy from groups like ours, and we have today’s revolutionary behavior shift.

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Join our Coalition You can help improve bicycling safety and conditions in Santa Barbara County by joining others in our bicycling advocacy group. See page 6.

CycleSmart program The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition’s CycleSmart bicyclist education program offers bicycling skills classes. Details at www.sbbike.org/ CycleSmart/ apply.html, or email coordinators at CycleSmart@ sbbike.org.

Bici Centro program Bici Centro of Santa Barbara is our community bicycle program, helping people who bicycle. Look at www.sbbike. org/bici/BiciCentro.html, or phone 617-3255.

Quick Release is published monthly by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, PO Box 92047, Santa Barbara, CA 93190. Subscribe for $25 per year. Issue # 213.

Pedal Power program moves junior high students

by Christine Bourgeois topics and several For the first time, speakers volunteered Bici Centro offered to talk to the group an after school proabout their biking gram for girls at La adventures: touring, Cumbre Junior High racing, commuting, in Santa Barbara. and more.

After eight weeks On our last ride, of learning basic to celebrate birthmechanic skills, disdays and the success covering the biking of our “Pedal Power” world and enjoying program, we rode safe riding in the to McConnell’s Ice streets, these motiCream. We all had Christine Bourgeois, left, and Erika Lindemann, second from right, vated and hardwork- pose with students for a class snapshot. Photo by Terry Brown. such a great time! ing students earned a Bici Centro is free bike, helmet, lock and lights. looking forward to offering this class again in the On the first day of class, Erika Lindemann and fall and would like to start similar biking educaI described the importance of bike fit and the girls tion programs at other schools around Santa chose a refurbished bike that fit them. For their Barbara. Please contact Erika if you’d like to come first test ride, they had fun pedaling on a trainer volunteer with us during future classes; email her and practicing shifting gears. The following week, at cyclesmart@sbbike.org. one participant who didn’t know how to ride, Thanks to our co-sponsors: the Santa Barbara learned in about an hour—what an exciting and Foundation and the City of Santa Barbara’s Parks rewarding experience! Every week brought new and Recreation Department.

Fukushima is new Caltrans bike person

Representative Lois Capps met with Adam Fukushima during the 2008 Bike Summit in DC to discuss bicyclist needs. Photo by Jenn Dice.

Caltrans District 5 will welcome Adam Fukushima in mid July to replace departed Dave Kupermann as our district bicycle person. District 5 consists of five counties between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara.

Fukushima has served for five years as Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition. We’re certainly pleased that somebody with an extensive knowledge of our needs will be taking that position. As soon as he is settled, we hope to bring him to one of our meetings.

July youth biking classes Summer bicycle programs for South Coast young people continue from June through July and August. Below is a summary of upcoming July week-long opportunities to introduce youngsters to responsible, safe bicycling, as well to for others to hone their existing skills.

For program descriptions and links to registration, go to www.sbbike.org/meet/meet.html.

Youth Program

Location

Ages

Bike Adventures: Bike Skills

SB Jr High 10-14 7/6

9:00-1:00

Mountain Bike Camp

Elings Park 7-15

7/6, 7/27

9:00-12:00

BMX Summer Camp

Elings Park 5-12

7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27 9:00-3:00

Kid’s Triathlon Camp

UCSB

7/13

7-12

Start Dates

Time

2:30-5:00

SB’s Shoreline Drive crossing links bikepaths For years bicyclists existing paved path seeking a route from that climbs to City Santa Barbara’s HarCollege, or turns into bor bikepath to City an unpaved path College and the Westconnecting to Cliff side have had to craft Drive. On the harbor their own mix of inside, a new section convenient and often of bikepath wraps dangerous ways of around the west end travel. With the late of Los Baños del Mar spring completion of Pool, connecting the a new link—a ShoreShoreline crossing line Drive pedestrian/ with the harbor bikebike crossing with path. on-demand signals—a Here is the new bikepath crossing of Shoreline We’re grateful to needed connection the City of Santa BarDrive just west of Los Baños del Mar pool. has been provided. bara for their good On the Pershing Park side, there is the solution to a connectivity challenge.

Coalition urges Santa Ynez River trail When the County Sua County Planning pervisors reduced the Commission hearing size of the Santa Ynez on the Plan’s EnviValley Community ronmental Impact Plan in 2006, a proReport, sent a letposed multi-user trail ter to Commission along the Santa Ynez members on June River was excluded.

1st. We asked that That was a trail we the Commission add had successfully an action item to the championed in 2004 Plan for a trail on with a 728-person the south side of the Looking west from Solvang’s Alisal Road bridge, petition. river between Highthe proposed trail would be on the left river bank.

We thought that way 101 in Buellton there was no hope for any trail until last and Alisal Road in Solvang.

May when valley residents Mike Hecker As this goes to press, a final public workand Corey Evans discovered that an “acshop on the Plan is going to be held on June tion item” could be added to the Plan, even 29th. Following that, the Commission will thought it would not be within the Plan’s make recommendations to the County Sugeographical area. pervisors. We believe that the river trail will Our Bicycle Coalition, in anticipation of be included. There’s lots more to come.

Quick Release ~ July 2009 ~ Page 2

Members get Momentum discount Calling itself as “the magazine for self-propelled people,” Momentum is an edgy publication that embraces traditional advocacy and education alongside community bike programs and counter-culture street events. Read about it at www.momentumplanet.com.

We are pleased to offer our members an opportunity to save $5 off the annual subscription price of $20. Just go online to www.momentumplanet.com/node/4258

Goleta Cycling Club funds bike organizations On June 7th, the Goleta Valley Cycling Club held its annual meeting at Stow Grove County Park. It consisted of fun hours of chatting, playing games, enjoying a BBQ lunch, and a business meeting.

The meeting included a discussion of finances. Because they are not holding their money-generating People Powered Ride this October, they were more conservative in donating existing funds to organizations and programs than in the past. The Club anticipates the return of their People Powered Ride in 2010, and needs to reserve start-up funds for the event, plus money for ongoing expenses.

The club members did, however, vote to donate over $2000 to the following: Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition

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Bici Centro Program

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Helmets for Safe Routes to School Program

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League of American Bicyclists

Can Lance win the Tour?

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The question on everybody’s minds is whether Lance Armstrong can make a comeback in this year’s Tour de France. We’ll find out this month.The Tour takes place July 4th-26th, between Monoco and Paris, racing for 3500 miles through six countries.

Suspense will be kept to the end this year because the 100-mile, July 25th stage in the Alps ends with a climb up 6200-foot Mount Ventoux.

If you’re not going to Europe to watch in person, you can catch TV coverage every day on the Versus Channel, listening to Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen capably describe the unfolding action. Check show times at www.versus.com.

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California Bicycle Coalition

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Doris Phinney, the GVCC’s president, presides over the annual meeting. Photo by Art Shapiro.

Positive comments about the Bicycle Coalition were made by President Doris Phinney.

Bicycle Coalition President Ralph Fertig talked about Bici Centro’s programs, open shop hours, plus how we’re working all the time with local governments to improve bicycling for all. Overall, we’re very fortunate to have the GVCC in our community, working to ensure safer and better conditions.

June Coalition meeting topics Our June 2nd monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at noon in Downtown Santa Barbara, with 20 participants talking about these topics:

A Santa Barbara City Planning Commission/ Transportation and Circulation Committee will meet to discuss transportation improvements around Cottage Hospital.

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Mesa community leader Alice San AndresCalleja received a transport bike so she could deliver the Mesa News.

It was announced that Solvang—not Santa Barbara—would apply to host a stage of the Tour of California in 2010.

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SBCAG’s Gregg Hart described progress on organizing Measure A’s Citizen Advisory Committee and Strategic Plan.

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Bike Week 2009 was discussed, and people interested in 2010 will be meeting soon.

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Sarah Grant described possibilities for a “Ciclovia” mobile event in Santa Barbara.

UCSB Sustainability folk are proposing more stringent controls on people driving to campus in order to reduce emissions.

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Santa Barbara’s Solstice featured innovative people-powered vehicles

Quick Release ~ July 2009 ~ Page 3

Upcoming bike meetings and events

100+ volunteers repair fire-damaged trails

Days are lengthening, wildflowers are blooming, cool mornings are perfect for biking. See the separate listing of youth bike classes on page 2. Our website has ongoing updates and detailed event descriptions at www.sbbike.org/meet/meet.html.

July 1, Front Country Trails Task Force Meeting, sponsored by the City and County of Santa Barbara, and the Forest Service.

This meeting will discuss the condition, safety, and management of our trails. 5:30 PM at Santa Barbara City Hall Council Chamber, 735 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.

July 7, Bicycle Coalition General Meeting, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. It’s another evening meeting at Rusty’s Pizza, 15 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara. Nohost dinner 6:00, meeting 7:00 PM. Phone president Ralph Fertig, 962-1479 or email him at sb-ralph@cox.net.

July 11, Eastern Goleta Valley Workshop, sponsored by Santa Barbara County. This workshop will consider goals for the future of the unincorporated county between Santa Barbara and Goleta, including transportation. Vieja Valley School, 434 Nogal Drive, Santa Barbara, 9:00 AM. July 14, Board of Directors Meeting, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. This meeting will include discussions of our Coalition’s direction and finances. Meeting at Ralph Fertig’s home, 7:00 PM. July 16 and 18, Street Skills for Cyclists Class, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition.

Gain confidence bicycling. Learn how to foresee and avoid accidents, be visible day and night, position yourself in traffic, equip your bike, and lots more including on-road bicycling. It’s at the Granada Garage Bikestation, 1219 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.

Class information and online registration at www.sbbike.org/CycleSmart/apply.html.

July 18, Windmill Century, sponsored by Tailwinds Bicycle Club. Choice of full century, metric century, or 26-mile ride out of Los Alamos County Park over lightly-traveled roads. Cycle past range land, vineyards, horse farms, hills, canyons, and yes, windmills. Food stops, sag support, T-shirt, and Santa Maria style BBQ or vegetarian option at the end. Register and get info at www.tailwindsofsantamariabc.org.

July 18, Santa Barbara Kid’s Triathlon, sponsored by several organizations. This is the third annual kid’s triathlon, open to children aged 7-15, to help them establish a healthy foundation for life. Starts at 8:00 AM at Los Baños pool, Santa Barbara. Details at www.sbkidstriathlon.com.

Quick Release ~ July 2009 ~ Page 4

Trail clearing volunteers contend with deep ash and debris-covered trails. Photo by Dave Everett.

Over 100 community volunteers joined sustainable trail organizations plus City, County, and Forest Service staff to make the June 13th National Trails Day in the Jesusita Fire area a great success. Experienced trail leaders guided volunteers on clearing slide debris and preparing trails for next season’s rains. They worked on Jesusita, Tunnel, Rattlesnake, and West Fork trails.

Agency staff are now reviewing the newlyreclaimed trails, considering what additional work is needed, and when the trails might be opened to public access. Keep in touch with updates by visiting www.sbmtv.org or www.multiusetc.org.

Aeolian Ride blows into town October 1st

Aeolian riders in New York wear artist Jessica Findley’s billowing outfits. Photo by Jessica Findley.

Our Board member Don Lubach has long envisioned bringing the Aeolian Ride to our community. By teaming with Heather Silva at the Community Arts Forum, it’s going to happen this October. The bicyclist outfits, sewn by New York artist Jessica Findley, blow up as the bicyclists ride. Watch for details and envision yourself billowing.

Oberstar offers US transportation plan At the Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2008 conference in Seattle, guest Rep. James Oberstar promised that he would seek a federal Office of Livable Transportation. On last June 18th, Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, unveiled the outline of a sweeping plan as part of reauthorizing the US 6-year transportation plan that will expire September 30. It was followed on June 23rd with a 775-page Transportation Bill that includes an Office of Livability. Oberstar kept his promise.

While the bulk of the $500 billion plan goes to roads, transit and high-speed rail, there is wording throughout about a cohesive national plan with explicit national transportation goals: improve mobility and lessen environmental impacts of travel while enhancing community sustainability and livability.

The function of the Office of Livability, housed within the Federal Highway Administration, would be to advance sustainable transportation—bicycling, walking and transit. The Environmental Protection Agency would separately work with the Department of Transportation to develop greenhousegas emission reduction goals.

The bill also proposes improving data and research, establishing the US Bike Route System and developing Comprehensive Street Design.

The main challenge is that the proposal costs $500 billion, a large increase from $286 billion of the current authorization.

Although the plan didn’t suggest increasing the US gas tax, it noted that the tax hasn’t been changed since 1993, and since then people have been driving less and cars get better mileage.

The US administration has not come out with its own Transportation plan. Instead, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has proposed that the existing plan be extended 18 months. This is not all bad because the US DOT is increasingly encouraging housing near transit, reduced emissions, and greater access for bicyclists.

Nonetheless, Oberstar feels that a House reauthorization plan could be passed by September, and he plans to push for its consideration. “The reality is that the administration does not have a program,” said Oberstar. “They do not have a plan. They have not given transportation any thought. I have.” It’s going to be a hot summer in DC.

Books for summer reading

by Ralph Fertig

Summer’s here and the reading is easy. And that’s especially so with two bicycling books that were published this spring. I recommend them both to you.

day’s bicycle resurgence in terms of historical and social precedents. To learn how we’re part of this growing revolution, read the book.

Pedaling Revolution, by Jeff Mapes. This book describes a dynamic shift in American bicycling (verified by our increase in Santa Barbara). The book goes back decades to trace changes from car-centric America of 60 years ago to a country that now embraces bicycling, not as a child’s toy, but as a legitimate means of moving people.

Pedaling Revolution looks at bike cultures in Amsterdam, Davis, Portland, and New York. It traces movements and defines to-

Travels with Willie, by Willie Weir.

I have to confess that Willie is one of the most capable, loving and resourceful people I have known. Our Bicycle Coalition has brought him to Santa Barbara four times for tales about his worldwide bike travels.

His book is a compilation of 42 charming stories that can be read in any order.

They’re guaranteed to bring smiles—and hopefully provoke a latent bicycle wander-

lust in us all. For more about Travels and Willie, go to www.willieweir.com/TWW.shtml where you can order a custom author’s dedication for your copy.

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 g Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria g Chris King Precision Components, Portland, Oregon g Hazard’s Cyclesport, Santa Barbara g Dr J’s Bicycle Shop, Solvang g Big Bang PR, www.bigbangpr.net, Santa Barbara g Santa Barbara Pedicabs, Santa Barbara g Santa Barbara Bike Repair, Santa Barbara g WheelHouse, Santa Barbara g Santa Barbara Bikes To-Go, Santa Barbara We greatly appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Jerry Vassallo, Alex and June Pujo, Rod Soria, Jim O’Dea, Glenn Reinhart, and Stuart Sato. g g

Coalition asks for new bikelanes

Quick Release accepts advertisements. Circulation reaches about 500 people. Ad details and an order form are available online at www.sbbike.org/QR/ad.pdf .

Traffic circulation improvements in the Cottage Hospital area of Santa Barbara have gone through two workshops and two joint meetings of the city’s Planning Commission and Transportation and Circulation Committee since last November. At the June 11th The 15-block Castillo bikelane shown here might meeting, the Coalibe extended 3 more blocks north of Mission. The tion’s Ralph Fertig same for Bath Street bikelanes. spoke in favor of extending the Castillo and Bath Street bikelanes for three blocks between Mission and Pueblo. Those sections would also change from two-way to one-way streets. Fertig also expressed doubts about making a three-block section of De la Vina from one-way to two-way north of Pueblo because of possible danger to bicyclists.

Quick Release ~ July 2009 ~ Page 5

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Application for Membership Yes! I want to help make bicycling better for all of us in Santa Barbara County. ❏ Student/Senior, 1 year $12 ❏ Household, 1 year $40 ❏ Student/Senior, 2 years $22 ❏ Household, 2 years $75 ❏ Business, 2 years $180 ❏ Lifetime $1000

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Make payable to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. Mail to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, PO Box 92047,

Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition President, Ralph Fertig, 962-1479 sb-ralph@cox.net Vice President, Wilson Hubbell, 683-1240 wilsonhubbell@aol.com Secretary, Mark McClure, 967-5031 mcclure606@yahoo.com Treasurer, David Bourgeois, 899-3728 daveb@alumni.caltech.edu Director, Judy Keim, 687-2912 jkpedpad@aol.com Director, Don Lubach, 722-2349 dlubach@mac.com Director, Ed France, 617-3255 edfrance@bicicentro.org Director, Michael Chiacos, 284-4179 mchiacos@cecmail.org

Director, Erika Lindemann, 569-1544 eglindemann@gmail.com Advisor, Dru van Hengel, 564-5544 dvanhengel@SantaBarbaraCA.gov Advisor, Matt Dobberteen, 568-3000 matt@cosbpw.net Advisor, Lori La Riva, 961-8919 llariva@sbcag.org

Road repair contacts

Caltrans www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html Carpinteria Charlie Ebeling, 684-5405 x402 cebeling@ci.carpinteria.ca.us Goleta Bill Millar, 968-6848 bmillar@cityofgoleta.org

Lompoc Larry Bean, 736-1261 l_bean@ci.lompoc.ca.us Santa Barbara City Dru van Hengel, 564-5544 dvanhengel@SantaBarbaraCA.gov Santa Barbara County Matt Dobberteen, 568-3576 matt@cosbpw.net Santa Maria David Whitehead, 925-0951 x227 dwhitehead@ci.santa-maria.ca.us Solvang Brad Vigro, 688-5575 bradv@cityofsolvang.com UCSB Dennis Whelan, 893-7009 dennis.whelan@planning.ucsb.edu

Shop discounts Bicycle Coalition members benefit from discounts at local shops.

It’s another reason to join. To get your discount, take your copy of Quick Release to the shop and show them your address label or cut out the label box and take it. Discount details are online at www.sbbike.org/SBBC/who.html.

Bicycle Bob’s 250 Storke Road #A, Goleta 15 Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara Bicycle Connection 223 W. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc Hazard’s Cyclesport 110 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara Lighthouse Bicycles phone 688-6385 Main Street Cycles 311 East Main Street, Santa Maria Open Air Bicycles 224 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara Pedal Power Bicycles 1740 Broadway, Santa Maria True Flight Cycle Works 416 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara VeloPro Cyclery 633 State Street, Santa Barbara 5887 Hollister Avenue, Goleta