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www.sbbike.org Serving Santa Barbara County

November 2009

Bike commuting increases in SB & SM cities

We’re a countywide advocacy and resource organization that promotes bicycling for safe transportation and recreation.

In late September, the US Census Bureau released new data that gives us a good view of commuting to work behavior changes that are happening in Santa Barbara county. We can now compare regular census data from 1990 and 2000 with new data from the 2008 American Community Survey (ACS). All surveys ask the same question—”How did you usually get to work last week?”

Essentially, more Santa Barbara and Santa Maria city residents are bicycling to work. Details for both cities are below. For the rest of our county workers, they are biking less. (Next year, we will have enough ACS data to tell us how our other cities are doing.)

The graph at the left compares bike to work data for the US, California, SB County, and our two large cities. We have more residents biking to jobs than elsewhere in our state and the US. We are pleased that throughout the US, and especially locally, people are turning to environmentally-responsible means of travel. We benefit from cleaner air, less congestion, reduced noise, increased productivity, and lower community health-care costs.

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

November 3rd meeting Join us for our general meeting: Tuesday, November 3rd 12:00 noon Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Community Room 1021 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara

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: sbbike-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

Leave the subject and body blank.

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 # 217.

City of Santa Barbara Bicycle Work at home

Car/van

Bus

Other

Walk

1990

81%

4%

2%

6%

3%

4%

2000

80%

5%

1%

6%

3%

6%

2008

73%

4%

2%

7%

5%

8%

Mode share for Santa Barbara, commuting to work.

The changes in the city of Santa Barbara are striking—commuters are driving less, and instead are biking and walking to jobs, or working at home.

Between 1990 and 2008, the Census Bureau tells us that out of the 8% former drivers (about 3700 people), 4% now work at home, 2% are biking, and 1% are walking. “Other” is mostly motorcycling.

City of Santa Maria Car/van

Bus

Other

Walk

Bicycle

Work at home

1990

92%

0%

2%

3%

1%

2%

2000

94%

1%

2%

2%

1%

1%

2008

91%

3%

1%

1%

2%

2%

Mode share for Santa Maria, commuting to work.

The shifts in commuting behavior in Santa Maria are not as large as in Santa Barbara. Fewer people are walking, driving and motorcycling to work. Instead, they are taking the bus, biking and working at home. Although walking has decreased, we’re pleased to see that twice as many residents are biking in 2008 as in 2000.

Buellton awarded $100,000 bike grant

Aeolian Ride in SB

by Dave Everett

Caltrans announced on September 10th that Buellton has been awarded a Community Based Transportation Planning grant for $100,000 to create a bikeway and trails master plan. The planning process will include a series of interactive public meetings, walk-abouts and workshops to integrate the community’s priorities.

A motivation for Buellton in crafting a bikeway plan is so it will become eligible to apply for Bicycle Transportation Account funding for the construction of bicycle facilities. Several jurisdictions in our county have already received BTA funding.

Buellton’s planning grant is one out of 68 that Caltrans awarded this year, for a total of $8.7 million. The grants go to governments, planning groups, community-based organizations, and tribal governments Caltrans District 5 Caltrans District 5 Director Rich Krumholz commented, “Caltrans is very pleased that we can assist our transportation partners in strategically planning for effective community transportation.”

Jessica Findley’s puffed-up Aeolian Riders cruise along Santa Barbara’s East Beach.

Two years ago, our Board member Don Lubach discovered New York conceptual artist Jessica Findley, and he dreamed of bringing her “Aeolian Ride” to Santa Barbara.

His dream was turned into reality after we partnered with Heather Jeno Silva at the Community Arts Forum.

After months of planning, it all came together on October 1st. Led by Judy Keim, the ride passed along East Beach and up State Street, ending up with a party at the Arts Forum. The riders wore Findley’s white nylon outfits that billow as people bicycle.

Photos of the event are being posted on Jessica’s website www.aeolian-ride.info. Our congratulations to all who helped bring this fun international ride to our area.

Bicycling magazine to feature Santa Barbara Each issue of Bicycling magazine includes a one-page feature on a different city. They include recommended bike rides, favorite restaurants, after-ride activities, and other sporting attractions.

Bicycling writer Kristy Holland has talked to Ralph Fertig, Chris Orr, and probably others, about what to do here both on and off road. They described biking on the Romero Trail, road rides already on our website, Santa Barbara Car Free, the Solvang Century, and the large number of people already bicycling here.

The magazine has a circulation of 410,000 readers, so a huge group of dedicated bicyclists will learn about our area, and hopefully visit here. We know there is “safety in numbers.” That is, the more bicyclists on our streets, the safer it becomes for everybody because motorists will more likely anticipate our presence.

Quick Release ~ November 2009 ~ Page 2

Nat’l Public Lands Day Special thanks to the 30 or so people who helped out with National Public Lands Day on September 26th. The event, sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation and local agencies, accomplished more than its major goal which was to repair dangerous sections of trail that had injured Meredith Miraglia several weeks ago. Between Montecito Peak and Camino Cielo on Cold Spring Trail, the tread has been restored to its original beauty, all the brush has been cut back and all water bars have been re-opened.

Wet Willy Sez

by Wilson Hubbell

Dear Wet Willy: What is the deal with motorists yielding me the right of way at stop signs and other places, and then waving me to go ahead when it is their turn to proceed? I hate to be rude, but it makes me feel uncomfortable to start moving when it is not my turn. — Richard Dear Richard: You have a right to feel uncomfortable when a motorist unnecessarily yields you the right of way and waves you to go ahead of them. Unknowingly, they could be inviting you into a dangerous situation involving other motorists. As a cyclist out in the open, you can usually determine when it is safe for you to proceed better than a motorist in a car can.

Why do some motorists do this? It may be a mistaken perception of bicyclists being “rolling pedestrians” that have certain right of way priorities, particularly at intersections with crosswalks. Bicyclists, of course, are considered to be vehicles and not “rolling pedestrians”; the right of way rules that apply to cyclists are the same as those that apply to motorists. Then again, some motorists are just trying to be polite and believe they are doing you a favor by waving you to go ahead of them.

Wet Willy plays these situations by ear: If there is clearly just one car with no other traffic in the area, I’ll take the right of way if a motorist offers it. If there are any other cars in the area, I’ll politely shake my head and wave the motorist to proceed. Better to be considered mildly rude than to be an accident statistic...

“Wet Willy” is an advice column authored by Coalition Vice President Wilson Hubbell. Please submit any questions you have about cycling issues to him at wilsonhubbell@aol.com.

John Ledbetter at our Nov meeting

Bike-sharing programs expanding everywhere

by Ralph Fertig

The city of Santa Barbara’s Principal Planner John Ledbetter will come to our November 3rd noontime general meeting. He will update us on the ongoing revision of the city’s General Plan that will effect us for decades to come.

We will also hear about other bicycling projects, events, and important topics.

Bike-sharing programs continue to relieve urban congestion and pollution in cities worldwide, mostly in Europe.

There are now over 100 programs in operation, with more on the way.

One of the measures of success is the increase is bicycling mode share.

That is, how much have programs led to an increase in the percentage of transportation trips by bike? Two cities that have measured changes over the years since program inception are Here people in Lyon, France, pick up bicycles from a local Paris and Barcelona. In Paris, mode kiosk. Details at www.velov.grandlyon.com. share has increased from 1.0% to 2.5%.

In Barcelona, it has increased from Nearly all bike-sharing systems are paid 0.8% to 1.8%. It may not seem like much, for in exchange for advertising programs but it represents tens of thousands of on billboards and bus shelters. However, new trips by bicycle. Those numbers and four cities in France are supported by other others provide a measure of change that means. This is of special interest to Santa cities can expect, and use to justify a new Barbara county cities where commercial adbike-sharing program. vertising is strictly controlled.

The question of what other modes Avignon’s 200-bike program is managed people were using before switching to by the public bus system. Both Renes’ 900bicycles was investigated by Portland as bike and Vannes’ 175-bike programs are part of a feasibility study. The average managed by their municipal governments. for Paris, Barcelona, Lyon and London is Nice’s 900-bike program is run by a regional that the bicycle trips have replaced 54% government cooperative. So maybe we can bus/subway, 28% walking, 10% car/taxi, look at those models for local programs? and 7% are new trips replacing nothing. A The best source for bike-sharing program positive aspect is that active transportainformation is Paul DeMaio’s website at tion is replacing mostly passive travel. http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com.

Tour of California passes up SB County The Tour of California has had stages in our county for four consecutive years since the Tour started in 2006. However for 2010, our county’s only bid—that Solvang again host the individual time trial—was rejected.

Solvang’s Local Organizing Committee Co-chair Carol Petersen commented, “We are disappointed not to be selected again for the 2010 race, but understand that the organizers needed to change the schedule and routes—just like the Tour de France does every year.” Solvang plans to bid for a stage in 2011, and in the meantime invites professional cycling teams to train in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Street Skills class coming Nov 19-21

October Bicycle Coalition meeting topics

One of our Street Skills classes pauses on a ride to discuss safe biking under different conditions.

Spread the word, another chance to take our Street Skills for Cyclists Class is coming up November 19 and 21st. It’s your last chance this year to learn how to cope better with traffic in an urban setting. You’ll learn to foresee and avoid accidents, be visible day and night, position yourself in traffic, cross freeway bridges, equip your bike, and lots more including on-road bicycling on Saturday. Info and registration online at www. sbbike.org/CycleSmart/apply.html.

Our October 6th monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant in Santa Barbara, with 11 participants talking about these topics: g Ralph Fertig offered the results of new Census data, showing increases in bicycling most everywhere. g Johan Montoya, the survivor of a serious bike-SUV crash last year, described the horrors of his hospitalization, months of rehab, and now a successful recovery and grateful return to life.

Wilson Hubbell described the Goleta Transportation Plan, noting the absence of

g

bicycle projects. We decided to send City Council members letters.

Don Bullick reported being sickened while biking on Gobernador Canyon. He suspected that it was the helicopter spraying of avocado groves that did it to him and another cyclist.

g

Ed France reported that every Monday 3:306:30, Bici Centro offers an open shop for kids.

g

Sarah Grant described a successful Street Skills class in September, noting that another is coming in November.

g

Ralph Fertig described delays in renewing the Federal Transportation Act.

g

New traffic signals must now detect bicyclists Caltrans has adopted new standards for traffic signals to ensure that they can be triggered by people on bicycles. They are required for new and replacement installations. The bicyclist detection devices can be embedded wire loops or video cameras.

In addition, the standards call for extending green lights at intersections with heavy bike traffic to accommodate slower bicyclist speeds. If the detection device recognizes individual bicyclists, the longer green may be given only when they are crossing.

Quick Release ~ November 2009 ~ Page 3

Lompoc’s Alan Hancock bikeway gets funding Bici Centro seeks bikes

The upcoming Alan Hancock bikepath will connect this 2001 bike bridge over the Santa Ynez River to the college.

Our Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) recently moved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding from a bike project in Santa Maria to one in Lompoc.

Originally, $568,000 in ARRA funds were to help build the Santa Maria Valley Railroad

Bikeway, a 3.7-mile long multipurpose path.

However, since the ARRA money is required to quickly spur economic recovery in our country, the projects have to be ready to go by the end of 2009. Delays in obtaining a right of way from the railroad pushed the Bikeway project to 2010, so SBCAG transferred the ARRA funding to Lompoc.

With that $568,000, the City of Lompoc will be able to move ahead with the Alan Hancock Bikepath project. It will connect the 2001 bikeway over the Santa Ynez River (cantilevered off the side of the H Street bridge) to Alan Hancock College with a new bikepath. An additional amount of $287,000 in reserve funding was transferred to Lompoc so they will have enough to deliver the full project by the end of this year.

The Santa Maria bikeway will not be left stranded because State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) funding that was to go to Lompoc is being transferred to Santa Maria. That money will be available in 2010.

Our Bici Centro community bike program continues to seek donated bikes, accessories and tools. If you have anything, phone 617-3255 to confirm the need and determine good drop-off times.

Bici Centro, located at 601 East Montecito Street in Santa Barbara, offers classes and open shop hours as follows: Mondays, open shop for youth, 3:30-6:30 PM

g

Mondays, “Learn Your Bike” classes, registration required, 7:00-9:00 PM g

Tuesdays, volunteer only night, 5:00-9:00 PM

g

Wednesdays, open shop Spanish-speaking only, 4:00-7:00 PM g

Thursdays, open shop 4:00-7:00 PM

g

Saturdays, open shop 1:00-7:00 PM

g

November bike meetings and events November ushers in months of Standard Time, so the mornings are lighter. The following are condensed descriptions. Our website has ongoing updates, details, and live links to event sites at www.sbbike.org/ meet/meet.html.

November 1-7, Women’s Training Camp, sponsored by Revolution Coaching. Professional racers and trainers will help you gain skills and confidence. Training rides each day in the Santa Ynez Valley. Housing, meals, massage, ride support included.

November 3, Bicycle Coalition General Meeting, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. Meeting at noon, first Tuesday of the month. Community Room at the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust building, 1021 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara. Phone Ralph Fertig, 962-1479 or email him at sb-ralph@cox.net.

November 5, Bike Moves, unsponsored happening. Join Santa Barbara’s First Thursday events with an easygoing ride that obeys traffic laws. Meet at the WheelHouse at 7:30 PM, 528 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.

November 7, Solvang Prelude, sponsored

by SCOR Cardiac Cyclists Club. Traditional fall ride attracts thousands and closes out the local recreational season. Choice of 25, 50 or 63-mile rides out of Solvang. Roving sag support, food stops, vendor expo, optional barbecue at end.

Quick Release ~ November 2009 ~ Page 4

November 8-13, Vines to Coast Santa Barbara Cycling Vacation, sponsored by Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours. Spend 3 nights in Solvang, then 2 nights in Santa Barbara with cycling every day 25-35 miles, or more if you wish. Gourmet lunches, fine dining, deluxe accommodations, vehicle support, and local wines.

November 7-13, Solvang Cycling Clinic, sponsored by Fred Morini. A week of training advice and practice with Fred Morini, a professional European cyclist. Training rides each day out of Solvang. Special rates and support for those staying another day for Solvang’s Finest Century.

November 8-13, Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour, sponsored by Trek Travel. Three days of rides out of Solvang, then three out of Santa Barbara. Options of 10-50 miles each day. Sunny days with ocean-side cycling, gourmet cuisine, and fine wines. Afternoons off to stroll or bike some more to enjoy the area.

November 14, Solvang’s Finest Century, sponsored by Planet Ultra. These 100-mile and 100 kilometer charity rides benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation that has raised millions to physically challenged individuals and around the world. The ride includes an event T-shirt, water bottle, a post-ride meal, route sheet, four fully

stocked checkpoints along the course, and roving SAG. November 18, Building Political Will for Strong Bike/Walk Programs, sponsored by the APBP. This is a “webinar” organized by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals to learn how Columbia, MO made sweeping changes. Granada Garage, 1221 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, 12:00 noon.

November 19 and 21, Street Skills for Cyclists Class, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. See details on page 3. Direct any questions to CycleSmart@sbbike.org.

November 19-22, Santa Barbara Wine Country Weekend, sponsored by Trek Travel.

One day riding around the Santa Ynez Valley, two around Santa Barbara. Choice of 10-50 miles each day, with afternoons off to stroll, shop and relax.

November 24, COAST General Meeting, sponsored by the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation. Meeting at noon, fourth Tuesday of each month. Community Room at the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust building, 1021 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.

“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.”

—Iris Murdoch

UCSB students fill up campus classrooms—and bikepaths An estimated 10,000 students rely on bicycling to get to and around the University of California Santa Barbara campus. It leads to between-class congestion on some sections of the extensive bikepath network, plus bike rack overflow next to many buildings.

The University is planning to add 5000 new students by 2025, meaning increased pressure on bicycling and other transportation facilities.

The chancellor’s Transportation Alternatives Board (TAB) and the Associated Students’ BIKES committee are working to A new academic year began in September with thousands improve current conditions while looking of students, staff and faculty using the campus bikepaths.

into the future.

At a TAB meeting on October 19th, most of the time was devoted to future funding of alternative programs such as van service from Santa Maria, Ventura and elsewhere. Committee members met with Budget and Planning’s Assistant Chancellor Todd Lee, who favored more funding from parking permit fees before any other new assessment.

Associate Vice Chancellor Marc Fisher separately believed that alternatives could be funded with a small assessment on new construction projects. That new revenue source might be used in conjunction with AS BIKES student-funded projects.

At the AS BIKES meeting on October 8th, Dennis Whelan from Budget and Planning reported that Campbell Hall now has racks for 750 bikes, and Music North now has 240 spaces. Upcoming in the next two months are two new lots with a total 600 spaces next to the new Education and Social Science Building.

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 Hazard’s Cyclesport, Santa Barbara g Chris King Precision Components, Portland, Oregon 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 g Dr J’s Bicycle Shop, Solvang We appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Corey Evans, Merle Clark, Jeff Stoutenborough, Michael Beiley, and Douglas Allard. g g

How to save on car insurance

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 .

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced on October 16th that new regulations have been approved, allowing insurance companies to offer “pay as you drive” policies.

What this means is that for those of us who drive very little and bicycle a lot, we’ll be able to save money on car insurance. In addition, because motorists will be aware that each mile driven will cost them more in insurance, they will reduce unneeded trips, cut fossil fuel imports, and help clear our air.

New plans may be offered as soon as January, so watch for them. The money-saving policies will need some form of mileage verification—perhaps odometer inspection, maybe smog-check reports, or even installing an electronic monitoring and transmitting device in your car.

It’s about time for us to be rewarded for biking more and driving less. Ask your insurance carrier if they’re offering a policy.

Quick Release ~ November 2009 ~ Page 5

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Make payable to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. Mail to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, PO Box 92047, Santa Barbara, CA 93190. We are a 501c3 nonprofit, so contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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 Bob Morgenstern, 968-6869 morgenstern@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, Santa Ynez phone 688-6385 Main Street Cycles 311 East Main Street, Santa Maria Open Air Bicycles 1303 State 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