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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 facebook facebook.com/sb-bicycle

March 2nd meeting Join us for our general meeting: Tuesday, March 2nd 12:00 noon Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Conference 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.

Street Skills program The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition offers Street Skills for Cyclists classes. Details at www.sbbike.org/skills/apply. html, or email coordinators at streetskills@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 # 221.

March 2010

Submit bike photos & videos in contests Green Shorts video contest

Cycle MAYnia photo contest

This is your chance to help save our planet by crafting a two-minute film that offers compelling and pragmatic solutions to today’s challenges.

This year’s theme is “Bringing it Home”, in accord with the theme of Santa Barbara’s Earth Day. You can deal with sustainable transportation like bicycling, or energy independence, or what we can do for a greener future.

Contest winners might win a MacBook or other great prizes. All winners will be aired on local Channel 17 community television and at Santa Barbara’s Earth Day Festival.

The contest is sponsored by the Community Environmental Council, Traffic Solutions, Samy’s Camera, and Channel 17. Entries are due March 16th. Learn more at www.greenshortsfilmfest.org.

Do you have some great photos related to bicycling that you want to share? This is your opportunity. Traffic Solutions and our Bicycle Coalition are seeking artistic, unusual or fun bicycle related photographs to be used for promoting CycleMAYnia events this coming May 2010.

One photograph will be selected for the cover of Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday brochure on May 6th. 1st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in the Downtown area. Other photos will be used for a Cycle MAYnia postcard mailer and 1st Thursday art exhibit. Email to kepperson@sbcag.org

by March 5, 2010. Photographs should be 300 PPI RGB digital photos in the camera’s native format.

More at www.trafficsolutions.info.

Jessica Findley posts Aeolian Ride photos Our Bicycle Coalition and Santa Barbara Community Arts Forum worked with Don Lubach and the WheelHouse guys to bring NY artist Jessica Findley with her billowing cyclist outfits for a ride here last October, led by Judy Keim. For Jessica, 2009 was an intense year. She had rides in Tokyo, Bridgeport, Santa Barbara and Lisbon.

Jessica writes, “All rides were phenomenal and everyone who participated was fantastic. Thanks so much for all the enthusiasm!” Look here: www. aeolian-ride.info/photos_sb.html. Jessica tells us that videos are going to be added. “Until then I hope you get sun on your face and wind in your sails.”

Santa Barbara Aeolian rider. Photo by Jessica Findley.

Willie’s coming back

SB Century’s coming back

International touring cyclist, columnist, and actor Willie Weir is returning to Santa Barbara this April. For years, Willie was the highlight of our Bike Week of activities, so we’re delighted to have him return. Mark your calendars, he’ll give presentations at UCSB April 20th, then in Downtown Santa Barbara April 22nd. His presentation is titled “A Frugal Cyclist’s Guide to the Universe.”

Kalon Kelley came to our February Bicycle Coaliton meeting to announce the return of the Santa Barbara Century on October 23rd. The 100-mile ride challenges cyclists with 9800 feet of climbing into our mountains; the Metric Century has only 4000 feet.

Our Bici Centro program will share the event profit, and we agreed to staff a Bicycle Coalition rest stop. Details at www.santabarbaracentruy.org.

Vulnerable user bill

Coalition asks Goleta for safer bridges

This legislative session, the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) introduced a “vulnerable roadway users” bill. It’s modeled after one passed in Oregon in 2007. Details for the California bill are being worked out, but Oregon’s defines “vulnerable user” as a pedestrian, a person riding an animal, or a person using a farm tractor, skateboard, roller skates, inline skates, scooter, or bicycle.

It provides that any motorist who is found guilty of committing an offense that contributes to the death or serious injury to a vulnerable user will be sentenced to appear in person in court, complete a traffic safety course and perform 100-200 hours of community service related to traffic safety.

And if the motorist doesn’t complete those requirements, the court could impose a fine up to $12,500 and suspend driving privileges.

On February 9th, Eva Inbar from COAST and Ralph Fertig from our Bicycle Coalition went to our Assemblyman Pedro Nava’s office. We talked with local and Sacramento staff, plus the CBC’s Jim Brown about Nava’s possible co-sponsorship. Nothing definite resulted, but now we’re all watching to see how things develop in the legislature.

On February 10th, the Bicyclists can easily City of Goleta held an pedal for several open house to solicit miles, making UCSB, opinions on alternaHollister industrial tives for a proposed parks, the Marketbike/pedestrian/car place, Girsh Park, bridge over Highway Ellwood Open Space, 101 in western Goleta. and K-Mart all more The bridge will be safely accessible in between Storke and minutes via the new Winchester Canyon. bridge.

The City’s engineerWe do nevertheing consultants winless have some connowed 13 alternatives cerns about A6 that About 100 people showed up for an open house down to three. Several we hope you will about a new 101 overcrossing in Goleta.

Bicycle Coalition memconsider: bers attended, and the following letter was g The 35 MPH “design speed” is high, reduce sent from us on February 16th to Goleta’s it to 25 or 30 by traffic calming Rosemarie Gaglione expressing our views: g Reduce the 12-foot travel lanes to 11 feet “For years we have asked for safer ways g Reduce the 8-foot shoulder/bikelane to 5 of travel for people on bicycles as alternafeet tives to the Glen Annie-Storke Road crossg Reduce the 6-foot sidewalks back to 5 feet ing of Highway 101. With residential areas g Consider coloring the shoulder/bikelane a and multiple destinations on both sides different color of 101 in western Goleta, traversing 101 is g Install lighting for nighttime security. a challenge for dedicated cyclists and an This being said, the alternatives fail to adabsolute obstacle for others. A new way of equately address the need for a more direct crossing without the conflicts of freeway on bike/ped bridge in the Pacific Oaks area and off ramps will be a major improvement. that connects Dos Pueblos High School, Out of the three alternatives that Drake residences closer to Glen Annie, the MarketHaglan & Associates have recommended, we place and Girsh Park. Such a bridge location feel that A6, the San Rossano Drive to Enwas designed a decade ago after a series trance Road is the best, for these reasons: of well-attended public meetings in the g It will reduce Storke-101 ramp traffic by 9% Ellwood and El Encanto Heights neighborg It will not greatly increase traffic past Branhoods. The death of Christina Veloz-Payne don School in September 2008 is a sad reminder of g It will not require a bridge over Calle Real what continues to be an unmet need.” g It costs millions less than the other two recommended alternatives Next will be preparation of a Project Study g Bicyclists can connect to San Rossano via Report, followed by identification of fundthe Evergreen Open Space bikepath g There is no or little biological or open space ing sources, environmental approval, final impact. design, and then construction. Be patient.

Bici Centro activities Our Bici Centro community bike program is offering diverse services. Below are hours for various groups. Info at www.bicicentro.org or phone 617-3255. g Monday, youth only, 3:30-6:00 PM g Monday, “Learn Your Bike” classes, 7:009:00 PM g Tuesday, volunteers only, 5:00-9:00 PM g Wednesday, Spanish-speaking only, 4:007:00 PM g Thursday, open shop 4:00-7:00 PM g Friday, Mechanics Modules, 6:00-8:00 PM g Saturday, open shop 1:00-7:00 PM Quick Release ~ March 2010 ~ Page 2

Wednesday afternoon “Spanish-only” shop times attract many, here learning about spoke replacement.

Good bike education is available locally

by Christine Bourgeois

This is my response to a recent News-Press letter to the editor “Maybe bicyclists should be licensed.”

Bicyclists need education more than licensing and regulation.

Mr. Greenleaf noted the problem of bad bicyclist behavior. He then advocated for cyclist licensing and mandatory helmets as a solution. I recommend a different approach. Education is needed to make our cyclists (and all road users) safer. The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition and Bici Centro offer a variety of classes teaching safe and legal cycling for riders of all ages.

While bike education is key to encouraging respect of the rules of the road, bicyclist licensing would discourage biking and predominantly hurt low-income families.

Helmets are required for those under 18 years old and many schools around Santa Barbara have helmet distributions at low cost. Helmets are a great idea, but requiring adults to wear them would further depress ridership in Santa Barbara.

We know this because studies in Australia and elsewhere show that less regulation leads to more trips by bike. Other studies show that there is safety in numbers. As more people bike, car drivers become accustomed to seeing them, and the rate of collisions decreases.

A well-educated cycling populace, who follows the rules and knows how to be visible and predictable, will share the road with all users (whether motorist or pedestrian).

Street Skills class offered March 18/20 Every other month, we offer our Street Skills for Cyclists Class. January’s class was rained out, so our March one should be a good group experience. You’ll learn how to cope better with traffic in an urban setting.

The class will help you 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 riding on Saturday.

The class will be held at the Granada Garage Bikestation, 1219 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara. Online info at www.sbbike. org/skills/apply.html. Email any questions to streetskills@sbbike.org.

Bike-sharing spawns innovative schemes During last November’s UN climate conference in Copenhagen, winners in a design competition for a city bike-sharing system were announced.

A total of 127 entries competed for €100,000 in prizes. The city will use entries to create a Paris-like system for 2013. In looking over the entries, it’s apparThe first place winner “OPENbike” resulted from ent that Europeans are a German and Danish collaboration.

overshadowing the US in green transportation systems.

The first place winner, shown here, is a stand-alone bike powered by an internal generator. No control kiosks are needed, the computer-managed bikes can be picked up or left anywhere.

Competition details at www.cphbikeshare.com.

Electric bikes are here, where are they going?

by Ralph Fertig

China leads the world in electric-assist bike ownership. In 2009, the Chinese bought 93% of the world’s “e-bikes,” but its share continues to drop as Europe, the US and other Asian countries purchase more. By 2012, US sales are projected to rise to 500,000 bikes, a four fold increase over 2007.

In China, according to a NY Times article, e-bike sales have soared and fallen as government regulations and other factors change.

They soared when pollution-spewing mopeds and scooters were banned and SARSscared transit commuters chose to avoid crowds. They plummeted as e-bike fatalities rose, and some cities banned them. The inexpensive lead-acid batteries that 95% of Chinese e-bikes use add lead to the air, raising new environmental alarms.

In the US and EU, lighter NiMH or Li-ion batteries are preferred. In Europe, studies found that pedal e-bikes, or “pedelecs,” once thought to be for the elderly or physically-impaired, are actually being bought

by others who use them for distant trips or for hauling cargo—both instead of cars.

As people increasingly perceive pedelecs as cheap, flexible and sensible alternatives to cars, rather than expensive bicycles, they will continue to increase in use worldwide.

They have advantages of bicycles—quiet, small, healthy, non-polluting—and few of the negative effects of cars. Read an EU pedelec study at http://tinyurl.com/yejkcfk.

Education reduces youth bike crashes by 51%

A young Maine bicycle rider looks before crossing a street, as she was taught to do.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has been working with the state DOT and a federal Safe Routes to School program. They have brought their bicycle safety program to over 80,000 students since 2000.

Each year, the state selects 100 schools to receive the training for fourth and fifth graders.

Since children aged 12-15 are the highest risks for bicycle crashes, the program targets students just under those ages. An analysis comparing bicycle crash rates in Maine for the eight years before their bicycle safety education program began with the first eight years since reveals a 51 percent drop in bicycle crashes for children aged 10-14.

Quick Release ~ March 2010 ~ Page 3

Coalition asks Solvang for bikepath connection in 246 improvements

This shows one of three proposed intersection alternatives for Highway 246 at Alamo Pintado Road. A second is a signalized intersection. And a third has two roundabouts, as shown plus another just north.

As reported in February’s Quick Release, the city of Solvang held an open house on January 19th to obtain opinions on three alternative designs for the intersection of Highway 246 and Alamo Pintado Road.

Our president Ralph Fertig attended, took notes, and later returned to take photos and consider safety of all people on bicycles.

Of special concern is access to the existing bikepath that leads to the high school, as shown in the photo above right. A letter from our Bicycle Coalition was sent on February 1st to Quincy Engineering, Solvang’s consulting firm, with these recommendations:

We have been considering the alternatives for the Highway 246 intersection at Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang. Our concerns are bicyclist convenience and safety, especially for younger and less experienced people on bicycles. For overall intersection safety, roundabouts offer a significant improvement for motorists, a minor one for pedestrians, and little if any for bicyclists. For overall community safety, we therefore prefer roundabouts over signalized traffic control.

Roundabouts that adhere to Caltrans and FHWA standards have shared-use paths around the outer circle; these are indeed

March bike events and meetings When Quick Release began in 1991, there were so few bike events and meetings that they were listed for several months ahead.

Bicycling in Santa Barbara County has come so far since those dark days that it’s hard to keep up, and listing them with details is now consuming too much print space.

What’s more, as new events are announced after this goes to print, our online listing of events has nearly doubled by the end of each month from what’s published here.

So starting this month, just the date and name will be listed. Our website will continue to offer ongoing updates, details, and live links at www.sbbike.org/meet/meet.html.

March 2, Bicycle Coalition General Meeting.

March 4, Education Committee Meeting.

March 4, Bike Moves.

March 6, Island View Criterium.

March 7, UCSB Road Race.

March 7-12, Vines to Coast Cycling Package.

Quick Release ~ March 2010 ~ Page 4

March 9, Measuring the Real Cost of Parking and Alternative Transportation.

March 10, Santa Barbara County Trails Council Annual Meeting.

March 13, Solvang Century.

March 15-21, Solvang Spring Tour.

March 18, Plan Santa Barbara Open House.

March 18 and 20, Street Skills for Cyclists Class.

March 20, Los Angeles Bike Summit.

March 21, Kendra Chiota Payne Memorial Triathlon.

March 21-26, Central Coast Bike Tour.

March 21-27, Bicycle Tour of Solvang Wine Country.

March 23, COAST General Meeting.

March 23, Bicycle Coalition Board Meeting.

March 26-28, Solvang Getaway Weekend Bike Tour.

March 27, Solvang Double Century.

This photo, looking west along Highway 246, shows the end of the bikepath. With a road widened to four lanes, it will be even harder for east-bound bicyclists to enter the path. The path can also be seen at the right center of the roundabout alternative drawing.

shown lavender in the rendering of the proposed roundabout. They can definitely offer the less confident bicyclists an option that eliminates crashes with motorists within the inscribed circle. Experienced bicyclists will take the traffic lane and navigate the roundabout like motorists.

That being said, the intersection design is complicated by the existence of a 2-mile long shared-use path that runs from a location just east of the Alamo Pintado Creek bridge to the Santa Ynez Valley High School.

Experienced east-bound bicyclists will choose the Highway 246 shoulder instead of the path, however access to it for less intrepid users is a challenge. A possible solution is to continue the roundabout’s multi-use path on the north-east corner eastward to a new multi-user bridge over the creek, then connect to the existing path.

Funding for such a bridge has apparently been agreed to by the Old Mill Estates development on High Meadow Road. It might be a prefab bridge like one that Santa Barbara County installed over Maria Ygnacio Creek east of Goleta. Or it might be a cantilever bridge off the new Highway 246 bridge, similar to the Highway 1 treatment over the Santa Ynez River in Lompoc.

What is not acceptable is a new bridge into the Nielsen’s shopping center. The drawing shows it emptying directly into an incoming travel way in the parking lot. Also, the lot’s diagonal parking makes it hard for motorists backing up to see other cars and pedestrians, let alone people scooting by on bikes.

As for a second roundabout, we think it should be considered as a separate project.

Wet Willy Sez

by Wilson Hubbell

Dear Wet Willy: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with saddle sores? I don’t get them very often, but when I do – OUCH! — Obviously Anonymous Dear Obvi: You are not alone. Almost any cyclist will suffer from some type of saddle sore if they ride often and/or far enough. Even Lance Armstrong and Greg Lemond have had them…

Saddle sores tend to develop in stages beginning with hot spots or abrasions then advancing to pimple-like folliculitis and (in really bad cases) abscesses. Topical products like A&D ointment and Bag Balm work on hot spots or abrasions, antibiotic ointments like Neosporin can help with folliculitis, but you better see a doctor if abscesses occur.

The most effective treatment for saddle sores is preventing them as best you can. The basic preventive steps are to (1) get a bike and a saddle that fit you, (2) wear padded cycling shorts without underwear, (3) slather your genital area with a petroleum jelly based product (like Vaseline, A&D ointment or Bag Balm) before you ride and (4) clean your shorts and wash your crotch after your ride.

Bike and saddle fit is the most important element of saddle sore prevention, and this is where you should start your efforts. If you haven’t had a fitting, Dave Lettieri at Fastrack Bicycles knows how to do one properly, although there may be others in town with similar capabilities. Meanwhile, wear cycling shorts when you ride, slather your crotch with Bag Balm and clean yourself up afterwards.

We thank our active members

Please thank and support these Bicycle Coalition business members: g Bicycle Bob’s, Santa Barbara g Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara g Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria g Dr J’s Bicycle Shop, Solvang 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 Tailwinds Bicycle Club, Santa Maria We appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Drew Hunter, Dan Hammack, Jim Marnocha, Joe & Taryn O’Flaherty, Owen Patmor and Doris Phinney.

Cost of Parking versus Alternative Transportation On March 9th, UCSB is offering a free “webinar.” It will give participants tools to quantify the true costs of parking and help them determine of the best mix of transportation options. It takes place at 10:00 AM, Building 594, UCSB. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/y9gusvj.

February Coalition meeting topics Our February 2nd monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at noon in Downtown Santa Barbara, with 14 participants talking about these topics: g Ralph Fertig alerted people to Goleta’s open house that will present alternative bridge designs over Highway 101. g

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Lori la Riva described the Green Shorts video contest. Two recent Brooks Institute grads Eric Fredricey and Evita Huapaya, expressed interest.

Ralph Fertig described Solvang’s proposed designs for Highway 246 and Alamo Pintado Road, and our letter describing good alternatives for bicyclists.

Kalon Kelley talked about the new Santa Barbara Century ride, and we voted to staff a rest stop.

Ed France and Lori La Riva talked about opportunities to create events for Cycle MAYnia.

Michael Chiacos described changes coming to the CEC’s Earth Day in April, now a 2-day event.

Ralph Fertig and Kalon Kelley talked about welcome changes coming to the California Environmental Quality Act. Christine Bourgeois described our bike education programs, and invited all to attend the monthly Bicycle Education meetings.

Ralph Fertig explained a possible California “vulnerable roadway user” bill this year.

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 .

Quick Release ~ March 2010 ~ 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. ❏ Individual, 1 year $25 ❏ Student/Senior, 1 year $12 ❏ Household, 1 year $40 ❏ Individual, 2 years $45 ❏ Student/Senior, 2 years $22 ❏ Household, 2 years $75 ❏ Business, 1 year $100 ❏ Business, 2 years $180 ❏ Lifetime $1000 name _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ city, state, zip _______________________________________________________________________________________________ phone ___________________________________ email _____________________________________________________________ ❏ New membership ❏ Renewal membership ❏ Email me Adobe PDF files of Quick Release newsletters instead of printed ones.

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, position vacant Treasurer, David Bourgeois, 899-3728 daveb@alumni.caltech.edu Director, Michael Chiacos, 284-4179 mchiacos@cecmail.org Director, Ed France, 617-3255 edfrance@bicicentro.org Director, Judy Keim, 687-2912 jkpedpad@aol.com Director, Erika Lindemann, 569-1544 eglindemann@gmail.com

Director, Javier Rivera, 450-3502 jrivera@sbnature2.org 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

Member discounts Bicycle Coalition members benefit from discounts. It’s another reason to join. To get your discount at a shop, 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 VeloPro Cyclery 633 State Street, Santa Barbara 5887 Hollister Avenue, Goleta Momentum Magazine, save $5 www.momentumplanet.com/ node/4258.