SBBIKE's Quick Release Winter 015

WINTER 2015-16 • Volume 25 / No. 4

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

Quick Release SBBIKE in 2015

SB BIKE

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

Our Vision The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) vision is that Santa Barbara will be a leader in creating a bicycle-friendly community and transportation system. Extensive on-road and separated bikeways, a coordinated transit system, parking, and amenities allow us to enjoy a culture where the majority of daily trips include a bicycle. As a result, our community is healthier and encourages balanced living within our resources. Universal cycling education for all ages supports the development of safe and respectful road behaviors from both motorists and cyclists. Widespread community and political support for bicycling is in place. By 2040, because it is a cycling-centered county, Santa Barbara is both a great place to live and work and a nationally acclaimed cycling destination, boasting a year-round calendar of successful, fun, and inclusive events.

Letter from the Editor The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is now 1,100 plus members strong. This year, those members—you— have united, giving your time, your voices, and your courage to ensure the community’s public roads include the needs of everyone in the community.

Because of you (because it is clear that you will persist over the next critical months) Santa Barbarans will finally have quality infrastructure that gives people equality of options for how they wish to travel. The hundreds of commuters who bike to work because it is their only affordable option. The hundreds more who bike for convenience, for their health, for the health of the environment. The scores who would choose trips on bike if the routes felt safe. The slew of young adults who are making transportation choices in an economic and political climate that is much different than the one in which previous generations came of age. Everyone who bikes.

David Hodges, Chair Courtney Dietz, Vice Chair David Bourgeois, Treasurer Byron Beck Robert Caiza David Campbell Sue Carmody Hector Gonzalez John Hygelund Tracey Strobel Mike Vergeer

Christine Bourgeois, Education Director edu@sbbike.org Lynneal Williams and Rafaell Rozendo, Shop Supervisors shop@bicicentro.org Howard Booth, Membership Coordinator howard@sbbike.org

Eve Sanford, Advocacy Associate eve@sbbike.org

hundreds more were able to purchase the bicycles they needed.

In a time when there’s much in the news and on our social media feeds to be dismayed about, being privy to the inner working of an organization dedicated to community and inclusivity is rejuvenating. Enumerating the fruits of that dedication

Kent Epperson, Advisor Traffic Solutions kepperson@sbcag.org

T ITA N I UM ME MBE R S

S I LV E R & ALUM I N UM ME MBE R S

ceramics

Cynthia Stahl, info@cynstahl.com

MANAGING EDITOR Holly Starley, editor@sbbike.org

Rincon Cycle CapCranks Cory Motors

CONTACT US 506 E. Haley St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103

With gratitude,

www.sbbike.org SBBIKE: 805-845-8955 Bici Centro: 805-617-3225

Quick Release Winter 2015-16

Marcia Burtt Gallery

ART DIRECTOR

PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara, CA 93190

COVER PHOTO: The lights shared with commuters during SBBIKE’s countywide light distribution, Iluminando la Noche. JAN SILK. BACK COVER PHOTOS: Summit engagers. MICHAEL MONTENEGRO. Bici Centro volunteer. STEPHEN LEWIS. Board member. PAUL KINGSLEY. Iluminando participant. PAUL WELLMAN. Riviera Youth Bike Team member. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS.

Waynes Pro Bike

Matt Dobberteen, Advisor County of Santa Barbara matt@cosbpw.net

is a privilege and an inspiration.

Holly Starley

GOLD & C ARBON FI BE R ME MBE R S

GOVT. LIAISONS & ADVISORS

Amy Steinfeld Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

to affordable parts and mechanical aid so they could repair their own bikes. And

P L ATI NUM M EM B ERS

Joey Juhasz-Lukomski, Operations Manager joey@sbbike.org

Because of your membership, support, volunteer hours, and donations, over four plus commuters won’t be riding without lights. Hundreds of cyclists had access

DI A MON D ME MBE R S

Ed France, Executive Director ed@sbbike.org

the traffic on our public thoroughfares.

hundred youth and adults have learned how to cycle safely this year. Three hundred

Thank you, Business Members and Supporters

STAFF

Teresa Lopes, Advisor City of Goleta tlopes@cityofGoleta.org

Because of you, they will be able to ride safely and conveniently alongside the rest of

2

BOARD

CONTRIBUTE Your time: www.sbbike.org/volunteer Financially: www.sbbike.org/donate

BRONZE AND STEEL MEMBERS Bildsten Architecture and Planning The Dirt Club Fastrack Bicycles HelloHarvest Hoffman Architecture

Horny Toad Isla Vista Food Coop Mesa Architects Mesa Business Association Revolution Coaching LLC Premier Business Marketing

REI Tailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa Maria True Nature Landscape Architecture

www.SBBIKE.org

3

ADVOCACY

ADVOCACY

Connecting Our Community Goleta Carpinteria Santa Barbara

“If it’s identified, close it.”

Right now is a consequential moment

This was SBBIKE Executive Director Ed France’s response when planners pressed him to specify each route Santa Barbara’s Bike Master Plan (BMP) should include.

Closure of all gaps in the City of Santa Barbara’s bicycle network. It’s what the community has asked for. It’s our vision. An integrated bikeway network along

for cycling in Santa

the South Coast will not only make bicycling possible for anyone who chooses to

Barbara County. The Connecting Our Community

ride, it will also reduce congestion and pollution for everyone. With your support,

campaign is entering a make or break year to complete

SBBIKE’s advocacy leadership is closing the gaps and Connecting Our Community.

our Coastal Route and crosstown bikeways. SBBIKE will

Photo MICHAEL MONTENEGRO

make sure that within the next few months Santa Barbara passes a strong and effective bike plan that builds bike lanes—closing key gaps—in 2016. As the pressure ramps up,

In 2015, we: |

SBBIKE will continue to defend public input asking for safe, continuous bikeways.

Put bold back into the Bicycle Master Plan, defending

Keep standing with SBBIKE as we face critical battles in 2016. We have a clear vision

overwhelming public input for a

and a proven track record. We can realize that vision.

strong and effective plan from the quiet removal of key elements |

Helped bring $14 million of state

Together in 2016, we will:

and federal funding to the South Coast for cycling projects |

Opened 3 miles of Coastal

|

Route bike path at Rincon to

Build another 3 miles of protected bikeways on the

be named in honor of SBBIKE’s

Coastal Route

founder, Ralph Fertig

|

Complete the EastsideDowntown green lane connectors

The City of Santa Barbara’s BMP is a key part of

|

Connecting Our Community. Thousands of hours

Downtown green lane connectors

of public participation are ensuring it matches the community’s vision. Public input highlights: |

1,440 – Participated in the BMP survey

|

500 – Participated in the Stand Up for Cycling

Complete the Westside-

Photos MICHAEL MONTENEGRO

|

Implement a safe Westside bicycle route to City College

|

Help pass a bold BMP in Santa Barbara

|

Support the development of the Goleta BMP

photo shoot |

450 – Attended summits, roadshows, and neighborhood meetings conducted from May to November

|

36 – Spoke at a joint Planning Commission and Transportation and Circulation Committee meeting, calling for the plan to

Join us: Your efforts are key to Connecting Our Community. Upcoming opportunities include speaking at critical BMP meetings like Santa Barbara’s February City Council. We’ll keep you posted with countywide opportunities at sbbike.org.

reflect the results of that participation

4

Quick Release Winter 2015-16

www.SBBIKE.org

5

OUTREACH

OUTREACH

Well-Lit Commuters

I

l uminando La Noche (Light Up the Night) is part of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition’s answer

to an important question: How can bike advocacy include the people who can’t afford to get involved?

US Census Bureau data (2014) show a large share of bicycle commuters live in working class, lowerincome households. How can advocates engage the men and women who bike because it is their only means of transportation, whose commitments don’t allow them to show up at City Hall?

In early November, bilingual volunteers hosted SBBIKE’s fifth annual Iluminando. More than 300 Santa Barbarans, the majority of whom bike because it is their only means of transportation, will now be more visible when they ride after dark. SBBIKE talked with these cyclists and collected data to ensure they are also a more visible part of advocacy efforts.

Photos PAUL WELLMAN

Children made up 20% of light recipients.

Of the 57 children 15 and under who came to Iluminando, 27% ride their bikes to school.

6

Quick Release Winter 2015-16

Of the 282 adults surveyed, 52% don’t have access to a car, and 65% bike to work. Getting to work was the number one reason cited for cycling. Other primary reasons for cycling included recreation, exercise, and fun (28%); getting to school (9%); and running errands (9%).

www.SBBIKE.org

7

EDUCATION

Safe Cycling Ambassadors

Teaching people to bike confidently and legally SBBIKE’s thriving education mainstays, in 2015: |

New instructors trained: 9

|

LCIs, many bilingual, available to teach: 42

|

Families served at 6 Bici Familias: 215

|

Youth graduated from Pedal Powers: 104

|

Adult Street Skills students: 264

A field trip. To the beach. On bike!

R

makes them safer road users. Because of

EDUCATION

YB

For months, 15 young cyclists, ages 10 to 12, trained.

T

field trips or a team of young riders is formed,

w

as

SBBIKE sends LCIs to support the efforts of people who are passionate about bike education—helping grow the number of safe cycling ambassadors traveling our public roads.

r.

And, when a teacher takes students on bike

e m bo rn this sum

In October, the Riviera Youth Bike Team rode SB100’s 34-mile course with LCI instructors Zack Bertges, Felicia

ABC Quick Check

Tan, Mike Vergeer, Barry Remis, and Blaine Egan.

Staying alert

Safety gear

Obeying traffic laws

Sharing the road with auto traffic

These young cyclists learned the value of preparation and teamwork,

of involving family in their work, of garnering successes,

and of giving back. Since the race, RYBT has gathered for community service projects.

Photos by HOLLY STARLEY For a week in November, Adams Elementary PE teacher, Julie Churchman, led a daily field trip of a dozen sixth graders from the school on Las Positas, along State Street to Stearn’s Wharf, and onto the bike path toward their final destination East Beach. SBBIKE LCIs accompanied each group, and along the way, Adams and the LCIs offered advice as the young cyclists navigated real-world scenarios. Photo by MIKE VERGEER

8

Quick Release Winter 2015-16

LEARN YOUR BIKE IS BACK! In January. With new instructor, Jim C. More at sbbike.org/ learnyourbike.

Check out the “Riviera Youth Bike Team 2015 Recap” on YouTube.

Photos by CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS

www.SBBIKE.org

9

BICI CENTRO

BICI CENTRO

Volunteer Wrenchers V

o lunteering is voting for the kind of you community you

want to live in. Every Tuesday, Bici Centro’s volunteer wrenchers rebuild donated bikes, creating the fleets for earn-a-bike youth programs, giveaways, and the affordable retail bikes on offer to the community.

Photos STEPHEN LEWIS.

In 2015 Satellite shops operating: 2 SBici at SB High School and Bici at City College Shop supervisors Rafaell and Lynneal are both bilingual.

Rafaell Rozendo first came to Bici to build his own bike. He was hooked. “Seeing this place and how awesome an asset it is to the community, you just want to grow it,” he says.

Lynneal Williams, who spent the summer working at a bike shop in Mexico, misses the random chaos but is grateful for Bici’s organization, volunteers, and how smoothly the shop runs. Lynneal is one of three women on staff at Bici, and she’s dedicated to helping women feel comfortable repairing their bikes.

Donated bikes refurbished back into the community: 632* DIY shop users (Bici + SBCC’s Bici): 4,314** Volunteer registrants for all SBBIKE events: 1,484** (*Bicycles and parts are either earned through youth education classes or work trade or sold modestly to fund the Bici Centro Shop and youth education programming.) (**Shop users includes repeat users and volunteers include multiple registrations for one volunteer)

Bob “the Sloth” Zimels worked with Safe Routes to School for over a decade. Volunteering at the shop allows him to continue helping young cyclists. He calls himself the local gadfly, referring to his persistence getting road leaks that made for unsafe riding repaired. Bob is a guitarist known for his bawdy tunes and nicknamed Sloth for a Broadway song he’s played for forty years. He rarely remembers gloves and has to clean his hands multiple times so he can play.

Attend free workshops at Bici Centro every Tuesday.

Workshops will run from 5–6 or 5:30–6:30, and registration isn’t required. Show up and learn with Bici volunteers.

Like many Bici volunteers, John Fernandez discovered the shop when he came to work on a bike. He saw an opportunity to apply his skills and learn more. John likes the idea of a bike he’s worked on being sold to someone who really needs one.

“You don’t need a car in this town.” His eyes brighten. “With a bike, you get the best parking spots. And you don’t have to worry about traffic.”

Because of your sponsorship, memberships, and donations, SBBIKE’s advocacy, outreach, education, and shop programs have made phenomenal strides in Santa Barbara’s community in 2015. Help make SBBIKE's 2016 even stronger!

o $100

10

Quick Release Winter 2015-16

o $250 o $500 o Check

Yes! I support cycling! o Credit Card name (business)

Nolan Lamb particularly enjoys volunteering on DIY Open Shop days, when he can teach people bike mechanics. Getting more bikes on the road is important to him. And his gentle tone and calm manner suggest he’s easy to learn from.

For Russell Stephens, volunteering at Bici is part of a rehabilitation program. The shop is a perfect fit. He bikes everywhere (and has the calves to prove it). Plus, he’ll soon be studying automotive repair at SBCC. He enjoys Bici’s fast-paced learning environment and is grateful for the opportunities life is affording him.

address city,state,zip phone email

o Other $

Credit Card Valid Through

Security Code

Signature

or donate online: www.sbbike.org Make check payable to the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

SB BIKE

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations are tax deductable as allowed by law. www.SBBIKE.org

11

SB BIKE

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

For your voices, for being a part of SBBIKE, for making our community a better place to live and ride, thank you.