March
2003

Coalition pursues Santa Maria trail



The railroad runs along the northern edge of Allan Hancock College, under Highway 101, past homes, and along farms, to the Santa Maria River. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On February 11, the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Commission considered the opportunity to create a trail to replace a 4.9-mile section of current railroad. The Bicycle Coalition was represented by Vice President Ralph Fertig who urged the commission members to be visionary and look at future needs when the City's urban growth expands into the present-day agricultural areas where the rail line goes.
• The railroad under consideration is owned by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. They announced their intention to abandon that section last October, and the City obtained a 180-day extension to June 12 to consider possible action.
• The Recreation and Parks commissioners listened to over an hour of public testimony. About half were farmers who wanted the land for agriculture. The other half were in favor of buying the land for public multipurpose trails. Three members of Tailwinds Bicycle Club spoke, along with a spokeswoman for a walking group, and a man from a railroad group that wants to run a tourist train there.
• Alexander Posada, the Recreation and Parks Director suggested four actions that the commissioners might choose. After a lengthy discussion, they decided to pursue the purchase. They asked staff to word a new recommendation that would ask the City Council to accept the railroad land as an important link in circulation; to authorize use of $30,000 in City Trail funds to develop an acquisition plan; and to assist community groups in funding the acquisition.
• The next step will be on March 11 when the Rec and Parks Commissioners meet to discuss their new recommendation that will subsequently be sent to the City Council no earlier than March 18 for action.
• It's at that City Council meeting that public opinion will be heard again. It's very important that cyclists, bike shop owners, active lifestyle advocates, and others speak up for saving the corridor. Once it's gone, it's gone forever. We'll keep you informed here and on our email list.

Commute to work by bike is first choice after cars



Even in the dark days of winter, the County's bike enclosure has regular use by workers who don't store their bikes inside. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• A new study about local workers shows that—after the automobile—the bicycle is the preferred means of getting to their jobs.
• The January study asked Santa Barbara County Public Works employees a number of questions, among them "How do you normally commute to work?" An impressive 85% of the workers responded to the survey.
• 
• As expected, most said that they use cars to get to work. But if not driving, bicycling is the favored means of commuting for 8% of the workers. That's more than the 6% who walk. More than the 4% who take the Clean Air Express bus (that's a natural-gas transit project run by Traffic Solutions with 8 buses for North County commuters coming south). And more than the 1% who use local bus service.

Effective contact with public agencies
Word from the President, by Wilson Hubbell

• Here's how to get the attention of public agencies and get your needs attended to.
• City, County and State transportation agencies provide us with the infrastructure we use to get around. These organizations primarily handle motorized transportation concerns, with bike and pedestrian issues as a sideline, and sometimes a problem associated with bicycling can slip below their radar screens unless we speak up.
• The traditional way of getting your governmental needs attended to is to contact one of your local elected officials and tell them your troubles. This generally works well and sometimes—as a last resort—it may be the only way to get the attention you need. But what about reporting routine things like potholes in bikelanes or lights out on bikepaths? Knowing who to call and what information to provide may be all that you need.
• Each issue of the Quick Release contains a list of who to call in which jurisdiction regarding bicycling facility problems, traffic signals that don't detect bikes and things like that. In addition to a telephone, nearly all the people on the list have e-mail access.
• The best way to get a problem solved is to send the appropriate person on the list an e-mail containing:

• The location of the problem,
• A description of what's wrong, and
• A picture of the problem (as an attachment to the e-mail).
• This really helps the responsible governmental organization because the person receiving the information can send it directly to the maintenance crew that will be responsible for going out to fix the problem. The crew—and their supervisor—will also have your picture and written description of what you believe is wrong. This method is much more effective than a phone call for expressing your concerns, and you can copy the whole thing to higher-ups in the organization if you don't get some sort of a response in a reasonable amount of time.

More site visitors

• The Bicycle Coalition started its web site over seven years ago. However, we didn't have a counter that told us how many individual visitors actually came to our site until March 2000. We just completed a third 12-month period, and it shows that we've more than doubled the number of visitors.
• The site itself currently consists of 1275 items spread over 187 web pages, occupying over 38 megabytes of memory. The bulk of that consists of our history as archived in 148 issues of our newsletter Quick Release. Our thanks to webmaster Ralph Fertig for all his work in promoting bicycling to the online world.

Electric bikes part of Adult Ed class



Don Lubach tries a Merida electric bike while Bicycle Coalition member Bob Cooper watches. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bicycle Coalition member Don Lubach just taught a Santa Barbara Adult Education class on electric-powered vehicles for transportation. The Saturday, February 15 class attracted 14 participants, most of them retired people, who wanted to learn about getting around the South Coast by means other than a car.
• Lubach talked about the problems of congestion and pollution with which automobiles burden our community, and how we'll benefit from clean and appropriately-sized transportation. He was helped by Todd Wolfe, owner of Alternative Motors. Wolfe brought an electric car, scooter, and bike to describe and allow people to try. A good feature of the bike was that it required pedaling to run, and supplied the battery boost for challenging hills. Thanks to Lubach for conceiving of the class and for Continuing Education for supporting it.

Possible loss of Ortega Hill bikepath

• On February 12, Caltrans' project manager Rob Miller described problems with the upcoming Ortega Hill bikepath between Montecito and Summerland. What's happening is that the lighting planned for the path "may have negative effects that the community has not fully considered yet," says Miller. Those effects may require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that not only needs more funding, but might also mean a delay and possible loss of current funds if construction doesn't begin this year.
• The Bicycle Coalition's Wilson Hubbell and Ralph Fertig immediately responded with emails to involved individuals. They both said not to let lighting along the path hurt the project—it can always be added later. Miller feels that it will be resolved and he anticipates a draft EIR and public hearing in April.

Coalition urges funds for safer schools

• The Bicycle Coalition asked the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund two projects that will make bicycling to school safer. The application is for $105,000 to be used around all 52 schools in the unincorporated County. Wilson Hubbell, the County's alternative transportation coordinator and president of our Bicycle Coalition, believes that both of the projects will make motorists more attentive in school zones. The two projects are these:
• Signs for school zones, $60,000. Hannah-Beth Jackson's bill that allows an increase of motorist fines within school zones when children are present was signed into law last September. If jurisdictions choose, they can implement the program that will double the fine for misdemeanors, and increase it for infractions. For it to be implemented, signs stating the fines must be installed around the school zones, and this funding is for those signs at all 52 schools. The program is a pilot program in three California counties—Alameda, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Revenues from the fine increases will be used by the schools to make it safer for children walking or bicycling to school.
• Solar-powered speed signs, $45,000. A year ago, the first two of these innovative radar signs were installed near Montecito Union School with great success. They detect the speed of motorists entering a school zone and display their speed in large numbers during hours when children are around. They are installed in a footing alongside the roadway, and don't need the large trailers that frequently block bikelanes leading to school. The funds will purchase six new signs for use at yet-undetermined schools.

Two cycling events draw hundreds of racers



The Mothballs Crit closed-loop race brought 400 racers to Goleta. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



The Good Old Days Road Race took place among lush green hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Two cycling races held on February 2 and 8 attracted 700 competitors to Santa Barbara County. The weather was perfect for racing, our hills and fields were lush green, and the well-publicized presence of the US Postal Service team for January training elevated cycling on everybody's mind.
• Mothballs Crit. This is an early season criterium race sponsored by the Echelon Santa Barbara cycling club. It was held at Research Park in Goleta where it attracted 400 racers, reported the club's president James Morgan. Having the race each year at the same time and place probably helps attract an increasing number of cyclists, conjectured former president Bryan Krouse.
• Good Old Days Road Race. This is a new road race sponsored by the recently-revived Santa Barbara Bicycle Club and Mike Hecker's Stump Grinder Productions. The races were 34, 68 and 102 miles long, depending on the riders' classification. They drew 300 racers to the events that took place on Zaca Station and Foxen Canyon Roads in the Santa Ynez Valley.
• The event was the first that the club has promoted in five years, showing that they have indeed returned with enthusiasm and professionalism. Among the pro riders who raced were Jonathan Vaughters and Steve Larsen. And a good sign for the future of cycling, nearly 100 beginner racers competed.

LCI class for BikeEd

• Santa Barbara's Dru van Hengel is working with San Luis Obispo's Jean Anderson and the League of American Bicyclists to offer training to become a League Certified Instructor (LCI). It's scheduled for April 12-13. Once certified, individuals can teach bicycling classes, and obtain insurance coverage through the League for possible injury during the those classes.
• For details on the LCI training, go to www.bikeleague.org/educenter/seminars.htm. To get other details, contact Jean Anderson at 545-9003 or email her at slohpver@charter.net.

Challenge of aroma

• Apparently, people who use the County's Public Works Conference Room after we've had our noon meetings have complained about residual odors. Yup, people who bike instead of drive will sweat, so we're guilty as charged. However, we don't want to loose the room that we've used for a decade, so we're open to suggestions of how to deal with complaints without hosing everybody down. Ideas?

Andy Singer

Help needed for Santa Barbara Earth Day

• Since 1992, the Bicycle Coalition has participated in the South Coast's Earth Day celebration. This year, we plan to reach more environmentally-aware people than before at the April 27th event. We're planning three things:

• A bicycle parking area
• An information booth in the main area
• Free bike check-ups by mechanics.
• Although it's still undecided, we may have bicycle "valet" parking where our volunteers park others bikes for them. We've done it before, but are considering extending it to other events that attract numbers of local people.
• Logistics are being handled by Pierre Delong again. The Bicycle Coalition is offering $12 an hour to mechanics to work on bikes (they have to bring their own tools). We'll be looking for helpers for set-up, break-down, and help during the day to chat bicycling with visitors. The event makes everybody feel wonderful about helping our beleaguered planet. Contact Delong at 962-0662 or by email at pierre@rain.org.

Carpinteria Coastal Vista trail opens



Looking west along the wonderful new Coastal Vista trail, with fine views in all directions. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• A splendid, although short, trail is open along the Carpinteria Bluffs. The surface isn't paved, it's compacted decomposed granite that's fine for bikes going at a casual pace. And considering the spectacular views of the ocean and Channel Islands, there's no reason to speed.
• It has what looks like a wood railing all along the ocean side, but it's really concrete cast to look like wood. Landscaping is yet to come, and the trail will eventually extend along the entire Carpinteria coast in both directions, says Public Works Director Rick Fulmer. Railroad undercrossings to the beach are being considered as future projects.

February meeting topics

• Our February 4th meeting was our first daytime meeting of 2003. A large number of topics were discussed and actions taken.
• The Coalition will support the County's application to the state Office of Traffic Safety for school safety measures.
• Motorized scooters on bikepaths were considered, and the Coalition voted to pursue prohibiting gas-powered ones on paths.
• Shoreline Drive changes in Santa Barbara were discussed.
• Bob Burgess showed photos of construction of the new Micheltorena Street bridge in Santa Barbara; the Coalition will write the City and Caltrans to assure that the proposed bikepath next to the railroad will not be compromised by new construction.
• We decided to have the remainder Bike Week flags sewn up for sale.
• The Santa Maria Valley Railroad abandonment was discussed; Wilson Hubbell will check with County Parks for any interest, and Ralph Fertig will speak at the Santa Maria Rec and Parks Commission meeting.
• Wilson Hubbell reported the results of a County Public Works employee survey that showed 8% commute by bike.
• Pierre Delong will pursue Earth Day participation, including a separate booth in the central area, bike check-ups and parking.
• Wilson Hubbell has asked US Representative Gallengly to include Santa Ynez Valley bikelanes in the TEA-21 reauthorization.
• Our April 1st evening meeting will be at Sizzler Restaurant in Goleta.

Bikesmiths returns



Blooming flowers and trees surround the new Bikesmiths cottage in Carpinteria. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Longtime bike shop Santa Barbara Bikesmiths closed two years ago when the rents soared, but the owner Jim Hopperstad has reopened in Carpinteria as "Bikesmiths." It's the cutest bike shop around, specializing in bike repairs and maintenance. Stop by 5441B Carpinteria Avenue when you're in the neighborhood.

Dan Secord, bicyclist (and councilman)

by Ralph Fertig



Dr. Dan Secord, dressed for business, relaxes for a moment at Santa Barbara's City Hall. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• "I always had a bicycle as long as I can remember," Santa Barbara City Councilman Dr. Dan Secord relates. "When I was growing up, I used my bike to deliver newspapers from a canvas bag." Then, in his late teens, as Dan's interests turned to women and cars, his trusty bicycle was left in the dust.
• Originally from Redlands, California, Dan studied medicine at UC Riverside and when he later looked for a community to practice, he had three requirements: it must have a world-class hospital, an oceanfront beach, and an airport. Santa Barbara had them all. He's never left or regretted his decision.
• Dan returned to bicycling along with other members of a neighborhood running group, the WLPA, who sought gentler exercise as they aged. They still run and bike as often as possible, and have a big event, the "Turkey Trot" on Thanksgiving Day when the extended families run and bicycle around town.
• Oneof Dan's visionary programs that he has championed is to have "green bikes" around for easy access by anybody in Downtown Santa Barbara. His original idea of hundreds of bikes everywhere has been modified by liability issues to a controlled, card-accessed program that is still coming. "The City's process is glacial," observes Dan with resignation.
• The two most memorable bicycle tours that he's taken were commercial, sagged tours. One went from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone, crossing the continental divide seven times. The other went from Astoria, Oregon to Northern California. Both had members of his local WLPA group, but they enjoyed meeting other riders as well.
• Does Dan bike to City Hall? Of course. "I put my bike in my office and change into clothes that I keep there." An admirable example for the City and us all.

Shoreline bikeway improvements approved



Part of Shoreline Drive will be reconfigured with a new bikepath, wider sidewalk, and landscaping. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Changes important to bicyclists in Santa Barbara are coming to a popular section of Shoreline Drive near Ledbetter Beach. The improvements essentially remove the ocean-side lanes of the current four-lane highway and replace them with a separate bikepath, a grassy lawn, and wider sidewalk. This means:
• The uphill bike lane will remain.
• The downhill bikelane will be removed on the downhill section, but will return for the flat roadway section before Loma Alta.
• A new 11-foot wide bike path will connect Ledbetter parking lot with Shoreline Park.
• Bicyclists approaching the top of the bikepath will be directed to cross Shoreline Drive at the stop sign at La Marina.
• Bicyclists at the bottom of the downhill bikepath can choose to enter the Ledbetter parking lot, or the on-road bikelane.
• One major concern was what downhill motorists will think of bicyclists in the 12-foot roadway lane: on the hill, bicyclists will travel at 25-35 MPH, but once they reach the flatter section before the new bikelane appears, they will slow down. The question is what will motorists do behind the slowing bicyclist? It's hard to know until things are actually constructed, but given that traffic on that section of Shoreline is light and the shared flat section short, and the road is twelve feet wide, it may not be a problem.

This cross-section drawing shows the downhill part of Shoreline Drive: one bikelane, a 10-foot uphill lane, a 12-foot downhill lane for cars and bikes, the bikepath, a grassy area, and a wider sidewalk.

• On February 4, the project was considered by the Planning Commission. About 15 people spoke; nearly all favored the project, including the Bicycle Coalition's Ralph Fertig who thanked Rob Dayton and others who worked hard to design the project to accommodate bicyclists. The Commission agreed upon minor changes, but overall lauded the transformation of unused roadway to green space and improved facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians within the City's beautiful shoreline area.

Dan Burden workshop



Dan Burden, left, watches for motorists at a traffic-cone roundabout at Laguna and Valerio. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Dan Burden returned to Santa Barbara last February 3-4 to conduct a workshop for the City's Transportation Department and other individuals. Burden, founder of the Bicycle Federation of America and the Bikecentennial bike ride across the United States, now consults with municipalities that are planning walkable, bikable, and livable communities.
• The first day was spent looking at designs for intersections, crosswalks, paseos, roundabouts, and other traffic management methods. The second day consisted of experimenting with temporary control configurations at several intersections in the St. Francis Hospital area.

Active members

• Please thank and support the following businesses that are Bicycle Coalition members:

• King Cycle Group, Shasta Lake
• Lightning Cycle Dynamics, Lompoc
• MarBorg Industries, Santa Barbara
• Nett & Champion Insurance, Santa Barbara
• Rincon Cycles, Carpinteria
• Santa Barbara Infrared, Santa Barbara
• Tri Paradise Sports, Santa Barbara
• We're pleased to welcome new Bicycle Coalition members Kent Epperson and Brian Smith. Plus we're very grateful to the following who renewed their memberships: Curtis Ridling, Dick Kling, Don Lubach, Sam Hartline, Jean Anderson, Doris Phinney and Owen Patmor.