June
2005

Bike Week succeeds with many events



Our Bike Week Celebration evening dinner and entertainment attracted nearly 50 enthusiastic people. Photo by Don Lubach.

• Bike Week 2005 is behind us, but it has left a cluster of fine memories. So many people volunteered to help each day that we cannot thank them all, but our lives are enriched by their dedication.
• Our gala event of the year went especially well—our 2nd annual Bike Week Celebration. Nancy Mulholland was recognized for her work on CycleSmart with a certificate of appreciation. Ralph Fertig was honored for his ongoing contributions with a series of testimonials accompanied by LED "blinky" lights to wear around his neck. And touring cyclist Willie Weir returned to tell us tales of biking in Turkey during the Iraq War.

Students arriving at Santa Barbara Middle School on Bike to School Day. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Touring cyclist Willie Weir (left) spoke at the Adult Education program "What Matters Most," hosted by Marsha Karpeles and Don Lubach.

• Both Bike to School and Bike to Work Days were successful, although participation numbers are not yet available. A group of kids were seen biking together to Santa Barbara Junior High; there was no official event there, so they created their own. At UCSB, organizers set up tables, umbrellas and cook stoves at the hill above Goleta Beach so passing motorists would see it. Pancakes in the shape of bicycles or wheels were offered to arriving bicyclists. Willie Weir's performance for the Adult Education "What Matter Most" program was a new event that elicited calls to bring him back next year. Our 125 Bike Week flags flew along State Street for all to see.
• Overall, bicycling was energized, and recognition was bestowed upon both those who love biking and those who are just starting to.

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Join the Team Bike Challenge during June

• Win prizes while biking! You and your team of four others could win a whale watching cruise, a wine tasting tour, or lots of other things. Just create a team of five and register online for the Team Bike Challenge.
• Sponsored by Traffic Solutions, the idea is to get you and your friends to bike more for utilitarian trips, like to work. It's open to Santa Barbara County residents. You don't have to start on June first, you can start part way into the month. Details and registration at www.sbbikeweek.com.

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New meeting location

• Since November 1991, we've been grateful to the County Public Works for use of their conference room for our meetings. Now, however, they need it for other purposes. So, at the suggestion of Gastón Renjel, and follow up by Erika Lindemann, we have a handsome "Community Room" for our meetings at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, 1021 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.

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Coalition gets seepage clarification



Seeping water and mud continue to make the Castillo Street undercrossing of Highway 101 a challenge for bicyclists. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• For three days in late April, Caltrans worked on the Castillo Street undercrossing of Highway 101 in Santa Barbara. Perpetual seepage of water has been a problem for years, especially for bicyclists. What Caltrans did was remove the concrete pavers. The result, at least for bicyclists, was disappointing due to continued mud and water seepage onto the bikelanes.
• A letter from Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig to Caltrans brought prompt replies from Pat Mickelson and Marta Bortner. Bortner wrote, "Phase I of the project completed in April was not intended to fix the water issue at Castillo. The pavers were removed and the concrete cleaned and inspected in order to make a determination if a technology developed by the Army Corps of Engineers would work to prevent the water from seeping up through the concrete under the interchange. It has been determined that the technology will work."
• The new work will be done this summer and should be complete before City College is back in session. "The goal of a dry, smooth and clean passage for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists should be met," Bortner tells us. We're looking forward to a dry solution for a slippery situation.

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Coalition pursues biking in Measure D

• A big project of ours this spring is a petition asking SBCAG to include bicycling in the renewal of Measure D, the half-cent sales tax for transportation that will expire in 2009 unless people vote to continue it.
• At Earth Day, we introduced the petition and 130 people signed it, more than signed one at Earth Day last year for the Santa Ynez River Trail. One man told us in signing it, "I'll only vote for the tax if there's a provision for bicycling in it."
• Since then, we've gathered 143 more at our monthly meeting and Bike to Work Day events in Santa Barbara and UCSB. By the time you read this, we will have copies of the petition in bike shops and elsewhere around the County. We're not asking for you to vote for the tax, only to include provisions for bicycling in it.

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Earth Day activities are Coalition success



Nancy Mulholland, right, describes our Bicycle Coalition services and activities to visitors. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On April 24, the Bicycle Coalition participated in our 14th Earth Day celebration at the County Courthouse. Our involvement started the year after we were organized, reflecting our commitment to sustainable and appropriate transportation.
• For three years now, we were in two areas: our bike parking and adjacent free bike check-up area on Anapamu Street; and our regular information booth in an alternative transportation area on the Courthouse lawn. This year, we had a banner on our canopy that read:
• The most energy-efficient means of human travel on our planet is...drum roll...the bicycle.
• Thanks to bike mechanics Geoff Grow and Kamron Sockolov who worked all day long servicing 80 bicycles, more than in 2004. The bike parking area was full most of the day, with overflow bikes locked to any nearby solid thing. This year, we're thankful to Dru van Hengel at the City for arranging the barricades that worked perfectly for "lean and lock" bike parking.
• We promoted our bike tour for the Sustainability Project's Parade of Green Buildings, our bike rides and other online web resources, our upcoming Adult Ed "Street Skills for Cyclists" class, and our Bike Week Celebration with Willie Weir.
• Our appreciated raffle of gift certificates for six bike shops was open to those who biked to Earth Day. This year, there were 171 participants, over twice as many as last year. Winners of the $30 certificates were:
• Marge Schwartz, VeloPro Cyclery
• Ian Jones, Big Gear Bike Gear
• Ralph Luikart, Fastrack Bicycles
• Lauri, Hazard's Cyclesport
• Joyce Anderson, Commuter Bicycles
• Ralph Kornahrens, Open Air Bicycles.
• We passed out 78 copies of Quick Release, 50 County bike maps, 31 bumper stickers (our last ones), 40 Bicycle Coalition brochures, 18 "Celebration" reservation cards, and 62 sheets listing web site links.
• Special thanks to Pierre Delong and Ralph Fertig who worked all day long, and to others who contributed so much to make Earth Day another success in reaching our community: Don Lubach, Bob Burgess, Jonathan Madajian, Bob Swinney, Nancy Mulholland, Mark Sapp, Gastón Renjel and Wilson Hubbell.

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Central Coast Velodrome is coming!

• Mike Hecker, the driving force behind a regional movement to build a Central Coast Velodrome in Goleta, reports progress. So far, secured pledges of $50,000 have been obtained toward the estimated cost of $450,000-$500,000 for an Olympic 200-meter velodrome cycling track.
• This summer, a Board of Directors will be established and the Central Coast Velodrome Association will file for 501c3 nonprofit status, so that donations will be tax deductible as allowed by law. Then, the CCVA directors will return to the Gersh Park managers to craft a final agreement.
• After that, as Hecker sees it, there will be a huge effort to raise the construction money. If all goes well, groundbreaking could occur as early as spring 2006, and completion later in the year.

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CycleSmart bicyclist education news



Nancy Mulholland leads Monte Vista students on a final bike ride. Photo by Jennifer Wilk.

• Adult Education Street Skills Class
• Our first Santa Barbara Adult Education class in Street Skills took place on May 7th, and attracted 18 students. Instructor Nancy Mulholland did a superb job keeping the pace moving throughout the four-hour class. The number of participants, while encouraging, was below our anticipated turnout of 30. Continuation of the class this fall is currently under discussion.
• If you were not able to attend the no-fee May class, you may want to contact the Adult Ed office at Schott Center and ask them to present it again.
• July Street Skills class
• Feel vulnerable on the road? You're not alone. Join others at our Street Skills for Cyclists class. Learn vehicular cycling principles and bike handling skills for safe riding on roads. The class will take place on Thursday, July 7th from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. An optional 6-hour follow-up will be offered on July 9th for those desiring instruction and practice of on-road bicycling.
• The Street Skills class is open to all those 16 years of age and older. It costs $30 and will take place in the David Gebhard Public Meeting room in the Community Development and Public Works Building, 630 Garden Street in Santa Barbara. League Cycling Instructors Dru van Hengel and Bob Zimels will lead this class. Registration is required. A form is online at www.sbbike.org/docs/Street-Skills.pdf. Class size is limited.
• The optional follow up on-bike, on-road session on July 9th from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM is open at no charge to those who have completed previous Street Skills classes. Any questions? Contact us at CycleSmart@sbbike.org.
• CycleSmart enlarges committee
• The departure of Chuck Anderson for Pennsylvania left a void in our CycleSmart committee that is being more than filled by Steve Morris and Hildy Hoffman.
• Morris is one of the original members of the Bicycle Coalition. He uses his Steve Morris Driving School as a platform to make sure his student drivers are aware of bicyclists sharing our roads. A registered League Cycling Instructor (LCI), Morris will bring years of experience to our committee.
• We're additionally excited to have Hildy Hoffman, another LCI and an active member of the Goleta Valley Cycling Club join us. She brings lots of talent and energy to our ongoing efforts.
• Our Committee for 2005/2006 now consists of: Erika Lindemann and Dru Van Hengel, Co-Chairs; Steve Morris, Hildy Hoffman and Nancy Mulholland. With this team, we are looking forward to a year of increasing options for bicycle safety education in Santa Barbara County. Watch for updates.
• "SuperCyclers" class completed at Monte Vista school
• Our first SuperCyclers class of eight students at Monte Vista Elementary School ended on May 12th with a street bike ride. Thanks to LCIs Erika Lindemann, Hildy Hoffman, Dru Van Hengel, and Bob Zimels for helping Nancy Mulholland on the final day. It was a great success and we're looking for other schools to host our SuperCyclers program.
• Donation to CycleSmart program
• Last month, we reported that the Fund for Santa Barbara had rejected our request for money for teaching materials, a laptop computer and digital projector. Because of that, a member of the Bicycle Coalition donated $500 to help our CycleSmart program. We are very grateful to that generous individual and assure him that the money will be well used.

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New Breeze buses have bike racks

• On May 9th, a new bus service called "Breeze" started between Santa Maria and Lompoc, with a stop at Vandenberg AFB. All buses have bike racks on them. They run only weekdays so the racks are perfect for commuting if you're beyond walking distance (or SMAT and COLT buses) at either of your trip ends. Each rack will carry two bikes on a first-come, first-served basis. The drivers will make every effort to accommodate additional bicycles inside, as they already have on several occasions.
• Price is $2 each way, with monthly passes available. For more information call (800) 417-2137 or visit www.breezebus.com.

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“Touring by Bike” attracts a crowd



Wilson Hubbell describes the joys of bicycle touring at our Bike Week event. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Twenty people turned out for our Bike Week "Touring by Bike" presentation at Java Station on May 19th. Discussions of many aspects of bike touring by Wilson and Gail Hubbell, Nancy Mulholland, and Mark Sapp were greatly appreciated, and lots of questions showed genuine interest.
• Pros and cons were described for commercial tours versus carry-it-yourself loaded touring. Different kinds of bikes, what to take, use of trailers and panniers, how to pack, and lots more were considered.
• Gail Hubbell distributed a Bicycle Tour Essentials check list of things to consider taking on your tour. She can email you a copy if you contact her at: gailhubbell@aol.com.
• Bike touring is an increasingly popular means of travel not only around the US, but throughout the world. It's good exercise, it can save money, you get to see life at a sensible pace, and you meet people who truly appreciate your efforts.

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Coalition helps Senate transportation bill

• Two months after the US House of Representatives approved a six-year $284 billion transportation bill that is a renewal of the TEA-21 act, the Senate passed its own $295 billion version by a 89-11 vote.
• During discussion of the Senate version, two notable amendments were considered. One (Tom Harkin, D-Iowa) would have required state DOTs to include bicycling and walking in their policies. We wrote to our Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, asking them to vote for it, which they did. It was unfortunately—and narrowly—defeated, 44-53. Lots of groups advocated for the issue, including the AARP, and the close vote was noted by many who had expected a larger margin of defeat.
• The second amendment (Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama) would have reduced funding for clean air, transit, bicycling and walking transportation by $11 billion. Thankfully, it was soundly trounced 16-84.
• Currently, a Senate-House committee has started working out differences. This is difficult not only because of the complexity of both versions, but also because of President George Bush's threat of a veto if the amount is above $284 billion. Because the sixth extension of the expired act ends May 31st, a seventh extension was approved.

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UCSB bike impound provokes Bio II folk



Thirteen bicycles were parked near the Bio II entrance in the afternoon of the day 40 others were impounded that morning. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bike to Work Day at UCSB attracted new bicycle commuters to campus. It also attracted the Community Service Organization (CSO) student workers who impounded about 40 bicycles parked in front of the Biological Sciences II building.
• The CSO web site says bicycles can only legally park in bike racks or they may be impounded. It goes on to say, "Impounding bicycles is necessary to prevent accidents and hazards, but is always the last action taken after verbal warnings, posting of signs, and tagging of the area." However, another section of campus code says that parking is permissible if no racks are available and bikes don't obstruct pedestrians.
• According to biology staff and students, there were signs months earlier, but they were then removed and bike parking resumed. On the morning of the impound, an email warning was sent by the CSO only after the bicycles had been hauled away.
• In addition to the question of warnings, two other issues follow: bike locks are destroyed and impounded bicycles are always kept overnight. Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig was quoted by Barney Brantingham in the Santa Barbara News-Press: "Probably more people would be sympathetic with cyclists who have their locks destroyed and bikes impounded overnight if motorists were treated the same way. For example, what if those who violated parking regulations had their door locks broken and cars towed for overnight storage? That would be equal treatment under the law."
• As this goes to press, campus administration is working with bicycling faculty, staff and students to resolve the issues. If indeed the CSO overstepped campus regulations, we hope that restitution will be made to those harmed.

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May Coalition meeting topics

• Our May 3rd Bicycle Coalition attracted 12 people to discuss these topics:
• Ralph Fertig described our petition to SBCAG asking them to include bicycling in any Measure D tax renewal.
• The need for a new meeting location was discussed; our options will be investigated.
• Ralph Fertig and others described our Earth Day participation and Parade of Green Buildings bike ride.
• Nancy Mulholland described our Monte Vista Elementary School "SuperCyclers" education program.
• A new Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival at Elings Park on June 11th was announced.
• Matt Dobberteen said that the County is probably applying for California Safe Routes to School funding.
• Ralph Fertig announced that there will be another bicyclist count at Santa Barbara locations, June 7-16; a sign-up sheet was circulated.
• Bike Week events were described, particularly our Bike Week Celebration, "What Matters Most" Adult Ed class, and an evening of "Touring by Bike."
• Erika Lindemann described Traffic Solutions' Team Bike Challenge that will take place in June.
• Bike to School and Bike to Work Day activities were discussed.
• Mike Hecker reported an increased participation at his Firestone MTB race weekend.

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Chris Orr Lore
by James Wagner



Chris Orr with his "Hawthorn 5-Bar" made by Cleveland Welding in the 1930s. Photo by James Wagner.

• What do Mountain Bike Advocacy, Trail Maintenance, Bike Collecting and a winning Smile have in common? Chris Orr! I asked past-president of the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers. (SBMTVs) how he got involved with mountain biking. Chris reports that due to some physical differences in one of his legs as a youngster, it was easier to get around on wheels than on foot. For Chris, "Bicycles are not a hobby, they are part of my life."
• Chris grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and began riding over rough terrain as a three-year old. He would go off the beaten path on his tricycle and loved riding over the rise of a small bridge that spanned a water feature near a fountain. As Chris grew so did his involvement and love of human-powered wheels. Chris went from his trike to two wheelers, to bike jumping, to BMX racing, and even "podiumed" racing mountain bikes in 1999-2002.
• Chris's voice comes to life as he talks about all the work done by the SBMTVs. Tabling trailheads so that all users may learn ways to harmoniously co-exist on the trails, for the highest good of all concerned, serves as an inspiring endeavor. The SBMTVs distribution of thousands of bike bells to all mountain bikers has helped too. SBMTVs also does monthly trail maintenance and advocacy projects. As a result, Chris reports that hiker complaints about bikes are down from their peak in 2000 due to their efforts.
• SBMTV programs have served as models for other trail communities and recently organized the first nationwide "Take a Kid Mountain Biking" event and got 60 local kids involved in mountain biking and learning about the local ocean and butterfly reserves from local experts.
• When not adding to his collection of curvaceous bikes from the 1930s, Chris mostly does day rides and occasionally ventures off into the backcountry with his mountain bike loaded down with panniers and a BOB trailer.
• Chris stands as a local hero and serves as a wonderful human resource. Regrettably, given the cost of local housing, Chris reports he has been thinking about moving out of the area, perhaps to Texas, Nevada or Washington. Our loss would be their gain.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara & Goleta
• Commuter Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Jeffrey Stoutenborough, Architect, Santa Barbara
• King Cycle Group, Portland OR
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Piekert Group Architects, Santa Barbara
• We welcome our newest Bicycle Coalition member Caroline Tesiorowski and Andy Bowen, and we certainly thank those who renewed their memberships: Thomas Matthias, Harry Nelson, David & Christine Bourgeois, Jim Marshall, Jamie Goldstein & Amy Bowen, Kathleen Boehm & Jared Dawson, Nicola Gordon, Galen Edward Miller, Dennis & Patricia Forster, Connie Styrwoll, Kathy Blake, Robert Goettler, Corey Anderson, and Cheryl Everett.