December
2005

Tour of California coming Feb 24-25th



Stages 5 and 6 of the Tour of California.

• All residents of Santa Barbara County will have a treat this coming February: a Tour-de-France-type stage race of our own called the "Tour of California." Sponsored by medical supplier Amgen, the eight-day race will attract an estimated million viewers in person, plus millions more watching it on ESPN2 television each day.
• The race will start in San Francisco and end in Los Angeles. The fifth stage will end in Santa Barbara on Friday, February 24th, and the sixth one will start here the next morning.
• For cyclists among us, it will be a rare chance to be inspired by 16 professional cycling teams competing in our backyard. For others, it will be an opportunity to promote bicycling in our area, not only to residents, but also to visitors who might bring their bikes and ride on our roads. The Tour will have a fitness lifestyle expo at the finish in Santa Barbara where we have a chance to promote bicycling to the crowd.
• Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum comments, "I am excited for our residents to see world-class cycling and for the cyclists to enjoy the beauty of Santa Barbara."
• The exact stage routes are still being determined; we should know by January just where the racers will be. The Tour managers are seeking volunteers to help on both days, probably giving you an up-close view of the action. If interested, you can volunteer online or just find out more about the Tour at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

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Rick Cole speaks about a sustainable “paradise”
by Alex Pujo



Rick Cole in Santa Barbara. Photo by Don Lubach.

• The room was filled to capacity, but the parking lot was not: it was that kind of evening. Sustainability people, UCSBers, COASTers, bikies, agency types and neighborhood activists came to hear Rick Cole speak in Santa Barbara last November 9th.
• Cole's lecture was organized by Eva Inbar and Ralph Fertig on behalf of COAST and the Bicycle Coalition, with co-sponsorships from the City of Santa Barbara and The Sustainability Project. His lecture was taped and will be re-broadcast on Channel 18 TV.
• Rick Cole is Ventura City Manager, former manager of the City of Azusa, and the former mayor of Pasadena. A politician turned into civil servant, and a civil servant becoming the most articulate spokesman for the integration of environmental, economic and social issues sometimes known as "urban democracy." Rick Cole began his talk about the vitality necessary for a city to survive. Venice, Italy was a powerful trading, banking and manufacturing center up until recently, when it became an expensive tourist hotel. A city needs to produce something in order to be more than a tourist attraction.
• The challenge to us is how can cities like Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo survive in a global economy with spiraling housing and labor costs without becoming an empty tourist and retirement shell? Cole offered the concept of intellectual and cultural production as a source of wealth in a city like ours where, unlike elsewhere, it's acceptable to show intelligence.
• The conversation turned to automobile-based planning and it touched on issues familiar to the audience. Over the years, our area hosted famous New Urbanists (Andres Duany, Peter Calthorpe, Stefanos Polizoides) and very talented transportation plan-ners like Walter Koulash and Dan Burden. Cole noted that UC research has determined that after widening our freeways, the new space is 90% filled with motorists in 10 years. It therefore is a misconception that widening will solve congestion.
• What is "smart growth"? It is not a denser subdivision with front porches at the edge of town. As the New Urbanists do, Cole supports "size" (building type) versus "use" zoning. He elaborated on the R-1 (single family) district, the cornerstone of the American Dream, and he described what he perceives as the complete failure of our current zoning codes.
• The talk switched quickly from transportation to social equity and the need for inclusive planning. Every American city has two transportation systems, separate and unequal: one for those who have cars, and one for the rest. The lack of minority faces in the audience is another sign of a conversation that is not taking place.
• Perhaps what sets apart Rick Cole from other speakers is his ability to connect economic, social, environmental and planning issues into a cohesive vision. He asks us to look at the broader picture, 50 years from now and see what kind of legacy we want to leave behind. Mixing New Frontier with Ancient Greece, he actually had the audience repeat the Athenian "pledge of allegiance" to build a better city and a better society. Not bad for a city manager.

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Program helps new bicyclists get rolling

• The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is helping to start an informal and casual bike commute mentor or "bike buddy" program in which regular bike commuters help new bike commuters get used to bicycling to work or around town for everyday transportation.
• Contact the Coalition if you have a regular bike commute and you'd be willing to have folks ride along with you or if you're looking to ride with an experienced cyclist who can help you with route selection and rules of the road. You can simply email CycleSmart@sbbike.org or call 961-8919. The Bicycle Coalition will post your commute info via its website, newsletter and CycleSmart bike classes.

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Traffic Solutions to reprint Santa Barbara County Bike Map

• Traffic Solutions, a division of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, is reprinting the wonderful Santa Barbara County Bike Map, last published in 2000. The map shows bike paths, lanes and many on-street bike routes for each community in Santa Barbara County. You can request free copies of these maps after December 15th by contacting Erika Lindemann at 961-8919 or via email at elindemann@sbcag.org.

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Bicycling in SE Asia
by Ralph Fertig



Carrying coconuts—or multiple people or other loads—by bike in Cambodia was much more common than in Thailand. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• I recently spent 17 days bicycling around two cities, Siem Reap in Cambodia and Chiang Mai in Thailand. Each is the second largest in their respective countries.
• The differences between them was striking. In Cambodia, I observed 40% of resident trips by bike, 40% by small motorcycle, 17% by foot, and maybe 3% by car or truck. In contrast, in affluent Thailand I saw about 1% bicycle, 60% motorcycle, 9% by foot, and 30% cars and trucks.
• In both countries I rented one-speed Chinese bicycles that matched that of residents. I was surprised at how well bicycles integrate with the small, quiet motorcycles—both have small footprints, excellent visibility, and an agility that allows them to closely weave around one another. That close packing provides very efficient use of roadway space.
• In Cambodia, there were very few traffic signals or stop signs. People tended to keep moving, even if they traveled against traffic before there was a gap to move to the right side. At first, it was disconcerting, but after I began to anticipate it, I was fine. The trick is to respond to what is in front of you, and expect those behind to do the same.
• In Thailand, there were wide paved roads and many traffic signals. At any signal, motorcyclists and bicyclists would filter through waiting motorists to wait at the front for the light to change, then move to the side as traffic picked up speed.
• The people in Cambodia, I noticed, were much more friendly, smiling and exchanging "hello" greetings with ease. They seem to be genuinely interested in fellow human beings. Certainly, the slower pace and closeness during travel helps foster more sympathetic and closer human relationships.

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Bicycle Coalition’s Grant House now on Council

• Congratulations to long-time member of our Bicycle Coalition Grant House who was elected to the Santa Barbara City Council on November 8th. House garnered the third largest number of votes after incumbents Roger Horton and Iya Falcone. He is the first Bicycle Coalition member to be elected to a local city council; he will be sworn into office in January.
• Grant House is a bicyclist and has been a member of the Bicycle Coalition since 1999. He is a co-founder of the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST); recently served on the City's Planning Commission; and has been involved with the Circulation Element, Eastside Study Group, 101 Parkway design guidelines, Milpas roundabout, the Oxnard-to-Goleta commuter rail, and much more.

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Judy Keim appointed to our Board

• The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition welcomes a new member of our Board of Directors: Judy Keim. Judy will replace Mike Hecker who recently left us after three years of contributing to our efforts, for which we are grateful. Judy Keim comes with a list of skills and accomplishments. Since 1992, she has owned Pedal and Paddle of Santa Barbara, a tour business that offers bike, kayak and walking tours in the South Coast area. She also works as a part-time translator/aide with deaf and hard of hearing elementary school students for the Goleta Union School District. If that's not enough, she additionally works at the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Center near the beach.
• Judy would like to see the Bicycle Coalition become more proactive in establishing programs that promote bicycling for commuting both to school and work and in the local tourist industry. She suggests that we accomplish these goals/programs by utilizing the media through public service announcements (PSAs) and perhaps even a weekly column in the News-Press or Independent about commuting and alternatives.
• She finally hopes that we will encourage tourists to bike by providing information about bicycling options at the Visitor Center and bike rental outlets.
• We certainly welcome Judy and look forward to sharing her ideas and energy. You can reach her by phone at 687-2912, or by email at jkpedpad@aol.com.

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CycleSmart bicyclist education news

• Bicycling Skills for Women
• The Art of Cycling: Using a Bike to Transport and Transform
• WHAT: We're offering a two-day course for women, taught by women. If you have been wanting to learn the basics of driving your bicycle confidently on the road with other vehicle users, in a supportive and fun environment, then this is the class for you! Have you thought about using your bike for getting around town or for fitness, but just don't feel comfortable on the road? We'll show you how to ride legally and confidently. We'll also talk about women-specific bikes and clothing and how to make decisions in traffic. Have you always wanted to learn to change a flat tire or to perform other simple on-road repairs? We'll teach you. We'll also practice bike handling skills and emergency avoidance maneuvers such as quick turns and stops. Then we'll take you out for a road ride with women League Cycling Instructors (LCIs).
• WHO: Any woman 16 years of age or older. Bring your daughter who is 14 years or older, with your supervision.
• WHEN Day 1: Saturday, January 21, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM for Basic Street Skills class (no bicycle is required for this part).
• WHEN Day 2: Saturday, January 28, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM for basic bicycle mechanics, commuting tips and on-road riding instruction and practice.
• WHERE: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments building, 260 North San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara.
• COST: $30, payable to LCI Erika Lindemann. You can pay at the class or by mail to 260 North San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, attn: Erika Lindemann. Don't have $30? That's okay, we want you to join us regardless! Some scholarships are available by calling or emailing Erika (contact info below).
• TO REGISTER: Simply call or email Erika Lindemann at 961-8919 or at CycleSmart@sbbike.org. (We appreciate an RSVP so we know to expect you.)

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Start at the local level

• "The more accessible street and paths are for bikes, the more likely it is people will use them. But it's got to start at the local level."
  — President George Bush, Bicycling, November 2005.

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Helping Santa Maria residents love their bikes
by Erika Lindemann

• When I asked Chuck Cryor about his favorite part of owning and running his bike shop, Pedal Power Bicycles, he had trouble answering. "All of it!" said a laughing Cryor. "I enjoy working with the many different people and on the different types of bikes that come my way. I'm known as a mountain biker, but I also like riding unicycles, tandems, road bikes and more."
• Chuck has lived in Santa Maria since 1970 and opened Pedal Power Bicycles ten years ago. His shop's mountain biking team has raced in many of the large bike races in our own backyard (like Firestone Walker, and the 24 Hour Chamberlain Race) and across the state. "[Former Coalition Board member] Mike Hecker has done so much for the sport of mountain biking in this town, it's great that he's putting on races in our area," Cryor added. Chuck has also had success organizing a summer cruiser ride in Santa Maria and has sponsored many of Santa Maria's Bike to Work Day events.
• Chuck is a member of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition because he appreciates what the group does for bicycling across Santa Barbara County. "I'm constantly amazed by the dedication of the folks running the group," said Cryor. "To have an all volunteer board and monthly newsletters and to have folks following stories and advocating for bicycling is so important."
• Santa Maria has seen more people interested in bicycling since gas prices have been on the rise. He thinks the current upward gas trend has gotten a lot more people to dust off their bikes and at least think about riding, even if they aren't doing so quite yet. "I'd also like to see Santa Maria continue to build more bike paths and lanes so the community continues to become more bikeable," Chuck added.
• Chuck is certainly doing his part to help Santa Maria residents ride their bikes more often. Drop in and say hello to him the next time you are in Santa Maria. His shop is at 1740 South Broadway.

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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, Oregon
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• We welcome our newest Bicycle Coalition member Drew Dara-Abrams. We additionally thank those who renewed their memberships: Harley Augustino, Gail and Wilson Hubbell, Benjamin Ellsworth, and Susan Mclaughlin.

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UCSB housing plan effects transportation



The Pardall tunnel that carries thousands of students between Isla Vista and UCSB campus is slated for removal in the Long Range Plan. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The University of California Santa Barbara seems to be doing everything right by providing housing for students, staff and faculty. In order to attract future academic and research employees, affordable housing must be available. The University's Long Range Development Plan includes 3900 new housing units scattered over 12 University-owned sites. One of its goals is to minimize car dependency, and that goal will be potentially achieved because all housing units are within easy bicycling distance of campus, and many are convenient walks as well.
• UCSB consultants Urban Design Associates (UDA) have offered a mix of multi-story, mixed-use apartments, townhouses, homes, and student residences that are combined with retail business or academic-support office space on the ground floors. High density, urban villages up to five stories high are envisioned instead of sprawling housing developments.
• Following all the talk about housing, supported by UDA's stunning computer presentations, we cannot help but note that housing is the dominant consideration, and that moving people is a secondary thought.
• Of major concern to us is the removal of the two bicyclist/pedestrian tunnels that currently connect Isla Vista to campus and provide safe travel under Ocean Road. New plans call for 12 blocks of housing along both sides of Ocean Road, removal of the tunnels, and 12 new at-grade connecting roads from IV that will convey motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians onto or across Ocean Road. With thousands of students on foot and bicycle contending with turning movements among motorists at multiple intersections, it's easy to envision serious conflicts.
• When we asked at a public meeting last spring whether the University had done any computer modeling of traffic under their new plans, they said "no," but if things don't work out, "we'll try something else."
• One suggested solution is that more buses can be added. However, buses are expensive, and they cannot offer the point-to-point and available-on-demand convenience of bicycling. Further, in these times of increasing obesity and reduced physical activity among students, the University should be encouraging more, not less exercise. Finally, with active University programs this fall to develop a sustainable campus, transportation that reduces energy and fossil fuel consumption should be given a priority, not discouraged.
• The University's transportation consultant Ian Lockwood has fine plans for accommodating bicyclists in bikelanes on the campus streets. But again, there has been no determination of likely bicyclist trips, and the resulting demand on those streets. Certainly, streets can carry huge volumes of bicyclists, but when they are mixed with faster, bulky cars, some nasty conflicts will occur.
• One final, positive aspect of all this development that doesn't seem to be appreciated is that many of the individuals who will move to the close-to-campus housing currently live miles away and generate car trips that potentially will be replaced with trips by bicycle, foot, or shuttle. We hope that the University will be prepared to actively promote those alternatives to its future residents.

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Coalition concerned about SB Bikestation

• Our Bicycle Coalition has been supportive of the construction of a "Bikestation" within the new Granada Garage parking structure from the time it was first suggested. Conceived as a mitigation measure to relieve motorist congestion in Santa Barbara's Downtown, implementation of a Bikestation has progressed for years along with the rest of the structure's design.
• The Granada Garage Bikestation would be different from other West Coast Bikestations that are located at transit hubs. Ours would be an unattended place for secure bike parking for either nearby residents or for commuters to nearby jobs.
• Recently, however, design of adjacent housing and a Coffee Cat dining patio have seriously restricted access from the Anapamu Street side where most bicyclists would come from. Instead of a connecting path, cyclists would have to walk their bikes a long distance around patio tables and obstructing planters to access the Bikestation entry. In our view, this will seriously impair the ability of the Bikestation to serve its purpose of mitigating motorist congestion.
• On November 25, a Bicycle Coalition letter to Browning Allen, Transportation Director for the City, stated, "We have become concerned...that recent design modifications to the construction of the garage and adjacent structures may inadvertently make the Bikestation considerably less accessible to cyclists and their two wheeled vehicles."
• It continues, "We believe that bicycle vehicular access to the Bikestation is no less important than motorized vehicular access to the garage and ask that any design modifications to the Garage project not inhibit the ability of bicyclists—and their bicycles”to gain access to the Bikestation."
• We hope that our concern will result in positive changes to the ongoing design process. We'll keep you posted.

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Trail incident leads to horse’s death

• On October 30th, Tammy Maramonte and her 8-year old daughter Morgan were riding their saddle horse up Montecito's Cold Springs Trail that she has ridden for years. Suddenly, a young downhill biker came around a blind corner ten feet away, spooking the horse into bolting over the edge. The horse riders managed to get off, but the horse kept sliding downward. The riders were only scratched, but the horse died hours later trapped in the rocky creek.
• The biker and two others with him had stopped and his cell phone was used to call for help. He had no bell on his bike, so there was no warning, unlike other bikers with bells that Maramonte had encountered.
• Various reactions have come out of the sad situation. James Chidress, an ongoing critic of bikers on trails, urged the Forest Service to close the trails to mountain bikers on alternate days. Vie Obern, writing in the Santa Barbara County Trails Council newsletter, said "A place for extreme cyclists could be provided on the dirt roads above Tajiguas landfill to relieve the pressure on the front country trails above Montecito." Chris Orr, president of the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers, urges all mountain bikers to use the free bells that the Trail Volunteers supply at trailheads. An anonymous email post to the Santa Barbara Hikes web site says, "The mountain biker responsible for this accident should be held accountable for not taking the proper safety precautions." Matt Wilhelm wrote, "Getting the word out in a friendly manner from the mouths of trail users of every type is going to fix this problem. If trails are closed, those who are not educated, don't care, or don't feel responsible will continue to use the trails."
• Chris Orr sums things up: "Offering ideas, solutions, camaraderie and/or actively participating in improving these trails and trail community is what is needed."

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Fertig and Byrd give TCC presentation



This is part of the PowerPoint presentation that describes the County Bike Map and integrated bikeway signage program.

• On October 27th, Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig joined Mary Byrd from the Santa Barbara Car Free group to describe what both organizations are doing to promote regional travel by alternative means. The televised presentation was given to the City of Santa Barbara's Transportation and Circulation Committee.
• The presentation was basically what Fertig gave at the Walk/Bike California conference in early September. It describes the Bicycle Coalition's success in enticing visitors to bicycle here, and Santa Barbara Car Free's efforts to persuade visitors to get around by foot, bike, bus, train, boat, kayak—any means but by car.
• The main point is that visitors are more amenable to innovative travel than residents. Residents have their ordinary travel patterns reinforced daily, they are not seeking alternatives, and are not likely to try new things. In contrast, visitors are open to innovation. They are considering different travel opportunities, and are seeking fun and adventure. Adventure is not something that residents commuting to school or work seek—to them, time and reliability are most important.
• We described how our web sites serve visitors. Our site section "Bike Santa Barbara County" offers information on bike clubs, commercial rides, personal rides that people can print out and follow, bike shops, the County Bike Map, bike rental, bicycle books, and other helpful resources.
• The whole reason behind the presentation was an offhand comment from a Committee member wondering whether we want any more visitors in our area because they bring congestion. After our presentation, members seemed to be pleased knowing what we're doing to reduce the impact of our visitors.
• You can view the PowerPoint presentation at www.sbbike.org/docs/SBCF-SBBC.ppt.

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November Coalition meeting topics

• Our November 4th noontime Bicycle Coalition meeting attracted 14 people. We discussed these topics:
• Ralph Fertig described his presentation on car-free tourism to Santa Barbara's Transportation and Circulation Committee.
• Erika Lindemann described a casual "bike buddy" program that she is developing to partner experienced with newer bicyclists.
• Progress on revising the out-of-print County Bike Map was described by Erika Lindemann. By mid-December, she hoped that a small run will be available to hold us over until a major revision is finished.
• Comments from a UCSB faculty member about deteriorating bicycling conditions on campus were read, plus some reactions from the administration. We will continue to monitor the situation.
• Dru van Hengel updated us on the new Granada Garage's Bikestation, and the loss of convenient access to it due to recent designs in the adjacent areas. The Bicycle Coalition will write a letter to the City expressing our concerns.
• Measure D renewal was discussed; we will work with COAST on a common approach and invite SBCAG's Gregg Hart to our December meeting.
• Nancy Mulholland described another Street Skills class that she will offer in November in cooperation with Cottage Hospital.
• Wilson Hubbell and Ralph Fertig described our successful participation at UCSB's Sustainability Day on October 26th.
• Dru van Hengel said that she and Bob Cooper are coordinating the distribution of free blinking safety lights to workers who depend on bicycles for job commutes.
• It was decided to hold our Bike Week 2006 activities on May 13-21. The Santa Barbara Downtown Organization will mount our 125 bike flags that week.
• Erika Lindemann will write a story about Chuck Cryor for December's Quick Release.