February
2007

Cycling Tour returns to SB county



This fun ad, created by the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau, will be published in the Amgen Tour of California program.

• The Amgen Tour of California professional bicycle stage race will bring 18 professional cycling teams from around the world to compete across 650 miles of California roadway from San Francisco to Long Beach. Santa Barbara County is the only California county to host two stages. A number of events are being planned around the Tour, so consider catching some of the local action on February 23-24:
• Solvang Time Trial. On Friday, February 23, there will be a time trial in Solvang. This may be the pivotal stage of the entire Tour where individual cyclists can gain crucial seconds on their rivals. The city is anticipating 25,000 spectators. Our Bicycle Coalition will probably have a booth there. If you attend, avoid gridlock by parking a few miles away and pedaling to the bike valet parking area at Alisal Road and Highway 246. Rides start at Mission Santa Inez. Preferred seating at the finish line is available for purchase.
• Solvang Gala. On Friday evening, a Gala of wine tasting by Andrew Murray Vineyards, a gourmet sit down dinner, dancing to live music, and a live auction are being offered. Look here for Solvang details: www.tourofcalifornia-solvang.com.
• Santa Barbara Gala. Also on Friday evening, this party will be held at Santa Barbara harbor's Maritime Museum from 7:00-10:00 PM. Music, food, drinks, giveaways, special guests. Purchase admission online at www.active.com.
• Kids Safetyville and Races. Saturday, February 24. Free participation, sponsored by our Bicycle Coalition. Low-cost helmets will be available for purchase. The Safetyville will start at 8:00 AM; bring a bike in working condition, and a helmet. Kids Races starts at 9:00 AM. East Cabrillo Boulevard.
• Santa Barbara Stage 6 Start. February 24. Although cyclists will leave on their ride to Santa Clarita at 11:00 AM, they will be signing in beforehand. Like in Solvang, avoid congestion by parking some distance away, and biking to the East Beach area. Cabrillo Boulevard will be closed until 2:00 PM. Vendors will offer drinks and food during the morning hours.
• Bike Raffle. You can win a limited edition Felt F75 aluminum and carbon fiber road bike worth $1500. Sponsor Cox Communications is sending out raffle entries with billing statements. Santa Barbara Gala guests get extra entries. Winner will be announced before the Stage 6 start.
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  The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition has teamed up with Santa Barbara Car Free to produce these bumper stickers that we will be passing out for free in Solvang and Santa Barbara. Look for our booth.
• It's estimated that millions will watch the Tour in person or catch it on television. Sadly, Versus TV coverage will air each morning between 2:00-3:00 AM PST. So set your recorder—or coffee maker.
• You can learn more about the Tour at their official site www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
• Our Bicycle Coalition, along with the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau, are co-sponsors of the Santa Barbara Stage 6 activities. Special thanks to Barney Berglund for coordinating the myriad details involving multiple groups and individuals. Check back on our website www.sbbike.org for updates as event details are finalized.
• Finally, we hope that visitors will come to Solvang and Santa Barbara for the Tour, and stay for weekend cycling fun.

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Front Country Task Force now meeting

• Nine months ago, it was decided that a new task force would be created to deal with South Coast trail issues. That group, consisting of two representatives each from the City of Santa Barbara, the County, and the US Forest Service finally met on January 24. Its official name is the Front Country Trails Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force.
• At the January meeting, they approved a Statement of Purpose, elected a Chair and Vice Chair, and established a regular meeting schedule. The new Chair is Steve Forsell, a member of the City's Park and Recreation Commission, and the Vice Chair is Suzanne Perkins, a member of the County's Park Commission. It was decided that their meetings would take place the first Wednesday of each month. Meetings will be televised on the City's Channel 18.
• At the prior meeting in April 2006, it was expected that the Task Force would also include representatives of all interested organizations. However, City Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Rapp explained that, once they looked into it, they decided against it because there are so many stakeholder groups that the Task Force would become unwieldy. Rapp made it clear that there will be many opportunities during forthcoming meetings to express opinions and offer presentations.
• Upcoming in February and March are these important Task Force meetings:
• February 3, Special Work Session. At this meeting, staff from the three agencies will provide background information on jurisdictional boundaries, policies, practices, issues, and work previously conducted by the Front Country Trails Working Group (FCTWG) and the Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA). It's at the Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De la Vina Street, Santa Barbara, 9:00 AM-2:30 PM.
• March 7, Monthly Task Force Meeting. This is the first of the monthly televised meetings. Santa Barbara City Hall, Council Chambers, 735 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, 5:30 PM.
• Our Bicycle Coalition urges trail users throughout our County to use caution and common courtesy toward others at all times.

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Bicycling at UCSB

• Bicycling is the main means of access to the University of California Santa Barbara campus—42% enter on bikes. For employees, it's 9%. For students, it's 49%.
• — James Wagner, Program Manager,
  UCSB Transportation Alternatives Program

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Sarah Grant hired by SB City Transportation



Sarah Grant is close to some of the City's Public Works bike parking. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Early this year, the City of Santa Barbara hired recent college graduate Sarah Grant to work in Transportation. Come to our February 6th Bicycle Coalition meeting where she will be introduced by Dru van Hengel.
• Grant, raised in Irvine, attended UC San Diego where in her senior year she took some exciting courses on transportation planning. Those led to her job in Santa Barbara.
• Just what work she will be doing is yet to be determined, but it will definitely involve bicycling. She currently is coordinating the City's "hitching post" bike rack system. So if you know of a place that needs one—on public property, not private land—contact Sarah by phone at 897-2669 or by email at SGrant@SantaBarbaraCA.gov. The need is easily identified when you see bikes locked to trees, each other, railings, poles or other solid objects near any destination.
• Grant lives only a few blocks from work, so walks there. However, she is being given bicycle safety training so she can use one of the City's Breezer bikes to get around town on city business. Of course, it's the sensible way to go any distance. Welcome Sarah!

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Email subscription for SB City groups

• The City of Santa Barbara offers a service to people who wish to keep track of activities of the City's various committees—like the Trails Task Force described above. To subscribe to any list, just go to: https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/e-Subscription and select from the lists offered.

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Melling plans US ride

• Bicycle Coalition member Laura Melling is going on a bike ride. A very long ride. Currently a UC Santa Barbara physics student, Melling will bicycle over 3400 miles this summer as part of a Bike-Aid team.
• Bike-Aid trips are sponsored by Global Exchange, a nonprofit working for human rights and social justice. During this summer's trip to 63 communities, Melling will meet with organizations that foster clean energy. Of course by bicycling, the team clearly sets an example by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
• Melling will talk to us at our February 6 meeting, so come by to hear what is motivating her. Learn about her ride at www.globalexchange.org.

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Santa Barbara “bike kitchen”

• At recent Bicycle Coalition meetings, Shoham Yaniv and Wilson Hubbell have described favorable experiences with the "Bicycle Kitchen" and "Bike Oven" in Los Angeles. They are informal places where people come by to work on their bikes. They are not official "earn-a-bicycle" programs for youth, although they come close.
• Ed France is taking the lead on creating a similar place in Santa Barbara. To start, he's contacting interested people. If you want to hear more, phone France at 310-936-0857 or email him edfrance@gmail.com.
• To learn about others' programs, check out LA's www.bicyclekitchen.com and SF's www.bikekitchen.org.

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Bicycling Skills for Women

• The Art of Cycling: Using a Bike to Transport and Transform.
• We're offering another two-day course for women on March 1st and 3rd, taught by women. If you want to learn the basics of riding your bicycle confidently 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 with other vehicles? We'll show you how to make decisions in traffic while riding legally and confidently.
• Would you feel more inclined to ride if you knew how 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. We'll also talk about women-specific bikes and clothing.
• Then we'll take you out for a road ride with women League Cycling Instructors (LCIs).
• The class is open to anybody 16 years of age or older. You can bring your teen who is 14 years or older, with your supervision. The class costs $30, however some scholarships are available. Just ask us. The March 1st class will be from 6:00-9:00 PM. The March 3rd class will be from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Both are at the SBCAG building, 260 North San Antonio Road, in Santa Barbara.
• To learn more, email Erika Lindemann at CycleSmart@sbbike.org or phone her at 961-8919. Or you can read—and pass along—our flyer at www.sbbike.org/CycleSmart/class.pdf.

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Safe Routes group at Cold Spring School

• Tracey Singh and other parents at Cold Spring Elementary School in Montecito have formed a Safe Routes to School Committee. Their hope, according to Singh who just joined our Bicycle Coalition, is to create new safe pedestrian and bike paths.
• "At the moment many families who live very close to school cannot walk nor bike because there are no paths on any of the main roads leading to school, and it is just too dangerous," Singh laments. "We want to encourage our families to walk and bike and hope to help them do so."
• We couldn't be more sympathetic. Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig is in touch with them, offering connections with individuals who can help. Stay tuned.

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Coalition energizes bicycle media coverage

• For the past 15 years, Bicycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig has clipped local newspaper articles and photos that mention or show bicycling in any way. Then, each January, he counts those from the prior year where bicycling is a significant—not trivial—part.
• While we don't claim responsibility for all the growth in bicycling coverage in the print media, we feel that without the founding of our Bicycle Coalition in 1991, the coverage would be substantially less. It's not coincidental that recognition of bicycling as serious transportation is growing as we grow.
• What this year's analysis shows is that, for 2006, we had an all-time high of 479 significant published items! There were more letters and op/ed pieces in 2002, and more articles/photos in 2004, but our total for 2006 sets a new record.
• Out of this year's 479 total, 83 were letters to the editor or op/ed pieces submitted by individuals. (They are grouped together in the graph, collectively called "Letters.") We're very pleased to see that 29% of those bicycling letters were written by members of the Bicycle Coalition. The busiest contributor was Ralph Fertig with five published. He was followed by Lane Anderson with four, and Eva Inbar with two. Plus, the following members had one each: Erika Lindemann, Don Lubach, Robert Bernstein, Ken Yamamoto, Diane Krohn, Garrick Sitongia, David Madajian, Hildy Hoffman, Alex Pujo, Barney Berglund, Mike Hecker, Jamey Wagnerand Jeff Stoutenborough.
• Your concern for better bicycling conditions makes our lives better—thank you all. Now, can we push 2007 even higher?

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Boysel case heading toward jury trial

• Ernesto Botello pleaded not guilty to the charge of vehicular manslaughter in the death of 12-year old bicyclist Jake Boysel last fall. There have been several preliminary hearings, and another is scheduled for February 13th. However, County case attorney Ali Neuffer anticipates that no settlement will be reached then and a jury trial will likely be held in March or April.

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Bike education booklet is distributed

• The Amgen Tour of California has published a 24-page booklet for kids. It's being distributed to school children in cities that host the 2007 Tour. In Solvang, teacher John Pedfield is making sure that they are distributed, and in Santa Barbara, cyclist and FasTrack owner Dave Lettieri is going to schools to pass them out and talk about bicycles. The booklets tell kids about safety, helmet fit, competitive cycling, California geography, nutrition, and more.

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Upcoming help for SB City bicyclists

• On January 23, the City of Santa Barbara's Dru van Hengel updated the City Council on new measures to reduce single-occupant drivers among its commuting employees. Among ideas that will encourage workers to bike commute are secure bike lockers, Bikestation memberships, loan of Breezer bikes during the day, individualized marketing about alternatives to the car, emergency rides home, and a "pay not to drive" program, possibly up to $100 a month.
• Funding for the City's current program comes from Measure D, however future funding might come from each City department. Traffic Solutions' Kent Epperson noted that many employers are now offering cash incentives, and that by helping employees on transportation issues, they retain valuable workers and save money.

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Ortega Hill bikepath to open February 14



This January 21st photo shows the bikepath, center, still under construction, but nearing completion. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• There will be a celebration for the completion of long awaited Ortega Hill bikepath between Summerland and Montecito on February 14th. This will follow an earlier ribbon cutting for the Highway 101 auxiliary lane because that will be open sooner.
• The time has yet to be set, so watch for an email to our Bicycle Coalition list, and a listing under Events on our website. Because the media will be there, it's important that lots of bicyclists come by to show how appreciated bicycle facilities are for our safety and convenience.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• King Cycle Group, Portland, Oregon
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle Company, Santa Barbara
• In addition, we welcome new members Laura Melling and Bruce Matthews. We further thank Dan Henry, Mike Fasth, Dick Kling, Anne Chen, Chuck Cryor, Harley Augustino, Bob Cooper, Diana & Mike Gard, Steve Mack, Stephanie Stark and John Berberet who renewed their memberships.

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Bike Film Festival is considered

• We might get a Film Festival as part of our Bike Week! When our Bicycle Coalition's Ralph Fertig heard that Bob Banner, editor for HopeDance, is putting one together for San Luis Obispo County's Bike Week, he immediately checked it out.
• The result has been a flurry of emails that indicate a promising collaboration among HopeDance, UCSB's student BIKES committee, and our Bicycle Coalition. Banner says that there will be two nights of films in San Luis Obispo on May 18-19. They will include two feature films plus several shorts, most submitted by filmmakers in Santa Barbara County.
• The feature films will possibly be Pedal and/or Contested Streets. Details are being worked out, but this is an exciting venture.

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January Bicycle Coalition meeting topics

• Our January 2 monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was at noon at the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust conference room, attracting 14 people. We discussed these topics:
• Ralph Fertig reported that bike lockers for passengers will likely be part of the new Santa Barbara Airport design. Lockers for the Goleta Amtrak station are coming sooner, but that process is slow.
• Hearings in the separate deaths of bicyclists Kendra Payne and Jake Boysel will take place in early January.
• Our ongoing distribution of LED bike headlights recently resulted in a group of them going to Por la Mar Nursery in Goleta.
• Pre-stage events in Santa Barbara before the start of the Amgen Tour of California were discussed. The idea is to attract families to the beachfront before the 11:00 AM start.
• Nancy Mulholland is repeating her successful 10-week Super Cyclers class for students at Monte Vista Elementary School in Santa Barbara.
• Erika Lindemann, bicycle liaison at Traffic Solutions, reported that she is leaving her position in early March in order to travel to Latin America and seek new professional challenges. A replacement will be sought.
• Ralph Fertig will interview Ron Lafrican at Cottage Hospital for February Quick Release.

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BMC cycling team trains in Santa Ynez Valley



On January 23, the BMC team visited Solvang Elementary School where they talked about bicycles, racing, and safety. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Our hillsides may still be brown and dormant, but colorful cyclist outfits are sprouting in the Santa Ynez Valley. Wearing bright red jerseys, the new Team BMC is training there from January 18-28th. Sponsored by Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC, and stationed in Santa Rosa, California, the Swiss/American team is one of those competing in the Amgen Tour of California.
• Team Director and former racing cyclist Gavin Chilcott said that they like our area because our motorists are much more considerate than elsewhere. He also said that the Team BMC is composed of seasoned pros mixed with newer riders, and they are now in the process of molding them into a coordinated team.
• During their local stay, they will visit students and talk about bicycling safety. Community outreach, said Chilcott, is an important aspect of the team's approach to training. You can read about the team at www.bmc-cycling.com/team.html, and cheer them as they zip on by.

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