July
2008

Are gas prices boosting bicycling?
by Ralph Fertig



Bicyclists must feel good about their responsible and sustainable steeds when they pedal by gas stations these days. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Everybody is talking about the soaring cost of gasoline and what people are doing about it. All over the country, there are reports of people leaving cars in the garages as they walk, bike and bus more. So I ask the question, are local residents biking more?
• Americans are definitely driving less. The US Department of Transportation monitors traffic at 4000 locations. The result for the first quarter of 2008 is a decrease of 16.2 billion vehicle miles traveled compared to 2007—representing an unprecedented 2.3% drop in motor vehicle travel.
• Local bike shop business is up. I visited four Santa Barbara bike shops. Two reported good, but not exceptional sales. The other two are experiencing definite growth. Not only are people hauling old bikes from their garages for maintenance, but they are buying baskets, racks, helmets and other accessories for utility trips. One shop moved hybrid and town bikes up front because that's what their customers are asking for—a trend seen in a national 6% increase in hybrid revenue in 2007, above the 4% general increase.
• At one store, a woman from Montecito was there with her son and their two bikes. She told me that it now costs over $100 to fill up their SUV, so they are going to make more trips by bike. She was getting a metal handlebar basket and trailer to haul two dogs for her bike, plus a new saddle and helmet for her son.
• South Coast residents are biking more. Since 1997, Bicycle Coalition volunteers have counted bicyclists at a number of South Coast intersections. We used to do it every year, but in 2005 started counting every other year, so 2008 is an off year. But I didn't want to wait for 2009 to find out whether more people were bicycling. So I took the six busiest intersections and counted passing bicyclists at our standard mid-week days, 4:00-6:00 PM at each one.
• The 2008 counts showed 220 more bicyclists, a 14% increase over the averages since 2000.
• So overall, people are driving less and biking more. It certainly seems clear that the cost of gasoline is effecting behavior, but likely other factors—like concern about fossil-fuel's effect on our climate, and rising obesity—are also contributing.

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Street Skills Class July 17-19th

• Every other month, we offer our Street Skills for Cyclists classes. This is your chance to save gas money by honing your bicycling knowledge and skills for biking confidently around town. Here's our next class:
• Street Skills for Cyclists Class
  Thursday, July 17, 5:30-8:30 PM
  Saturday, May 19, 8:30 AM-3:30 PM
  Granada Garage, Santa Barbara
• The class is open to anybody 16 years of age or older. You can bring your child who is 14 or 15, with your supervision. The class costs $30, however ask about scholarships. We are grateful to the City of Santa Barbara for their sponsorship of these classes.
• Learn more about the class and what it offers you on our website www.sbbike.org/CycleSmart/apply.html. If you have questions, phone Dru van Hengel at 564-5544 or email her at CycleSmart@sbbike.org.

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Goleta Valley Cycling Club funds local programs



Stow Grove Park was the site of the Goleta Valley Cycling Club annual barbecue and meeting, attracting about 40 members. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• At their annual meeting on June 8th, the Goleta Valley Cycling Club met not only to enjoy a barbecue lunch and have fun, but also to invest some of their hard-earned People Powered Ride income back into our community.
• Our Bicycle Coalition was awarded funding to purchase rear LED lights and bells, plus more for general use and our Bici Centro program. Other local recipients of funding are Traffic Solutions and COAST. Finally, they voted to support four other organizations—Adventure Cycling, League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
• We are extremely grateful to the Club for their support of bicycling activities locally, statewide, and nationally. Learn more about them at their website www.goletabike.org.

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Coalition urges Carpinteria safety

• On June 3rd, our Bicycle Coalition sent a letter to Caltrans District 5 chief of environmental planning Cathy Stettler expressing concerns about bicyclist safety in the upcoming Linden/Casitas 101 project. The project is mostly replacing Linden and Casitas Pass bridges over Highway 101; however, it also entails new bikepaths along Carpinteria Creek under the highway between Via Real and Carpinteria Avenue.
• We wrote "We are concerned with bicyclist security at two parts of the project design:
• For reasons of security, the proposed bikepath tunnel design under Via Real should consider having the road rise up and the bikepath drop so the view at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible. If not, the bikepath should drop gradually so the tunnel end is likewise clearly visible.
• Security underneath Highway 101 on the proposed bikepath along Carpinteria Creek is also a concern. A short time ago, a woman was accosted there. Clear sight distances and good nighttime lighting will increase security for both bicyclists and pedestrians, hopefully without adversely impacting the nearby creek habitat."
• Later this year, a Draft Environmental Impact Report will be issued on the $97-million project that will start in 2012. We'll be hearing more about it.

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Coast Starlight trains “relaunch” in Santa Barbara



Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum smashes a ceremonial bottle against the inaugural Coast Starlight train while photographers snap away. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The only long-distance Amtrak train passing through Santa Barbara county is the Coast Starlight service that takes passengers between Los Angeles and Seattle. To celebrate amenity enhancements, the inaugural train was greeted in Santa Barbara by 100 people for a ceremony on June 10th.
• The relaxing 35-hour trip costs $180 one way for Coach service; sleeping cars cost more. Bicyclists have to box their bikes beforehand. They can pack them in their own containers, or buy a box from Amtrak for $15, then remove pedals and turn the handlebars to fit.
• For short distance rail travel, consider the San Diego-to-San Luis Obispo Pacific Surfliner trains. To learn more about Amtrak options, go to www.amtrak.com.
• With the soaring cost of driving and flying, trains are experiencing sold-out coaches. In recognition of the need to support train passenger service, the House and Senate recently passed Amtrak funding allocations of $15 billion over five years for rolling stock and track capacity. President George Bush said he will veto it because rail should have no subsidy, but the passage in both houses was high enough to override any veto.

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Wet Willy Sez
by Wilson Hubbell

• Dear Wet Willy: I've been thinking about getting thornproof tubes or putting Slime Tire Sealant in my current inner tubes to minimize the potential for flat tires. Seems like a good fix to a common problem, but what do you think? Cheers. — Travis
• Dear Travis: Thornproof tubes or Slime Tire Sealant can minimize flats, particularly if you ride off road in the desert, but they also may make your bike ride like a slug. Thornproof tubes are extra thick and extra heavy, and Slime adds ¼ pound to each regular tube. Tires are the last place you want to add weight, so what should you do?
• Get good tires with an aramid belt sandwiched between the belt and the case. Many of these are just as light as cheaper tires yet far more flat resistant. Are they as flat resistant as thornproof tubes or Slime? Not quite, maybe, but they ride way better and are worth the slightly increased flat frequency compared to thornproof or Slime treated tubes.
• Wet Willy rides Panaracer Pasela TG tires that have an aramid belt. These are reasonably light, can be acquired for about $25 each (sometimes less) and last a long time. They are also available in widths from 23c up to 35c.

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Carbon tire tread

• "Arguably, the most important thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint is to ride a bike instead of drive a car."
  —Ed France, Santa Barbara Independent

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Coalition addresses 101 bikepath issues



Caltrans planner Carlos Montez describes possible arrangements for the proposed bikepath along Highway 101. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• As part of the $151 million Highway 101 widening project in western Ventura County, safer bicyclist conditions were proposed at meetings with Caltrans in August 2007 and February 2008. On June 12th, a follow-up meeting attracted about 20 concerned bicyclists to hear how the project was progressing. We were represented by Wilson Hubbell and Ralph Fertig.
• As plans were left in February, there would be bikelanes on both sides of Highway 101, plus a separate bikepath on the mountain side. There were concerns about the bikepath crossing a new beach tunnel under 101 at La Conchita.
• Before the meeting, we received an email from Ventura saying that Caltrans was going to make the bikepath one-way, not two. This made no sense and turned out to be false. Caltrans did tell us that there could not be a northbound bikelane on the highway next to the bikepath.
• Cyclists heading south on 101 would have the choice of riding on the roadway shoulder, or picking up the new bikepath at Bates Road. Those heading north would have to use the new bikepath.
• As for intersecting the pedestrian tunnel at La Conchita, Caltrans adopted a suggestion that Fertig had sent them. Essentially, part of the bikepath could serve people walking to the tunnel. The path would drop down, connect with the tunnel at a T-intersection, then rise back up.
• Because of limited space between the widened roadway and the Union Pacific right-of way, encounters between people emerging from the tunnel and bikepath cyclists are a concern. However several suggestions were made to increase visibility and alert users of others approaching.
• Everybody seemed satisfied with the meeting. Caltrans expects that an Environmental Impact Report will not be required because there are no serious environmental issues. By August we should hear how things are progressing.

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July 1st night meeting

• Our July Bicycle Coalition general meeting is another evening one so more members can join us. It's at Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant, 3524 State Street, Santa Barbara. No-host dinner 6:00 PM, meeting at 7:00 PM.
• It is our election meeting for Officers and Board members. Since the June Quick Release, note that Michael Chiacos has decided to run for a position on our Board. Ballots will be available at the meeting if you haven't already mailed yours in.
• In addition to several topics of importance, Diana Estorga from the County will describe proposed changes to Highway 246 and to Purísima Road near Lompoc.

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Santa Maria Bikeway Master Plan update
by Wilson Hubbell



Workshop participants in Santa Maria offered many suggestions for improving bicycling. Photo by Wilson Hubbell.

• The City of Santa Maria Planning Department began the process of updating their 1992 Bikeway Master Plan with a public meeting that attracted a group of nearly 50 local cyclists. The Plan is being updated to conform with current Caltrans design standards, which will allow the City to apply for State Bicycle Transportation Account funding and other grants.
• Alta Planning+Design has been hired by the City to move the Plan update forward, and both Alta and City staffers were on hand to question the crowd regarding what is working, what is not working, and what is missing in the City's bicycling infrastructure. The crowd responded by providing a wealth of information regarding where the problem spots are for cyclists in Santa Maria and what types of facilities might be developed to provide better bicycling connectivity to schools, commercial areas and recreational opportunities within the community.
• Wilson Hubbell represented the Bicycle Coalition at the meeting and will continue to monitor the progress of the Plan with City staff and Alta Planning. Other public meetings will be scheduled as the Plan develops and, if the first meeting is any indicator, a significant number of local cyclists can be expected to participate.

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Mayor Blum sponsors bike resolution

• At the annual Conference of Mayors meeting this June 20-24 in Miami, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum is joining eight other mayors in co-sponsoring a resolution stating that bicycling should be integrated into our nation's transportation, climate, energy and health policy initiatives.
• The resolution will be up for discussion and possible adoption. It consists of 13 "whereas" statements full of reasons why bicycling is so good for Americans, and is followed by six points of the resolution:
• Achieve increased levels of bicycling in the national interest.
• Implement of a coordinated national bicycling strategy to increase safe bicycle use as transportation.
• Urge Congress in the next federal transportation reauthorization to fund policies that reduce vehicle miles travelled, improve bicyclist safety, collect data to monitor progress, and provide incentives for Complete Street policies.
• Even without Federal incentives, states should embrace Complete Street policies that integrate bicycling into standard street design.
• Urge all mayors to approve the Climate Protection Agreement that includes bicycling programs as a key component in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Encourage every city to become a Bicycle Friendly Community.
• We certainly applaud Mayor Blum's efforts to help raise national awareness of the benefits of bicycling. We'll let you know how it all turns out.

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Coalition asks Caltrans for safer construction zones



Construction signs in the bikelane force bicyclists into the traffic lane. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Signs intended for our safety can cause not only inconvenience but sometimes greater danger. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Recently Ken McGuire, the Caltrans Bicycle Program Manager requested input about bicyclist safety in construction zones. The intent is to craft standards where none currently exist. The Bicycle Coalition's Ralph Fertig responded with the following comments and photos about two situations that occurred in Santa Barbara, as follows:
• Construction signs should not be placed in bike lanes.
• Signs should make options clear. Detours should not be more dangerous than alternatives. I was told that the current orange signs in the photo (Mission Street undercrossing of Highway 101) are advisory, not compulsory. However, few people know that. The signs ask bicyclists to walk across Mission Street at a traffic signal, walk on the south side sidewalk, then either cross Mission at an uncontrolled T-intersection after two blocks, or walk another block to a crosswalk controlled by stop signs. The added several minutes are a real inconvenience, and the crossing at the uncontrolled T-intersection is possibly more dangerous than sharing the lane with motorized traffic on Mission street itself."
• We hope that those comments make bicycling safer for us.

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June Coalition meeting topics

• Our June 3rd monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at noon in Santa Barbara, attracting 20 people to discuss these topics:
• The State/De la Vina intersection in Santa Barbara will return to the Architecture Board of Review for further consideration. It's important for more bicyclists to express concerns this time.
• Dru van Hengel sought ideas about bicyclist safety near proposed curb extensions on West Anapamu Street. Suggestions were made.
• Ralph Fertig described an upcoming meeting with Caltrans about bicyclist safety on 101 near La Conchita, plus one at UCSB about their Long Range Development Plan.
• Bicyclist detour options at the Mission Street/101 undercrossing construction zone were discussed and clarified.
• Lori La Riva from Traffic Solutions said that people could register for their August-September Commute Challenge starting in July.
• Nominations for Officers and Board members were accepted.
• Sarah Grant reported on the successful Street Skills Class.
• Ralph Fertig asked for paid bike/ped counters to help Alta Planning with a roundabout safety study.
• Ongoing Bici Centro activities were described, plus their new summer youth bike classes.

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Bici Centro news and promotion

• Two major newspaper articles featuring Bici Centro appeared in the Santa Barbara News-Press on June 8th, followed by the Santa Barbara Independent on the 12th. Written by Karna Hughes and Ben Preston, respectively, both had lots of photos and extensive descriptions of the program, providing excellent exposure.
• The Bici Summer youth program will start on July 7th. There will be three separate two-week classes open to 12-16 year olds. Each class takes 40 hours, costs $12, and includes membership in our Bicycle Coalition. To register, stop by the shop or email info@bicicentro.org.
• Separate from the youth program, come by to volunteer or work on bikes at 601 East Montecito Street, Santa Barbara. Regular open shop hours are:
• Thursdays 4:00-8:00 PM
• Saturdays 1:00-7:00 PM.
• More information at www.bicicentro.org.

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Milpas to Hot Springs project launched



Caltrans director Will Kempton addresses a crowd at the Highway 101 corridor groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The Milpas/Hot Springs corridor project entails much more than highway widening. A new undercrossing of the freeway at Cacique Street will allow Eastside bicyclists access to the waterfront without tackling the roundabout. Also, the Bird Refuge bikepath will continue with a tunnel under the railroad and take people into Montecito more safely. Watch for the progress.

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Coalition addresses UCSB’s plan

• The University's Long Range Development Plan has been under development for years. UCSB staff have been giving presentations to government groups and private organizations for months, however a public comment event was held on June 4th.
• About 100 people attended, including a large group of residents of Phelps Road who do not want their street completed between Storke and Los Carneros. Ralph Fertig spoke for bicyclists. He first noted that people are driving much less, so the traffic calculations and street widening proposals may no longer be valid. He also looked at the car/bike/pedestrian mix on the proposed Ocean Road, and suggested making motorists "invited guests" with speeds comparable to bicyclists. The Dutch woonerf street design already includes means of mixing all modes of travel together. The comments will be followed up with a letter from us.

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Team Santa Barbara Green Power bikes RAAM



Team leader Don Flanigan, right, describes their challenge at a kick-off reception at sponsor B3 Architects on June 4th. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• An eight-man team from Santa Barbara entered the Race Across America (RAAM) in order to promote renewable energy, sustainable lifestyles, and healthy cycling as transportation. They finished the 3014 miles on June 18th in six days and 17 hours—meaning that they averaged 18.7 MPH, above their goal of 18 MPH. The team, led by Don Flanigan, raised money for CALM, a child-abuse charity.

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Open Air Bicycles, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Chris King Precision Components, Portland OR
• Run Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
• In addition, we thank those who joined us: Courtney Dietz. And we greatly appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Alex & June Pujo, Nancy Mulholland and Mark Sapp.

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