May
2009

Bike Week 2009 rolls in May 16-24th



Hollister School principal Ryan Sparre greets students and parents on Bike to School Day 2008. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bike Week 2009 consists of a cluster of exciting events that take place the third week in May. As this goes to press, details are still being honed for the events listed below, and others will certainly be added. We're pleased that many groups and organizations are contributing to events that showcase a richness of benefits and joy that the 150-year old machine continues to bring to our community.
• Be sure to check out the latest updates for these and other Bike Week events on our website at www.sbbike.org/meet/meet.html.
• May 14, UCSB Bike to Work Day.
• May 14-16, Street Skills for Cyclists Class.
• May 15, Bike Week Kick Off.
• May 16, Newcomers Ride.
• May 16, Children's Festival.
• May 16, Beer and Bikes.
• May 16, BBQ and Bike Show.
• May 16, Green Shorts Bike Films.
• May 17, Youth Rides.
• May 19, Bike to School Day.
• May 19, Old San Marcos Ride.
• May 20, Santa Barbara Bike to Work Day.
• May 20, Off Road Shore Ride.
• May 20, Ride of Silence.
• May 23, Bird Refuge to Goob Loop Ride.
• May 24, Java Station to Farmers Market Ride.

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Bike Week Flags

• Our flags will again hang along Santa Barbara's State Street from May 15-22. They announce Bike Week, a weekful of community bicycling events that are coordinated by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. The blue, white and terra-cotta Bike Week flags represent our community's blue skies, white stucco buildings, and terra-cotta tile roofs.

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WheelHouse bike shop to open in Santa Barbara on May 9th



Erik Wright, left, and Evan Minogue are partners in their new WheelHouse business. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• The latest in a flurry of new bike shops in Santa Barbara—this is the fourth in a year—will stage its Grand Opening on Saturday, May 9th. It's called "WheelHouse," and is a business venture of Erik Wright and Evan Minogue.
• WheelHouse is called a "lifestyle shop" that features transport and utilitarian bikes used to move people and goods in a sustainable manner. A line of Jamis bicycles, WorkCycles from the Netherlands, and Xtracycles will be augmented with other utility bikes. WheelHouse will also offer a maintenance service for all kinds of bikes.
• Erik is from Seattle, and Evan is from Los Angeles. They both love their new home, and have seen the growth in awareness of responsible transportation in our area.
• WheelHouse is located at 528 Anacapa Street, at the corner of Cota. Their website is www.wheelhousebikes.com. The Grand Opening will be all day on May 9th. There will be valet bike parking (the Saturday Farmers Market is just across the street), a Jamis booth, a Santa Barbara Pedicab display, and refreshments. Be sure to stop by.

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A Jamis bicycle for Ralph
by Ralph Fertig

• Last December, my 12-year old Trek hybrid bike was stolen. It was locked with a heavy Kryptonite cable lock, but that didn't stop the thief. I reported it to the police, to friends and bike shops, and for weeks, watched craigslist.com. But it didn't surface. Then, the Goleta Valley Cycling Club started a collection to replace it. They invited members of the Bicycle Coalition to join them and contribute. In March, I used their generous contributions to purchase a Jamis hybrid bike from FasTrack Bicycles. It's my new steed and is reliably serving me to pedal all over the South Coast.
• I'm absolutely grateful to all those who helped me get back in the saddle. I thank you so much.

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Judy Keim makes her trips multi-modal



Judy Keim unloads her town bike from her car rack, ready to ride. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bicycle Coalition Board member Judy Keim lives high above Santa Barbara. However, she works at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and the Visitor Center. The bike climb uphill is too much for her, so she loads her bike on her car rack, drives down the hill, parks and continues by bike.
• It's a perfect solution. Judy gets exercise, keeps her carbon footprint to a minimum, and easily gets to her destinations on time. Way to set an example, Judy!

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Wet Willy Sez
by Wilson Hubbell

• Dear Wet Willy: Now that the weather is nice and the days are long, I'm getting prepared to try bike commuting. My question is, what's the best way to carry a briefcase and/or laptop to and from the office? — Newbie
• Dear Newbie: This is a very common question, even among regular commuters who seek better ways of lugging their gear to and from work/school/wherever. It can also be a particularly difficult question for cyclists riding bikes with no provision for carrying anything other than the rider.
• As a general rule, it is better to carry the load on your bike than on your body, and Wet Willy strongly recommends that you get a rear rack and a suitable pannier bag to carry something the size of a briefcase or laptop. Fortunately, Old Man Mountain—a local Santa Barbara manufacturer—makes a series of rear racks that are capable of fitting on almost any bicycle, including racing bikes and rear suspension mountain bikes with no provision for a rack. Check them out at www.oldmanmountain.com, and yes, Wet Willy does use their stuff.
• Several companies make pannier bags designed to carry a laptop on a rear rack. Jandd—a former local Santa Barbara manufacturer—makes one and you can see it here www.jandd.com. Other firms, like Arkel and Axiom make similar products and can be found on-line by googling "laptop pannier". Chances are, a bag that will carry a laptop can be used to carry a briefcase instead.

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Purísima Road safety improvements



Caltrans engineer Paul Valadao describes safety benefits of the proposed roundabout at Purísima Road at Highway 246 near Lompoc. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Bicycle Coalition's Wilson Hubbell and Ralph Fertig attended Caltrans' informational meeting on April 22nd. Designs for a proposed one-lane roundabout at the dangerous intersection of Highway 246 and Purísima Road were described and public comments taken.
• Of special concern to us is the design speed of the roundabout—about 25 MPH—and safety for cyclists. We learned that experienced cyclists would take the lane to prevent being cut off by exiting motorists. For less intrepid cyclists, there will be a peripheral bikepath starting where the bikelanes end before each leg of the roundabout and delivering users back into the bikelane after it.
• The project will go to bid April 2011, and be finished two years later. The public may send comments by May 7, 2009 to Matt Fowler, Caltrans, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401. Or email them to matt_e_fowler@dot.ca.gov.

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April Coalition meeting topics

• Our April 7th monthly Bicycle Coalition meeting was held at Madam Lu's Restaurant, with 19 participants discussing these topics:
• We discussed preparations for Earth Day.
• Ralph Fertig described UCSB's Ocean Road project, especially its effect on bicyclists.
• The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Mission Street bikelanes was described.
• Ed France talked about Bici Centro activities.
• Taryn and Joe O'Flaherty talked about their Bikes to Go rental business.
• Michael Chiacos outlined ideas for a Bicycle Ambassador program.
• Wilson Hubbell talked about his visit to the San Diego Custom Bike Show.

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Sharrows installed on Santa Barbara’s Cabrillo Boulevard



Painted near the carousel on East Cabrillo Boulevard, a new sharrow shows us where to ride. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• First Goleta painted them on Hollister Avenue in Old Town Goleta, then the city of Santa Barbara put them on Milpas Street. And now, shared-lane arrows, or "sharrows," are on eastbound Cabrillo Boulevard along the beachfront.
• Only recently accepted by Caltrans as a traffic control device, sharrows are allowed on roadways that have parked cars on one side, and the adjacent travel lane is too narrow for bicyclists and motorists to proceed side by side without putting the bicyclists in the hazardous "door zone" next to parked cars. The sharrow location designates a safe place to bike and avoid being doored.
• Although public works people have received calls from confused motorists wondering whether they can drive in sharrowed lanes, as more are installed in the US, people will learn. And it will be safer for us all. Thank you Goleta and Santa Barbara.

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Cities that work for us all

• People who don't own cars have a right to mobility and respect. When a city works well for the most vulnerable people—for children, old people, disabled people, poor people—then it works well for everybody.
• Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogata, Colombia

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Santa Barbara’s Earth Day a winner for bicycling



Bici Centro organized valet bike parking for nearly 500 bicyclists during the day. Photo by Ralph Fertig.



Judy Keim and Wilson Hubbell staff our information booth that drew people all day up to the 5:30 closing. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Climate change may have been on people's minds as the temperature rose to an unseasonable 84º on April 19th, but it didn't deter 14,000 to come to Santa Barbara's Earth Day festival. It was the 18th time we participated in the festival, and from all accounts, the most successful for us and gratifying for those who chose sustainable transportation like bicycling to go there.
• This year the sponsor, the Community Environmental Council, moved the growing event from the Courthouse to Alameda Park. It enabled us to expand with valet bike parking, a Bici Centro info table, free bike check-ups, and our Bicycle Coalition info table—all adjacent to one other. It was easy to direct visitors among our areas, and the growing importance of bicycling was seen by all. It was better than last year when we were located in three separate areas.
• Bici Centro volunteers parked bikes for nearly 500 visitors, way up from 300 last year. We passed out several hundred newsletters and flyers about our programs and community activities. Impressed by what we're doing, a dozen new people signed up for memberships. Our bicycle mechanics gave free check-ups to 84 needy bikes throughout the day.
• More than in the past, people showed interest in our Street Skills for Cyclists classes. Many had recently started bicycling, or were considering it, so our 9-hour confidence-building workshop appealed to them. Our upcoming May class will likely sell out.
• A new "Bicycle Ambassador" program was launched. It's the brainchild of Michael Chiacos to promote more bicycling, especially among those interested in biking for everyday trips.
• The City's Dru van Hengel provided a large map of the city, where we invited visitors to stick red, yellow or green dots to designate dangerous conditions, places that need maintenance, or those that are good for bicycling. It also served as an aid to recommend bike routes and discuss situations with people.
• Our thanks to those who volunteered their time: our mechanics Wilson Hubbell, Geoff Grow, and Robert Rainwater; plus our Bicycle Coalition info area helpers Pierre Delong, Judy Keim, Bob Burgess, Don Lubach, Ralph Fertig and Dru van Hengel. In the adjacent Bici Centro valet bike parking area, Ed France was joined by Matt Dobberteen, Thomas Matthais, Erik Wright, Evan Minogue, Dave Bourgeois, and a steadfast crew of other Bici helpers.
• Overall, we love Earth Day for all the positive, caring, increasingly-concerned people who attend, seeking ways to reduce our collective footprints—and tire treads—upon our burdened planet.

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Thoughtful Earth Day comment

• "Thanks for manning the Earth Day booth on Sunday and providing info to my wife and friend who are committing to biking more often. And especially for all your efforts in the Bike Coalition. I have been impressed by the way you handle potentially divisive issues in a calm and logical manner. Car and bikes have to live together in a safe environment."
• Dan Hammack, Bicycle Coalition member

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We thank our active members

• Please thank and support these Bicycle Coalition business members:
• Bicycle Bob's, Santa Barbara
• Nett & Champion Insurance Services, Santa Barbara
• Pedal Power Bicycles, Santa Maria
• Chris King Precision Components, Portland, Oregon
• Hazard's Cyclesport, Santa Barbara
• Dr J's Bicycle Shop, Solvang
• Big Bang PR, www.bigbangpr.net, Santa Barbara
• Santa Barbara Pedicabs, Santa Barbara
• Santa Barbara Bike Repair, Santa Barbara
• WheelHouse, Santa Barbara
• We welcome our new members: Yannick Rendu, Shelly Vinatieri, Steve Lange, Eric Schug, John Perona, Tracey Singh, Cameron Squire, Eric Wright, Evan Minogue, Ed Easton and Jim Heaton.
• Plus we greatly appreciate those who renewed their memberships: Jake Clinton, Burt Romotsky, Rosie Dyste, Michael Kwan, Kevin Contreras, Bob Burgess, Geoff Grow, Cynthia Boche, Kim & Peter Shingle, Chris & Cameron Cottrell, Lee Carter and Greg Janee.

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Commute Challenge kicks off with surrey race



The City of Santa Barbara's team forges ahead of the County's, but fails to catch Yardi System. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• Traffic Solutions Commuter Challenge that runs in May and June was jump-started with a surrey race on March 31st.
• Teams of five can win prizes for themselves and their employers by tallying all their trips other than drive alone ones. Learn more by phone 963-SAVE or viewing www.TrafficSolutions.info.

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Bicycle projects along Highway 101

• Come to our next Bicycle Coalition meeting (noon, Tuesday May 5) to hear SBCAG's representative Gregg Hart describe the widening project of Highway 101 between Carpinteria and Montecito. Hart will be asking what bicycling projects might be included in the roadway program. So think ahead and be ready to make suggestions.

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Bike and Surf touring in California
by Ed France



Michael Conway, all set to ride and surf with minimal environmental impact.

• Michael Conway may be a new Bicycle Coal-ition member, but he is old hand at bicycle commuting and working to change public perception as to what is possible by bicycle.
• As a surfer, he has been conscious of the environmental impact surfers have as they drive up and down the coast looking for surf. As a result, he and a small group have launched Bike and Surf California, a 500-mile surf trip by bike and without any support car. In other words, they will be self-sufficient on the trip, carrying all of their gear and towing their boards behind their bikes.
• In addition to raising environmental awareness, the ride acts as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society via Humboldt County's Relay for life. Michael stresses that pollution not only damages the environment, but also human health. They are asking friends, family and those they meet on their journey to donate money for each mile they ride, or to pledge a flat amount. In part, their efforts are to raise money in memory of Mike's father who passed away from cancer.
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• Aside from full days of pedaling and surfing in June, Michael is staff for development at the Granada Theater. He is also working hard to help promote and host two of the coming Bike Week events this May. To find out more about his coming Second Annual Bike and Surf California Ride, go to www.bikeandsurfcalifornia.com.

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Bike Ambassador program debuts

• A local Bicycle Ambassadors program was launched on Earth Day. The idea is to provide South Coast people wanting to bicycle more with personal advice, route planning, and other resources. The Ambassadors program was proposed by our Board member Michael Chiacos who notes that our area is a superb place to bike, with great weather, an extensive bike path network, and lots of fellow bicyclists on our streets.
• If you know somebody who might benefit from this hand-holding service, suggest that they send an email to ambassadors@sbbike.org. They will receive an Intro Pack that includes:
• Santa Barbara County Bike Map
• Info on Street Skills Classes—a course that improves participants' bike skills and confidence
• $10 gift certificate to a local bike shop
• A two-month membership in the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
• Personal advice from a Bicycle Ambassador regarding good routes and any other questions they might have.
• The Bicycle Ambassadors program is supported by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, City of Santa Barbara, Traffic Solutions, and Community Environmental Council.
• If you are interested in learning more or helping out with the program, email Michael Chiacos at mchiacos@gmail.com.

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Mission bikelanes accomplished



City Transportation director Browning Allen addresses the crowd, accompanied by involved present and former city councilmembers, from left—Helene Schneider, Das Williams, Roger Horton, Marty Blum, Gregg Hart, and Grant House. Photo by Ralph Fertig.

• On April 6th, a crowd of 40 turned out to inaugurate the new bikelanes on Mission Street in Santa Barbara.
• Three blocks of bikelanes were installed between Castillo and Modoc, including under Highway 101 and the Union Pacific Railroad. It's part of Caltrans' Pacific Coast Bike Route, and the most direct way between downtown Santa Barbara and UCSB.
• Other project improvements include increased visibility, wheelchair access ramps, trees, shrubs, stone/stucco walls, street lighting, pedestrian crosswalks, and traffic signals that will now detect bicyclists. We definitely thank the City and all involved for nearly a decade in completing this important missing gap.

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Hall of Fame moves to Davis

• For two decades, the US Bicycling Hall of Fame has been in Somerville, New Jersey. However, Davis, California just beat out 11 other cities that offered it a better home.
• The Hall's museum is filled with trophies, jerseys and bicycles from cycling greats such as Major Taylor and Greg Lemond. The museum also inducts bicycling athletes every year into the hall.
• Davis was selected because it embraces bicycling more than any other American city. At the 2000 census count, 15% of Davis residents were using bicycles to commute to work. (By comparison, the city of Santa Barbara has 3.4—still nine times the US average.)
• Bill Brunner, head of the search committee, noted that "Bicycling is being embraced by people during a time of high gas prices, concern about health, and the green movement." The city of Davis will provide a temporary home for the Hall of Fame later this year while they seek a permanent location in their downtown area.