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www.sbbike.org April 2004 Serving Santa Barbara County We’re a countywide advocacy and resource organization that promotes bicycling for safe transportation and recreation. How to reach us Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition PO Box 92047 Santa Barbara CA 93190-2047 phone 962-1479 email [email protected] web www.sbbike.org April 6th meeting Join us on Tuesday, April 6th for our monthly meeting. Let’s improve bicycling in 2004: Tuesday, April 6 Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant 3524 State St, Santa Barbara No-host dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00 Online email list We sponsor an online email forum where you can post and read messages that pertain to regional bicycling issues. It’s easy and free. To subscribe to our general forum, just send an email message to: [email protected] Leave the subject line and body of the message blank. That’s all! Join the Coalition You can help improve bicycling safety and condi- tions in Santa Barbara County by joining others in our own regional Bicycle Coalition advocacy group. Together we will continue to make a real difference. See page 6 for details. For sale: video & flag We’re pleased to offer our own video “Decide to Ride.” It’s about a young woman who learns to bike commute to work. It’s only $18 (tax and US shipping included) from us, address above. Plus, we’re selling Bike Week flags, 4’x6’ heavy nylon, terra cotta and white. They’re $33 plus tax. Look at this PDF file: www.sbbike.org/art-home/ flag.pdf Coalition pursues Santa Ynez Trail The ranchers and property owners along the Santa Ynez River don’t want people on bicycles near their land, and up to now, they’ve been the only ones to voice an opinion on a proposed Santa Ynez River Trail. We’re changing that. At our March 2nd Bicycle Coalition meeting, Santa Barbara County planner Stephen Peterson updated us on the proposed trail that would run between Buellton and Highway 154, with a pos- sible extension to Cachuma Lake. The trail is one of many, existing and proposed, in the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan. The Community Plan is still under development, and there are upcoming opportunities this spring to ensure that trails continue to be included, in spite of opposition. Currently, the Santa Ynez Valley has off-road biking in Los Padres National Forest, and on- road cycling on the numerous connecting rural roads. The Santa Ynez River Trail would offer new commute opportunities by connecting the cities of Buellton and Solvang. East of Solvang, it would have several spur trails or paths to resi- dential areas south of Highway 246, and the highly-desirable connection to Cachuma Lake will provide access to camping and recreation. The entire Santa Ynez Valley will benefit from a Buellton-to-Cachuma trail because recreational hikers, bicyclists and equestrians will be attracted from all over California and beyond. Similar trails have seen boosts in their local economies from those who come just for the trails, and from those who choose to add an extra day to their stay. Local hotels and restaurants always profit RIVER VIEW. Looking west from the Alisal Road bridge in Solvang shows the quiet river and opportunities along the edges or banks for the Santa Ynez River Trail. from hungry and exhilarated people. The Bicycle Coalition has followed the lead of Corey Evans at Dr. J’s Bicycle Shop in Buellton, by creating a petition that will be available at Earth Day, the Firestone Mountain Bike Week- end, and South Coast bike shops. Most important will be your attending the Community Plan work- shop that will take place in late April. A map of trails is online at: www.sbbike.org/docs/SYV-trails.pdf Join us for dinner & meeting April 6th We’re having another one of our quarterly evening dinner/meetings. Please join us for either or both: Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant 3524 State St, Santa Barbara No-host dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00 After researching what other bus agencies around the country do to accommodate bicyclists on their buses, Bi- cycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig spoke before the MTD Board of Di- rectors on March 2nd. The article “How to get more bikes on MTD buses,” published in last month’s Quick Release, was distributed. Timing could not have been better. Steve Holm, MTD acting materials manager said that QUICK MOVE. Fast to deploy the 3-bike bus racks shown here, the San Luis Obispo Regional Transportation Authority has replaced 2-bike ones. Coalition asks MTD for more bicycle support 2-bike Sportworks racks had been ordered for 26 new buses to be delivered by sum- mer. The Sportworks 2-bike racks are cur- rently on all 40-foot MTD buses. However, starting last December, Sportworks started delivering a new 3-bike version. So the MTD immediately ordered one of the new racks to test on its buses. If the 3-bike racks don’t obstruct the drivers’ views, they will probably be ordered instead. While the possibility of bikes inside the buses is subject to insurance constraints, an increase of bike-carrying capacity by 50% would be a major improvement. We thank the MTD for their timely action, and look forward to an increase in multi-modal transportation in their area of coverage.

description

from hungry and exhilarated people. The Bicycle Coalition has followed the lead of Corey Evans at Dr. J’s Bicycle Shop in Buellton, by creating a petition that will be available at Earth Day, the Firestone Mountain Bike Week- end, and South Coast bike shops. Most important will be your attending the Community Plan work- shop that will take place in late April. A map of trails is online at: www.sbbike.org/docs/SYV-trails.pdf www.sbbike.org How to reach us April 6th meeting April 2004

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www.sbbike.org April 2004

Serving Santa BarbaraCountyWe’re a countywide advocacyand resource organizationthat promotes bicycling forsafe transportation andrecreation.

How to reach usSanta Barbara BicycleCoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara CA 93190-2047

phone 962-1479email [email protected] www.sbbike.org

April 6th meetingJoin us on Tuesday, April 6thfor our monthly meeting. Let’simprove bicycling in 2004:Tuesday, April 6Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant3524 State St, Santa BarbaraNo-host dinner at 6:00Meeting at 7:00

Online email listWe sponsor an online emailforum where you can post andread messages that pertain toregional bicycling issues. It’seasy and free. To subscribe toour general forum, just sendan email message to:[email protected]

Leave the subject line andbody of the message blank.That’s all!

Join the CoalitionYou can help improvebicycling safety and condi-tions in Santa Barbara Countyby joining others in our ownregional Bicycle Coalitionadvocacy group. Together wewill continue to make a realdifference. See page 6 fordetails.

For sale: video & flagWe’re pleased to offer our ownvideo “Decide to Ride.” It’sabout a young woman wholearns to bike commute towork. It’s only $18 (tax andUS shipping included) fromus, address above.Plus, we’re selling Bike Weekflags, 4’x6’ heavy nylon, terracotta and white. They’re $33plus tax. Look at this PDF file:www.sbbike.org/art-home/flag.pdf

Coalition pursues Santa Ynez TrailThe ranchers and property owners along theSanta Ynez River don’t want people on bicyclesnear their land, and up to now, they’ve been theonly ones to voice an opinion on a proposedSanta Ynez River Trail. We’re changing that.

At our March 2nd Bicycle Coalition meeting,Santa Barbara County planner Stephen Petersonupdated us on the proposed trail that would runbetween Buellton and Highway 154, with a pos-sible extension to Cachuma Lake. The trail is oneof many, existing and proposed, in the Santa YnezValley Community Plan. The Community Plan isstill under development, and there are upcomingopportunities this spring to ensure that trailscontinue to be included, in spite of opposition.

Currently, the Santa Ynez Valley has off-roadbiking in Los Padres National Forest, and on-road cycling on the numerous connecting ruralroads. The Santa Ynez River Trail would offernew commute opportunities by connecting thecities of Buellton and Solvang. East of Solvang, itwould have several spur trails or paths to resi-dential areas south of Highway 246, and thehighly-desirable connection to Cachuma Lake willprovide access to camping and recreation.

The entire Santa Ynez Valley will benefit froma Buellton-to-Cachuma trail because recreationalhikers, bicyclists and equestrians will be attractedfrom all over California and beyond. Similar trailshave seen boosts in their local economies fromthose who come just for the trails, and fromthose who choose to add an extra day to theirstay. Local hotels and restaurants always profit

RIVER VIEW. Looking west from the Alisal Road bridgein Solvang shows the quiet river and opportunitiesalong the edges or banks for the Santa Ynez River Trail.

from hungry and exhilarated people.The Bicycle Coalition has followed the lead of

Corey Evans at Dr. J’s Bicycle Shop in Buellton,by creating a petition that will be available atEarth Day, the Firestone Mountain Bike Week-end, and South Coast bike shops. Most importantwill be your attending the Community Plan work-shop that will take place in late April. A map oftrails is online at: www.sbbike.org/docs/SYV-trails.pdf

Join us for dinner & meeting April 6thWe’re having another one of our quarterly eveningdinner/meetings. Please join us for either or both:

Madam Lu Chinese Restaurant3524 State St, Santa BarbaraNo-host dinner at 6:00Meeting at 7:00

After researching what other bus agencies around thecountry do to accommodate bicyclists on their buses, Bi-cycle Coalition president Ralph Fertig spoke before the

MTD Board of Di-rectors on March2nd. The article“How to get morebikes on MTDbuses,” publishedin last month’sQuick Release, wasdistributed.

Timing could nothave been better.Steve Holm, MTDacting materialsmanager said that

QUICK MOVE. Fast to deploy the 3-bikebus racks shown here, the San LuisObispo Regional TransportationAuthority has replaced 2-bike ones.

Coalition asks MTD for more bicycle support2-bike Sportworks racks had been orderedfor 26 new buses to be delivered by sum-mer. The Sportworks 2-bike racks are cur-rently on all 40-foot MTD buses. However,starting last December, Sportworks starteddelivering a new 3-bike version. So theMTD immediately ordered one of the newracks to test on its buses. If the 3-bike racksdon’t obstruct the drivers’ views, they willprobably be ordered instead.

While the possibility of bikes inside thebuses is subject to insurance constraints,an increase of bike-carrying capacity by50% would be a major improvement. Wethank the MTD for their timely action, andlook forward to an increase in multi-modaltransportation in their area of coverage.

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Quick Release • April 2004 • Page 2

Bicycle Education is anew focus for us

Word from our BoardFor many of usreading thisnewsletter, theconcepts of ve-hicular cyclingare already fa-miliar. But forthe generalpublic, there isa great deal ofmisinformationabout how andwhere to ride abicycle. Wehave all seen the bicyclist riding on thesidewalk or against traffic, with no helmetor light. We think, “What are they doing?”

In reality, many of these riders believethey are riding safely. Don’t they under-stand that their position and speed makethem invisible to others, endangeringthemselves, other bicyclists and pedestri-ans? The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition,along with many other public and privateentities, such as COAST, the City of SantaBarbara and SBCAG Traffic Solutions, areworking to reduce bicycle-related collisionsthrough bicycle education campaigns.

The League of American Bicyclists headsa campaign to educate bicyclists and motor-ists about the safest ways to “drive yourbicycle.” In 2002 and 2003, the Santa Bar-bara Bicycle Coalition was able to pay forover 15 Santa Barbara residents to becomeLeague Cycling Instructors (LCIs), thanksto a Safe Routes to School grant. These in-structors agreed to donate time to teach bi-cycle education to others in our community.

Participating instructors have alreadytaught children through bike rodeos, in-structed adults at several Bike Commuteclasses during Bike Week 2003, andtrained over 75 City of Santa Barbara em-ployees with a 2 hour “Basic Street Skills”course enabling them to use the City’s newfleet of town bicycles. Participating instruc-tors have also taught 3 complete “Road I”courses—a full day of bicycle instruction,including 2-3 hours of on-road instruction.LCIs are now gearing up to instruct childrenat elementary schools in Santa Barbara andGoleta and will again offer commute classesas part of Bike Week 2004. Contact me tofind out how you can become involved:961-8919 or [email protected] .

March Coalitionmeeting topics

Our March 2nd Bicycle Coalition meetingattracted 14 people who discussed manyissues facing us, including these:

• Wilson Hubbell described the upcomingApril 1st dedication of the Obern Trail.

• Rob Dayton described success of the Cityof Santa Barbara’s bike loaner program foremployees, progress on the Pershing Parkbikepath, inclusion of a bike shop in newCottage Hospital plans, and funding ofMission/101 undercrossing improvements.

• Stephen Peterson from County Planningdescribed proposed bike facilities in theSanta Ynez Valley, spurring action fromthe Coalition.

• A proposal from the Goleta Valley CyclingClub to share in work and profits on theirPeople Powered Ride was discussed.Because of concern of not having enoughpeople to help, we declined a commitment,but will encourage volunteer help.

• Bicycle Coalition ownership of a BikeEdprogram was discussed, and it was agreedthat we should champion it.

• Wilson Hubbell reported that it’s lookingfavorable for keeping the Rincon Hill Roadbridge open to bicyclists. Seismic gateswill probably be installed. The Coalitionwill write in favor of keeping it accessible.

• Ralph Fertig described bicycling featuresfor UCSB’s San Clemente housing along ElColegio. He will speak at the publicworkshop on March 11th.

• Unmet farmworker transportation needswere discussed. The Bicycle Coalition willwrite to the SBCAG Board in favor of theirsafety in biking to work.

• The need for bike parking at Santa BarbaraSaturday Farmers’ Market was discussed.We decided that the Farmers’ Marketgroup should provide bike parking, not us.

• Ralph Fertig described our agreement toattend SB City College’s Project HOPE,offering information on bicycling to schooland biking during their spring break.

• Nancy Mulholland reported on ourpartnering with Looking Good SantaBarbara for a bike recycling and studenteducation program. More considerationsand meetings are coming.

• Ralph Fertig said that he would attend theMTD meeting that evening to ask foraccommodation of bicyclists beyond thetwo on the bus bike racks.

• Our April evening meeting will return toMadam Lu Chinese Restaurant.

Erika Lindemann, Advisor

Bike routes changingin UCSB’s plans

UCSB is making long-range plans forhousing and transportation. They intendto house 2900-4000 additional students,staff, and faculty within the next 20 years.Housing will be on campus land, andpeople on bike, foot, bus and car will haveto be redirected.

Recent UCSB planning efforts on March16-18th involved housing and transporta-tion consultants. Coalition president RalphFertig met with Ian Lockwood, a seniortransportation engineer from consultantsGlatting Jackson in Florida. Lockwood isadmirably car-free, getting around by footand bike.

Plans call for increased circulation be-tween Isla Vista and USCB campus. In-stead of concentrating cars on El Colegioand bikes on the Pardall Corridor, bothwould be distributed over more sharedroads and paths. Lockwood wants to use awhole toolbox of traffic calming tech-niques to slow motorists on roads wherebicyclists will be present. Such a newroadway could have:• brick road surface• continuous concrete bikelanes• storm drains set into the curb• overarching trees• conspicuous, raised crosswalks and

bikepath crossings.

Lockwood envisions greater integration ofUCSB’s practice of putting bicyclists onpaths and IV’s practice of putting them onstreets, so the transition from one to an-other will be less abrupt. Success of thesechanges depends on facility design, howmany people use which facility at whatspeeds, and user awareness.

The latest housing/transportation ideaswill probably be presented to the Isla VistaPAC/GPAC committee in May, and dis-cussed in public then and afterwards.

CALMING THE CARS. UCSB’s transportationconsultant Ian Lockwood wants a moredistributed campus circulation plan.

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Quick Release • April 2004 • Page 3

SB City projects—finished, under construction, and forthcoming

The City of Santa Barbara has been busy. One recently completedproject is on Calle Puerto Vallarta next to the DoubleTree hotel(left photo). This is the major connection between the Beachwaypath and Eastside residences. Our thanks to City Transportationworkers Rob Dayton and Dru van Hengel for striping bikelaneson that section, and replacing in-road sensors.

Currently under construction and scheduled for completion inMay are Shoreline Drive changes (center photo). This project hasbeen coming for years. It consists of a new bikepath between

Leadbetter Beach and Shoreline Park, a wider sidewalk, and atwo-lane roadway with a bikelane on the uphill side. There aresome concerns about no bikelane on the downhill side of the road,but it will likely be all right.

Even longer in planning, funding has finally come through forthe Mission Street undercrossing of Highway 101 (right photo). Itreceived recent federal Transportation Enhancement dollars tocomplete funding of the project that will increase bicyclist and pe-destrian safety along that busy, but important bikeway link.

A group of Mexican Mixtec farmworkers,representing the 8000 Mixtecs working inthe Santa Maria Valley fields, spoke to theSBCAG Board on February 19 and askedfor help getting to and from work.

What the workers were asking for wasbus or van service, but we know that manyof them bike to the fields, and could usesafer conditions. So Bicycle Coalition presi-dent Ralph Fertig sent SBCAG Board mem-bers letters suggesting how they couldimprove biking conditions. A similar letterwas sent to the Santa Maria Times, where itwas published on March 10th.

We wrote, “Many low income wage-

Mayor talks bicyclingOn March 4, Santa Barbara Mayor MartyBlum talked about bicycling success in ourcity. She was speaking at the InternationalSymposium of Bicycle Friendly Communi-ties in Washington DC where she joined 24other mayors and staff for the symposium.

Following a welcome from WashingtonMayor Tony Williams and former Bogata,Columbia Mayor Enrique Penalosa, MayorBlum spoke of what the City has done:• Hired a mobility coordinator• Sponsored Bike to Work/School Days• Put police officers on bikes• Sponsored a Santa Barbara Car Free

program for tourists• Supported bike transportation in the Air

Pollution Control District clean air plan• Crafted neighborhood transportation plans• Designed safe routes to schools.We have posted Mayor Blum’s speechonline at: www.sbbike.org/docs/Blum.pdf

That’s not all. What’s coming here onJune 3 is the Mayors’ Ride for the NationalBicycle Greenway (NBG) movement. Themovement is pursuing a nationwide net-work of interconnected bike roads andpathways. Relay teams of NBG cyclists willmove across America to collect supportfrom the leaders, eventually converging onChicago on July 30 for the Third AnnualNBG Bike Fest. Details about the NBG areat: www.NationalBicycleGreenway.com/.

A week of exciting bike activities is heading our way. Markyour calendars with these main event dates:

• Bike Week Kick-Off, May 14• Children’s Festival, May 15• Bike to School Day, May 18• Bike to Work Day, May 19.

New this year, the Kick-Off evening event will feature actorand world cyclist Willie Weir (check out www.willieweir.com),dinner, and awards. Art this year by Loren Allen, shownat right, will appear on T-shirts and posters, which will befor sale. Goleta will have numerous morning stations forBike to Work Day around the area instead of one noon lo-cation this year. Tune up your bikes & get ready to crank!

Bike Week’s coming May 15-23

Coalition supports biking farmworkersearners would continue to bicycle to workeven if buses or vans were available be-cause bicycling is likely to be cheaper, moredirect, and often faster than a bus or van.We believe that bicycling to work is a goodidea for many reasons, regardless of income,and there is a need to make conditionssafer for those who want to—or must—biketo work.”

We recommended paved roadway shoul-ders that would separate from traffic not onlyfarm workers, but also disabled motorists,farm machinery operators, and law en-forcement officials. No response so far, butevery bicycling idea out there helps us all.

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Quick Release • April 2004 • Page 4

For Santa BarbaraCounty Bike Maps,info on ridesharingand van pools, justcall: 963-SAVE.

FREEBIKEMAP!

Upcoming bikemeetings & events

April 1, Dedication of Obern Trail. Namedin honor of Bicycle Coalition members Vieand George Obern for their work in obtain-ing approval and funding for this popularSouth Coast trail. The ceremony will unveil“Obern Trail” signs. Ceremony will be at12:30 at the trailhead along Modoc Roadnear Hollister Avenue. Of course bike there.

April 6, General Meeting. Meeting the firstTuesday of the month, this time in theevening. It will be at Madam Lu ChineseRestaurant, 3524 State Street, Santa Bar-bara. No-host dinner at 6:00, meeting at7:00 PM. Phone president Ralph Fertig,962-1479 or email him at [email protected].

April 7, 101 In Motion Public Workshop,sponsored by SBCAG. This workshop startsa year-long process to determine how to re-duce traffic congestion on streets and high-ways throughout the urbanized SouthCoast. It is an opportunity to recommendthat bicycling be included in the mix of re-sulting projects. Carpinteria City Hall, 5775Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria. It’s 6:00-8:00 PM. Details at www.101inmotion.com.

April 12, Ellwood-Devereux Open SpaceHearing, sponsored by the City of Goleta.A draft version of an Environmental ImpactReport (EIR) will be the subject of publiccomment. The EIR covers 78 homes andopen space with trails, beach access, park-ing, and habitat protection. Read the EIR atwww.ellwood-devereux.org. The hearing is atGoleta Union School District Board Room,401 N Fairview Ave, Goleta, at 6:00 PM.

April 18, Santa Barbara Earth Day, spon-sored by the Community EnvironmentalCouncil. The most pleasant festival in SantaBarbara. We will host a booth there for our13th year. Volunteer to help staff our boothor just visit (by bike, of course) for a funtime. Free bike check-ups. It runs from 10AM to 5:30 PM at the County CourthouseSunken Gardens. For details, look atwww.communityenvironmentalcouncil.org/earthday.

April 23-25, Firestone Mountain BikeWeekend, sponsored by RideSB and StumpGrinder Production. This weekend hascourse pre-riding on Friday; RockgardnChamberlin Ranch Downhill and Rio VisaDirt Criterium on Saturday; and StateChampionship series Cross Country Raceand a Youth Series Kids Race on Sunday.The Bicycle Coalition will have a booththere. There are meals, camping, a prizeraffle, T-shirts, live music and a beer gar-den. Race location is Firestone Vineyardnear Los Olivos. Event details are atwww.ridesb.com/Firestone_04.htm.

Corridor study mustinclude bicycling

Is bicycling a means of reducing traffic con-gestion within the South Coast? We believeso and therefore request that facilities andprograms for people who bicycle now—andthose who will bicycle if given better condi-tions to do so—should be an outcome com-ponent of the 101 In Motion process.

101 In Motion (formerly “101 Implementa-tion Plan”) is a long-term action plan to re-duce traffic congestion within a 5-milewide swath along the 27-mile corridor be-tween Winchester Canyon and the VenturaCounty line. It’s not about one road, it’sabout the impact of congestion on nearlyevery South Coast highway, road and street.

There were three public meetings betweenMarch 9th-16th. If the two South Coastones are any indication of public sentimentin general, people favored two actionsabove 13 others:• Expand transportation choices like bus,

bike, rail• Reduce travel demand.The consultant team stressed that “no onesolution will solve the problem. The 101 InMotion action plan will be made up of apackage of solutions.” Widening the free-way will not provide a long-term solution.

The Bicycle Coalition’s Ralph Fertigspoke of two important components that hefelt should be included:• A South Coast “rail with trail” bikepath

along the Union Pacific Railroad.• Safe bike access and secure parking at all

rail stations of any future commuter railservice.

The process over the next year consists ofcrafting many “alternative packages” andwinnowing them down to one final list oflong and short-term measures. There willbe other opportunities to express youropinions on the options. To track this im-portant process, go to www.101inmotion.comand follow future issues of Quick Release.

People read display information and talk withconsultants at the Goleta public meeting of 101In Motion process.

Cycling Center showJoshua Patlak, after visiting the Commu-nity Cycling Center in Portland, showed hisPowerPoint presentation to us last October.See what a bike center can look like at:

www.sbbike.org/docs/CCC-Portland.ppt

UCSB Triathlon groupadds cycling

What happens when you add cycling to abiathlon of swimming and running? Youget a highly successful triathlon! That’swhat the UCSB Triathlon Team discoveredon March 7th.

UCSB Team members Matt Hirscheyand J. Ritterbeck organized the event andfound out that instead of 25-30 participantstypical of their former “Splash n’ Dash,” theyhad nearly 200 for a full triathlon. And in-stead of raising a few hundred dollars, theyraised a couple of thousand for their team.

The new money allowed them to buybike racks for the transition area. And withfunds from future events, they will be able,through their “Start Tri-ing Program,” tohelp students who may not have the equip-ment and money to participate in triathlons.

Team president Ritterbeck says, “We arelooking forward to hosting the event againnext year and growing it into one of the topearly season races in the region.”

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Quick Release • April 2004 • Page 5

Coalition supportsCity College students

TALK BICYCLING. Bicycle Coalition Boardmember Jim Marshall chats with a student.

On March 17th, the Bicycle Coalition joinedother local organizations in a Safe SpringBreak Fair. It was organized by the SantaBarbara City College’s Project HOPE (Help-ing Others through Peer Education), agroup of student volunteers who educateother students on healthier lifestyle choices.

Our booth, located on a grassy knoll over-looking the Pacific Ocean, was staffed byJim Marshall and Ralph Fertig. Our mis-sion was two fold: tell students about bikerides that they could download from ourweb site or that they could create for them-selves from County Bike Maps; and tellthem about commuting to school by bikeinstead of car. Many students came by say-ing that they already biked to classes (in-cluding one who biked in from Solvangthat morning in two hours). Others tookCounty bike maps, Santa Barbara Car Freemaps and information, and a flyer thatlisted Bicycle Coalition web site addresseswith useful bicycling information.

To learn more about Project HOPE, con-tact student coordinator Linsay Sawzak byphone at 965-0581 x3435, or by email [email protected].

Active membersPlease thank and support the following Bicycle Coalition businessmembers:

• Hazard’s Cyclesport, Santa Barbara• Lightning Cycle Dynamics, Lompoc

We welcome new members Harry Nelson and Jamie Goldstein.And we certainly thank those who renewed their memberships:Browning Allen, Rob Dayton, Eric Schwartz, David, Karen &Zachary Wheeler, Lynn Pearl, Curtis Ridling, Jean Thomsonand David Ramsthaler.

by Ralph Fertig“It was rust colored andhad training wheels,”remembers MattDobberteen of his firstbicycle back in Norman,Oklahoma. He also re-calls his first tumblefrom it, but that didn’tdeter him from bikingeverywhere as he grewup. That includes get-ting his trombone toand from schoolstrapped to his 10-speed bike.

Temporarily luredaway from bicycles bythe automobile in highschool, Matt returned tothem when he moved to Santa Barbara forenvironmental and law studies at UCSB.After graduation, he worked for the IslaVista Park Board, the County Parks Depart-ment, and then Santa Barbara County Plan-ning. He credits his nurturing there to DanGira, Alissa Hummer, and John Patton.

Today, Matt is Alternative Transporta-tion Coordinator for Santa Barbara County'sPublic Works Department, a position hemoved into last August. There, he shareswork with Wilson Hubbell—Matt concen-trates on bus systems and the 101 In Mo-tion process, while Wilson works onbicycling and safe routes to school issues.But that doesn't keep Matt from biking to

Matt and bicycling—a comfortable fitwork most days,sportily dressed onemight add, in tie andjacket as he pedalsalong.

The Santa Barbaraarea is fine for bicy-cling, Matt observes;however increasingmotorized traffic is aconcern. Matt feelsthat cars are appropri-ate for many trips,but inappropriate forothers where walking,bicycling and taking abus are better choices.He is especially im-pressed with the suc-cesses that SBCAG’s

Traffic Solutions continues to make in pro-moting alternatives to driving.

In Matt’s opinion, two current and up-coming processes are ones that we shouldbe involved with: the 101 In Motion studythat will determine the best ways to de-crease South Coast traffic congestion overcoming decades; and reauthorization of thecountywide Measure D, the half-cent trans-portation sales tax that is up for renewal in2009. They both can help bicycling.

Matt envisions our future where smarteconomic development is possible, andpeople will have—and use—appropriatetransportation to get around. Thanks, Matt,we’re delighted to have you on board.

NO LYCRA IN SIGHT. Matt Dobberteen bikecommutes to work nattily dressed, with hishelmet on his head.

At the Bicycle Coalition Board meeting, andthen at our general meeting March 2nd, wediscussed Goleta Valley Cycling Club’s offerto share work and profits from their PeoplePowered Ride. There were reservations, notbecause of the Club or its members, but be-cause of a concern that Bicycle Coalition

Delayed partnering with GVCCmembers might not volunteer in sufficientnumbers to meet GVCC expectations.

Bicycle Coalition members’ feelings weremixed, and it was finally decided that Bi-cycle Coalition individuals will be encour-aged to help out before and during the ride,and we’ll see how it goes from there.

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P.O. Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDNONPROFIT

ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSANTA BARBARA,

CAPERMIT NO. 647

Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPresident, Ralph Fertig, 962-1479

[email protected] President, Chuck Anderson

893-4616, [email protected], Drew Hunter, 542-5112

[email protected], Gary Wissman, 964-4607

[email protected], Mike Hecker, 966-1807

[email protected], Don Lubach, 964-7798

[email protected], Jim Marshall, 962-3531

[email protected], Nancy Mulholland, 563-9073

[email protected], Dru van Hengel, 564-5544

[email protected], Wilson Hubbell, 568-3046

[email protected], Erika Lindemann, 961-8919

[email protected]

Regional bicycle clubs & groups

Bicycle Touring Club of SolvangDan Henry, 688-3330

Cyclone Racing, Beth Wallace753-6673, [email protected]

Echelon Santa Barbara, Mark [email protected]

Goleta Valley Cycling ClubKathleen Boehm, [email protected]

Lompoc Valley Bicycle ClubRay Harris, 736-5454

SB Mountain Bike Trail VolunteersChuck Anderson, [email protected]

Santa Barbara Bicycle ClubMike Hecker, [email protected]

Santa Barbara BMXDale Bowers, [email protected]

Tailwinds Bicycle ClubCarl Beerup, [email protected]

UCSB Cycling ClubPhilip Chang, [email protected]

Road repair contactsCaltrans

Pat Mickelson, [email protected]

CarpinteriaRick Fulmer, 684-5405 [email protected]

GoletaSteve Wagner, [email protected]

LompocLarry Bean, [email protected]

Santa Barbara City897-2630

Santa Barbara CountyWilson Hubbell, [email protected]

Santa MariaRick Sweet, 925-0951 [email protected]

SolvangTom Rowe, [email protected]

UCSBDennis Whelan, [email protected]

“If you bicycle, you should join the Bicycle Coalition”

Application for 12 Months of MembershipYes! Sign me up to help make bicycling better for all of us in Santa Barbara County:

❏ Individual $25 ❏ Student/Senior $12 ❏ Family $40 ❏ Century $100❏ Business $100 ❏ Sustaining $500 ❏ Lifetime $1000name ___________________________________________________________________________

address __________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

city, state, zip _____________________________________________________________________

phone ________________________________ email ______________________________________

❏ New membership ❏ Renewal membership Make check out to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.Mail to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, PO Box 92047, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

MEMBERSHIP IS VALID IF LABEL BELOW SAYS “MEMBER”

Is an address label missing?

Put your name here by joining theBicycle Coalition and have Quick Releasedelivered right to you 12 times a year!

Discounts tomembers

Members of the Santa BarbaraBicycle Coalition are offered dis-counts at local bike shops. It’sanother reason to join our advo-cacy group. To get your dis-count, take your copy of QuickRelease to the shop & showthem your address label thatsays “MEMBER” on it. Or cutout the label box and take it.Discount details are posted onour web site at www.sbbike.org/SBBC/who.html. Please patronizethe following businesses:

Bicycle Bob’s250 Storke Road #A, Goleta15 Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara

Bicycle Connection223 W. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc

Big Gear Bike Gear324 State Street #A, Santa Barbara

Commuter Bicycles, 569-5381Hazard’s Cyclesport

735 Chapala Street, Santa BarbaraMad Mike's Bikes

1110 E. Clark Avenue #G, Santa MariaOpen Air Bicycles

224 Chapala Street, Santa BarbaraPedal Power Bicycles

1740 Broadway, Santa MariaVeloPro Cyclery

633 State Street, Santa Barbara5887 Hollister Avenue, Goleta