Quickrelease Spring 2015

Spring 2015 • Volume 25 / No. 1

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

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2 Quick Release Spring 2015

BOARDCourtney Dietz, PresidentDavid Hodges, Vice PresidentDavid Bourgeois, TreasurerByron BeckRobert CaizaSue CarmodyHector GonzalezJohn HygelundMike Vergeer

STAFFEd France, Executive [email protected]

Christine Bourgeois, Education [email protected]

Shawn Von Biela, Shop [email protected]

Howard Booth, Membership [email protected]

Joey Juhasz-Lukomski, Volunteer [email protected]

Sam Franklin, Avocacy Coordinator [email protected]

GOVT. LIAISONS & ADVISORSMatt Dobberteen, AdvisorCounty of Santa [email protected]

Kent Epperson, AdvisorTraffic [email protected]

Teresa Lopes, AdvisorCity of [email protected]

Amy Steinfeld Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Ralph Fertig, President Emeritus(in memoriam)

ART DIRECTORCynthia Stahl, [email protected]

EDITORHolly Starley, [email protected]

CONTACT US506 E. Haley St.Santa Barbara, CA 93103

PO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190

www.sbbike.orgSBBIKE: 805-845-8955Bici Centro: 805-617-3255

CONTRIBUTEYour time: www.bicicentro.org/volunteerIn-kind: www.bicicentro.org/wishlistFinancially: www.bicicentro.org/donate

Our Vision

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) vision is that Santa Barbara will be a

leader in creating a bicycle-friendly community and transportation system. Extensive

on-road and separated bikeways, a coordinated transit system, parking, and amenities

allow us to enjoy a culture where the majority of daily trips include a bicycle. As

a result, our community is healthier and encourages balanced living within our

resources. Universal cycling education for all ages supports the development of

safe and respectful road behaviors from both motorists and cyclists. Widespread

community and political support for bicycling is in place. By 2040, because it is a

cycling-centered county, Santa Barbara is both a great place to live and work and a

nationally acclaimed cycling destination, boasting a year-round calendar of successful,

fun, and inclusive events.

COVER PHOTO –Based on Shout it from the rooftop by CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS

Letter from the EditorThe Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is ever engaged in an array

of efforts, and over the years, SBBIKE has set and reached a lot

of goals. But when it comes down to it, I believe the coalition’s

aim can be pared down to one thing—accessibility. SBBIKE

strives to make cycling—inarguably a tremendous equalizer and

historically a literal path to freedom for many—available to all.

Susan B. Anthony said, “The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women

than anything else in the world.” And right now, women in Afghanistan, who are

cycling (at great personal risk) as an assertion of long withheld rights, are realizing

that. (Read how Santa Barbara Middle School students are getting involved in this

movement on SBBIKE’s website.)

Remember when you were a kid first learning about how government works? For

many of us, phrases like “government for the people and by the people,” filled us

with ideas of fairness and equality and a desire to participate. Local governments are

currently asking all of us who live in Santa Barbara County what we want the future of

our roadways and transportation systems to look like when it comes to bicycling and

walking infrastructure.

Here in this issue of the QR, SBBIKE lays out efforts to ensure a wider group can

participate in—and how your voice can be a part of—the conversation that will shape

long-term decisions for our entire community. Here is a glimpse at why the coalition’s

campaign to Connect Our Communities, making every corner of our county

accessible to cyclists and pedestrians, is stronger than ever at the beginning of year

two. Here, you’ll find the coalition’s efforts to seek ever new ways of strengthening

our community through the benefits of that accessibility—congestion reduction,

safer roads, and increased access to local businesses, to name a few. You’ll share in a

heartwarming story on the gift of access—to bikes and skills—to the next generation

of cyclists, those who will continue the journey to broaden access into the future.

You’ll hear the voice of one such youth, whose trip to Seattle showed him the power

of advocacy in action. You’ll learn about one of Bici’s mechanic’s plans to help

women access mechanical skills and confidence. And you’ll find SBBIKE’s volunteer

coordinator’s take on what volunteering gives you access to.

Now’s the time. Participate. Be heard. Join the community.

Your fellow participant,

Holly Starley

www.SBBIKE.org 3

Thank you, Business Members and Supporters

PLATINUM MEMBERS

DIAMOND MEMBERS

Marcia Burtt Gallery

GOLD & CARBON FIBER MEMBERS

Rincon Cycle CapCranks

SILVER & ALUMINUM MEMBERS

TITANIUM MEMBERS

BRONZE AND STEEL MEMBERS

Bildsten Architecture and Planning The Dirt Club Ebike Santa BarbaraHelloHarvest Hoffman ArchitectureHorny Toad

Kendrick ConsultingMesa ArchitectsMesa Business AssociationRevolution Coaching LLCPacific Pedalers/ Santa Barbara PedicabPedal Born PicturesPedal Power Bicycles

Premier Business MarketingRace CorpsREIService Objects True Nature Landscape ArchitectureWe Bike ElectricWaynes Pro Bike


Get Involved

| Be heard! Attend summits / take surveys

| Encourage others to voice their opinions

| Donate to Connect at bicicentro.org/donate

| Learn how cycl ing/walking infrastructure benefits al l road users

Connect Kicks Off Year Two with a Bang

“ This year will prove to be the pivotal year for bicycling and quality of

life in Santa Barbara County,” said Ed France, SBBIKE executive director.

France was addressing a group gathered at the home of John Burke,

Trek Bicycle Corporation president, for a fundraiser that netted $18,040

in a single night, bringing the coalition’s Connecting Our Community

(Connect) campaign to 77 percent of its 2015 budget.

When France says 2015 is a pivotal year, he’s encompassing not just the

successes Connect saw during its kickoff year in 2014 (and there were

a lot), not just the “game-changing projects” already on board for this

year, and not just the enthusiasm made clear by the February fundraiser.

He’s referring to a rare moment in the county’s history. Santa Barbara is

updating its Bike Master Plans (BMPs), setting in motion the types and

ADVOCACY

extent of new bicycling and walking infrastructure

for the next fifteen years.

France is enthusiastic about that. “Together we

are stronger than we’ve ever been and at perhaps

the most opportune time in our history,” he said.

“Let’s complete our coastal route …. We can

realize a safe, accessible, and connected bike

network for the South Coast. Now is our chance.”

Burke noted that cycling addresses current global

issues—congestion, environmental concerns,

and health problems—and expressed approval of

2014’s achievements. Says France, “It’s so valuable

to have national leaders like the Burkes here in our

community to remind us how much opportunity

we have and how we’re already one of the best

communities in the world.”

France honored SBBIKE founder and president

emeritus, Ralph Fertig, who passed away last year.

“Bike infrastructure throughout this county that

we rely on has Ralph’s stamp on it,” he said. “Ralph

knew that we needed a robust bicycle coalition in

order to advocate for change, and he dedicated

20 years of his life to our cause. What will our

legacy be?” he asked.

Learn about the status of SB’s BMPs and how to

be voice in informing them on pages 6 and 7.

The Pivotal Year

John Burke, president of Trek Bicycle Corporation, speaks to a crowd gathered in his home to raise funds for SBBIKE’s Connecting Our Community campaign.

2014 Achievement Highlights

| $13 mil l ion in out-of-

county grants

| First Green Lanes / Buffered

Bike Lanes

| New on-street bike parking

| Three miles of coastal route

on the ocean—the Rincon

Bikeway

2015 Projects in the Works

| Complete network gaps

| Inform / fund 2015 BMPs

| Consider a bike share program

| Get new protected bikeways /

bicycle boulevards

www.SBBIKE.org 5

ADVOCACY

I magine a fleet of bicycles, available for your

downtown transportation needs—stimulating

business, decreasing congestion, and increasing

mobility. That’s exactly what many envision as a bike

share program for the South Coast. Such a program

might seem redundant to daily commuters, their

fine-tuned workhorse bikes ever at hand. But most of

the population interested in cycling isn’t comprised of

daily commuters. What about downtown employees

or visitors who would like to increase their geographic

range to shop or go to meetings?

We thought we’d wonder aloud—just as Ralph

Fertig did eight years ago following the launch

of Paris’s Vélib’—about a bike share program for

the South Coast. Here, in part, is Fertig’s well-

articulated take on this longstanding vision

from the August 2007 Quick Release:

The day after their July 14 Bastille Day, Parisians woke

up to find 10,600 bicycles available at 750 stations

for their use. The public-private initiative was crafted

by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë to propel the city

toward a greener future.

The question for us is how much would the South

Coast—or just the City of Santa Barbara—benefit

from a similar program? Judging from the success

of recent programs in Europe, it would reduce traffic

congestion, cut pollution, promote fitness, and be a

popular means of travel for residents and visitors alike.

Throughout Paris there are Vélib’ (meaning vélo

liberté) stations every 300 yards. During the first

week of operation, there were 45,000 rentals a day.

Each station has an electronic vending kiosk with

instructions in eight languages. Using your credit card

at the kiosk, you get a bike card to swipe over one of

the waiting bicycles to release it. Vélib’ maintenance

workers redistribute bikes to meet demand. As bikes

are returned, diagnostic software automatically

checks tire pressure, lights, and brakes; if a bike fails

the tests, it is locked out of service and a mechanic is

directed to it.

After noting the design of Vélib’s custom-built bikes, Fertig pointed

to other city’s with successful bike shares, including Stockholm,

Vienna, Brussels, Barcelona, Córdoba, and Copenhagen. US cities,

he said, were “paying attention and moving to adapt the new secure

European technology,” noting efforts in Washington, DC; Portland,

Oregon; Chicago; New York; and San Francisco. He asked:

So why not our South Coast? Carpinteria Beach campers could

bike into town. University of California students could bike to the

Airport, Amtrak station, or Marketplace. Downtown Santa Barbara

workers could pedal to restaurants for lunch, and tourists could

go from hotels to local destinations.

How would it be paid for? European cities are trading space on

billboards for bikes. Here, we could sell kiosk or bike advertising

space. We might enter into agreements with major employers.

Much has changed in eight years. Proven programs are now in

place in large to mid-size cities—even cities smaller than Santa

Barbara—throughout the United States. Support for bicycling in

SB has blossomed, and multiple employers now offer private bike

fleets. Could now be the time for us to finally realize such a step for

our fair city? What do you think? (To read Fertig’s article in full, visit

http://www.sbbike.org/QR/2007/0708/0708.html#100.)

Bike Share for the South Coast?

SBBIKE is proud to announce its new phone

number (separate from Bici Centro’s, which

remains the same). And the number is …

805-854-8955.

SBBIKE Has a New Number


Help Shape the Future

First Ever Spanish Summits

O n May 16 , two neighborhood meet ings

w il l be conducted in Spanish . “This

i s the f i rst t ime any government agency

has done this in Santa Barbara ,” notes

Peter Brown, mobil i ty coordinator w ith the

City of Santa Barbara Publ ic Works . In the

past , Brown explains , meet ings conducted

in Engl i sh have been made avai lable to

Spanish speakers by way of interpreters and

headsets . “ It ’s a lmost l ike they’re a l i t t le bit

separate f rom the meet ing,” he says . The c ity

wants to ensure everyone in the community

i s welcome and comfor table to par t ic ipate in

a process that w i l l shape bik ing and walk ing

inf rast ructure for years to come. Food and

daycare w il l be prov ided at both summits ,

one in the morning and one in the af ternoon .

See detai l s below.

SB County Association of Governments

z Goal – Adoption of region’s BPMP

by SBCAG Board this summer

z Now – Publ ic input process (March

workshops held in Santa Maria,

Santa Barbara; ongoing outreach

efforts with region’s advocacy

groups)

z Next – Incorporat ion of publ ic

comments, complet ion of a draft

plan for review by the project ’s

advisory committee, providing base

el igibi l i ty for Act ive Transportat ion

Program grant funding

z Weigh in – Quest ions/comments:

Michael Becker (mbecker@sbcag.

org / 805-961-8912 )

Each of Santa Barbara County ’s f ive jur isdict ions is working on a new Bike and Pedestr ian Master Plan (BPMP) (or, in the cases of the City and County of Santa Barbara , a BMP), which wi l l shape cycl ing and walking infrastructure for the immediate future and beyond. Preparing the plans includes a number of stages . Phase one, RFP (request for proposal ) enables the hir ing of a consult ing f i rm to conduct phase two, a publ ic input process , during which sur veys , focus groups , summits , and the l ike ask what the community wants . Next , a p lan is draf ted and then circulated for publ ic comment . Then comes of f icia l adoption of the plan and, f inal ly, implementation.

Santa Barbara’s jur isdict ions want to know what you want . Here’s an update on the plans’ statuses and how to inform them:

What Do You Want Your Roadways to

Look Like? Weigh In

City of Goleta

z Goal – Complet ion of BPMP by

2016

z History – Awarded $203,415

Department of Conservat ion

Sustainable Communit ies Grant to

that end in 2014

z Now – Final izat ion of RFP, hir ing of

consult ing f i rm this month

z Next – Launch of publ ic input

process, July ( focus groups,

surveys, and the l ike TBA)

z Weigh in – Part ic ipate in surveys,

publ ic workshops this summer.

Quest ions/comments: James

Winslow, project manager

( [email protected] /

805-961-7500 )

City of Santa Barbara

z Goal – Complet ion of BMP

by fal l 2015

z Now – Launch of publ ic

input process, Apri l and

May (summit meetings,

stakeholder roadshows,

surveys, interact ive pop-up

event – bike boulevard for

a day on Al isos near Mi lpas

TBA)

z Next – Compilat ion of

community input

www.SBBIKE.org 7

Help Shape the Future

“Now Is the Time”by Lamont St i f f, 8th grade SBMS

H el lo! My name is Lamont , and

myself and e ight other Santa

Barbara Middle School s tudents

recently went to the Youth Bike

Summit in Seat t le . The Conference

was a l l about empowering the youth

to become leaders , and the b icycle

was used as a tool to help us do that . People, young

and old, f rom New York , Phi ladelphia , Chicago, and

several other p laces came together at the Summit

to col laborate and develop new ideas around the

theme of cycl ing and susta inable habit s .

The Youth Bike Summit helped us make new fr iends

and new connections by us ing the power of the

b icycle. We each at tended var ious workshops based

on our own interests . For instance, I at tended the

presentat ion from a Santa Ana group named “Bike

City of Santa Barbara

z Goal – Complet ion of BMP

by fal l 2015

z Now – Launch of publ ic

input process, Apri l and

May (summit meetings,

stakeholder roadshows,

surveys, interact ive pop-up

event – bike boulevard for

a day on Al isos near Mi lpas

TBA)

z Next – Compilat ion of

community input

Weigh InParticipate in summits(Spanish) May 16, 10am–2pm, Franklin

Elementary or 2–4pm, Harding Elementary;

(English) May 18, 6–8pm Peabody Elementary;

May 19, 6–8pm Faulkner Gallery at SB Public

Library;

May 20, 6–8pm Washington Elementary

Take the survey online(Spanish) www.ciclismosb.org

(English) www.sbsurvey.org

Get a hard copy and mail it in or hand it to any

elected official.

Schedule a stakeholder roadshowCheck out the pop-up event – bike boulevard

for a day, TBA

Like or comment on the Facebook page –

www.facebook.com/BMPSBQuestions/comments: Peter Brown ([email protected]);

www.santabarbaraca.gov/BMP

City of Carpinteria

z Goal – Adoption of BPMP by City Counci l this year

z Now – Publ ic input process (publ ic workshop TBA;

ongoing outreach efforts with advocacy groups)

z Next – Circulat ion of prel iminary draft report to

advocacy groups for publ ic comments, a iming for

completed package by end 2015, providing base

el igibi l i ty for Act ive Transportat ion Program grant

funding

z Weigh in – Look for upcoming publ ic

workshop. Quest ions/comments: Matt Maechler

([email protected] ia .ca.us )

County of Santa Barbara

z Goal – Moving forward with the plan adoption and

use of state/federal Act ive Transportat ion Program

(ATP) grants

z Histor y – Completed update to 2005 BMP in 2012

but decided to delay adoption to al low for the

development of the ATP grant program

z Now – Adoption of plan, which combines al l the

bikeways elements in the County’s Community

Plans

z Next – Inclusion of plan as part of SBCAG’s

BMP

z Weigh in – Quest ions/comments: Matt Dobberteen

([email protected] )

I t .” They were f rom ages 13–17, and par t icipated in

events that not even most adults would do. In their

f ree t ime, the teens col lected data f rom bicycl is t s to

research where the best locat ion for new bike lanes

would be, and then they went in f ront of the Santa

Ana Cit y Counci l to speak about adding these b ike

lanes to the Cit y ’s Master Plan.

The Counci l kept pushing publ ic comments back

fur ther and fur ther, so the “B ike I t ” k ids decided to

protest by get t ing f lowers and put t ing the message:

“ We want to be heard” on each f lower. Af ter a l l of

th is , B ike I t and the cit y of Santa Ana successful ly got

three b ike lanes implemented into the Master Plan.

This is just one of the dozens of s tor ies I heard

at the Youth Bike Summit . I chose to te l l th is

par t icular s tor y, though, because currently

Santa Barbara is updat ing i t s B ike Master

Plan, and is looking for publ ic input! I f you

want to make a change in our growing bicycle

community in Santa Barbara , now is the t ime!


EDUCATION

H ow do you go from wobbling and shaking on a

blacktop to confidently navigating busy roundabouts

in six weeks? Ten junior high students and two Pedal Power

instructors in Santa Maria found the formula—volunteer

help; drills, drills, drills; and dedicated practice.

Watching the line of kids cycling confidently through 5:00

p.m. traffic to a pizza party in honor of their graduation

from the earn-a-bike program at Tommie Kunst Jr.

High, you’d never imagine that the majority of them

were barely able to pedal straight not long ago.

When instructor Charlotte Belyea realized only three of the ten had

good control and most found handbrakes “mysterious”—opting

for “interesting-looking” braking methods, such as hopping off the

bikes—she was a little nervous. Typically, Pedal Power groups take

to the road by week three or four, and particularly in Santa Maria,

where roads are wide, traffic is heavy, and large trucks aren’t used

to bikes, that can be intimidating. Not sure what to do, she called

Christine Bourgeois, SBBIKE education coordinator.

“We sent out a call for help,” says Bourgeois. She contacted

Tailwinds Bicycle Club and San Luis Obispo County Bicycle

Coalition. Volunteers would allow some of the group to go on the

road while others stayed on the blacktop. Among the responders

was Nate Iven from Vandenberg, an avid cyclist interested in cycling

education, who Belyea says went above and beyond.

The 2015 Pedal Power class of Tommie Kunz Junior High, with instructors Charlotte Belyea and Tammy Saurman and volunteer Nate Iven. Inset: Graduation certificate. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS

“We did a lot of drills,” says Belyea, who along with co-

instructor, Tammy Saurman from Fesler Jr. High, modified

the program to include more riding and less mechanics.

Belyea calls one student, Osbaldo, the heart and soul of

the class. On day one, he stood over the bike, terrified,

not sure he could ride again (he’d learned when he was

younger). Finally, he tried some balance drills on the grass.

“He did a lot of work on his own,” says Belyea, “and could

pedal on the second week.” He was still afraid to turn.

By the end, Osbaldo was hand signaling next to cars on a

roundabout, and so were the others. On the River Trail, an

unpaved path the group took back to the school, Osbaldo

passed Iven, singing (Iven’s favorite moment).

Principal Sharon Shell expressed her pride in the kids’ hard

work at an emotional graduation ceremony.

“I was truly amazed by their progress,” says Belyea, who

loved seeing their well-deserved pride. She also loved

seeing them get the bicycles they’d earned by completing

the program. “That’s so important,” she says. “Their skills

were lacking because they didn’t have bikes.”

In addition, they received certificates, helmets, and locks.

FORMULA FOR TRANSFORMATION

www.SBBIKE.org 9

SHOP

Women, Get Your Wrench On!

Lynneal Williams gets her wrench on. JAY MADDEN

Register for Women Only, Women-Led Workshops

S he’s playing with the name “TLC for Your Bici.” She

is Lynneal Williams, a mechanic at Bici Centro’s DIY

shop, and she grins as she tries out the name for the

upcoming workshops she’s hosting for women.

The event, part of CycleMAYnia, will include two

identical, ninety-minute workshops on Sunday,

May 3, one in the afternoon and one in the

morning. Women will learn to fix flats, maintain

drive trains, and what to look for when their

rides need a tune-up. Each workshop holds

twelve spots, so register soon at sbbike.org.

Bici Centro will be open all day and will host a women

only Open Shop in between workshops. Women can

trickle in and work on their bikes—with the support of

women mechanics.

The workshops were inspired by what Williams calls

“the comfort aspect” of women’s only classes. She

envisions a space where women won’t feel self-

conscious about asking questions or for instructions

on how to use a tool—a space where everyone’s on

the same “level.” She’s not referring to mechanical

know-how, but something more basic. “We

[women] learn differently,” Williams explains. “We

come from a culture where most of us didn’t grow

up using tools or figuring out how to fix stuff.”

Williams herself learned step-by-step in a slow, steady

process about bike mechanics. “At first, I wasn’t just

going to go for it,” she says. But she’s now comfortable

in a way she’d love to see other women be—not afraid

to use a tool, to “mess things up.” “It can always be

fixed,” she says.

Gaining mechanical skills, says Williams, is really about

gaining confidence. “You don’t have to rely on a man

or anyone else. You have the skills and the confidence.

That filters into other aspects of your life.” For example,

if a woman realizes she can fix a flat on her own, she

might consider trying something like fixing a plumbing

issue. This is not just a random analogy. Did Williams

attempt her plumbing issue? Yep. How did it go? “It

worked,” she says, adding with a hearty laugh, “It was

gross.”

Williams came to SBBIKE and Bici Centro by way of needing to repair

a brake issue on her bicycle, where she learned wrenching was

something she would enjoy. After a brief stint at REI’s bike shop, she

started at the shop. The ethos appealed to her. She’s talking self-

sufficiency, thriftiness, and reuse. “I like the idea of people scrounging

around until they find what they need,” she says. At Bici, she also

enjoys that “the focus isn’t selling stuff; it’s building relationships and

equipping people with a skill that might be a necessity for them.”

Williams received a $100 grant from CycleMAYnia to help with the

May 3 women’s event. If the response is there, she hopes to host

women’s only days at the shop once a month.

Register for the workshop and Open Shop hours at sbbike.org.

SBBIKE wil l rol l out its standard programming and a

new addit ion for this year ’s Earth Day fest ival , which

is just around the corner ( Apri l 18 and 19). That

addit ion? The brand-new advocacy tr ike! This “mobile

ops” bicycle wi l l be the vehicle for spreading the word

about the coal it ion’s miss ions and programs . Check

out this travel ing messenger at Bike World, a long

with al l the regular features you’ve come to know and

love—the Bici Centro mobile shop, the bike-powered

stage, fun presentations , and more.

And of course, SBBIKE wil l park your r ide and keep it

safe while you check out the fest iv it ies . B ike Valet saw

over 1 , 200 bikes last year, and expert valets are ready

for the same or more in 2015.

New “Toy” to Debut at Earth Day

FORMULA FOR TRANSFORMATION


SHOP

by Joey Juhasz-Lukomski, Volunteer Coordinator

“Have I done something for the general interest? Well, then, I have had my reward.”

—Marcus Aurelius

A common conception of what it is to volunteer is to do work

for someone without getting paid money. Of course, people

usually get something out of volunteer work—high schoolers put

it on their college apps, retirees get a way to pass newfound free

time or even just a T-shirt. You could do your best to dodge any

practical rewards and volunteer just for the sake of helping out.

However, for those who volunteer with SBBIKE, we make that very

difficult. Sure, you can say, “Thanks, but no thanks,” to the T-shirt or

a discount at our shop, but there are some rewards you can’t deny.

When you volunteer with SBBIKE, you are making bicycling in Santa

Barbara safe and accessible for everyone. You are an advocate, no

matter how small your task may seem. You are an ambassador of

this organization—showing people how great our work is and also

how great it is to do that work. When you help someone fix their

bike at Bici Centro, you are getting someone back on the road who

couldn’t afford to pay someone else to fix their bike. This increases

the ridership in Santa Barbara and the demand for safe cycling

infrastructure, the benefits of which all cyclists enjoy.

Our volunteers realize this, and for them, the discounts, the

t-shirts, the pride—it’s all secondary to the community. This is

the undeniable gift: You get to volunteer with the best people

Volunteering for Community: The Rewards You Can’t Deny

Volunteer of the Quarter: Baron CorpuzIf you’ve spent time at Bici Centro in the last three

months, you know who Baron is. He’ll let you know if

you’re doing something, umm …incorrectly—from across

the shop with a shout. He’s a true guru, raconteur, and

he always makes things at Bici more interesting. He’s

been incredibly helpful, even though he doesn’t like

being thought of as a volunteer. “I’m just stopping by,”

he’ll say, even if he stops by for four hours! He’s out of

the country for a couple months, and he will be missed

in the shop, even if it does quiet down a little.

you will meet. You get to be part of a group that puts

the general interest—because we know bicycling is

good for everyone, is good for Santa Barbara—ahead of

their desire for any reward. We make great and lasting

friendships volunteering at SBBIKE, because the desire to

help others runs deep within everyone who shows up just

to help out.

The time spent with these folks, whether at an SBBIKE

event, Bici Centro, or even in passing on the street,

is not something you asked for when you decided to

“work for free.” But you might not have realized that

you weren’t just volunteering with the bicycle coalition

but volunteering for Santa Barbara. After all, when you

volunteer with SBBIKE, you’re not just making Santa

Barbara a great place to ride a bicycle; you’re making it a

place with an outstanding sense of community.

A Bici Centro volunteer night. FILE PHOTO

www.SBBIKE.org 11

Your membership makes a difference for bicycling in Santa Barbara County.

The Connecting Our Community campaign is making cycling possible for cyclists ages 8 to 80 on safe, protected and accessible bikeways.

There is strength in numbers

Staff and volunteers working 24/7/365 in the cycling issues that matter to you.

Help the Quick Release Grow!

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKE

for membership details:

sbbike.org/joinThe Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations are tax deductable as allowed by law.

Join and Renew

An analysis of cycling fatalities in SB and what we can

do to prevent them

S BBIKE advocates for policies and infrastructure that

will result in zero cycling fatalities and strives to

disseminate the education to make that possible. One

death is too many. And the coalition is committed to

reaching the only acceptable number—zero deaths.

Recently Dan Fishbein, MD; Max Prior; and Joey

Juhasz-Lukomski worked with SBBIKE to evaluate

the relative “safety” of bicycling in Santa Barbara.

Fishbein, pointing to a statement in the previous QR

suggesting that bicycling in the county is unsafe,

feels it’s important to note that cycling fatalities

in our community are actually relatively low.

“We combined four different sources of data to analyze

bicycling deaths in Santa Barbara County between 2004

and 2013,” say Fishbein and team. “During this ten-year

period, the county saw 21 bicycling fatalities, four in Santa

Barbara City and 15 in the rest of the county. Taking into

account the proportion of cyclists in the county (the

second highest in California), the rate of deaths in Santa

Barbara City and County are similar to the rest of the

United States and well below the rest of California.”

Fishbein, et al. also note that county-to-county data

show the lowest number of deaths in those counties with

the highest percentage of bicyclists (“safety in numbers”).

However, again taking into account the number of

cyclists, The Netherlands and Denmark, for example,

Want to help the QR grow? With a larger press run, the Quick Release could be available to new potential members and bicycling advocates at local bike shops, on magazine racks, and at your business. We could add more pages when we have so much great news to share we run out of room.

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Shooting for Zero

have a much lower bicyclist fatality rate. This means, we have

further room for improvement in safety of our roads, motor vehicle

operators, and bicyclists. “It is important that decision makers know

that bicycling safety can be improved,” they say.

Prevention strategies include safe bicycling practices, education,

better enforcement of bicycling laws, improving motor vehicle

driver behavior, and better road engineering.

While this study did not include bicycling injuries, in which the

city ranks fourth highest among medium-sized cities in the state,

Fishbein at el. say the analysis shows safe bicycling can prevent

most fatalities while cycling on our streets. Don’t bike while under

the influence, they urge. Cycle safely—obey rules, be visible, be

sober, and wear a helmet.

SBBIKE intends to further analyze safety risks between other cities

and counties, and put in place measures to make Santa Barbara a

model for the rest of the country.

Member benefits include:Discounts at local bike shops & businesses, bike library access, and special deals on bike events.

Individual memberships starting at $30

Household memberships starting at $45

Business memberships starting at $100

WHY JOIN?

Deaths Rates of Bicyclists in Collisions With Motor Vehicles, United States, California and Santa Barbara, 2004-‐2013*

476 459

522

376 350

298 282

308 310 336

50 52 50 44 44 37 36 37 37 37 0

74 69 65

0 29 27

0

49

0 0 0

202

0 0 0 0 0

385

190

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 * Deaths per 1,000,000 persons adjusted for percent of people who bicycle.

Santa Barbara City Santa Barbara County California United States

Santa Barbara City (average)

DAN FISHBEIN and MAX PRYOR

Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKE

Visit the website for full event listings.

Good clean fun.

Beach to Bluffs - May 2 Carpinteria Bike Ride & Brunch

Bike Moves & After Party - May 7 Prom themed bike ride & SBBIKE fundraiser at Bici Centro

Tour de Tent - May 16-17 Two-day bike tour & campout from Santa Barbara to Ojai

Adult Street Skills Classes - May 26, 28 & 30 Learn basic maintenance & improve your confidence & handling skills with SBBIKE

CycleMAYnia Talent Show & Awards Ceremony Live entertainment & awards for the CycleMAYnia Challenge & Velo Wings recipients

Bike to Work Week - May 11-15 Breakfasts & celebrations for bike commuters in Goleta, Carpinteria & Santa Barbara

Bike to School Day - May 6 At participating South Coast Schools

A program of:

Don’t miss these headliner events!

More than 30 great bike events during Bike Month in May!

963-SAVE www.CycleMAYnia.org

Documents

Quickrelease Spring 2015