| SUBSCRIBE | |
|
MEMBERSHIP SALE!
Join the California Bicycle Coalition today and pick whatever level of support works best for you. | | |
No matter the amount, your membership donation helps CBC advocate in Sacramento for the right laws, policies and resources to make California a more bicycle-friendly place.
Click here to make your membership donation in any amount.
Click here to make your membership donation as a tax-deductible charitable gift to the CBC Education Fund, CBC's tax-exempt educational affiliate (tax ID# 68-0417507)
Click here to make your membership donation offline.
We speak so
you can be heard.
Join CBC today.
|
|
DO YOU KNOW
THE ESSENTIALS OF
SAFE BICYCLING?
| | |
Learn more at
BIKESAFECALIFORNIA.ORG
|
|
|
Around the State
| | |
Advocates call for bike access on new Long Beach port bridge
Bike advocates in bike-friendly Long Beach and beyond are calling on the Port of Long Beach and the California Coastal Commission to ensure that a new Gerald Desmond Bridge,  which will replace the existing bridge across the Port of Long Beach, accommodates bicyclists and pedestrians. The bridge is owned by the port and carries State Route 1 across the shipping channel between the east end of Terminal Island and downtown Long Beach.
While the port is not required to provide bicyclist and pedestrian access on its bridge, 30 years after completion the bridge will be given over to Caltrans, which must ensure bike and pedestrian access on all state highway facilities. The California Coastal Commission, created to safeguard public access to the state's coastline, is the government agency that will give final approval to the project.
Advocates have called on the port -- which bills itself as "the green port" -- and the commission to ensure that the new bridge has separated facilities to accommodate bicycle commuters in and around the port and bicyclists riding along SR 1, the Pacific Coast Bike Route.
Regional planners and Caltrans propose SF Bay Bridge bike-ped path
Regional planners and Caltrans are taking a new look at plans to give bicyclists and pedestrians access to the west span of San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge between Yerba Buena Island and San Francisco. The south side of the bridge's new east span, currently under construction, includes a separated bicycling and walking path between the island and Oakland.
 In a report due early next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans will propose building a separated path for bicycles, pedestrians and maintenance vehicles along the south side of the west span's upper deck. Earlier this year legislation to authorize use of toll revenues for construction of such a path stalled when the Legislature failed to approve a state budget on time.
New facilities to be dedicated in Marin, LA
Next month local bike advocates will help dedicate new bike facilities in Marin County and Los Angeles.
 In Marin County, the Cal Park Hill Tunnel will provide bicyclists with direct access between downtown San Rafael and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal via a tunnel adjacent to U.S. 101 previously used by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition has worked with local officials for more than 10 years on this project. Eventually the tunnel could also accommodate passenger trains traveling between Marin and Sonoma counties.
Just north of downtown San Rafael, the Lincoln Avenue Pathway will carry bicycle traffic to and from the community of Terra Linda. The separated 1.2-mile path runs alongside a frontage road adjacent to U.S. 101.
 Just north of downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is preparing to dedicate a 2.5-mile stretch of bikeway along the Los Angeles River in an area called Elysian Valley. The path, also designated for pedestrian use, was recently repaved to repair broken pavement and remove large drainage culverts designed to accommodate run-off during heavy rains. The route follows what is considered the most scenic stretch of the Los Angeles River.
Fresno plans to dramatically expand bike facilities
Fresno residents will have access to 905 more miles of bike paths, lanes and routes under the bicycle master plan  adopted last month by the Fresno City Council. The ambitious plan represents a seven-fold increase in Fresno's current 134 miles of bikeways. The city's plan also sets a goal of increasing the proportion of residents who commute to work by bike from less than 1% to 5%.
"Fresno could be a leader in bike-riding," Bryan Jones, the city's traffic engineer, told the Fresno Bee. "It could be an inspiration to the rest of the Valley."
Sonoma panel proposes more bicyling, less parking
New bike lanes proposed for four busy streets near the center of Sonoma would be created by eliminating 254 parking places. The plan approved by the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Committee includes bike lanes along West Spain Street to ease congestion along a bicycling and walking path that runs parallel to the street.
LA City Council committee OK's anti-harassment ordinance
Early this month the Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee joined the Transportation Committee in approving a draft ordinance that would allow bicyclists to sue drivers and others who threaten or harass them. The ordinance includes a minimum civil penalty of $1,000. Councilman Bill Rosendahl proposed the ordinance last year after a Brentwood resident was convicted of using his car to severely injure two bicyclists riding through his neighborhood.
Shasta County bicyclists to try forming local advocacy group
Could Shasta County at the far north end of the state be the next new home for bike advocacy? Anne Wallach Thomas and Nick Webb of Redding are taking over organizational efforts launched several years by Caltrans planner Tamy Quigley, who recently took on other duties at the Caltrans District 2 office in Redding.
 Redding has embraced bicycling more widely over the past 25 years with construction and expansion of the Sacramento River Trail, which includes the popular Sundial Bridge, and the recent completion of the Dana to Downtown bicycle and pedestrian path across the Sacramento River along State Route 44.
More than 40 groups and organizations carry out bike advocacy at the local level throughout California. The notable exceptions at the top of the state north of Chico, as well as in the upper San Joaquin Valley and the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles and Orange counties. CBC has pledged to help provide advocacy efforts in these areas so long they're not served by local organizations.
Expanded Lassen County bus service improves off-road bike access
Last month the agency that provides bus service between Susanville and Westwood in Lassen County added Saturday  service and an additional weekday bus giving off-road bicyclists and hikers better access to the Bizz Johnson Trail the Susan River. All West County Commuter buses are equipped with bike racks.
Named for the late U.S. Rep. Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson, the 25.4-mile hiking and mountain biking trail follows the former route of the Fernley & Lassen Railroad through the Susan River canyon between Westwood and Susanville.
|
National Scene
| | AAA repeats call to end gas tax funding for bike-ped projects
The president of the American Automobile Association has confirmed that the national organization supports a call by AAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter President Don Gagnon to limit Highway Trust Fund revenues to highway projects only and end the practice of spending some of those revenues on bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
 Earlier this year, the Rails to Trails Conservancy called on the AAA's national office to disavow Gagnon's comments. The group recently posted a transcript of its dialogue with AAA National President Robert Darbelnet. Rails to Trails continues to petition AAA to reverse its position.
CA seeks high-speed rail funding rejected by new GOP governors
Several newly elected Republican governors have publicly vowed to reject federal stimulus funding for high-speed rail projects in their states. But that funding could end up going to high-speed rail projects in California and several other states.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently told Wired magazine, "California, where Governor-elect Jerry Brown supports the proposed high-speed line between San Diego and San Francisco, has requested that reallocated funds help defray the $45 billion (and climbing) cost of what is generally considered the nation's most secure HSR project." Some of those funds could be used to design and build the system's first segment in the San Joaquin Valley.
|
| People | | Sacramento coalition hires new director
The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates has hired Tricia Hedahl as its new executive director. Hedahl succeeds Walt Seifert, who retired earlier this year. Hedahl previously worked as a major gifts associate with the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and prior to that, with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon's statewide bicycle advocacy organization.
Caltrans hires bike facilities program manager
Caltrans headquarters in Sacramento has hired Penny Gray as bicycle facilities program manager, where she'll oversee distribution of state and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. She fills the vacancy left by the retirement of longtime manager Ken McGuire.
Gray previously worked for the Division of Transportation Programming's Office of Federal Transportation Management Program, which is responsible for the development and management of the Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. An avid cyclist, Gray has participated in rides throughout the western U.S.
|
CBC News
| | LA party to benefit CBC
CBC will host a fundraising party near Los Angeles next month to help fund advocacy efforts at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Valley Village home of CBC board member Michael Goodman. Mountain bicycle pioneer Gary Fisher will match donations from the party dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $5,000. To attend, donate or learn more, contact CBC at 916-446-7558 or cbc@calbike.org.
CRM guru needed
Are you skilled in online customer relationship management applications like Salesforce or CivicCRM? CBC seeks advice and assistance in moving its membership data to the online universe. This could be a pro bono, barter-for-membership or short-term contract project, depending on what's involved. We want to hear from you! Please contact us at 916-446-7558 or cbc@calbike.org.
|
| Rides & Events | | Sonoma County
Dec. 1: SCBC Winter Holiday Auction on eBay
A benefit for the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
Oakland
Dec. 3: Wonderland Holiday Party
Co-sponsored by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Walk Oakland Bike Oakland
Los Angeles
Dec. 4: LA River Path Extension Opening and Ribbon Cutting
Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
San Jose
Dec. 4: Winter Solstice Double Century & Century
Sponsored by the Almaden Cycle Touring Club
San Rafael
Dec. 4: Lincoln Ave. Pathway Ribbon Cutting
San Francisco
Dec. 5: 5th Annual Supermarket Street Sweep
A benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank
San Jose
Dec. 6: SVBC Report on Netherlands Bicycle Transportation Study Project
Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
San Rafael
Dec. 10: Cal Park Hill Tunnel Ribbon Cutting
Los Angeles
Dec. 13: Ride the Divide movie premier
Lompoc
Dec. 18: Christmas Bikes for Kids
Sponsored by Village Dirtbags
San Francisco
Dec. 19: Endangered Species Big Year Bike Tour
|
|
|
