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  CALBIKEREPORT

News from the California Bicycle Coalition

IN THIS ISSUE
Safe passing bill
Around the State
People
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FEBRUARY 2011

LEGISLATION


Lowenthal carries CBC's safe passing bill

Legislation cosponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition and the City of Los Angeles to implement a safe distance for motorists to pass bicyclists will
Lowenthalbe authored by Sen. Alan Lowenthal.

No stranger to bicycling issues, Lowenthal represents Long Beach, which aims to become the nation's most bike-friendly city. He also formerly chaired the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee.

Senate Bill 910's provisions are still being drafted, but the intent is to reduce collisions and encourage more people to ride bikes by requiring motorists to give bicyclists more room when passing.

"We want to start looking at those states and see what works and what doesn't so we can craft the tightest law we can for California," said John Casey, Lowenthal's chief of staff, in a recent story in Streetsblog LA.

Sixteen other states have laws that specify a minimum passing distance for motorists. CBC sponsored similar legislation in 2006 but the bill stalled in the face of strong opposition from law enforcement and trucking interests.

Read more about legislation sponsored and tracked by CBC.

AROUND THE STATE 

LA bike plan update goes to the City Council 

 

Early next week the LA City Council is expected to approve the 2010 update to the city's Bicycle Master Plan, which calls for adding 200 miles of new bicycle infrastructure over the next 5 years, nearly doubling current bikeway mileage. Bike advocates in Los Angeles have united behind the plan after pushing for substantial revisions last fall. The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition plans a rally for Weds., Mar. 2, to celebrate the mayor signing the plan into law.

 

Meanwhile, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency hopes to transform Figueroa Street between the USC campus and downtown LA into LA's first complete street. The My Figueroa project calls for separated bike routes, amenities like new parks and plazas, and traffic calming features.

 

"We're excited about this project because it could bring the first separated bike lanes to the City of Los Angeles and that's just the baseline," said Alexis Lantz, LACBC's planning and policy director. "The proposed improvements
My Figueroapresented to the community would transform Figueroa into a complete street that prioritizes access for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit."

 

Anti-harassment ordinance: The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has released a draft ordinance proposed by City Councilman Bill Rosendahl to allow bicyclists to sue drivers who injure, assault, threaten or intentionally distract them. Because civil suits carry a lower burden of proof than criminal actions, the ordinance could result in more drivers being held responsible for endangering bicyclists.

 

Smart regions: San Francisco and Yolo County, the home of bike-loving Davis, Calif., are among 15 metropolitan centers -- and the only two in California -- recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council as America's smartest regions for transportation for 2011. The annual study identifies cities and communities with innovative, efficient and sustainable transportation programs and policies. 

 

fresno stateFresno repairs: Fresno State University students who need to make a repair or inflate a tire can use two self-service bike repair stations installed recently on campus. Each station is a pavement-mounted bike rack with basic tools suspended by cables and a manual bike pump mounted alongside.

 

Silicon Valley summit: Bike advocates, academics and civic and business leaders will meet in San Mateo on Mar. 6 and San Jose on Mar. 8 at summits sponsored by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (the Mar. 6 summit is co-sponsored by Sustainable San Mateo County). "The overall aim of this summit is twofold," said Colin Heyne, SVBC's communications director. "We want to keep exploring new ways of getting people on bikes in our area, and we want to connect advocates and decision makers in a setting that will educate and empower both groups."

 

Marin and SLO paths: The Marin County Bicycle Coalition will take part in the official opening of the Lincoln Ave. Pathway on Mar. 11. The path between Terra Linda and San Rafael is located alongside a sound wall separating the future SMART commuter train line and the newly widened segment of U.S. 101. Further south along U.S. 101, a bike path opened this month between the Madonna Inn, a legendary San Luis Obispo landmark known for its way-over-the-top accommodations, and downtown San Luis Obispo. The Madonna Inn path carries bicyclists and pedestrians over U.S. 101 and through a busy downtown intersection.

 

Bay Bridge bicycling: Bicyclists will be able to ride on the new east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge six months earlier than expected, Caltrans announced in late January. The early opening in 2013 is the result of a work-around that will allow Caltrans to complete the bridge project without closing traffic lanes. The 2-mile span between Emeryville and Treasure Island includes a 15.5-foot-wide separated lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans have proposed retrofitting the west span between Treasure Island and San Francisco with a separated path for bicycles, pedestrians and maintenance vehicles along the south side of the upper deck.

 

East Bay GreenwayEast Bay Greenway: The Alameda County Transportation Commission proposes a 12-mile bike and pedestrian path alongside elevated portions of Bay Area Rapid Transit tracks between Oakland and Hayward. The proposed East Bay Greenway is modeled after the Ohlone Greenway adjacent to elevated BART tracks north of Berkeley.

PEOPLE


Renee RiveraRenee Rivera has been hired as executive director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. Rivera previously served for nine months as acting ED of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. She also served for five years on the SFBC board of directors. Rivera succeeds Robert Raburn, who was elected last fall to the Bay Area Rapid Transit District board.

 

Kathy Keehan and Chris Culver are stepping down as executive directors of the San Diego County and Sonoma County bicycle coalitions.

 

Kathy Keehan"I am very proud of our work to help bicycling in the San Diego region and to grow and strengthen the Coalition from a small dedicated group to a strong professional organization," said Keehan, after 11 years as executive director. Keehan moves on to a position with the local air pollution control district.

Culver


"Working for Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition has been the most important thing I have done in my life," said Culver, who has served as the coalition's director for seven years.

Rivoire 

Dan Rivoire, executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition, was among 20 young community leaders honored by the San Luis Obispo Tribune in January. Eighty young leaders were nominated in the annual Top 20 Under 40 competition.

 

Read the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition's job announcement.

CALENDAR

MARCH

 

Santa Rosa

Mar. 3 & 12: Spoke Folk Cyclery Film Festival 

 

Washington, D.C.

Mar. 8-10: National Bike Summit 

Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists

 

Marin County

Mar. 11: Lincoln Ave. Pathway ribbon-cutting 

Co-sponsored by the Marin County Bicycle

 

Solvang

Mar. 12: Solvang Century 

A benefit for the SCOR Cardiac Cyclists Club

 

San Francisco

Mar. 19-20: Transportation Camp West 

Mar. 20: Sunday Streets 

 

APRIL

 

San Mateo and San Jose

Apr. 6 & 8: Silicon Valley Bike Advocacy Summit 

Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

 

Los Angeles

Apr. 10: CicLAvia 

Apr. 10: Volkswagen City of Angels Fun Ride 

 

San Francisco

Apr. 10: Sunday Streets 

 

Monterey

Apr. 14-17: Sea Otter Classic 

 

Conejo Valley

Apr. 30: Cruisin' the Conejo 

Sponsored by Conejo Valley Cycling Club

 

MAY

 

Moraga

May 1: Grizzly Peak Century 

Sponsored by Grizzly Peak Cyclists

 

San Francisco

May 8: Sunday Streets 

 

Costanoa to San Luis Obispo

May 12-14: Quality of Life Plus RideABLE Tour 2011 

A benefit for Quality of Life Plus

 

Statewide

May 16-22: Amgen Tour of California 

 

San Diego

May 21: San Diego Century  

A benefit for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition