[CalBike Report] California Bicycle Coalition's October CalBike Report

Wed Nov 1 18:02:49 PST 2006

CALIFORNIA BICYCLE COALITION

CalBike Report, November 1, 2006

The CalBike Report is a monthly update on CBC's advocacy work.

Topics covered in this edition:
SB 1021 Provides for Driver Education and Creates New Traffic Offense
No No No on Proposition 1B!
Caltrans to Fund $45 Million in Safe Routes to School Projects
Represent Bicyclists on a SHSP Implementation Committee
Train to Teach Bicycle Roadway Safety
Advocacy News from Around California

SB 1021 Provides for Driver Education and Creates New Traffic Offense.
On September 30, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1001-1050/sb_1021_bill_200609
30_chaptered.html.>  Bill 1021, which was introduced by Senator Bowen
(D-Redondo Beach) and co-sponsored by Assembly Member Bonnie Garcia
(R-Palm Springs area).  This legislation requires the Department of
Motor Vehicles to include language stating the importance of respecting
bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists' right-of-way in the next
revision of its California Driver's Handbook and in traffic violator
schools' curriculum.  Additionally, it creates a new crime- public
offense of unsafe operation of a motor vehicle with bodily injury, and
imposes a $70 fine if bodily injury is involved and $95 if great bodily
injury is involved.

No No No on Proposition 1B!  You've heard it from CBC- vote NO on
Proposition 1B, the statewide $20 billion transportation bond that fails
to allot funding for bicycling projects.  Hear from the Transportation
and <http://www.transcoalition.org/c/2006measures_1b.html>  Land Use
Coalition and Urban Habitat
<http://urbanhabitat.org/pubs/No-on-1B-Yes-on-1C>  why Prop 1B is a bad
deal for all Californians, not just bicyclists.  Please share this
information with friends, family members, co-workers and colleagues. 

Caltrans to Fund $45 Million in Safe Routes to School Projects.
Caltrans released a call for Safe Routes to
<http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoute2.htm>  School (SR2S)
projects in October; $45 million, including funds from FY 04/05 through
07/08, will be available.  Seventy percent of the funds will go toward
infrastructure projects (which must be within two miles of a school);
10% will go to a single statewide consultant to develop standardized
training, promotional materials, and other non-infrastructure resources
to be available for schools statewide; and the remaining 20% will go
toward non-infrastructure projects (education, encouragement, and
enforcement at the community level).  Any state, local, or regional
agency; any school/school district; and any non-profit organization that
can meet federal requirements are eligible to apply.

The application guidelines were developed by Caltrans after meeting with
their SR2S Advisory Committee in December 2005.  This Committee will
assist Caltrans and Joyce Parks, its SR2S Coordinator, in evaluating and
recommending projects.  Applications
<http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoute2.htm>  are due to
Caltrans by January 2, 2007. Deb <mailto:deb at marinbike.org>  Hubsmith,
MCBC Advocacy Director and SR2S National Partnership Coordinator

Represent Bicyclists on a SHSP Implementation Committee.  On September
26, Sunne Wright McPeak, the Secretary of the Business, Transportation,
and Housing Agency approved the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan
(SHSP <http://www.dot.ca.gov/SHSP/> ).  The development of the SHSP was
required by the federal government's "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" (SAFETEA-LU
<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/index.htm> ).  Transportation experts
and advocates have been organized into implementation teams to evaluate
and recommend behavioral and infrastructure strategies for improving
safety on all public roads.  Jim Baross, CBC Board Member, is
participating in Challenge Area 13, one of the Plan's sixteen "Challenge
Areas", which is focused on improving bicycle safety on the roadways.
Additional bicycle advocates are needed to represent cyclists on other
Challenge Area implementation
<http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/survey/SHSP/SHSIP%20TEAMS%20AND%20COM
MITTEES.pdf>  teams.  Contact Jesse Bhullar
<mailto:jesse_bhullar at dot.ca.gov>  prior to the November 8 Strategic
Highway Safety Implementation Plan meeting in Sacramento if you are
interested in applying to join a team.  Jim Baross
<mailto:jimbaross at cox.net> , CBC Board Member

Train to Teach Bicycle Roadway Safety.  The
<http://www.bikeleague.org/index.php> League of American Bicyclists
offers a series of bicycle roadway safety courses that teach riders how
to properly operate a bicycle in an urban environment.  If you are
interested in becoming a League Certified Instructor, contact
<mailto:corinne at svbcbikes.org> Corinne Winters, Silicon Valley Bicycle
Coalition Executive Director, regarding registering for the
certification course being held on November 10-12 in the South San
Francisco Bay Area.  If you have not completed the Road I course
prerequisite, take advantage of the
<http://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/resources/findit/?courses=1&instructors=
1&state=CA&submit.x=25&submit.y=5> courses being offered in the Bay Area
during November and early December.  

Advocacy News from Around California
The Active Living Network <http://www.activeliving.org/>  has recognized
Wendi Kallins, the Marin County Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Program
Director, as one of "America's Top 10 Active Living Heroes" for her
leadership in the SR2S movement.  The Network promotes activity-friendly
environments in cities, schools, workplaces and neighborhoods as a way
to halt rising obesity rates amongst Americans.  Under Kallins's
direction, Marin County's SR2S pilot
<http://www.marinbike.org/Campaigns/SafeRoutes/Index.shtml>  program has
become a model for other SR2S grassroots efforts throughout the United
States.  Jo Ann <mailto:joann at marinbike.org>  Richards, Membership Data
Coordinator, Marin <http://www.marinbike.org/Index.shtml>  County
Bicycle Coalition

The recently formed  <http://www.palms-california.us/> Palms
Neighborhood Council partnered with the Los Angeles Police Department's
<http://www.lapdonline.org/pacific_community_police_station> Pacific
Division to provide a bicycle rodeo for the children and families of
Palms, the oldest community located on the westside of LA.  Over
seventy-five children benefited from bicycle safety inspections, radar
speed tests, free food and drink, and a bicycle giveaway.  Herb Wesson
and Bill Rosendahl, two Los Angeles City Council Members, attended the
event to support the Neighborhood Council's efforts to make Palms a more
bicycle friendly community.  Neal J. Anderberg
<mailto:%20neal.anderberg at palms-california.us> , Business
Representative, Palms Neighborhood Council

The San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition
<http://www.slobikelane.org/> 's (SLOCBC) new social marketing campaign
titled, "The Empowerment Campaign", aims to change attitudes about
bicycling by demonstrating that cycling is a prevalent activity amongst
the diverse segments of the County's population.  The New Times
<http://www.newtimesslo.com/> , the County's News and Entertainment
Weekly, will run advertisements that showcase  a photo and a
bicycle-friendly quote from a different cyclist in each edition
published during the upcoming year.  The Coalition will use funds from a
California State Highway Account grant and SLO County's transit agency
sponsorship to pay for the campaign ads.  Adam Fukushima
<mailto:adamf at slobikelane.org> , Executive Director, SLOCBC

The City of Sacramento was one of twelve communities throughout the
nation to earn a Bicycle Friendly
<http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/communities/>  Community designation
from the League of American Bicyclists.  The League's Bicycle Friendly
status is awarded to applicant communities that provided significant
leadership in engineering, education, encouragement, evaluation,
planning and enforcement for bicyclists and bicycling.  The Sacramento
Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA <http://www.sacbike.org/> ) was
instrumental in encouraging the City to apply for the Award.  Sacramento
was recognized for its construction of many new bike trails and lanes in
newly developing areas of the City.  Walt <mailto:saba1 at sbcglobal.net>
Seifert, Executive Director, SABA

The Marin County Bicycle <http://www.marinbike.org/Index.shtml>
Coalition is currently hiring a full-time Director of Planning
<http://www.marinbike.org/Jobs/DirOfPlanning.shtml>  who will report to
MCBC's Advocacy Director.  The Director of Planning is the "technical"
person on MCBC's staff and has a very public and important role in
communicating MCBC's infrastructure and policy platforms.  The position
includes direct communication with public works directors, elected
officials, MCBC members, and the public about bicycle needs, design
issues, priorities and more.  Deb <mailto:deb at marinbike.org>  Hubsmith,
Advocacy Director, MCBC
-------------
Financially invest in CBC for safety cycling in California.  We rely on
your generous donations in order to promote bicyclists' interests in
Sacramento.  Pledge your support today by donating online at
www.calbike.org <http://www.calbike.org/> , or contacting Rebecca at
rebecca at calbike.org or (916) 446-7558.

If you do not wish to receive future editions of the CalBike Report,
send an email to rebecca at calbike.org titled, "unsubscribe calbike".  If
you have received multiple copies of this Report, send an email to
rebecca at calbike.org titled, "multiple copies calbike".

Rebecca A. Markussen
Communications Director
California Bicycle Coalition
(916) 446-7558
www.calbike.org

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