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

Tue Oct 10 15:53:27 PDT 2006

CALIFORNIA BICYCLE COALITION

CalBike Report, October 10, 2006

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

Topics covered in this edition:
Bicycle Friendly Voting Recommendation
Governor Approves Three Bicycle Friendly Legislative Bills
Dana Point City Council Revokes Ban on Bicyclists from Stretch of PCH
Attend the October CBC General Membership and Board Meeting
November 27 Deadline for Bikes Belong Grant Applications
Coalition News from Around California

Bicycle Friendly Voting Recommendation.  Voters will consider thirteen
propositions in the November 7 election.  CBC has taken a position the
one proposition directly relating to bicycling in California,
Proposition 1B.  

Proposition 1B: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, Port
Security Bond of 2006.  CBC opposes Proposition
<http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/vig_06/general_06/pdf/proposition_1b/ent
ire_prop1b.pdf>  1B because it fails to promote bicycling as a mode of
transportation or to increase safety for bicyclists who use the state's
roadways.  If passed by voters in November, Proposition 1B will
undermine, AB32
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_32&sess=CUR&
house=B&author=nunez> , legislation signed earlier this month by
Governor Schwarzenegger to address global warming.  The bond proposes to
expand California's automobile infrastructure and highway capacity,
which will encourage ever more motor vehicle trips, causing air and
water pollution. Expanded highway capacity will undermine the minimal
transit investments proposed by continuing to make driving the most
convenient transportation mode, stranding those who cannot afford or
choose not to drive a car.  Highway projects are expensive, and rarely
deliver the promised relief from gridlock.

Collectively, the bicycle transportation plans developed by regional
transportation planning agencies around the state have identified over
$4.3 billion in bicycle projects.  Despite CBC's diligent and patient
work with legislators, no funds are earmarked for bicycle projects by
Prop 1B.  

Over twenty years will pass, and nearly $40 billion will be spent,
before the bond is paid off.  The length of the repayment period will
hinder CBC's ability to request additional funding for bicycling during
the next two decades.

Governor Approves Three Bicycle Friendly Legislative Bills.  Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger approved three bicycle friendly legislative bills
this month: SB 1556, AB 32, and SB 1613.  SB
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1556&sess=CU
R&house=B&author=torlakson>  1556 will result in the establishment of
the Great California Delta Trail, which will promote the use of
bicycling as a mode of transportation, allow bicyclists access to Delta
wildlife, and help to attract bicycling tourism to the Bay Delta region.
AB32
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_32&sess=CUR&
house=B&author=nunez> , the California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006, will provide an opportunity to promote bicycling as an effective
strategy for reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the
atmosphere.  SB
<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_1613&sess=CU
R&house=B&author=simitian>  1613 acknowledges the distraction that
cellular phones cause motor vehicle operators by prohibiting drivers
from using a handheld wireless phone while operating an automobile,
except in emergencies.  While CBC views SB 1613 as a step towards
increasing roadway safety for bicyclists, we recommend that cellular
phones be banned from use while operating a motor vehicle in California,
except for an emergency.

Thank you to all of the advocates who joined CBC in communicating to the
Governor their support for these bills.  Your letters and calls have
shown lawmakers that the bicycle community will take a position on
legislative bills that impact bicycling in California.  Let's continue
to coordinate our efforts.  Register
<http://lists.calbike-talk.org/listinfo.cgi/calbikereport-calbike-talk.o
rg>  to receive legislative alerts and the CalBike Report, CBC's monthly
advocacy newsletter by email.  

Dana Point City Council Revokes Ban on Bicyclists from Stretch of PCH.
The Dana Point City
<http://www.danapoint.org/citycouncil/citycouncil.htm>  Council revoked
its August 23 ordinance that banned bicyclists from traveling on a
stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway located near the city.  The
withdraw came after the City was flooded with advocates' emails and its
Traffic Improvement Subcommittee listened to arguments for opposition
from three bicycle advocacy groups: CABO <http://www.cabobike.org/> ,
the Orange County Bicycle Coalition <http://www.ocbikecoalition.org/> ,
and the Bicycle Association of <http://www.bikeoc.org/pages/1/index.htm>
South Orange County; plus a Dana Point resident.  Brad Fowler, the Dana
Point Public Works Director, will be working with bicycle organizations
to design signage that will effectively alert motorists to bicyclists'
possible use of the roadway as well as explore options for widening
sections of the shoulder that are less than 6 feet wide.

Attend the October CBC General Membership and Board Meeting.  The CBC
General Membership and Board Meeting will be held on October 21-22 in
Davis.  Members are encouraged to participate in the General Membership
Meeting, which will be held on Sunday, October 22 from 12:00-3:00PM.
Plan to meet up for an 8:30AM bike ride around Davis before the meeting.
More details will be provided in the October CalBike Report.

November 27 Deadline for Bikes Belong Grant Applications.  Bikes
<http://bikesbelong.org/>  Belong, a national coalition of bicycle
suppliers and retailers, administers a grants program designed "to put
more people on bicycles more often."  The organization is looking to
fund facilities, education, and advocacy projects with budgets under
$10,000.  Nonprofit organizations, public agencies and departments at
the national, state, regional, and local levels qualify to apply for
education and facility related grants. Only organizations whose mission
is expressly related to bicycle advocacy will be considered for advocacy
grants.

Proposals must reflect the grant program's strategic plan: encouraging
ridership growth, building political support, and promoting bicycle
advocacy; and provide measurable project objectives.  Applications
<http://bikesbelong.org/page.cfm?PageID=21>  are due November 27.

Coalition News from Around California
On August 23-27, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition
<http://www.tahoebike.org/index.html>  representatives spoke with
attendees of the Tahoe/Reno <http://www.t-riff.org/>  International Film
Festival (TRIFF) about its bike friendly vision for Lake Tahoe.  Katrina
Wilson, TRIFF Executive Director, invited the LTBC to collaborate in the
event because its work grounds the Festival's mission to create positive
social change in the region.  The Coalition's growing ties with the
local business community resulted in $50,000+ in free print and
electronic advertising for film festival.

LTBC's steadfast commitment to bicycle advocacy during its first year
culminated in the City of South Lake Tahoe's recent designation as a
Bicycle Friendly Community <http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/>
by the League of American Bicyclists.  The Coalition has promoted
bicycle advocacy in print and online, built ties with and obtained
sponsorships from the local business community, and promoted bicycling
through the creating a bicycle road map of the region.
<mailto:entersport at aol.com> Ty Polastri, LTBC Executive Director.

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition <http://www.sdcbc.org/>  was
successful in convincing the San Diego County Board of Supervisors that
County planners needed to go back to the drawing boards to revise
roadway design standards proposed as part or the County's general plan
update.  After hearing complaints from bicyclists from around the region
Diane Jacobs, County Board Chair, directed staff "to work with the San
Diego County Bicycle Coalition to accommodate bikes and pedestrians in
all of our road standards."  Pam Slater-Price, County Supervisor,
concurred stating, "We must provide access to all legal users.  As some
of our speakers pointed out, bicyclists have a right to use the
roads...if we don't provide for them in our general plan, it creates
conflict, and usually the bicyclist loses in that conflict.", Kathy
Keehan <mailto:execdir at sdcbc.org> , SDCBC Executive Director
-------------
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
<mailto:rebecca at calbike.org> Markussen, (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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