April 2020

 
Vol. 39  No. 2                                                                                          

Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org

Happy New Biking Decade!!

New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA

The following are new and renewed members for 2020.   If you haven’t renewed your dues for 2020, they were due on January 1, as all dues expire on December 31.   An application is at the end of the newsletter.

Renewed Members for 2020
Mary Ann Madej, Arcata
Emily Sinkhorn, Eureka**
Chris Whitworth, McKinleyville**
Mike & Bonnie Walund, Eureka**
Daryl & Phyllis Chinn, Arcata**
Claudio Freixas, Jr., Eureka
Bob Morris, Eureka**
Rees Hughes, Arcata**
Corinne Frugoni, Arcata***
Revolution Bicycles, Justin***
Patricia-Anne WinterSun, Eureka***
Melanie Williams, Arcata**
Wesley Chesbro, McKinleyville**
Philip & June Lescano, Eureka**
Nancy Reichard, Arcata***
Wally Coppini, Rio Dell**
Mary Jain, Arcata**
Brett Gronemeyer & Lea Schroeder, Eureka **
Sandra Rosas, McKinleyville**

Those with a ** next to their name gave an additional donation. Those with *** have given a $25 or greater donation.   Thanks to all those who have joined or renewed their commitment and those who have given additional donations to support our many causes.

Get on board now for all the benefits, including discounts at all the bike shops.  See application at the end of the newsletter.     

April 2020 HBBCA Meeting Cancelled due to COVID-19.                                 

The Next Regular Meeting will be on July 20, 2020 in Eureka

The next regular HBBCA meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., Monday, July 20, 2020, at Chapala’s Café at 2nd and C Street in Eureka—if social distancing no longer in efffect.  We will try again to get Scott Ellsmore, our primary contact with the City of Eureka regarding bike projects, to attend.  To suggest other agenda items, please contact Rick Knapp at info@humbike.org, call him at 445-1097, or raise them at the meeting.

Bike Month Humboldt Cancelled due to COVID-19

In mid-March, Areli Cupp, Chair of the Bike Month Humboldt Coalition, announced that all Bike Month activities planned by the Coalition would be cancelled.   It was clear that we would not be able to further meet and plan activities, and it was likely COVID-19 impacts would not be abated by May.  But, that doesn’t mean we need to put our bikes away for the month of May or April!   See other articles within.

Ride like there is no tomorrow, COVID-19 be damned!

By Rick Knapp

While we are all suffering with the “stay at home” orders, we can be thankful that we can ride every day without risking our health, but instead, we can enhance our health.   Many of you haven’t had enough time to ride—until now.   Now, you have all the time in the world.  For myself, the clock seems to have almost stopped with so many things I can’t do.   I can’t go on my semi-annual fly fishing trips, can’t go to the gym, can’t meet with my friends for lunch, can’t go to the movies, can barely risk going to the grocery store every week or so, dressed in mask and gloves. But, when I get frustrated, I can jump on my bike and put on more miles than before because I don’t have to be anywhere else.  I encourage you to do the same.  It will make you feel better, and you will be better, physically and mentally.   What is your biking time competing with—binge-watching “pandemic TV?“  While, a good book is always good company, you can’t even go to the book store to get more.   You can brave the dangers of a trip to Costco, but is it really worth it?   If you have children, you can be gainfully employed trying to learn how to home school them while peeling their fingers off their gaming controls.    After that, you will certainly enjoy a bike ride.   “Just Do It!”

The League of American Bicycles Declared that May is STILL Bike Month

The League announced that it is still celebrating this May as Bike Month because bicycling is more essential to our lives than ever—and because we could all use some bike joy to look forward to.  The League hopes that the hundreds of thousands of you who participate in Bike Month events in typical years continue to do so through virtual, solo, or safely distanced events in May 2020, and beyond.

How to Ride Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Long time member, Melanie Williams, sent us an article titled as printed above, written by Jordan Smith, Digital Editor of Bicycling Magazine.  In the article, Ms. Smith draws on a team of experts to help answer frequently asked questions: [Excerpts]

Is it safe to ride outside?  Yes, as long as you’re alone.  When people congregate together and someone sneezes, coughs, droplets get onto objects that people touch, and then people touch their face……… Try timing your rides for when you know a route will be less crowded.

Should I wear a mask out on solo rides?  There is no advantage to wearing a face covering if you are not near people at all.  [Editorial comment: By having one with you, you could put it on in case you stop someplace where there are other people, like a grocery store or a bathroom.]

For the entire article, go to:
https://www.bicycling.com/news/a31469228/cycling-during-coronavirus/


Bike Shops Now Considered Essential Businesses

While initial State and local orders and federal guidelines initially considered auto repair shops as essential businesses, they did not recognize bike shops as essential.  But efforts at the national level, State level and local level were determined to change that.

At the local level, efforts were led by the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, and supported by the HBBCA.  Colin Fiske, its Director, emphasized that for many Americans, the bicycle is the only mode of transportation used.

At the State level, the California Bicycle Coalition led a petition drive to urge the determination as an essential business.

Nationally, it was the League of American Bicyclists leading the way.   

On March 31, the California Bicycle Coalition announced that efforts at all levels resulted in the US Department of Homeland Security officially declaring bike maintenance and repair essential services.

Our local bike shops have remained open through the controversy, although most are operating at vastly reduced hours.

Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 5/2019; No change 1/2020))   

The HBBCA checked with agencies in the Humboldt Bay region to determine appropriate contact personnel to respond to bike-related issues.  If you see a condition that needs to be corrected in order to improve safety or convenience for cyclists such as a pothole in a bike lane, accumulated debris on a roadway shoulder, the need to re-stripe a bike lane, the need to clear vegetation encroaching on a shoulder, or a street light that is out, call the responsible agency/person listed below.  Of course, if you see a condition that requires immediate attention, like a stop sign knocked down, call 9-1-1.  For non-emergency conditions, the following contact information is provided:
                            
Caltrans
Betsy Totten, Customer Service Liaison
441-5655   www.dot.ca.gov/d1/contactus.html

County of Humboldt
Dispatcher
445-7421 RoadsDispatch@co.humboldt.ca.us
Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-2509

City of Arcata
Melanie Dabill
Public Works Administrative Assistant
825-2128 mdabill@cityofarcata.org
Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424

City of Eureka
441-4203 publicworks@ci.eureka.ca.gov
Abandoned Vehicles:
eureka-policeabatement@ci.eureka.ca.gov;
phone 268-5232

HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 1/3/20)

President---------------------- Rick Knapp
707-445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
707-845-2117(cell); 445-6578 (w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
707-502-8030(cell)
Director of Planning-----open/available
Director of Publicity ----open/available

Contact Rick Knapp if you are interested in filing a vacant Board position.

Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2020  

The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting.  Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for youth helmets, bike racks, this newsletter, the website, BikeSmart promotions, “Bike Month” activities, prizes, postage, insurance, etc.   And, it will help demonstrate your commitment to our goal.

With your membership card, you may request the following discounts on bike parts and accessories: 10% at Revolution Bicycle Repair; 15% at Adventure’s Edge; 10% at Pacific Outfitters, and 15% at Sport and Cycle.  Membership cards include stickers on the back showing discounts offered by the various bike shops.

Enclosed: $_____dues    $_____donation

Name_______________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone__________________(h)______________________(w)

____I’d rather receive my newsletter by email.   This is my neatly printed email address:

______________________________________________________
Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054