April 2021

 
Vol. 40  No. 2                                                                                          

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

New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA

The following are new and renewed members for 2021.   If you haven’t renewed your dues for 2021, they were due on January 1, as all dues expire on December 31.   An application is at the end of the newsletter.

New Members for 2021
Stevie Luther, Eureka**
Michael Chatfield, Arcata**

Renewed Members for 2021
Revolution Bicycles (Justin Brown)***
Danny Benadum, Eureka**
Michael & Bonnie Walund, Eureka**
Colin Fiske, Arcata**
Betty Jain, Arcata**
Daryl & Phyllis Chinn, Arcata**
Bob & JoAnn Hart, Bayside***
Jack Nash, Eureka**
Oona Smith, Arcata***
Emily Sinkhorn, Eureka***
Mary Ann Madej, Arcata**
Bob Morris, Eureka**
Korina Johnson & Alan Hale, Arcata**
Debra Pecaut, Eureka**
Steven Sipma & Noreen O’Brien, Fairhaven**
Chris Whitworth, McKinleyville**
Claudio Freixas, Jr., Eureka
Molly Martin, Eureka**
Phillip & June Lescano, Eureka**
Wally Coppini, Rio Dell**
Richard Will, Eureka**

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.    

HBBCA Meetings Cancelled for Early 2021

Due to COVID, regular HBBCA dinner meetings are postponed until further notice. Hopefully, we will be able to resume them by our July meeting.

May is Bike Month Humboldt 2021

We are happy to announce that this year Bike Month Humboldt is not a total wipeout like in 2020. This year, due to the continued pandemic, we will focus on more decentralized events as we still can’t plan to gather like we have done historically.

The Bike Month Humboldt Coalition has been meeting weekly since February by Zoom to conceive events and the details for Bike Month. The details are still being refined.

There will be a Bike Challenge again and several other events, including a film night, a scavenger hunt and bike bingo. Rick Knapp will conduct a Zoom virtual Bicycling Skills Workshop the evening of May 17. Public Health will conduct a virtual Friendly Driver’s Program on May 12 and maybe another day in May. Because we can’t gather, we are encouraging bicyclists to hit the streets and trails every Sunday displaying proudly the Bike Month Humboldt logo (see photo). They will be free and available at bike shops in Eureka and Arcata, the Co-Op and all city halls. Cyclists are encouraged to post photos and stories on social media with the hash tag #BikeMonthHumboldt to compete for weekly prizes. Go to BikeMonthHumboldt.org or humbike.org for details on events, times, and contacts.  



Bike Month Humboldt Logo Plate—get them at your local bike shops or the Co-Op to promote Bike Month Humboldt all month and especially every Sunday

$3.2 Million Granted to the City of Eureka for Implementation of the H & I Street Corridor Project

In August 2018, the Eureka City Council approved the concept recommended by the HBBCA to convert H and I Streets from 3-lane to 2-lane streets and add buffered bike lanes. In March of this year, the City received word that the project would receive Caltrans funding under the State Highway Safety Improvement Program. In addition to buffered bike lanes (i.e., protected), bulbouts will be provided at non-signalized intersections to facilitate pedestrians crossing. Other safety features will also be included. It has been over a decade since the HBBCA first urged the City to convert the two streets to add bike lanes. It is clear that they will operate fine with two lanes. Traffic volumes on those streets are substantially less than on existing two lane one-way streets, Harris and Henderson. It will just mean motorists won’t be able to keep changing lanes in order to drive at unsafe speeds on the residential streets. While a formal schedule has not been established, it probably won’t be undertaken until 2023.

Little River Trail Virtual Workshop to be Held Monday, April 19, 5:30-7:00 pm

The public is invited to participate in the Little River Trail Virtual Workshop on Monday, April 19, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, to learn more about this project which will expand the regional trail system by connecting the Westhaven/Trinidad area to the Hammond Coastal Trail.

The Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), with funding from the State Coastal Conservancy, and under a cooperative agreement with Caltrans, is working with partners to advance the Little River Trail, a non-motorized trail separated from, but parallel to Route 101.

For more information about the Little River Trail project, community input opportunities and a link to join the Little River Virtual Workshop call 677-2501 or visit: https://www.trinidadcoastallandtrust.org/little-river-ca-coastal-trail.html

Eureka Streets Continue to be Torn Up to Replace Gas Lines

Those traveling streets like E, 3rd, J and more are witnessing the devastation of roadways. Thankfully, a recently approved ordinance requires utility companies that excavate 15% or more of a traffic lane in a block are required to repave the entire lane when utility work is completed. Hopefully, that will include the shoulder where cyclists often ride.

City of Arcata to Develop Local Safety Plan

The City of Arcata is developing a Local Road Safety Plan, funded by the State and federal government. The plan is needed in order to make local roadway safety improvements and to help address Arcata’s unique transportation safety needs. The plan is a requirement for the City to be eligible to receive federal funding for local highway safety improvement projects in the future. As part of the process, the City has solicited representatives from interested organizations to participate. They were accepting participants through March 26.
                           
Emily Sinkhorn Selected by City of Arcata to be its New Environmental Services Director

Emily Sinkhorn, who was the Director of the Natural Resources Services Division of Redwood Community Action Agency, has been selected to be the new Environmental Services Director for the City of Arcata. Among many other endeavors, Emily has been very active professionally and privately in pursuing improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. She is a longtime member of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association.

Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 4/2021)  

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
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;
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 2021

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 ($5.00)    $_____donation

Name_______________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone__________________(h)______________________(w)

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

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