July 2015
WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 34 No. 4 July 2015
Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members 2015
New Members
Fernando Manzanera, Eureka
Kim Bergel, Eureka
Eve Carroll, McKinleyville**
Renewed Members
David & Jean Durbin, McKinleyville**
Mike & Bonnie Walund, 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.
The Next Regular Meeting will be Held July 27th in Arcata
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, July 27th, at Carmela’s Mexican Restaurant, 13th and G Streets in Arcata. Dinner is optional. Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
A Special HBBCA Member has Passed
JR Anderson, a resident of Whitethorn, passed away in May as a result of a 2-year battle with Cancer. JR had been an HBBCA member since 1992. Some of our members will remember him showing up at Eureka HBBCA meetings after riding his bike 100 miles to get there. He would spend the night and ride home the next day. After coming down with cancer, he was living in Eureka and riding his bike to and from the hospital for cancer treatments. JR will be missed.
Eureka City Council Declines Bicycle Ordinance
On May 19th, the Eureka City Council decided not to adopt the draft ordinance proposed by the Chief of Police that would further limit use of sidewalks by cyclists in the City. While Rick Knapp worked with the Chief to come up with an ordinance that we could live with, most of us are just as happy that no new rules were enacted. As we know, after 40 years, motorists in California still don’t know the laws enacted in the 70’s that pertain to them as they relate to bicyclists and bicycle facilities.
The HBBCA Arranges to Get Bicycle to a Girl in Need in Maple Creek
After receiving an email appeal from her older sister, the HBBCA found a mountain bike to give to an 11-year old girl who lives in Maple Creek (between Blue Lake and Kneeland). Jaylenne Harris could only get to school by riding a bike three miles on a dirt road, as her mother is disabled. The “little kids” bike she had was destroyed by the road. After receiving the email from her sister, Rick Knapp began to search for a bike. His first stop was with Eureka Chief Mills. Chief Mills canvassed his staff, and immediately Reserve Officer, Kathryn Smith, came forward with a nice mountain bike that she no longer rode. On May 12th, Kathryn and Rick drove to Maple Creek with the bike and a new helmet.
Delivery of the bike was met with a lot of fan fare at the school, with all the students and the teacher greeting us. Kathryn, Rick and Chief Mills received hand-made thank you notes from Jayleene and her mother. Here’s what Jaylenne said to Rick:
“Mr. Rick Knapp and the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association, Thank you so much for helping me find a bike, getting a tune-up and tires, and giving me a new helmet. Without your donation, I was riding an unsafe bike. Thank you very much!
Love, Jaylenne Harris”
And her mother said:
“Mr. Rick Knapp and the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association, Thank you and your organization for assisting our family in securing a bicycle and helmet for my daughter, Jaylenne. You have gone above and beyond to ensure that Jaylenne has a safe way to get to school! Your generosity and advocacy in the community are appreciated.
Tina Floyd”
Kathryn and Rick shared more than a “feel good moment” by the outpouring of gratitude. Jaylenne’s mother gave her $40 to donate back to the HBBCA in order to help others in need.
Rick Knapp Reaches Bicycling Milestone
By Rick Knapp
On the 4th of July, I rode my 100,000th mile by bicycle while crossing the Samoa Bridges along with Brett Gronemeyer.
I started commuting in Sacramento by bicycle in February 1974 when I couldn’t imagine paying $0.78 a gallon for gasoline! It had doubled overnight. That was during the Oil Embargo and gas was being rationed. One Saturday, I went to a bike shop, laid out $110 for a Raleigh Grand Prix and did a practice 15-mile roundtrip to work. I never stopped riding to work until I retired. Since then, I ride to where other people work (to shop, window shop, meet friends, go to meetings, go to the gym, go to lunch, etc.) I also ride for recreation and conditioning. I have ridden every year a minimum of 2,000 miles, and some years over 4,000 miles. By the 4th of July this year, I had logged almost 2,800 miles this calendar year. While I may be riding more miles, I don’t ride quite as fast, which means I have to spend many more hours on the bike each year than when I was younger. But, I enjoy it just as much as ever.
I started keeping track of my daily miles on a calendar similar to the one you can find on the HBBCA website. It allows you to enter your daily, weekly, monthly and cumulative miles for the year. I also use it to keep track of when I changed tires, chains, clusters, etc.
At first, I didn’t ride to work when it rained. Later, after getting rained on on the way home many times, I decided to ride rain or shine. I just got the clothing needed to stay dry. Each day, I would look out the window and decide what I needed to wear to ride. Only when there was frost (or snow) on the pavement, did I not ride. As a friend always said, “Every Day is Bike Day.” Well, almost.
Eucalyptus Trees Trimmed in Safety Corridor
As a result of a request last year, Caltrans has substantially trimmed the eucalyptus trees in the Route 101 Safety Corridor. As a result of thinning and shortening limbs, there should be less debris falling on the shoulder. Let’s hope so.
Letter
Dear Rick and Patricia-Anne,
I greatly appreciate your help with the Arcata Bike Rodeo. This year’s event had the largest turnout ever in the 9 years the Recreation Division has been putting on the Bike rodeo! We had over 150 kids participate. I know the helmet fitting station was one of the busiest stations and I am thankful I had you and other experienced volunteers to run this station. I did not expect that many participants coming out but you guys all did a great job fitting helmets and keeping the flow between stations moving smoothly. Once again, I want to say thanks for your help and I wish you well.
Roman Ortega, Interim Recreation Coordinator,
City of Arcata
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 4/2015))
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
Matt Brady, Deputy District Director
445-6393 Matt.Brady@dot.ca.gov
Dan Ramirez, Maintenance Manager
(for maintenance-related concerns)
445-5327 daniel.r.ramirez@dot.ca.gov
County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7421 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us
Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-3629
City of Arcata
Alynn Zdawczynski,
Public Works Administrative Assistant
822-5957 azdawczynski@cityofarcata.org
Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424
City of Eureka
441-4203 publicworks@ci.eureka.ca.gov
with copy to: shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov
Abandoned Vehicles: Mary Kirby
mkirby@eurekapd.org, 268-5232
HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 3/2015)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
845-2117(h); 445-5390(w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
445-5204(w)
Director of Publicity---Allison Isaacson,
(925)628-4141(W)
Director of Planning----- open
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2015
The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2015.
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, 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% (or more) at Henderson Center Bicycles; 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.
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Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054