September 2006
| WHEEL PEOPLE | VOL. 25 NO. 5 | SEPTEMBER 2006 |
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Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association P. O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502 THANKS TO THE NEW AND RENEWED MEMBERS FOR 2006 A special thanks to those who sent donations to the HBBCA, noted by **. HSU PROFESSOR GETS GRANT TO STUDY THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF BICYCLE COMMUTING HSU Professor, Tina Manos, has secured a grant to study the positive health benefits of bicycle commuting. The HBBCA had provided a letter of support for the study. According to Manos, very few researchers have examined the short term effects of bicycle commuting on fitness and health and disease risk factors. With her study, she plans to add to the knowledge base. She will be looking for volunteers who are not presently commuting, but are willing to adopt a life style change (i.e., regular bike commuting) for the study. If you know of some possible participants in the study, please contact Tina at 826-4536. The HBBCA will be helping with safety training of participants and in other ways as may be needed. NEXT REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMEMBER 25TH IN EUREKA LEARN ABOUT PROVISIONS FOR BIKES AND PEDS ON PROPOSED ROUTE 101 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT MAD RIVER Rich Mullen, Caltrans Project Manager, will be at the meeting to update cyclists on the status of the Mad River Bridge replacement project and how it incorporates a multipurpose pathway to serve the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. For more information, check the HBBCA website at www.humbike.org. GOOD NEWS FOR CYCLISTS Some real good news for cyclists, unless you are addicted to cell phone use, yourself: the Legislature has passed SB1613, which would require a hands-free device when using a cell phone while driving. Most regular cyclists have experienced the motorist who stops at an intersection, doesn’t signal because he/she has no spare hands, then makes a turn, and is barely able to negotiate the maneuver, and has little interest in bicyclists, pedestrians, or anyone else in the vicinity. SB1613 will help if signed by the Governor. First offense will be $20. Second offense will be $50. If passed, hopefully, officers will cite offenders. According to statistics, driver inattention is one of the biggest causes of traffic accidents. Cell phone use is one of the biggest contributors to inattention. Next, we’ll need to deal with the Blackberry users who are doing their email as they drive! WHO TO CALL WHEN YOU SEE A SAFETY CONCERN (Revised 6/06) The HBBCA checked with agencies in the Humboldt Bay region to determine whom to contact if you see a condition that needs to be corrected in order to improve safety or convenience for cyclists. This might include a pothole in the bike lane, accumulated debris on a roadway shoulder, the need to re-stripe a bike lane, or the need to clear vegetation encroaching on the shoulder. If you see a condition that requires immediate emergency action, call 9-1-1. For other conditions, the following is provided: Caltrans County of Humboldt Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams, City of Arcata Abandoned Vehicles: City of Eureka Abandoned Vehicles: Mary Kirby HBBCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (click here for contact info) LAB RELEASES NEW DVD ON BICYCLING SKILLS The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has just released a new DVD called “Enjoy the Ride—Essential Bicycling Skills.” The HBBCA has purchased a copy and has found it to be an excellent tool to teach adults how to ride more safely and responsibly. A copy can be obtained by going to the LAB website:www.bikeleague.org. The cost is $34, plus $3.05 shipping. PARENTS CAN BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON KIDS’ HELMET USE According to a study* of more than 2,000 children, researchers found that kids were more than twice as likely to put on helmets when riding with either helmeted parents or friends. On the flip side, kids were less likely to wear helmets when riding with peers who didn’t don helmets. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 88 percent—a good reason for you and your child to always wear a helmet while riding. *Health Scene, St. Joseph Hospital, Fall 2006. OCTOBER IS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS MONTH! For more information about how you can help your child, your school or your neighborhood help kids more actively transport themselves to school, contact the Humboldt Partnership for Active Living at 269-2054 or humpal@nrsrcaa.org. CAR FREE DAY AND THE TOUR D'ARCATA The 4th annual Car Free Day will be celebrated by HSU Green Wheels (formerly the Alternative Transportation Club) on Thursday, September 21st with many activities. This event coincides with a celebration of alternative transportation that takes place in over a thousand cities worldwide. It is a day to celebrate sustainable transportation, and encourage folks to try living without their car for a day. As is customary for HSU Car Free Day, the Tour d'Arcata will take place starting at 7am. This is a fun ride where hundreds of experienced and first time bike commuters ride to HSU together. Two separate groups will start at the Bayside Grange and Mad River Community Hospital. Both of these rides will combine at the Arcata Plaza, which is an additional start point, and will finish on the Quad at HSU for FREE breakfast. Additional events will occur throughout the day on the HSU campus including music and speakers on the quad at noon, and "Pastels on B Street" all day. Look for a brochure, or check the Green Wheels website: humboldt.edu/wheels for more information. Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association |
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