September 2006

WHEEL PEOPLE VOL. 25 NO. 5         SEPTEMBER 2006
Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association 
P. O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502

THANKS TO THE NEW AND RENEWED MEMBERS FOR 2006
New Members:
Tina Manos, Eureka**
Perry Gray-Reneberg, Arcata**
Deborah Buck, Eureka**

A special thanks to those who sent donations to the HBBCA, noted by **. 
Those with a *** gave $25 or more.

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

The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at Chapala’s Mexican Restaurant at 2nd and C Streets in Eureka on Monday, September 25th. Those interested in joining us for dinner can order at 6:00 p.m.  The meeting will begin at 6:30.  The meeting is open to the public. 

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
By Rick Knapp

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
Mark Suchanek, Deputy District Director
445-6393  Mark_Suchanek@dot.ca.gov

County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7491 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us

Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-3629

City of Arcata
Monica Campbell,
Public Works Administrative Assistant
822-5957 pubworks@arcatacityhall.org

Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424

City of Eureka
Susan Hutchison
Public Works Administrative Assistant
441-4192 shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov

Abandoned Vehicles: Mary Kirby
mkirby@eurekapd.org, 268-5232

HBBCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (click here for contact info)
President------------------------Scott Kelly
Vice-President/Treasurer----Rick Knapp
Director of Publicity-----------Will Dvorak
Director of Planning-----------Jennifer Rice

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 
P. O. Box 3054 Eureka CA 95502

Click here for our Membership Application