January 2019
WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 38 No. 1 January 2019
Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info<at>humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCAThe following are new and renewed members for 2019. If you haven’t renewed your dues for 2019, they are due on January 1, as all dues expire on December 31. An application is at the end of the newsletter, or on line on our website.
Renewed Members for 2019
Daryl & Phyllis Chinn, Arcata**
Will Dvorak & Carole Beaton, Eureka***
Debra Pecaut, Eureka**
Rick Knapp, Eureka***
Gail Popham, Eureka**
Alexis Kelso, Eureka***
Kristi Wrigley, 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.
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, January 28th, 2019, at Chapala’s Café at 2nd and C Streets in Eureka. To suggest agenda items, please contact Rick Knapp at info<at>humbike.org, or call him at 445-1097.
Alexis Kelso relocating oval bike rack in downtown Eureka as part of a total review and repair job by the HBBCA
Happy 2019 Biking New Year!!!!!
To help inspire you to ride more, use our Bicycling Calendar to enter your daily, weekly and monthly miles. A copy can be printed from our humbike.org website.
New Laws Affecting Bicyclists and Other Non-Motorized Users
There are new laws going into effect on January 1 affecting bicyclists and other non-motorized users, as follows.
AB 3077 requires that anyone under the age of 18 wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or skates. Fix-it tickets, with a $25 fine will be issued to violators. The law allows for a waiver of fine if the child completes a bicycle safety class. As of now, we aren’t aware of any such classes provided by law enforcement in Humboldt County.
AB 1755 will extend the provisions of the felony hit-and-run law that already applies to motor vehicle drivers to cyclists involved in collisions on Class I bikeways (like the Waterfront Trail) that leads to injury or death. Those involved must stop or face a felony hit-and-run charge.
City of Arcata Invites the HBBCA to participate on Annie & Mary Task Force
The City of Arcata has obtained funding from the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Program to plan the next section of multiuse trail in Arcata, which will connect the Sunset Avenue/Larson Park area to Valley West, West End Road area and Aldergrove Industrial Park. The grant will support public outreach and planning to identify potential alignments, improve safety over the Sunset Avenue and Giuntoli overcrossings, and connections to the trail from neighborhoods and business areas.
The City is establishing a Project Task Force comprised of key stakeholders. The task force will begin meeting in 2019 and are expected to meet three times to: (1) provide feedback on the project approach and insight for community outreach strategies: (2) review draft trail alignment concepts arising from the first round of public outreach; and (3) review the draft project plan.
The HBBCA’s Planning Director, Alexis Kelso, will serve as its representative on the task force.
The HBBCA Endorses Grant Application for Planning Funds for McKinleyville Gateway and Connectivity Project
By letter of October 23, 2018, the HBBCA endorsed the County’s application for Caltrans Sustainable Communities’ planning funds to pursue a project to create safer walking and bicycling opportunities in the southern entrance to the unincorporated community of McKinleyville. The project will produce concept designs and an implementation plan for improved non-motorized travel between southern McKinleyville and northern Arcata.
City of Eureka Re-striping bike lanes
The HBBCA requested the restriping of Wabash bike lanes. The city not only did those but recently restriped those on Henderson and Fairway Drive, too. Thanks!!!
Prop 6 defeated in 2018 Election
The November election results included the defeat of Proposition 6 on the State ballot which would have undone the recent fuel tax increases implemented by legislative action. Had it been passed, all future increases would have had to be approved by a vote of the people. All cities and the County will receive funding preserved by defeat of Proposition 6. So, if you like pavement, and less pot holes, some relief should be in store.
Locally, a measure which would have increased sales taxes in Eureka to fund road repairs was defeated due to the fact that it required a 2/3 vote to pass. But, a similar measure was passed to fund repairs in Humboldt County.
Stations Printed on Pavement on Eureka’s Waterfront Trail
You may have noticed stations printed along the edge of the Waterfront Trail in Eureka. Every hundred feet you will see a number like “8,600,” which would indicate you are 8600 feet north of the beginning of the trail at Elk River Road. The numbers are painted in yellow. If you needed to phone in an emergency (or non-emergency), it can help to indicate to the police the nearest station to the emergency.
Letter to the Editor
The following is a letter published in the November 3, 2018 Times-Standard:
Dear Editor,
Eureka City Council members Allison, Arroyo, Bergel and Messner voted to go forward with plans to modify the North-South H and I Street multi-modal transportation corridor. Typical objections were, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” “We already have a bike route on J Street. “Don’t throw good money after bad.” And, “We need to spend money on more important things.”
The collision rate on H and I in the 1.45 miles between Harris and Sixth is 2.9 times higher and the injury rate is 80 percent higher than state averages. If this is not “broke,” it is certainly unacceptable. Bicycle and pedestrian collisions with cars on J Street are almost as high as on H and I streets. There are also many stop signs on the J Street bike lanes which make bicycle commuting difficult.
The proposal presented to the council for approval included eight or more potential funding sources. The city will not pay for the full cost of this project, and it might be fully grant funded.
The effects of this type of project are not merely speculative. They have been shown to increase use of non-motorized transportation, calm traffic, and improve overall livability where implemented. This is called “Best Practices” for a reason. While this type of project is not cheap, the long term benefits are proven.
We support elected officials that make decisions based on current evidence and best practices, not outmoded mid-century concepts, and urge you to do the same.
Jim and Donna Clark, Eureka
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 4/2018)
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
Betty Totten, Customer Service Liaison
441-5655 www.dot.ca.gov/d1/contactus.html
County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7421 wmeeks@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. 12/2018)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
707-445-1097(h) email: info<at>humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
707-845-2117(cell); 445-6578 (w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
707-502-8030(cell)
Director of Planning-----Alexis Kelso, 707-445-6397(w)
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 2019
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.
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Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054