Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P. O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502
THANKS TO THE NEW AND RENEWED MEMBERS FOR 2007
The HBBCA thanks the following new members and renewed members for 2007.
New Members:
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David Lindberg, Eureka
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Cliff Berkowitz, K-HUM, Ferndale
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Heather Fleming, Bayside
Renewed Members:
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Carol Capaldi, Eureka
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Tim Daniels, Eureka**
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Ron & Holly Vetter, Eureka
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Dan & Carol Stafford, Stafford Glass, Eureka***
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P-A & George WinterSun, Eureka***
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Heather Hodge, Bayside
A special thanks to those who sent donations to the HBBCA, noted by **.
Those with a *** gave $25 or more.
BIKE TO WORK DAY EVENTS A BIG SUCCESS
About 90 cyclists attended the two noontime rallies in Eureka and Arcata in May. Another 40 or so took advantage of the “fuel up” opportunities on their way to work—at Crepes, Coffee and Cream in Eureka (next to Target) and at Arcata City Hall. Check out our website at www.humbike.org for photos of the events. Those who sponsored the events are still meeting to see how to improve Bike to Work month next year. If you have any ideas, let the Board members know.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING JULY 23rd IN ARCATA
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at Luzmilla’s Mexican Restaurant at 13th and G Streets in Arcata on Monday, July 23rd. 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. The agenda is set by those who attend.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. For more information, check the HBBCA website at www.humbike.org.
HBBCA CONDUCTS BIKE SAFETY CLASS IN McKINLEYVILLE
Scott Kelly, President of the HBBCA, presented a bicycle safety training class at the McKinleyville Parks and Recreation “Kids Camp” summer program on June 19th. About 40 students attended the class which covered basic bike safety skills and rules. The kids ranged in age from 6 to 12.
BIKE LANES UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON 7TH STREET IN EUREKA
A bike lane project is ongoing in Eureka on 7th Street between I Street and Myrtle Avenue. State grant funding was secured a couple of years ago for the project. Since there was inadequate width for the bike lane, the street is being widened and new sidewalks constructed to make room for the bike lanes. With this construction, scheduled to be done by August, both 6th and 7th Street bike lanes will connect to the bike lanes on Myrtle Avenue.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY NEW DIESEL TRUCKS HAVE TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE ALL OVER CYCLISTS?
By Rick Knapp
Doesn’t it seem strange that a new 3/4 ton truck has to blow black smoke out the exhaust, equivalent to a 1960 school bus? Why is that? Well, apparently many owners in areas like ours where there are no emission inspections have decided to modify their vehicles to get more power and blow more smoke!
To add insult to injury, and I mean injury, I studied trucks that passed me while biking from McKinleyville to Eureka the other day to find that virtually 100% of 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks—Chevy, Ford, Dodge et al—have exhaust pipes that empty on the right side of the vehicle. So, when you are in that bike lane, waiting at a red light, you can be sure to enjoy 100% of their emissions when they stomp on it as the light turns green.
What can we do about this? When you see an individual truck that is obviously polluting the air, you can call the Air Resources Board at 1-800 End Smog and report the vehicle. You will need the license plate number, the type of vehicle, and when/where it was observed. Let’s do it! However, all that happens is that the Air Resources Board (ARB) sends the registered owner a courtesy letter that indicates they have been reported as having a polluting vehicle and urges them to check it out and tells them of the potential for a citation.
What else can be done? One can attempt to get local police to cite the vehicle for excess emissions. In about two years there will be a Statewide program to periodically inspect diesel pickup trucks. Currently there is none, even in the dirty air basins where other vehicles are subject to smog checks every 6 months. However, the Program will only be implemented if the Board of Supervisors approves it. In the meantime, people will be illegally modifying these vehicles, and mechanics illegally altering them. Because we have no inspection system in place, and diesel trucks are more popular than ever, we can expect this to continue to get worse. At a time when vehicles are being produced that will not substantially pollute the air, people are modifying their vehicles and emitting pollution equivalent to hundreds of vehicles. Let’s try to stop this!!!
WHO TO CALL WHEN YOU SEE A SAFETY CONCERN (Revised 3/07)
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.
Of course, if you see a condition that requires immediate emergency action,
call 9-1-1. For other conditions, the following is provided:
HBBCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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President------------------------Scott Kelly
839-3614(h); 839-4336(w)
Email: info@humbike.org
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Vice-President/Treasurer----Rick Knapp
445-1097(h)
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Director of Publicity-----------Will Dvorak
445-4229(h)-before 8pm; 441-8809(w)
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Director of Planning-----------Jennifer Rice
442-4630(h); 269-2060(w)
JOIN THE HBBCA TODAY OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2007
The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your dues for 2007. Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for insurance, youth helmets, this newsletter, our website, promotions, special events, postage, etc. And, it will help demonstrate your commitment to our goal. Click here for our Membership Application
If you are already a paid-up member and would like to start receiving your newsletters by email, please advise us at: info@humbike.org
Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P. O. Box 3054 Eureka CA 95502
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