July 2020
Vol. 39 No. 3
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following are new and renewed members for 2020. If you haven’t renewed your dues for 2020, they were due on January 1, as all dues expire on December 31. An application is at the end of the newsletter.
New Members
Michelle Conover, Trinidad
Mitchell Hayes, McKinleyville*
Renewed Members for 2020
Debra Pecaut, Eureka**
Jennifer Johnson, Adventure’s Edge***
Bob & JoAnn Hart, Bayside***
Jack Nash, Eureka***
Betty Jain, Arcata**
Colin Fiske, Arcata**
Carman Gentile, Arcata (for 5 years!)
Steve Sipma & Noreen O’Brien, Eureka**
Chere’ Edgar, Arcata***
Dick Wild, Arcata***
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.
July 2020 HBBCA Meeting Cancelled due to COVID-19. [This is getting really old!]
The Next Regular Meeting will be on October 26, 2020 in Eureka
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2020, at Chapala’s Café at 2nd and C Street in Eureka—if “feasible.” We will try again to get Scott Ellsmore, our primary contact with the City of Eureka regarding bike projects, to attend. To suggest other agenda items, please contact Rick Knapp at info@humbike.org, call him at 445-1097, or raise them at the meeting.
Lots of Caltrans Construction Happening in the Humboldt Bay Area
Summer is road construction season! If you have been on 4th Street in Eureka and/or ridden the US-101 Safety Corridor between Arcata and Eureka, you have seen construction crews at work. Here’s a run-down of the Caltrans construction projects on US-101 from Eureka to Arcata.
A Safety and Capital Maintenance project is occurring on 4th Street in Eureka. Starting at V Street, parking has been removed from both sides of the street to just beyond R Street (State Route 255). A 3rd lane of traffic was added from V Street to O Street. Before the project is completed in 2021, the right hand shoulder will be striped for this segment to at least 5 feet wide, which bicyclists can use to ride from Target to “little 4th Street”. That is the street that goes straight when 4th Street starts the curve to the left at Kamisu Park. The project is also reconstructing driveways and blended transitions (those Eureka street corners where the road rises up to meet the sidewalk, to improve Accessibility (ADA). The project includes repaving from Target to Broadway.
There is a collision severity reduction program project that is upgrading metal beam guardrail throughout the US-101 Safety Corridor. It will include cable barrier for the center median to prevent crossover collisions. It is expected to be completed this year.
A bridge rail replacement and upgrade project involves almost all the bridges within the US-101 Safety Corridor. It is estimated to be completed this year.
An operational improvement project will extend the acceleration and deceleration lanes within the US-101 Safety Corridor. It is estimated to be completed this year.
As you can see there are four active construction projects in or adjacent to the Safety Corridor. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these construction projects, please call Betsy Totten, Caltrans Customer Service Liaison, at (707) 441-5655.
Ground Breaking for the New Annie & Mary Trail Happened on May 30th
On May 30th, the Mayor and City Council of Blue Lake, along with townspeople, broke ground on the Annie & Mary Trail in Blue Lake. The new trail will begin near the Logger Bar on H Street in Blue Lake and continue west to the intersection of south Railroad and Chartin Road. The City Manager, Mandy Mager, said, “This is the first segment of the trail and the County is currently in the process of applying for funding to complete the next section, which will extend the trail to Glendale. Construction was to begin in June and be completed in August. For more information on trails, go to humtrails.org.
The Humboldt Bay Trail South Project Scheduled for Construction in 2021
According to the Summer edition of the Humboldt Trails Council Newsletter, the remaining 4-mile section of the Humboldt Bay Trail, between the Eureka Slough and Bracut, continues to be in the project development and permitting phase. The County anticipates receiving all permits in early 2021, with construction beginning later that year.
Humboldt County Planning Commission Approved Coastal Development Permit for Manila Bike Path
An excerpt from the Lost Coast Outpost:
For decades residents have called on government officials to make their community safer and more friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. A new joint project from Humboldt County and Caltrans aims to do just that.
On May 12th, the Humboldt County Planning Commission approved a coastal development permit for a Class I bike path through Manila as part of a Zoom Meeting. The paved, multi-use trail would be 10 feet wide and run parallel to 255, separated by at least five feet from the western edge of the road. It would extend from the intersection with Dean and Pacific Avenues at the south end of town and run 0.6 miles north, ending just past Carlson Drive.
This northern terminus winds up near the Hobbit house of the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, which is managed by the nonprofit Friends of the Dunes. The trail was designed to eventually connect to the nature center via another trail, which is in the early stages of development. According to county staff, this connection would not only encourage more use of the new bike trail, it would also give the community an extra tsunami evacuation route.
Construction costs for the trail, estimated at $1.5 million, would be covered by the state’s Active Transportation Program.
The California Transportation Commission Commits to Spending $100 Million on “Complete Streets” Projects
In adopting the $20 billion 2020 State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP), the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved a set-aside of $100 million for “Complete Streets” elements on existing programmed projects. These are improvements which would benefit non-motorized users. SHOPP projects are those that include non-capacity increasing projects to improve operations and to preserve the facility. It includes reconstruction and repaving of State highways. The program is a 10-year program that currently contains 920 projects, statewide.
Cycling Offers Many Health Benefits—Worth your Time Reading
The following are excerpts from an article, “Ask the Doctors,” which ran in the January 14, 2020 edition of the Times-Standard. It was written by Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, who is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA.
In responding to a question about the benefits of cycling, Dr. Glazier said in part:
“Cycling is a terrific activity with multiple health benefits. Exercise, in general, has been shown to help boost energy; improve mood; reduce the risk of a range of diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers; maintain a healthy weight; add to strength; agility and flexibility; and aid in sleep.
“As you cycle 4 miles to and from work, you’ll use an impressive range of muscle groups. These include the hamstrings and quadriceps, which are the two major muscles in the legs; the calf muscles; the gluteals, which are the trio of muscles that make up the buttocks; the core muscles of the abdomen; and to a lesser degree, the muscles of the upper body. Conquering those hills will get your heart and lungs working and help build strength, stamina and endurance.
“Cycling is an excellent resistance activity, which means it’s good for bones and bone density. It’s also a low-impact activity, so it’s kind to the joints. And the hundreds of tiny decisions needed to navigate a route and negotiate traffic help keep you mentally sharp.”
[So, if you are wondering why you feel so much better after a good cycling workout, now you know.]
Eureka Bike Kitchen Hours Expanded
The Eureka Bike Kitchen @EurekaBikeKitchen is now open on Tuesday and Wednesdays, 6 – 8 pm; and Wednesday and Saturday, 2 – 4 pm. They are not letting patrons into the shop, but volunteers will take a look at your bike and fix it if they can. They are also looking for donations of bicycles and bike parts. Javier speaks Spanish.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 5/2019; No change 1/2020))
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
Betsy Totten, Customer Service Liaison
441-5655 www.dot.ca.gov/d1/contactus.html
County of Humboldt
Dispatcher
445-7421 RoadsDispatch@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. 1/3/20)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
707-445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
707-845-2117(cell); 445-6578 (w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
707-502-8030(cell)
Director of Planning-----open/available
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 2020
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