May 2014
WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 33 No. 3 May 2014
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following new and renewed members have become members for 2014.
New Members
Joan Lescano, Eureka*
Renewed Members
Philip Lescano, Eureka**
Kristi Wrigley, Eureka**
Jack Nash, Eureka***
Betty Jain, Arcata**
Brett Gronemeyer & Lea Schroeder, Eureka
Bob & Susan Ornelas, Arcata**
Scott Hagerty & Jen Taveras, Eureka**
Claudio Freixas, Jr., Eureka
Revolution Bicycle Repair (Justin Brown), Arcata***
David & Jean Durbin, McKinleyville
Catherine Barnes, 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.
The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on May 19th in Eureka
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 19th, at Chapala’s Café, 2nd and C Street in Eureka. Dinner is optional.
Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
May is Bike Month Humboldt! 2014
Many events are planned by the Bike Month Humboldt! 2014 Coalition. Other groups are also organizing bike-related events during National Bike Month. Those planned in Humboldt County are listed on the attached Calendar of Events and will also be accessible on the HBBCA website, www.humbike.org. Please join us and participate in as many events as you can.
Some are new for this year, including the Sunday, May 4th Hikshari’ Trail Family Ride. Plan to gather the family and join us at the foot of Truesdale in Eureka between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Annual Bike to Work Day activities are on May 7th in Arcata and May 14th in Eureka.
Bigfoot Bicycle Club Donates to Bike Month
The Bigfoot Bicycle Club has made a $200 donation to the HBBCA to help cover the cost of the various events being conducted during Bike Month Humboldt. The HBBCA appreciates the generous donation and the dedicated participation of Tim Daniels, representing Bigfoot on the Bike Month Humboldt Coalition.
Looking for a Volunteer to Drive a Sag Wagon for the Tour of the Unknown Coast Sunday, May 10th
For the past three years Buzz Webb has driven a sag wagon on behalf of the HBBCA for the TUC. This year, he isn’t able to do it. Vic Armijo of the TUC organization has asked if we could find someone else who could do it this year. The volunteer would depart Ferndale late morning, stops at each aid station and shuttles any unneeded food supplies forward to other stations and picks up riders who have given up along the way. Ideally, you would have your own crew cab pickup or SUV. He’s so desperate; he is even willing to provide his own pickup and trailer if necessary. Please call me, Rick Knapp, at 445-1097 and Vic at 845-6117 if you can do it.
It would be appreciated. The TUC has been very generous to the HBBCA through the years with donations from their profits to our causes.
Arcata Plans Bike Boulevards
The City of Arcata is planning to implement “Bike Boulevards” on 10th Street and I Street. The basic plan is to place large “shared lane” arrows with Bike Blvd. markings in the middle of each lane and special roadside signs to emphasize the commitment to bicycle use in these corridors. Changes to traffic control devices are proposed as several intersections on each street (i.e., stop and yield signs). Several bike rack installations are planned for 10th Street. Revisions will be considered after public meetings have been held. One was held on April 10th; another is scheduled for April 24th at City Hall, 4:30 p.m.
We encourage you, before the next meeting, to download the plans from the City’s website at: http://www.cityofarcata.org/ABB You might do some online research on Bicycle Boulevards, and bring your ideas to the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 24th at City Hall, 4:30 p.m.
Funding for the project comes primarily as a result of a $170,000 grant from the State Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) along with local matching funds.
The primary reason for selecting 10th Street and I Street for Bike Boulevards is the relatively low volume of vehicle traffic compared to other north/south and east/west arterials such as G, H and 11th Streets.
Humboldt County and Arcata Receive Funds for Planning and Construction of Humboldt Bay Trail
Humboldt County was awarded $2 million from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) on March 20th for engineering and environmental work for the portion of the proposed Humboldt Bay Trail from X Street in Eureka to Bracut. According to Hank Seemann, Deputy Director for Environmental Services, the County will spend the next two years in studies to determine route feasibility and environmental impacts and mitigation. No construction funds are committed to this segment at this time.
The City of Arcata was also awarded $842,000 by the CTC for construction of Phase 1 of the Trail, a rail-with-trail segment, which extends northerly from Samoa Boulevard to the intersection of Foster Avenue and Alliance Road, a distance of about one mile. Phase 2, which is funded only for environmental studies, would extend the trail to Bracut.
Caltrans Endorses Urban Streets Design Guide
According the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC), California became the third state to endorse the NACTO Urban Streets Design Guide in a dramatic announcement in Oakland last Thursday. “We’re trying to change the mentality of our Department of Transportation,” emphasized Caltrans Director, Malcolm Dougherty. [Editor’s Note: NACTO is the National Association of City Transportation Officials.]
CBC said, “We congratulate Caltrans for taking this big leap forward in bikeway design. As in most states, California’s highway design manual is written with the priority of moving cars quickly, while NACTO’s guide is written with the priority of making the street work for all users, including people riding bikes. Malcolm Dougherty is showing great leadership in endorsing NACTO’s Guide. “My job at the DOT is to at least follow [the cities’] lead and not be an inhibitor to what they want to accomplish,” he said.
This move sets the stage for a decisive victory in the “better design” prong of our Better Bikeways campaign. Our next step is to amend AB 1193 to permit local agencies to take advantage of this endorsement. When it passes, protected bikeways, bike boxes, and other innovative treatments expected to be included in the frequently updated NACTO guide will soon be in the toolbox of local planners and engineers across the state.
The California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) Emphasizes the Need for Tougher Penalties for Distracted Driving
When asked for priorities for 2014 legislation, the HBBCA told the CBC that distracted driving is the #1 issue for bicycle commuters, a growing problem in spite of increased enforcement. Our concern is that the penalty for distracted driving is too small to act as a deterrent. And, with a new generation of drivers coming on board that were “born with a smart phone in hand,” the problem will likely grow.
In its March 5, 2013 CalBike Report, the CBC indicated it “would put muscle behind enforcement reforms that strengthen the penalties on distracted driving and injuring vulnerable road users.
“Bicycle Times” Emphasizes Being Visible After Dark
In its March 2014 issue, “Bicycle Times” reported on being visible after dark when biking. The following are some excerpts and summary points.
1. When light diminishes in the winter months, it’s especially important to be visible. Too often, when people on bikes are injured or killed in a collision, motorists say: “I didn’t see the bicyclist.”
2. During the day, wearing bright colors like yellow and orange and even white can make you more eye-catching to other road users—not so at night. At night, reflectivity is a necessity. Wear lots of reflective materials, especially on moving parts—arms, legs, and ankles. Reflective strips on your bicycle and jacket are also important.
3. We can’t rely totally on others’ luminosity. We have to light up the night, too. At night, it is mandatory that a white headlight be used. While a red rear reflector may allow you to conform to minimum requirements of the law, it doesn’t get the job done. These days, great battery lights are available for low cost and batteries last a long time. They should be used day and night. A flashing red light can be seen many blocks ahead, even in the day time, alerting approaching vehicles to your presence. The same thing goes for headlights. Just like daytime running lights on vehicles, a flashing white light on the front can dramatically reduce the chances of a motorist making a left turn in front of you.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev.10/28/2013)
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
Mark Suchanek, Deputy District Director
445-6393
Mark_Suchanek@dot.ca.gov
County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7421 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us
Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-3629
City of Arcata
Alynn Zdawczynski,
Public Works Administrative Assistant
822-5957 azdawczynski@cityofarcata.org
Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424
City of Eureka
Kristen Ireland [New contact 2/2013]
Public Works Administrative Assistant
441-4203 kireland@ci.eureka.ca.gov
with cc: shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov
Abandoned Vehicles: Mary Kirby
mkirby@eurekapd.org, 268-5232
HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 1/2012)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
845-2117(h); 445-5390(w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
445-5204(w)
Director of Publicity………… vacant
Director of Planning----- vacant
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2014 (Rev. 1/2013)
The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2014.
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, 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% (or more) at Henderson Center Bicycles; 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.
Enclosed: $_____dues $_____donation
Name_______________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Phone__________________(h)______________________(w)
____I’d rather receive my newsletter by email. This is my neatly printed email address:
______________________________________________________
Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054
Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following new and renewed members have become members for 2014.
New Members
Joan Lescano, Eureka*
Renewed Members
Philip Lescano, Eureka**
Kristi Wrigley, Eureka**
Jack Nash, Eureka***
Betty Jain, Arcata**
Brett Gronemeyer & Lea Schroeder, Eureka
Bob & Susan Ornelas, Arcata**
Scott Hagerty & Jen Taveras, Eureka**
Claudio Freixas, Jr., Eureka
Revolution Bicycle Repair (Justin Brown), Arcata***
David & Jean Durbin, McKinleyville
Catherine Barnes, 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.
The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on May 19th in Eureka
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 19th, at Chapala’s Café, 2nd and C Street in Eureka. Dinner is optional.
Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
May is Bike Month Humboldt! 2014
Many events are planned by the Bike Month Humboldt! 2014 Coalition. Other groups are also organizing bike-related events during National Bike Month. Those planned in Humboldt County are listed on the attached Calendar of Events and will also be accessible on the HBBCA website, www.humbike.org. Please join us and participate in as many events as you can.
Some are new for this year, including the Sunday, May 4th Hikshari’ Trail Family Ride. Plan to gather the family and join us at the foot of Truesdale in Eureka between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Annual Bike to Work Day activities are on May 7th in Arcata and May 14th in Eureka.
Bigfoot Bicycle Club Donates to Bike Month
The Bigfoot Bicycle Club has made a $200 donation to the HBBCA to help cover the cost of the various events being conducted during Bike Month Humboldt. The HBBCA appreciates the generous donation and the dedicated participation of Tim Daniels, representing Bigfoot on the Bike Month Humboldt Coalition.
Looking for a Volunteer to Drive a Sag Wagon for the Tour of the Unknown Coast Sunday, May 10th
For the past three years Buzz Webb has driven a sag wagon on behalf of the HBBCA for the TUC. This year, he isn’t able to do it. Vic Armijo of the TUC organization has asked if we could find someone else who could do it this year. The volunteer would depart Ferndale late morning, stops at each aid station and shuttles any unneeded food supplies forward to other stations and picks up riders who have given up along the way. Ideally, you would have your own crew cab pickup or SUV. He’s so desperate; he is even willing to provide his own pickup and trailer if necessary. Please call me, Rick Knapp, at 445-1097 and Vic at 845-6117 if you can do it.
It would be appreciated. The TUC has been very generous to the HBBCA through the years with donations from their profits to our causes.
Arcata Plans Bike Boulevards
The City of Arcata is planning to implement “Bike Boulevards” on 10th Street and I Street. The basic plan is to place large “shared lane” arrows with Bike Blvd. markings in the middle of each lane and special roadside signs to emphasize the commitment to bicycle use in these corridors. Changes to traffic control devices are proposed as several intersections on each street (i.e., stop and yield signs). Several bike rack installations are planned for 10th Street. Revisions will be considered after public meetings have been held. One was held on April 10th; another is scheduled for April 24th at City Hall, 4:30 p.m.
We encourage you, before the next meeting, to download the plans from the City’s website at: http://www.cityofarcata.org/ABB You might do some online research on Bicycle Boulevards, and bring your ideas to the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 24th at City Hall, 4:30 p.m.
Funding for the project comes primarily as a result of a $170,000 grant from the State Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) along with local matching funds.
The primary reason for selecting 10th Street and I Street for Bike Boulevards is the relatively low volume of vehicle traffic compared to other north/south and east/west arterials such as G, H and 11th Streets.
Humboldt County and Arcata Receive Funds for Planning and Construction of Humboldt Bay Trail
Humboldt County was awarded $2 million from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) on March 20th for engineering and environmental work for the portion of the proposed Humboldt Bay Trail from X Street in Eureka to Bracut. According to Hank Seemann, Deputy Director for Environmental Services, the County will spend the next two years in studies to determine route feasibility and environmental impacts and mitigation. No construction funds are committed to this segment at this time.
The City of Arcata was also awarded $842,000 by the CTC for construction of Phase 1 of the Trail, a rail-with-trail segment, which extends northerly from Samoa Boulevard to the intersection of Foster Avenue and Alliance Road, a distance of about one mile. Phase 2, which is funded only for environmental studies, would extend the trail to Bracut.
Caltrans Endorses Urban Streets Design Guide
According the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC), California became the third state to endorse the NACTO Urban Streets Design Guide in a dramatic announcement in Oakland last Thursday. “We’re trying to change the mentality of our Department of Transportation,” emphasized Caltrans Director, Malcolm Dougherty. [Editor’s Note: NACTO is the National Association of City Transportation Officials.]
CBC said, “We congratulate Caltrans for taking this big leap forward in bikeway design. As in most states, California’s highway design manual is written with the priority of moving cars quickly, while NACTO’s guide is written with the priority of making the street work for all users, including people riding bikes. Malcolm Dougherty is showing great leadership in endorsing NACTO’s Guide. “My job at the DOT is to at least follow [the cities’] lead and not be an inhibitor to what they want to accomplish,” he said.
This move sets the stage for a decisive victory in the “better design” prong of our Better Bikeways campaign. Our next step is to amend AB 1193 to permit local agencies to take advantage of this endorsement. When it passes, protected bikeways, bike boxes, and other innovative treatments expected to be included in the frequently updated NACTO guide will soon be in the toolbox of local planners and engineers across the state.
The California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) Emphasizes the Need for Tougher Penalties for Distracted Driving
When asked for priorities for 2014 legislation, the HBBCA told the CBC that distracted driving is the #1 issue for bicycle commuters, a growing problem in spite of increased enforcement. Our concern is that the penalty for distracted driving is too small to act as a deterrent. And, with a new generation of drivers coming on board that were “born with a smart phone in hand,” the problem will likely grow.
In its March 5, 2013 CalBike Report, the CBC indicated it “would put muscle behind enforcement reforms that strengthen the penalties on distracted driving and injuring vulnerable road users.
“Bicycle Times” Emphasizes Being Visible After Dark
In its March 2014 issue, “Bicycle Times” reported on being visible after dark when biking. The following are some excerpts and summary points.
1. When light diminishes in the winter months, it’s especially important to be visible. Too often, when people on bikes are injured or killed in a collision, motorists say: “I didn’t see the bicyclist.”
2. During the day, wearing bright colors like yellow and orange and even white can make you more eye-catching to other road users—not so at night. At night, reflectivity is a necessity. Wear lots of reflective materials, especially on moving parts—arms, legs, and ankles. Reflective strips on your bicycle and jacket are also important.
3. We can’t rely totally on others’ luminosity. We have to light up the night, too. At night, it is mandatory that a white headlight be used. While a red rear reflector may allow you to conform to minimum requirements of the law, it doesn’t get the job done. These days, great battery lights are available for low cost and batteries last a long time. They should be used day and night. A flashing red light can be seen many blocks ahead, even in the day time, alerting approaching vehicles to your presence. The same thing goes for headlights. Just like daytime running lights on vehicles, a flashing white light on the front can dramatically reduce the chances of a motorist making a left turn in front of you.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev.10/28/2013)
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
Mark Suchanek, Deputy District Director
445-6393
Mark_Suchanek@dot.ca.gov
County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7421 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us
Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-3629
City of Arcata
Alynn Zdawczynski,
Public Works Administrative Assistant
822-5957 azdawczynski@cityofarcata.org
Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424
City of Eureka
Kristen Ireland [New contact 2/2013]
Public Works Administrative Assistant
441-4203 kireland@ci.eureka.ca.gov
with cc: shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov
Abandoned Vehicles: Mary Kirby
mkirby@eurekapd.org, 268-5232
HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 1/2012)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
845-2117(h); 445-5390(w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
445-5204(w)
Director of Publicity………… vacant
Director of Planning----- vacant
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2014 (Rev. 1/2013)
The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2014.
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, 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% (or more) at Henderson Center Bicycles; 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.
Enclosed: $_____dues $_____donation
Name_______________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Phone__________________(h)______________________(w)
____I’d rather receive my newsletter by email. This is my neatly printed email address:
______________________________________________________
Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054