July 2012

Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association
P. O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502

Thanks to the New and Renewed Members for 2012

New Members:

Chris Butner, Arcata**
Stella Clark, Eureka

Renewed Members:

Philip Lescano, Eureka**
Emily Sinkhorn, Arcata**
Jim and Gina Christopher, Eureka**
Joan Helwer, Eureka**
Gordon Inkles, Bayside**
Carman Gentile, Arcata
Nicole Farrell, Kneeland
Tim Farrell, Kneeland

Those marked with a ** gave an additional donation.   Those with a *** gave at least a $25 donation.  Thanks to all of you for your generous support of the HBBCA.   

If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2012, please do so by using the membership application at the end of the newsletter.                                                                                                       

Humboldt Bike Month 2012 a Success

Another successful Bike Month is behind us.   Over 300 cyclists participated in our many events this year, including morning Co-Op Energizer Stations for Bike to Work Days in Arcata and Eureka, noontime rallies, Film Fest, Rhody Parade, and Bike Gear Swap.   In addition, the HBBCA participated in bike rodeos in Arcata and at Alice Birney Elementary School in Eureka.The HBBCA would like to extend a very special thanks to the Co-Op who sponsored “world class” energy stations.   They really out-did themselves this year.   Thanks to Nate Wiesner who was responsible for the stations.   They had energy bars, fruit, cookies, three kinds of gourmet coffee and lots more.   It was hard for people to extract themselves from the energy stations in order to get to work on time!

Great prizes were offered by Adventure’s Edge, Henderson Center Bicycles, Los Bagels, and the HBBCA.   Pacific Outfitters donated nearly $500 in prizes, including two Endura Rain Jackets that sell for $149 each.   Two Bike to Work Day Rally attendees were very excited when their free drawing tickets were called.

Check out the photos of the various events on our website, humbike.org, including the lucky winners of the rain jackets.   Pictures will be posted by early July.

The Next Regular Meeting will be held on July 23rd in Arcata

The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, July 23rd, at Carmela’s Restaurant, 13^th and G Streets in Arcata.  Dinner is optional.   Agenda items may be suggested by emailing Rick Knapp at info@humbike.org

Arcata Given “Silver” Status as a Bicycle Friendly Community

The City of Arcata has again been honored by the League of American Bicyclists for being a Bicycle Friendly Community.   It had previously achieved “Bronze” status.   In May, during Bike Month, the League announced its new designation for Arcata.   It was based upon the City’s application and review and comments by bicycle-related organizations such as the HBBCA, Green Wheels, and Bigfoot Bicycle Club.

Southbound Mad River Bridge Finished and Open to Bicyclists

Bicycle traffic travelling southbound from McKinleyville can now cross the Mad River along Route 101 instead of taking the 4-mile detour along the Hammond Trail.   However, the detour is still in effect for northbound traffic.

Bicyclists will now be able to take advantage of the 10-foot shoulders on the new southbound bridge.   The new northbound bridge will also have 10-foot shoulders as well as a two way multipurpose path separated from traffic by rails which will connect Wiemar road to the south with North Bank Road to the north. 

The old truss bridge is scheduled for demolition this summer and the full project is expected to be completed ahead of schedule—before the end of the year.   For more information about the project, call Caltrans Resident Engineer, Tom Fitzgerald at 496-6614.

Supervisors Sending Letter to Railroad Authority Regarding Rail Banking

At its June 26^th meeting, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors agreed to send a letter to the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) asking them to form a committee to consider rail banking the rail corridor along Humboldt Bay.   The action was taken as a result of a request from a group called “Bay T(rail) Advocates.  At the meeting, the “Advocates” were supported by about 50 people, many of who spoke in favor rail banking and the development of a trail around the bay, between Eureka and Samoa.  The action by the Board of Supervisors doesn’t take a position on rail banking, only supporting more study. The HBBCA Board took an action supporting the rail banking plan presented by Rees Hughes, one of the founders, at its meeting of June 25^th.   Rees indicated that they have been meeting regularly and cooperatively with the Timber Heritage Association to get their input and to fashion a compromise that both can agree upon.

Rail banking doesn’t necessarily mean conversion of the rail corridor to a trail would occur; it just protects the corridor so that the right of way isn’t in jeopardy of being lost as a result of a de facto abandonment resulting from a lack of use.   The NCRA is due to consider the matter at its July 11^th meeting in Eureka.  The Advocates will be there to present its plan.

City of Eureka Votes to Shift Waterfront Drive Funds to Build a Trail

At its June 5^th meeting, the Eureka City Council voted to redirect $1.2 million in funding from the defunct Waterfront Drive Extension project to a waterfront trail from Del Norte to Truesdale streets.  The City had secured more than $4.6 million for a project to extend Waterfront Drive but abandoned the project in April in the face of continued opposition by the California Coastal Commission.  The Council directed staff to work with Caltrans and the Humboldt County Association of Governments to secure funding for the trail.    The State highway funds were to be directed toward projects that improve safety for the Route 101 corridor.   Securing the funds for the trail will require approval from the California Transportation Commission.

“3-foot Bill” is Moving Along

Senate Bill 1464, which would require motorists give at least 3 feet of space when passing cyclists is speeding through the legislative process this year with little debate.   Hopefully, it will be passed into law this year.

Letters

Reprinted from the May-June 2012 American Bicyclist:

The Value of Hindsight

The Jan-Feb issue of American Bicyclist contains an excellent article on education for bicyclists.   There is, however, a significant omission form this and most other articles I have seen on the subject of reducing injuries and fatalities among road-riding bicyclists.   This omission is the lack of discussion, or even a mention, of the role of rearview mirrors in preventing “struck-from-behind” accidents involving bicyclists.   The helmet, a much-touted piece of safety equipment (which I personally would never ride without), really doesn’t do much for the rider until their head strikes the ground.   A mirror, in contrast, is something that may be used literally every few seconds.

Steve Weeks, Mundelein, Illinois

[Editor’s note: Rick Knapp, a tireless advocate of the use of a helmet mirror, sent a letter to the American Bicyclist in support of the above letter.]

HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 1/2012)

President---------------------- Rick Knapp

445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org

Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer

845-2117(h); 441-5770(w)

Secretary/Treasurer---------Gail Popham,

445-5204(w)

Director of Publicity………… vacant

Director of Planning----- vacant

If anyone is interested in filling a Board seat, or becoming more involved, please call one of the Board members above.

Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 1/5/2012)

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, or the need to clear vegetation encroaching on a shoulder, 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

Monica Campbell,
Public Works Administrative Assistant
822-5957 pubworks@cityofarcata.org

Abandoned Vehicles:
Arcata Police Dept. at 822-2424

City of Eureka

Pearl Mendoza
Public Works Administrative Assistant
441-4192 pmendoza@ci.eureka.ca.gov
with cc: shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov

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

Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2012 (Rev. 1/2012)

The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting.  Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2012. 

Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for youth helmets, this newsletter, our website, BikeSmart promotions, Bike Month activities and 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 Pro Sport Center, 10% at the Outdoor Store and 15% at Sport and

Cycle.  [Starting February 2011, membership cards began including stickers on the back showing discounts offered by the various shops.

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Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054