October 2017
WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 36 No. 4 October 2017
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 HBBCAThe following are new and renewed members for 2017. Please consider joining or renewing if you haven’t already. Join now and get 2018, too.
Renewed Member
Bob & JoAnn Hart, Bayside***
New Member
Alexis Kelso, 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 Meeting will be Held on October 23rd in Arcata
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, October 23rd, at Carmela’s Mexican restaurant at 13th and G Streets in Arcata. Dinner is optional. Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
HBBCA Endorses Annie and Mary Trail Application
By letter of September 23, 2017, the HBBCA endorsed an application for the Arcata Annie and Mary Trail Connectivity Project, Planning Phase. The application is to Caltrans under its Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. If funded, the City will undertake planning to improve transportation safety and the ability of residents to have options for safe, multimodal connectivity between neighborhoods and downtown Arcata and HSU. The effort is being facilitated by the Redwood Community Action Agency.
Update on Construction of Bike Paths in Eureka-Arcata Area
By Brett Gronemeyer, Vice-President
Arcata's "Humboldt Bay Trail-North" (HBTN) Class I bikeway (bike path) is now paved! The only big hurdle left is placement of several pre-fabricated bridges. The goal is to have the bike path completed and open this year. Hopefully, the weather holds out!
Progress is also continuing on Eureka's "Waterfront Trail" bike path. The section from Del Norte Street to C Street (referred to as "Phase B") is paved and looks nearly complete. The section starting near the Samoa Bridge (SR-255) and extending north, passing behind Target, running under the Eureka Slough bridges (US-101), and ending at Tydd Street (referred to as "Phase C") looks like it won't be completed until next year. It's very exciting to have all these Class I bikeways being constructed!
We at HBBCA know that as exciting as these bike paths are, they are not a substitute for having good "on-road" bikeways, such as Class II (bike lanes), Class III (bike routes), and Class IV (separated bikeways & cycle tracks). We are continuing to push for improvements to make area roads more suitable and friendly for bicyclists.
H and I Streets Being Studied in Eureka
The Redwood Community Action Agency and TJKM Consultants are leading a major study of the H & I Streets corridor to consider improvements that could make travel in the corridor safer for bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit and the disabled. The study will also consider options in a larger corridor, between E and J Streets.
Rick Knapp was invited to participate and did participate in the initial kick-off meeting on August 31. Field trip meetings were conducted in the corridor to study actual behavior and conditions. Those meetings were held the first week of October. New HBBCA member, Alexis Kelso, attended for Rick, as he was out of town that week. Alexis is a certified League of American Bicyclists instructor, and has excellent insights with respect to the range of options that could be considered. Later on in the study, public outreach will be carried out to get ideas and reactions from the public regarding the corridor.
HSU and City of Arcata Launch Bike Share Program
According to a Times-Standard article on September 24, 2017, a new bike share program called Zagster was recently launched at Humboldt State University in an effort to help students, staff and faculty get around campus and Arcata while reducing their carbon footprint.
According to an HSU news release, there are five bikes at each of the stations located at the campus’ Jolly Giant Commons and Harry Griffith Hall. The station at Jolly Giant Commons was paid for by the HSU “Housing & Residence Life.” The one at Harry Griffith Hall was paid for by a $31,684 gift from former HSU Zoology Professor Manual Kaster, an avid cyclist who often rode his bike between his home in Arcata and the campus. He passed away in May at the age of 86.
The effort is being headed up by Morgan King, climate action analyst with HSU’s Office of Sustainability. He is also working with the City of Arcata on four other proposed stations. He said the City of Eureka is also interested.
To use the bikes, interested riders must sign up through the Zagster app. Costs are $2 per hour, up to $30 per ride. Or, riders can opt for an annual membership for $20 and includes the first hour free, with an additional $2 per hour after that.
Caltrans finds “lost” pavement on Broadway
Recent maintenance work on Northbound 101 through Eureka resulted in finding lost pavement, especially between Truesdale and just north of Henderson. In some areas, the shoulder is 2 – 3 feet wider than it was. Dirt and vegetation had migrated over the shoulder making it less than 3 feet in some areas. They also cut back roadside vegetation that forced bicyclists and pedestrians closer to the traffic lanes. The new work will make it safer to ride bikes on Broadway northbound, as well as making it safer for pedestrians. Caltrans is also initiating a project to provide additional width for the 200 foot section approaching Harris Street. That segment, which has an asphalt dike and only 3 feet of pavement is especially problematic.
Check out the Results of a “Road Diet” on Ross Hill Road in Fortuna
If you would like to see what can be done if one gives priority to bicyclists and school children, check out the recent improvements to Ross Hill Road in Fortuna, south of Kenmar Road. The City took a four lane road that provided poor access for bicyclists, pedestrians, and especially school children, and put the road on a diet. The reduced the road from four lanes to two and created a bike lane with wide cross-hatched buffer. This is the type of thing that could be done on H & I Streets in Eureka if the City has the stomach for it. In each case, automobile traffic can be calmed and everyone else will benefit.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 4/2016)
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
Tom Fitzgerald, Acting Deputy District Director
445-6393 tom.fitzgerald@dot.ca.gov
Dan Ramirez, Maintenance Manager
(for maintenance-related concerns)
445-5327 daniel.r.ramirez@dot.ca.gov
County of Humboldt
Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher
445-7421 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us
Abandoned Vehicles: Wally Williams,
County Sheriff’s Office, 268-2509
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
441-4203 publicworks@ci.eureka.ca.gov
Abandoned Vehicles:
eureka-policeabatement@ci.eureka.ca.gov;
phone 268-5232
HBBCA Board of Directors (Rev. 12/2016)
President---------------------- Rick Knapp
445-1097(h) email: info@humbike.org
Vice-President---------------- Brett Gronemeyer
845-2117(h); 445-6397(w)
Secretary/Treasurer---Gail Popham,
707-502-8030(cell)
Director of Publicity ----open/available
Director of Planning-----open/available
Contact Rick Knapp if you are interested in filing a vacant Board position.
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2018
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, 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.
For those joining after October 1, 2017, memberships will extent through calendar year 2018.
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Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054