October 2019
Vol. 38 No. 4
Website: www.humbike.org
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following are new and renewed members for 2019. It is about time to join for 2020. An application is at the end of the newsletter.
Renewed Members for 2019
Colin Fiske, McKinleyville**
Katherine Bettis, Eureka
Cara Barnes, Eureka**
Daryl & Phyllis Chinn, Arcata**
Bob & Susan Ornelas, Arcata***
Melanie Williams, Arcata***
Rick Gustafson, Eureka** (for ’19 and ’20)
Chris Ursich, Arcata (for ’20)
Steve Sipma & Noreen O’Brien, Fairhaven**
Ali Lee, Bayside**
Gary Scarola, Eureka
New Members
Kendra Higgins, Arcata
Corine Frugoni, Arcata*** (for ’19 and ’20)
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 on October 28th in Arcata
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., Monday, October 28, 2019, at Carmela’s Mexican Restaurant (dinner optional) in Arcata, 13th and G Streets. To suggest agenda items, please contact Rick Knapp at info@humbike.org, call him at 445-1097, or raise them at the meeting.
Eureka Adopts an Ordinance to Reduce Destruction of Streets by Utility Companies
On August 6th, the City Council adopted an ordinance that requires those that tear up more than 15% of a traffic lane to install utilities, et al, to repave the lane after the other work is completed. Too bad it wasn’t in existence prior to PG&E’s comprehensive gas line replacement program, most of which is completed.
Public Meeting Held to Present Proposed Road Improvements to Old Arcata Road
City of Arcata Public Works personnel conducted an excellent well-attended meeting at the at the Bayside Community Hall on August 15th at 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. They had two sets of very large layout plans so that it was easy to see what was proposed. In essence, the roadway will be reconfigured to have 10-foot travel lanes, 5-foot bike lanes and a roundabout at Jacoby Creek Road (See photo below). The project is about 1 mile long and extends southerly from the existing roundabout at Buttermilk Lane to about ½ mile south of Jacoby Creek Road.
It was indicated that the project has been in the works since 2016. Finally, funding has been secured and programmed to permit construction in the summer of 2021.
Governor Signs Bill to Make it Legal for Bicyclists to Ride through Right Turn-Only Lanes
The Governor signed a bill, AB 1266, on September 4th, that makes it legal for cyclists to use a right turn-only lane when riding straight through an intersection. This is already practiced behavior for many cyclists. This bill makes the practice legal. The bill calls for signs or pavement makings so that all users will understand the rule.
Governor Vetoes Complete Streets Bill
Senate Bill 127 would have required Caltrans to consider bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements when it repairs or repaves state routes that serve as local streets. According to the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike), Caltrans had resisted the bill. On October 12th, Governor Newsom vetoed the bill, championed by Senator Scott Wiener.
HBBCA Offers Support to McKinleyville Multimodal Connections Project
By letter dated September 30, 2019, the HBBCA offered its support to the McKinleyville Multimodal Connections Project application submitted to the Caltrans’ Sustainable Communities Grant Program. If approved, grant funds would be used for planning to obtain community input, highlight priorities and identify potential improvements to create safer walking and bicycling within McKinleyville and to major employment and school destinations south around Humboldt Bay.
Get Ready to Keep Track of Your Bike Miles in 2020!
If you would like to keep track of your bike miles daily, weekly and monthly, go to humbike.org and download the generic bicycling calendar that works every year. Use it to help stimulate your riding—meet your transportation needs, get in shape and have more fun in 2020.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 5/2019)
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. 4/2019)
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-----Alexis Kelso, 707-441-5621(w)
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. Just tell the clerk, “I get a ___% discount.”
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