September 2014
WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 33 No. 5 September 2014
Email: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following new and renewed members have become members for 2014.
New Members
Matt Roark, Eureka**
Virginia Chatfield, Arcata**
Chris Whitworth, McKinleyville**
Bob Morris, Eureka**
Renewed Members
Carol & Dan Stafford, 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.
New members joining from September through December of 2014 will receive a membership for the rest of 2014 and for 2015. Get on board now for all the benefits, including discounts at all the bike shops.
The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on September 29th in Eureka
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, September 29th, at Chapala’s Café, 2nd and C Street in Eureka. Dinner is optional.
Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
Important Humboldt Bay Bicycle Projects Funded
In case you missed it in the local news, you will be happy to know that two significant Humboldt Bay area bicycle facility projects were awarded funding from the newly created Active Transportation Program (ATP). Those projects are the City of Arcata’s “Humboldt Bay Trail: Arcata Rail with Trail Project;” and the City of Eureka’s “Eureka Waterfront Trail.”
The “Rail with Trail” project is receiving $3,100,000 for the Construction phase to build a Class I bikeway (a.k.a. “bike path” or “shared use path”) mostly along North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) Right of Way, south from Samoa Boulevard, just west of K Street, to Bracut. The $3.1 million grant covers 58% of the total project cost.
The “Eureka Waterfront Trail” project was awarded $2,448,000 for Right of Way and Construction phases of the project. The nearly $2.5 million covers 56% of the total project cost. The “Eureka Waterfront Trail” project grant will be used to build 2 segments, phases B & C, of Class I bikeway near the waterfront. Phase B of the project runs from Del Norte Street to C Street along Railroad Avenue and Waterfront Drive. Phase C extends north from the Adorni Trail, under the Route 255 bridge, along the shore of the bay, continuing around behind Target, under the Route 101bridges at the Eureka Slough , and ending with a connection to Tydd Street. Phase A funding was previously secured and will construct a Class I bikeway, behind the Bay Shore Mall, from Truesdale Street to Del Norte Street. When phases A, B, & C of the project are done, bicyclists will be able to ride from Herrick Avenue to Tydd Street along the Bay on nearly all Class I bikeway.
To learn more about the ATP in general, or to learn more about these two projects, go to the California Transportation Commission’s ATP website at http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/ATP.htm
To read the project applications, scroll down the page to “2014 ATP” and click on the link “Applications of funded 2014 ATP projects.”
Chris Whitworth Attended the Last HBBCA Meeting
At its last meeting, Chris Whitworth, County Public Works Deputy Director, updated the attendees on the many undertakings of the County as it relates to provisions for cyclists. In the months and years ahead, improvements will be accomplished on School Road and Central Avenue as well as other locations.
Chris was invited to the meeting primarily so that he could respond to concerns expressed by HBBCA member, Liisa Schmole. She had expressed concerns that many traffic signals in McKinleyville do not detect bicycles, causing her and others to either become pedestrians or ride through red lights, neither of which she wanted to do. Subsequent to the meeting, Chris checked out signals, did some fine-tuning and said he would follow up with on-street painting to show cyclists where the “sweet spot” was to increase odds for detection. If any further problems are encountered, please send an email note to the dispatcher noted in our “Safety Concerns” list below.
At the meeting Chris lamented the fact that roadway improvements were being completed prior to PG&E completing utility undergrounding. He said that PG&E will be required to repave lanes and shoulders affected by the undergrounding. Undergrounding was supposed to be completed ahead of the roadway reconstruction contract according to an agreed-upon schedule.
HBBCA has free “Give Me 3 Feet” Stickers
To help promote recent legislation that requires motorists to give cyclists a minimum of 3 feet when passing, the HBBCA has purchased three different types of stickers from the California Bicycle Coalition—ones for your bike, for your car, your helmet, or wherever. To get one or more, attend the next meeting where they will be made available.
Bike Lanes to Be Refreshed in Eureka
Happily, most bike lanes in Eureka will be restriped in September. The HBBCA has been reminding the City for many months of its responsibility to keep formally designated bike lanes maintained, including the stripes and other pavement markings. In some areas bike lane striping has completely disappeared. In the next month, new paint should appear on Henderson, Wabash, 6th,7th and Myrtle. With support of Sheila Parrott in City Traffic Engineering, the City Council recently voted to allocate $15,000 for the striping.
Five Inspiring Words to Describe What Riding a Bike has Done for Your Life
In the last issue of American Bicyclist (League of American Bicyclists magazine) there is an article talking about the National Bike Challenge riders on Facebook where riders were asked to answer this question: In five words or less, describe what riding a bike had done for your life. Here are a few of the responses:
ü Life: Sleep. Eat. Ride. Repeat.
ü Makes me smile more.
ü Biking liberates, invigorates, encourages discovery.
ü Peace of Mind, Heart & Soul.
ü Feel like a kid again.
ü Ride more and worry less.
ü Makes me a better person.
ü It sets me free.
ü Manages my stress.
ü Brought my energy back.
Pick one of these, or write your own as you become a daily cyclist. Or, as Chris Crawford’s book title states: Be “Younger Next Year.”
Cycling is a Great Sport But Be Careful
By Rick Knapp
While we like to focus on the positive aspects of cycling, it is important to know that it can be dangerous. In the September 2014 issue of Bicycling Magazine, an article indicated that there is safety in numbers. It showed that 7 of the top 10 States in numbers of commuting cyclists also had the lowest rate of fatalities. California finished 5th, with 45 states having a rate greater than California.
In the article, Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists offered five ways to stay safe:
1. Follow the rules of the road (stop at red lights and stop signs).
2. Don’t ride against traffic.
3. Get a rear light (use it day and night).
4. Stay off sidewalks (motorists have a harder time seeing you at intersections).
5. Stay alert (be a defensive cyclist)
Editor’s notes: To add to the list, consider using an LED headlight day and night, too; and wear bright clothing. Even the distracted driver looks up once in awhile. Be visible when he/she does!! Use a helmet-attached rearview mirror. It is important to know what is coming up behind you, too.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 8/2014))
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
Matt Brady, Deputy District Director
445-6393
Matt_Brady @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
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: <open>
Director of Planning: <open>
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2014
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.orgEmail: info@humbike.org
New and Renewed Members of the HBBCA
The following new and renewed members have become members for 2014.
New Members
Matt Roark, Eureka**
Virginia Chatfield, Arcata**
Chris Whitworth, McKinleyville**
Bob Morris, Eureka**
Renewed Members
Carol & Dan Stafford, 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.
New members joining from September through December of 2014 will receive a membership for the rest of 2014 and for 2015. Get on board now for all the benefits, including discounts at all the bike shops.
The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on September 29th in Eureka
The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, September 29th, at Chapala’s Café, 2nd and C Street in Eureka. Dinner is optional.
Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.
Important Humboldt Bay Bicycle Projects Funded
In case you missed it in the local news, you will be happy to know that two significant Humboldt Bay area bicycle facility projects were awarded funding from the newly created Active Transportation Program (ATP). Those projects are the City of Arcata’s “Humboldt Bay Trail: Arcata Rail with Trail Project;” and the City of Eureka’s “Eureka Waterfront Trail.”
The “Rail with Trail” project is receiving $3,100,000 for the Construction phase to build a Class I bikeway (a.k.a. “bike path” or “shared use path”) mostly along North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) Right of Way, south from Samoa Boulevard, just west of K Street, to Bracut. The $3.1 million grant covers 58% of the total project cost.
The “Eureka Waterfront Trail” project was awarded $2,448,000 for Right of Way and Construction phases of the project. The nearly $2.5 million covers 56% of the total project cost. The “Eureka Waterfront Trail” project grant will be used to build 2 segments, phases B & C, of Class I bikeway near the waterfront. Phase B of the project runs from Del Norte Street to C Street along Railroad Avenue and Waterfront Drive. Phase C extends north from the Adorni Trail, under the Route 255 bridge, along the shore of the bay, continuing around behind Target, under the Route 101bridges at the Eureka Slough , and ending with a connection to Tydd Street. Phase A funding was previously secured and will construct a Class I bikeway, behind the Bay Shore Mall, from Truesdale Street to Del Norte Street. When phases A, B, & C of the project are done, bicyclists will be able to ride from Herrick Avenue to Tydd Street along the Bay on nearly all Class I bikeway.
To learn more about the ATP in general, or to learn more about these two projects, go to the California Transportation Commission’s ATP website at http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/ATP.htm
To read the project applications, scroll down the page to “2014 ATP” and click on the link “Applications of funded 2014 ATP projects.”
Chris Whitworth Attended the Last HBBCA Meeting
At its last meeting, Chris Whitworth, County Public Works Deputy Director, updated the attendees on the many undertakings of the County as it relates to provisions for cyclists. In the months and years ahead, improvements will be accomplished on School Road and Central Avenue as well as other locations.
Chris was invited to the meeting primarily so that he could respond to concerns expressed by HBBCA member, Liisa Schmole. She had expressed concerns that many traffic signals in McKinleyville do not detect bicycles, causing her and others to either become pedestrians or ride through red lights, neither of which she wanted to do. Subsequent to the meeting, Chris checked out signals, did some fine-tuning and said he would follow up with on-street painting to show cyclists where the “sweet spot” was to increase odds for detection. If any further problems are encountered, please send an email note to the dispatcher noted in our “Safety Concerns” list below.
At the meeting Chris lamented the fact that roadway improvements were being completed prior to PG&E completing utility undergrounding. He said that PG&E will be required to repave lanes and shoulders affected by the undergrounding. Undergrounding was supposed to be completed ahead of the roadway reconstruction contract according to an agreed-upon schedule.
HBBCA has free “Give Me 3 Feet” Stickers
To help promote recent legislation that requires motorists to give cyclists a minimum of 3 feet when passing, the HBBCA has purchased three different types of stickers from the California Bicycle Coalition—ones for your bike, for your car, your helmet, or wherever. To get one or more, attend the next meeting where they will be made available.
Bike Lanes to Be Refreshed in Eureka
Happily, most bike lanes in Eureka will be restriped in September. The HBBCA has been reminding the City for many months of its responsibility to keep formally designated bike lanes maintained, including the stripes and other pavement markings. In some areas bike lane striping has completely disappeared. In the next month, new paint should appear on Henderson, Wabash, 6th,7th and Myrtle. With support of Sheila Parrott in City Traffic Engineering, the City Council recently voted to allocate $15,000 for the striping.
Five Inspiring Words to Describe What Riding a Bike has Done for Your Life
In the last issue of American Bicyclist (League of American Bicyclists magazine) there is an article talking about the National Bike Challenge riders on Facebook where riders were asked to answer this question: In five words or less, describe what riding a bike had done for your life. Here are a few of the responses:
ü Life: Sleep. Eat. Ride. Repeat.
ü Makes me smile more.
ü Biking liberates, invigorates, encourages discovery.
ü Peace of Mind, Heart & Soul.
ü Feel like a kid again.
ü Ride more and worry less.
ü Makes me a better person.
ü It sets me free.
ü Manages my stress.
ü Brought my energy back.
Pick one of these, or write your own as you become a daily cyclist. Or, as Chris Crawford’s book title states: Be “Younger Next Year.”
Cycling is a Great Sport But Be Careful
By Rick Knapp
While we like to focus on the positive aspects of cycling, it is important to know that it can be dangerous. In the September 2014 issue of Bicycling Magazine, an article indicated that there is safety in numbers. It showed that 7 of the top 10 States in numbers of commuting cyclists also had the lowest rate of fatalities. California finished 5th, with 45 states having a rate greater than California.
In the article, Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists offered five ways to stay safe:
1. Follow the rules of the road (stop at red lights and stop signs).
2. Don’t ride against traffic.
3. Get a rear light (use it day and night).
4. Stay off sidewalks (motorists have a harder time seeing you at intersections).
5. Stay alert (be a defensive cyclist)
Editor’s notes: To add to the list, consider using an LED headlight day and night, too; and wear bright clothing. Even the distracted driver looks up once in awhile. Be visible when he/she does!! Use a helmet-attached rearview mirror. It is important to know what is coming up behind you, too.
Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 8/2014))
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
Matt Brady, Deputy District Director
445-6393
Matt_Brady @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
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: <open>
Director of Planning: <open>
Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2014
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